Category Archives: Diabetes

The Five Phases – a map of the territory

March 19, 2019 Michael Leave a comment

The Five Phases

A Map of The Territory

An Approach to Mastery and Transcendence of Diabetes

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in November of 1976 at the age of 14. T1D is one of the most misunderstood physical conditions. I believe it is misunderstood because, in a normal body, the affected systems are in perpetual motion without conscious thought. Furthermore, it is complicated. There are some fundamental components to the system which was destroyed through a roque immune system response. The fundamental components include food, insulin, physical activity, blood glucose levels, injections, finger pricks, water….But there are other factors that have influence on this system of insulin production and use. Factors like stress, sickness, depression, infusion site issues, finances, complications, being different, performance issues…..It effects every other system of the body because all of the systems seem to be integrated.

Over the 42 years that I have had to manually inject insulin while keeping my blood sugar levels in a “safe” range in order to physically survive, I have become somewhat of a “systems inquirer.” There are infinite systems throughout the universe and within the physical body. There are many ways to describe a system. A description is a map. A map of the territory. As T1D’s the doctor or the CDE will be talking and it will sound like blah, blah, blah, sometimes because it is such a rudimentary map they are presenting and we have heard it before. We know that there is no way they could possibly understand. My mother and my brother and a few close friends are the closest to understanding but they stop short when they become aware of how horrible it really is. Few people understand the feeling of blood sugar swings like we do. All of them have needed a snickers bar because they got irritated. A few have passed out because they are hypoglycemic. But none of them know what it feels like day in and day out with the sword of Damocles hanging over us in the form of potential “complications”.

There is no one way to describe a map. I have found it beneficial to look at several maps of the same or similar territories in order cultivate a deeper understanding of the territory. And since joining this site I have been inspired to chip through my 2 year long writer’s block and get it done. I have written for several years and posted a lot of it in my blog and website. I believe the link is in my profile. A few years back I wrote a blog series called “Transforming Diabetes.” It’s a 9 blog series where I am attempting to describe the system of managing bg’s as a T1D and integrate some yoga system principles throughout. Two years ago I wrote a blog series called “The Yellow Brick Road.” Both blog series are on the tab portion. Now I am starting to write the “Five Phases.” I am excited about getting this done because it is really the culmination of 25 years of work.

The Five Phases will be a description (a map) of living with diabetes in this world (the territory). I will be presenting multiple perspectives of systems. Buckminster Fuller was one of this most prolific thinkers and inventors of the 20th Century. He was the ultimate systems guy. He said in a long essay where he was re-thinking the Lord’s Prayer and the Creation of the Universe:

“Total Accountability and Total Feedback

Constitute the minimum and only

Perpetual Motion System.”

The System we must put in place, monitor, manage, carry around and live with is no different.

Diabetes

i have a dream

March 16, 2019 Michael Leave a comment

I’m in my 43rd year of living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

My new endo told me that I will get some kind of medal from the Joslin Institute when I reach 50. Really. Who cares? They get a chip after 30 days in AA, NA, GA and SA.

17 years ago I made a “push”. I was 39 yrs old, broke, in debt up the wazoo, out of shape, not taking care of myself…..I figured if I did not make a change I wouldn’t make it to 42. Over a 2 year period I started inquiring into several “things”, like…… writing, reading, yoga, meditation, running, acupuncture, massage, eating well, cranial sacral therapy, and more. It was slow at first. Then stuff began happening. I got a job, I was getting in shape, feeling better about myself. Life changed. I got out of debt, started making good money, got in shape, blood sugars starting coming down/better control, I was happier.

During this time I had a three month period of time where I took off from work and really connected with my current “edge” and began to “push” against it. I reduced insulin requirement up to 50%, at times. I mean long period of times (week or so). Since that time the roller coaster reached the top and started its’ descent. What goes up is going to come down. It’s a long story and I will spare the details, for now. It can be summed up as this. I went from A1C’s in the 9’s, broke, in debt, depressed, feeling hopeless and helpless, not working out, addicted to things I need not be addicted to…..I went from this to In top physical shape; I could run 5 miles under 50 minutes. I could do 2 Bikram yoga classes in one day. My weight was ideal. I felt strong. I made enough money to buy a cool condo in Boca Raton, Fl within walking distance of my Bikram Yoga Studio. It was a 5 minute drive to the beach. I had a lot of free time. Things were good.

I got on the pump and I changed my attitude about testing my blood sugars. I wanted to know. I tested 10-15 times a day and loved the flexibility of the pump. With the combination of getting in super physical shape and having the pump, I got my A1C’s in the low 6’s. I ate anything I wanted. I wanted to eat good.

I have often compared managing blood sugar as a type 1 to flying a plane. The physical plane itself is the physical body. I had transformed my physical body into a stealth fighter jet. It wanted. It needed good fuel in the food I was eating. I needed to inject insulin but the insulin seemed to be working better. I needed less. I was personally experiencing one of the most profound yoga principles; “LESS IS MORE.” I was getting this at so many levels.

My dream is to share this experience with others who are challenged by type 1 diabetes. Whether that be the person with diabetes, a parent, a sibling, a friend, a healthcare worker (that includes you doctors). They sometimes think they are special and in a group of their own. My father was a doctor and I have met a lot of them…so I know.

This is how I want to share it. I want to “host” an intensive retreat like program where I demonstrate and guide others into an inquiry of what I did, how to do it and why. Not like a boot camp or simply an educational experience. It is an immersive training which will be based on the principles of yoga and Natural Law Principles. I have a support “team” in place right now. It includes a CDE, an acupuncturist and cranial sacral therapist, a Bio-feedback specialist, a life coach and a few yoga teachers incluing one who is a Bikram Certified Teacher.

Each day will consist of:

*2 yoga classes/day

*Meditation

*Walking

*1-2 hours classroom meeting discussing many topics including yoga principles and applying to diabetes management, spiritual metaphysical “map” inquiries.

*Great Food. Will, of course, accommodate for vegetarian.

*Some form of body/mind work. Could be acupuncture, light therapy, massage, cranial sacral therapy, bio-feedback, life coaching….and a few more.

*There will also be a few opportunities to do a few other things like go to the beach or an excursion to Captiva or Sanibel Island.

I visualize the retreat being in South Florida around the Fort Myers area. I want it to happen in November of 2019. I want to keep this initial one small (8-12 participants). And my dream doesn’t end there……..

In a way, this is my new five year plan. I’m turning 57 in 2 weeks. Still here. No complications (knock on wood). I think that what I did 17 years ago is a huge factor in why I am still here. I’ve come to realize that it is best done in “spurts.” Interval like. And an intensive retreat where we are focusing on where our edge is and working on expanding can be a profound “spurt.” It’s kinda of like intuitevely knowing to do a combo bolus. The body wants to receive it in spurts some short and some a bit longer.

I want the initial retreat participants to be those who want to not only personally experience pushing their edge but also have a desire to help others with our condition. T1D is like a yoga pose. It is like walking on a high wire. And it is like flying a plane. So, my dream is that from this initial retreat we plan a second one and then some will qualify to lead their own retreat.

I have so much more I want to say and if you are interested in it let me know or visit the link to my blog site where I have been writing about all of this for the last 10 years.

I will write a future post called My Dream 2. Where I can expand on some of this. It’s awesome for me as well because I am creating something which provides me an opportunity to do this work more and more. I have done it with others but not people with diabetes. I have worked with a few people who were depressed and addicted. There is a close parallel to these conditions and diabetes. A few of these people wrote client reviews and I posted them in my blog section as well under Client Reviews.

If you read this far, Thank you. It is very beneficial for me to just write about this even if no one reads it.

Diabetes, Metaphysical/Spiritual

The Cause

March 10, 2019 Michael Leave a comment

I got diagnosed with Type 1 at the age of 14 in 1976. Yep, I’m getting old but I still feel like that 14 year old in many ways. It was different back then. I was “flying blind.” No short acting insulin, no test strips, no A1C test…Took one injection of NPH in the morning and rode the peak. Mostly ate food by feel. How I survived that…I don’t know. For me, this “journey” has become spiritual in nature rather than physical. I really didn’t think I was going to make it past 40 years of age. I’m turning 57 at the end of the month. It’s bonus time from here on out.

Yet, I am trapped, or at least I feel trapped. in this physical body that often does not feel well and needs to be poked with injections, infusion sites, finger pricks and all the other stuff involved. The doctors told me, when I was diagnosed, that they were on to a cure and we should have one in 10 years at the most. It’s been 42 and a “cure” is just as far out today as it was then.

For me, there is a cause. There has to be. If not, this suffering would be for nothing. My education has taught me that there is a cause to everything. We may not be able to detect it but it’s there. There is a book published back in 1984 called “You Can Heal Your Life” written by Louise Hay. It’s a book that connects dis-eases with mental/emotional/spiritual causes. I remember, that one of the causes for diabetes was ……… “A Longing For Home.” This resonated with me. Prior to my diagnosis I had a few experiences of being desperately homesick when away to a hockey camp or a soccer camp. I remember, the sick feeling at the “pit” of my stomach. I was so nauseous I could not eat. I was so upset I peed my bed. Why, am I telling you this? Am I saying that I got diabetes because i got homesick as a kid? Nope. I don’t know why I got this curse of a disease. I’m over it.

Type 1 diabetes ejects “you” from the home of the physical body. It disrupts one of the many essential “perpetual motion systems” in the body. The destruction of the islet cells of the pancreas combined with a continued immune system response results in the death of the physical body. In a matter of weeks or days. That is not an opinion. That is a fact. Without injecting insulin “you” are out of here. Diablo has won. But, just under 100 years ago a few guys invented a way to get insulin into these people who were dying of ‘Diabetes”.

The story begins to change. It is truly a miracle. And over the years the treatment (way of getting insulin in and the way to test/check blood sugar levels) has improved. But we are no closer to understanding the cause or finding a cure than we were 100 years ago. At least on the physical plane. WHY? What is this diabetes? Why has it exploded into an epidemic in our society. What is the cause?

My life, since diagnosis, has been a combination of survival, seeking immediate gratification and finding the cause and cure for this dis-ease that, from one perspective ruined my life and negatively affected those around me. This dis-ease has caused much suffering for me. There must be a reason. There must be a cause. I knew that the day I was diagnosed and I know that now.

I’ve been on this for 42 years. Some would tell me to let go of this DESIRE Michael and live your life. You can live a normal life you just need to take your medicine and eat right. For me, that wasn’t the case.

Am I any closer to understanding why I got this? Maybe. I got my suspicions. My seeking for the cause and a cure has taken me to some interesting places and teachings.

Everyone, or almost everyone, has heard the cliche quote about this life……”We are not physical beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience.” Well, if this is TRUE then why this physical experience of Type 1 Diabetes?

Diabetes, Yoga

Now that’s a yoga pose ii

February 25, 2019 Michael Leave a comment

Now That is a Yoga Pose!

Understanding diabetes via inquiry of

fundamental yoga principles

Your Guide:

My name is Michael.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 14 in November of 1976.

Started practicing yoga in 1999.

Went to a 200 hour yoga teacher certification course in 2006.

Have attended 150 hours of advanced courses toward what is called the 500 hour certification.

Certified through The Kripalu Yoga Center in Massachusetts.

Over 5000 teaching hours.

Registered as a certified teacher (E-RYT) with the Yoga Alliance.

I have discovered a path of inquiry that can yield positive results for those of us affected by this condition. I believe this path of inquiry to be applicable and valuable to anyone afflicted by the dis-ease itself or anyone who is a parent, spouse, sibling, friend, co-worker, coach, teacher or medical professional.

Why would you want me as your guide?

I have lived and kept my physical body alive and health while living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) for 47 years
I have never needed glucagon to come back from a low.
Never been in DKA from being high.
Never had to go to the hospital because of diabetes except when I was diagnosed. I got discharged on Thanksgiving Day. Ha.
No complications. Maybe a slight bit of OCD and I may have a slight case of a new Personality Disorder called Adjustment Disorder.
I know yoga and I am constantly studying, teaching and practicing it. It is a very comprehensive “map” of the nature of everything.
Most of my career has been in the areas of systems and procedures design, quality assurance and hiring and training sales people, customer service reps and managers…
I can point out signs and tracks along the path. What I mean by this is that I have discovered specific paths of inquiry that are fundamental to what we need to do to survive and maintain an acceptable level of health and balance.
I know what are the black diamond paths and which ones are the bunny runs.
I believe we are headed toward a cure and the yogic perspective is what is needed and can speed the process and keep others healthy until we get there.

We learn through metaphor. Everything we understand or could possibly understand is only possible because there is something else to compare it to. The law of duality; the law of polarity; “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

The fact is, in the environment we find ourselves in, anything that arises does so in relation to something else.

Diabetes and Yoga. We are going to hold these two “things” side by side and see how they relate to each other. We are going to “metaphor” diabetes with yoga. When we do this, connections will be created between the two “systems”, “maps,” “challenges” “conditions” “practices”, “disciplines”, “poses.”

Think about how the brain works.

It makes neural connections that create pathways. Pathways that receive knowledge, learn and hone skills and cultivate new and different mind constructs, cognitive maps, mental paradigms.

One of the most important writings in yoga is entitled, “The Yoga Sutras” by Patanjali. Written before 400 B.C. it is a compilation of 196 sutras (aphorisms) on the theory and practice of yoga. The very first sutra reads….

“Now the inquiry of yoga.”

A state of inquiry; being the witness; being the observer is the state we aspire to when practicing yoga.

Can a connection be made with diabetes here? I believe yes. In fact, when dealing with diabetes and everything one must account for in the management of whatever system one is using to try and achieve safe blood sugar levels, I have found that a state of inquiry is, usually, the best.

This path of inquiry is divided into three stages or phases:

Phase 1: Proper Alignment. (here a short on-line assessment and/or a short video that discusses proper alignment principles and how that applies to the foundational alignment in dealing with diabetes. Need something that is really concise and to the point. I have written so much I believe I got it. Got to find a way to offer this free in exchange for them filling out assessment with contact info. Could provide back an assessment summary with budget analysis..) From the perspective of the diabetes side…..it is proper alignment with the goal of achieving safe control.

Phase 2: Finding and Exploring Your “Edge” (I see this as a short on-line interactive teaching. 5 modules dealing with moving into the posture and knowing where to back off and where to push forward. Introduce the concept of flying the plane here. Could be a manual instead. I will write it as a manual first. Again, I got it all written. The newest insight I have is about the basal rate being most important. In Phase 1 basal rate is set. In Phase 2 we begin to explore testing and adjusting basal rate.

Phase 3: Expanding Your Edge and Experiencing Authentic Free Expression. (Here is the intensive retreat concept where we go at it everyday. Requires completion of Phase 2 training. Get sponsors from diabetes supply companies. If someone takes the inquiry to level 3 they can experience pushing beyond the edge. Cut basal rate by 50%. I’ve done this at a sustained level twice; Once when I was working out like a fiend and the second time was when I went to Vipassana 10 day retreat.

Diabetes, Metaphysical/Spiritual, Transforming Diabetes, Yoga

Retreats

March 10, 2017 Michael Leave a comment

We have a location in upstate NY on the east bank of Cayuga Lake that is a perfect setting for a small group ( four to eight participants) retreat/intensive.

Beautiful accommodations with yoga/fitness room right on the lake.