I recently heard this quote:
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"It doesn't matter what kind of diabetes you have, it's always barbaric to prick your finger."
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True, I suppose.
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I didn't really notice the finger pricks much over the years; it was just another part of me and my T1D.
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Sure, it annoyed the heck out of me when the blood wouldn't come and I'd have to repeatedly prick until it did.
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But truthfully that was most likely due to me neglecting to change my lancet for weeks, ahem, months on end 🤷
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I laughed when my child thought I had finger freckles.
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But now, without those stab scars, I honestly don't even recognize my hands. Seriously, compare pic 1 from a year ago to pic 2 from today.
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Incredible the difference a year and the Freestyle Libre makes!
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I still do the old school testing. I haven't quite handed over all the trust to the Libre. But no longer am I testing 12+ times a day. No longer am I stumbling on a run while trying to line the blood up to the strip.
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And that's pretty freaking awesome 😊
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#freestylelibre #bloodtest #fingerprick #bloodglucosemanagement #type1diabetes #T1D #diabetes #T1Dstrong #beyondtype1 #beyondT1D #T1Dlookslikeme #runningwithtype1diabetes #futureRDforathleteswithT1D
Let's talk supports.
Specifically T1D sport people supports.
This is my friend Shelley.
We met last year at a birthday party our son's were both at. We got to talking and learned we had so much in common, most notably our loves for France, running and cycling.
Within 2 weeks we were running together, and two weeks after that we made our regular running Saturdays routine. Last spring, the runs turned into rides, and in October we were back to runs again.
Shelley has never made a big deal about my diabetes.
Never.
If I feel my blood sugars going wonky, she stops and allows me the time to fix them.
No questions asked.
No hovering, no babying me either.
She knows I know what to do and she gives me the space for it.
I love that!
Whether she knows it or not, Shelley is a huge part of my diabetes community and I am so incredibly grateful for our friendship and our runs/rides 🏃♀️😁🚵♀️
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Who's part of your T1D support team?
#type1diabetesandsport #runningwithtype1diabetes #cyclingwithtype1diabetes #diabetessupportteam #type1diabetes #T1D #beyondtype1 #beyondT1D #diabetes #T1Dstrong #T1Dsupport #t1dlookslikeme #t1dcandoanything #futureRDforathleteswithT1D
Warning: this week's blog post (link below) is a massive rant.
I'm tired of going to T1D conferences and T1D socials and T1D networking groups and being asked the same question time and time again: "What's your greatest frustration with having type-1 diabetes?" It's high time we change the conversation.
Let's remove ourselves from the negatives for just a second (longer if you can manage 😉) and focus on some of the positives - because despite the truckload of barriers, obstacles, frustrations attached to this disease, there are some positives.
Like, being admitted into stadiums with a purse full of food for "medical purposes" and not having to pay a mortgage for grody arena fare!
Want to know some more of my T1D favourites?
Click the link in my profile, or copy and paste it from here: https://katiebartel.ca/2019/11/18/changing-the-t1d-conversation/
You'll also learn a little more about why the above question frustrates the hell out of me and why I'm championing a change to:
What's the COOLEST thing about having T1D?
#type1diabetes #diabetesconversation #changingtheT1Ddialogue #changingthediabetesculture #diabetesfavourites #T1D #T1Dstrong #diabetescommunity #beyondtype1 #beyondT1D #T1Dlookslikeme #t1dadvocacy #t1dadvocate #t1dcandoanything #futureRDforT1Dathletes #futureRDforathleteswithT1D #diabetesawareness #diabeteswontstopme #diabetessucceses #diabetesfrustrations #diabetes
This woman.
This woman helped build my knowledge base so incredibly much in the last six weeks, I will forever be grateful for her.
She elevated my knowledge in sport, my knowledge in sport nutrition, but most importantly she helped me find a clearer vision for my future career as a sport dietitian for athletes with type 1 diabetes.
She started as my preceptor, evolved to a trusted mentor, and now friend.
Thank you so much J! Your influence has been huge 💛
Plus, this quote: "You be you and you'll go far in this field!" How can I not love that 😊
#sportnutrition #populationandpublichealth #dieteticspracticum #ubcdietetics2020 #futureRDforathleteswithT1D #type1diabetesandsport #type1diabetessportnutrition #T1D #T1Dstrong #beyondtype1 #beyondT1D #t1dadvocate #t1dadvocacy #T1Dlookslikeme
Dear Whistler, I was there for a good time, not a long time 😁
The two days I spent working with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific in Whistler had me hanging out with half pipe skiers, biathlon, and moguls athletes. It had me chatting with various winter sport coaches, S&C, and RD. And most importantly it had me advocating.
Advocating for this T1D disease.
I was given the opportunity to present to winter sport coaches on type-1 diabetes and sport, which, not gonna lie, was really kind of totally awesome!
We talked about T1D.
We talked about the effects of T1D on sport.
We highlighted the symptoms of low blood sugars and high blood sugars and how many of those symptoms (shakiness, fast heartbeat, sweating, fatigue, hunger, etc.) overlap with symptoms of sport.
They had questions.
I answered questions.
And I loved every minute of it!
My journey towards becoming a registered sport dietitian isn't just about the nutrition. It isn't just about sport. It's also about raising awareness for all things type-1 diabetes.
If you're interested in learning more, give me shout and check out my blog: www.katiebartel.ca
Until next time Whistler... Ps. I'm set to do another presentation today for the sport RDs of Canadian Sport Institute 😊
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#type1diabetesandsport #type1diabetes #futureRDforathleteswithT1D #wintersports #whistler #olympianshavediabetestoo #beyondtype1 #beyondT1D #T1D #T1Dstrong #T1Dlookslikeme #t1dcandoanything #t1dadvocacy #t1dadvocate #diabetesawareness #teamT1D #diabetesawarenessmonth #ndam #canadiansportinstitute
Do you refer to yourself as diabetic or person with diabetes?
This is the question I asked recently in a blog post.
After decades of being labelled diabetic, the new norm is to call us persons with diabetes.
Yet, that's not what I call me.
I've gone completely against the norm.
I am diabetic, hear me roar 🦁
I've had this disease for 32 years, I've earned the right to call myself whatever the heck I please, regardless of whether it's PC or not.
But I haven't earned the right to call you that. You decide what you want to be called - no one else!
Not your doctor's, not your RDs, not your family, not your friends.
You and you only decide.
Words matter.
To read more about why I opt for D over PWD, click the link to the blog post in my Insta profile or copy and paste it from here: https://katiebartel.ca/2019/11/11/diabetes-terminology-pwd-vs-d/
#type1diabetes #type1diabetesandsport #diabetesterminology #diabeteslabels #T1D #beyondtype1 #diabetescommunity #diabetessupportteam #diabetesislife #diabetic #personwithdiabetes #PWD #wordsmatter
Nov. 14: World Diabetes Day.
What does that mean for me.
Hmm... Well... Every day is diabetes day for me, so, honestly, I completely forgot about it until I opened up my Instagram feed and saw all the amazingness that is this disease.
Yes, I said it.
Type 1 diabetes is amazing... well, at least the greater DOC is 👏
And what was I doing on this day?
Increasing diabetes awareness in the sport world, that's what!
Totally planned 😉
For the past 5 weeks I've been working with Canadian Sport Institute for my dietetics internship and one of my major projects is a presentation on ... TYPE 1 DIABETES IN SPORT!!! How totally appropriate for me.
And today, completely unplanned, I conducted my first of three presentations on the topic.
The timing was mighty perfect, don't you think 😁
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#type1diabetesandsport #type1diabetes #T1D #T1Dstrong #runningwithtype1diabetes #cyclingwithtype1diabetes #T1Dlookslikeme #diabetesawarenesmonth #diabetesawareness #beyondtype1 #beyondT1D #diabetescommunity #diabetesday #worlddiabetesday #diabetesiseveryday #diabetesislife #diabetessportstrategy #futureRDforathleteswithT1D
When T1D technology fails.
As the temperatures grow colder, I'm left wondering how the heck to keep this sucker warm enough to work through the duration of a long run.
I don't like to carry too much with me so stuffing it into a bulky sock is a no go, but running with it in my mitted hands also doesn't work - learned that last year.
I tried running with it in my sports bra as that's the place I get the sweatiest, so probably the warmest of my body, but, erm, not the most comfortable.
What do you do? How do you keep your diabetes technology happily functioning in extreme* temperatures? *Please note, I live in Vancouver and our temperatures don't get all that extreme compared to our neighbours, but in diabetes tech, they're extreme enough 🤷♀️
Dear Instagrammers,
I have a super important question for you today.
It's a question that's been bogging me down for years, a question I struggle to answer every time I'm asked, a question I'm frequently asked, seriously like every week:
What's your favourite food?
My son regularly asks me what my favourite foods are and I'm almost always stumped.
This is also a common ice breaker question in the world of nutrition, and it almost always gets my hands sweating.
I love so many foods it's hard to choose just one as the ultimate favourite.
I love foods for their tastes.
I love foods for their stories.
I love foods for their adventures.
I love foods for their memories - so many memories.
But my 7 year old is persistent; he wants answers.
So, for my latest go at this question, I gave him three:
1. Steel Cut Oatmeal: I love my breakfast oatmeal and I'm pretty sure if I could have it for lunch too, I probably would.
I love how it sticks to my bones. I love it's warmth in my belly. I love the stability it gives my blood sugars. And I love all the fixings I put on top - raspberries, chocolate protein powder, Bran Buds, almond milk, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, chia seeds, sometimes other nuts and seeds, sometimes dried fruits, all the time goodness!
2. Eggs. I'm not picky, I love scrambled, sunny side up, hard-boiled, soft-boiled, omelettes, frittatas, etc., etc., etc.
The great thing about eggs, you can pretty much add anything or nothing at all and they still taste amazing!
Please note, I do not work for the egg company 🤣 - I just truly do love them!
3. Ice cream: I am picky about my ice cream. I'm a huge ice cream connoisseur and love me some good, quality, artisan ice cream.
The memories we've had eating ice cream. The stories we've told, the smiles we've shared, the adventures we've had - hello Italy, 2 times a day gelato!
For me, ice cream is just special 😊😍😋-
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So, what's your favourite food?
Ps. My boys favourites of the week are apples, ice cream, granny's scrambled eggs (she makes them with whipped cream!), and burgers.
Apparently he couldn't just choose 1 either 🤣
Day *2/6: Share your BG/CGM/Flash data
Look at the above graph.
Look at the below graph.
The below graph is closer to my normal.
The above graph, with that middle finger of a spike, was my Saturday.
Oh Saturday, you were a stinker of a day – at least, throughout my entire bloody run you were.
No rhyme. No reason. Just being a big, ol', nasty jerk face, you were!
This is type-1 diabetes.
This is the disease in its complete, unpredictable glory.
This is my disease.
My latest blog post talks about this run in particular, and compares it to the recommendations for sport with type 1 diabetes - and how the recommdations are not sufficiently serving this growing population.
To read more, click the link in my profile, or copy and paste it from here: https://katiebartel.ca/2019/11/04/run-of-the-raging-blood-sugars/
*November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. @thediabeticjourney has challenged those of us with diabetes to report on all things diabetes every day of the month; I'm a wee bit behind and will continue to be behind with the motto of quality over quantity 😉
Hello November.
Hello National Diabetes Month.
Ok, so there's this thing where a whole bunch of us Instagrammers are reporting all things diabetes for the entire month with planned topics, awareness, D love, etc., etc..
I'm gonna be honest, I will NOT be posting every day this month; I don't have that kind of stamina, and I'm already behind with today being day 4 for everyone else, but day 1 for me.
So, I'm taking the quality over quantity stance right here 😉
Day 1: My Diagnosis Story.
I was 9 years old.
My whole family got sick with the flu and I didn't get better (see the pic above; I'm the cute blonde with the head tilt 😊)
The story goes I ate half a roast and a 2 litre jug of lime Kool-Aid in one sitting, yet the bones under my skin were alarmingly prominent.
My parents started monitoring the amount of times I was running to the washroom. Seriously, my mom made a chart!
When my mom took me to the doctor, told him my symptoms, showed him my bones, showed him that chart, he didn't hesitate, he knew I had diabetes and the blood test confirmed it.
The date was Aug. 23, 1987.
It was my big sister's 16th birthday.
Sorry Jules, this disease has never been convenient 🤷
Hahaha lovely!