Quinn Nystrom is a Smart Young Woman with Diabetes who is working hard to raise awareness and inspire others living with diabetes. She was recently a finalist in the Glamour Magazine & Sally Hansen’s “Best of You” contest. For the last 12 years they have honored inspirational women who find the best in themselves to bring out the good in others. At the time of our interview she had not heard who the winner was…fingers crossed Quinn!

Tell me what you remember about being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14 years old?

My younger brother was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 5 years old and I remembers my mom asking the doctor what the likelihood was of another sibling being diagnosed, and he said no way. Two years after his diagnosis, I started feeling sick and when my mom used my brother’s meter to test my blood sugar, it read “High.”

All I wanted was to fit in at school so I was devastated to be different. At first, I was in denial because the kids at school bullied me because of their ignorance about diabetes. They would taunt me with cake and move away from me in class because they thought I was contagious. It wasn’t until my parent’s forced me to go to diabetes camp, (Camp Needlepoint in Wisconsin), that I changed my life. It was a regular summer camp, we hardly talked about diabetes, we swam and sailed and I felt socially accepted. Camp showed me that I had a choice-I could live my life being negative and complaining, or I could recommit to diabetes and raise awareness. Camp taught me to live my life despite diabetes.

Tell me about your diabetes advocacy.

When I was 16 years old I was chosen by the ADA to be a National Youth Advocate. It was actually on my 3^rd year diabetes anniversary that I got the call of acceptance and it solidified what I want to do with my future. During that year I realized that people would listen to me because I am a “regular person” and I wasn’t sugar-coating anything about living with diabetes. I wanted to be honest about the realities of living with diabetes. I talk in laymans terms in a way that’s accessible. One time a young girl came up to me after my talk and said, “Can a girl with diabetes get a boyfriend?” She was really worried that she might not be able to date as a diabetic. So, I would always tell the story about my prom date (which is also the title of her upcoming book: “If I Kiss You, Will I Get Diabetes?”).

Quinn’s date actually asked her that question. Her book will be filled with personal stories that will help dispel crazy myths like diabetes is contagious.

What are your plans for the future?

I graduated from college in 2008 and recently quit my job with a pharmaceutical distributor because I want to see if I can make a career out of being a diabetes advocate. I wear a Medtronic pump and a CGM because recently I’ve struggled with hypoglycemia unawareness and my CGM has really helped me to see the patterns. Over the years my management has been up and down but now that I have finally accepted the emotional aspect of life with diabetes, my control is so much better. I workout with a trainer 2 times a week and go to hot yoga, this helps me stay healthy. I’m going to be in a closed loop study at the International Diabetes Center and I’m looking forward to that.

Tips from Quinn:

• Everything in moderation. It’s not helpful when people say, “You can’t eat that” because it makes me resentful. In my opinion, it’s about making healthy choices. Diabetes is every minute of every day and it’s okay to have a piece of cake, just don’t eat the whole cake, that’s not good for anyone!
• Don’t play the blame game. Perfectionism need not apply to diabetes!

Amanda started dancing when she was two years old. She remembers sitting in front of the TV watching the Nutcracker and mimicking the dancers. In her bare feet she danced so hard and so often, that she rubbed the skin off her little toes.

“That’s when my mom decided to enroll me in a dance class,” she laughs. At 4 years old she knew she wanted to be a ballroom dancer, the women in her favorite movie, “Ziegfeld Follies.” She never stopped dancing, even after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 14 years old.

Amanda says he was never really allowed to eat any sugar growing up, but remembers that she began sneaking it because she was starving all the time. At 5 ft. 2 inches and 72 pounds, by the time she got to the hospital her blood sugar was 900. The doctors said she was close to death. Amanda was given insulin, and after a few hours she snuck out of the hospital to go to dance class.

“If I was going to die, I wanted to die on the dance floor,” she says. She returned to the hospital after class and stayed there for 5 days, though she says the experience taught her that she needed to be her own doctor. “I ran up and down the stairs of the hospital to get my blood sugar down because I refused to stay in bed and be pumped full of insulin.” Amanda says the nurses were trying to feed her pancakes with sugar free syrup. “The dietician was giving me a list of what I could eat at McDonald’s and I was thinking, why don’t you tell me to change the way I eat?”  Amanda explains that she has always been very strict about her diet and eats the same food every day. Her favorite is spicy Indian, which she says helps lower her insulin requirements. (There is currently no scientific proof that spices, other than cinnamon, will decrease insulin needs. Here is a good article on the benefits of cinnamon, tumeric and ginger.)

Amanda makes all her own costumes and is inspired by the styles and materials of Vaudeville, Lady Ga-Ga and old Broadway. Her costumes are brightly colored in pinks, greens and reds, and are bedazzled with feathers, flowers and sparkles. And while she loves all styles of dancing, Ballroom is her favorite. Burlesque dancing is theatrical, Amanda explains, with a lot of stretching while Brazilian Samba is fast paced and Ballroom, her favorite, is a great workout. She always keeps a juice box nearby and a brown rice bar to stabilize her sugars, which she says, is a healthier choice than glucose tabs.

One of the downsides of living with diabetes is her frequent low blood sugars. Amanda doesn’t drive and at 30 years old, still lives at home with her mom. She doesn’t wear a pump because it doesn’t work with her costumes, and has been rotating injections for so long that she has scarring on her stomach and thighs. “I’m honest about my body,” she says. Amanda wears fish net stocking and uses body make-up to hide the cellulite and scarring, and is a big supporter of Nivea Cellulite Cream. “Diabetes has not held me back in my career,” she says, “but it has in my personal life. I’ve never been ashamed and I deal with things head on.” Amanda lives in a world where sexiness sells, but says she provides “fresh, clean entertainment.” The coffee table book, “A Day In The Life Of A Showgirl” is now in the early stages of production and will discuss the fact that Amanda is a diabetic, which contributes to her passion for dance as the healthiest and most beautiful form of exercise.

Tips from Amanda:

• Be your own doctor
• Your body is a machine, exercise daily
• Find what works for you

I found this on Diabetes UK, Care, Connect, Campaign:

In Becca’s video – Rebel Rebel – she talks about her diabetes and pre-conception care. Here she gives you here top preconception tips:

• Don’t stop using contraception until you’re ready to have a baby – plan your pregnancy.
• Involve your diabetes care team – let them know as soon as you start planning to get pregnant, they will work with you to help you have a healthy pregnancy and birth. They are on your side.
• Keep your blood glucose to your target levels – try to avoid massive swings, before and after conception.
• Folic acid – you’ll need to take 5mg every day from when you start trying to conceive until you are 12 weeks pregnant.
• If you are on Statins or ACE inhibitors, you’ll need to stop taking them as they could damage the baby if you are on them when you conceive. Check with your healthcare team if there are any other medications you need to stop.

So I asked her, How do you prepare?

The key to training for Ironman is consistency.  You have to swim, bike and run almost every morning and evening each week.  I like to think of myself as just the same as any other Ironman athlete except I have to test my BG levels and inject insulin.  I train anywhere between 10 – 20hours per week and on top of a full time job this is quite a commitment.  I’m lucky because my husband, Mark, does Ironman too so he understands what I’m going through.

What is it like on event days?

I test between 6 – 12 times a day.  Its most important for endurance training that you have your BG levels controlled (5 – 10mmol).  I adjust my insulin pump basal rates for each discipline (swimming and cycling is less of an adjustment than running). I also have to have around 40 – 60grams of carbohydrates per hour to prevent hypos and to refuel the muscles.

I think that your BG level are what they are because of something I did so if I test all the time I can see patterns and make better, more informed decisions.

Does your bs run higher because of adrenaline?

Never really experienced High BGs due to adrenaline in Ironman training, but when I used to run track and shorter road races I would go high just before the start.
The tools I have help me to get through Ironman without too many problems.  I use an aquapak in the swim to protect my insulin pump from the water.  I take my CGMS off for the swim and leave it on the glasses table at the edge of the swim exit.  This means I can have it working by the time I reach the bike.  I test in every transition so I don’t have to worry about calibrating my CGMS while I’m biking or running.  In each transition I have a syringe with novorapid, glucagon injection, other hypo gels, and a tester.  I make my reductions of basal rates in transition for the next part of the race (which I work out on the spot).  You just have to be prepared for anything.  I write a plan the week before the race.  The plan discusses every possible eventuality in the race, what would I do if my pump stops working, what would I do if I have a hypo, etc.  I try not to over complicate things but by having a plan you already know what you are going to do in each situations.
As an athlete, I remind myself that I have done all of the training and I have to trust that my body will cope with each event.  I don’t panic because I know I can do it!

Yes She can!

You were diagnosed when you were a child, tell me what that was like for you?

I was diagnosed when I was 14years old (1992) on Christmas Day.  I had never known anyone else with the disease and wasn’t too sure what was going on.  I wasn’t too upset about it all and I gave my first injection with no trouble.

What do you remember about your diagnosis…for example, what approach to diabetes management did your family take? Freedom or overprotection?

I’ve always been very independent and took on all the responsibilities of injecting and testing myself.  My parents were very protective of me though and I wasn’t really allowed to go anywhere.

When did you start running and competing? How do you manage blood sugars with training and competing? Do you wear a pump? Do you carry glucose tabs etc. etc.

I started running when I was 7 years old.  I watched my father running on the track and in marathons from a young age and my mother play netball every Saturday in the winter.  I was ranked #1 in NZ when I was diagnosed with diabetes and thought that I wouldn’t be able to run fast again.  After being diagnosed I have been a National Track Champ (1995) only 3 years after being diagnosed, represented NZ in 4 ITU World Triathlon/Duathlon champs and completed 5 Ironman races.

I wear an insulin pump now but did my entire track running with MDI’s.  I carry gels in my pocket and when I run with my husband he always carries some too.  I try to manage my BG levels during exercise with complex carbs as a preventative rather than treating a hypo.  It’s just too hard to recover from a hypo when you are training or racing.

Tell me about your advocacy efforts? Type 1 Tri-Girl runs sports camps, is that right? Why are these camps important, what is your goal for these camps and did you go to a diabetes camp as a child?

I set us T1 Tri Girl to show people that T1’s can do anything.  I run camps for adult who want to learn how to be better at controlling their BG levels as well as youth/teen camps for kids who are into sport.  It used to frustrate me that I couldn’t get any help with my sport related diabetes questions whenever I went to the Endo…so I wanted to help people with that side of their diabetes.

Your website headline uses the phrase ‘a proud Type 1 Diabetic’ tell me why the word proud is important.

I say “a proud Type 1 Diabetic” because I love having diabetes.  I wouldn’t know what to do without my diabetes…It makes me unique and special.  I feel stronger knowing that I can do things that people without diabetes can do and sometimes better.

What are your future athletic goals?

I am training for the ITU world triathlon champs in October where I would like to finish in the top 20.  My ultimate goal is to qualify for Kona World Ironman Champs.  

Learn more about Heidi-Jane at:

http://www.t1trigirl.org.nz/index.php/

http://sweetsixteen-diabetes.blogspot.com/

Sara Sklaroff, former Editorial Director of Diabetes Forecast, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes the day before the 9/11 attacks. At the time she was working as the Culture Editor for US News World Report, and says “I spent the first two days of knowing I had diabetes watching TV.” Part of her job was to stay informed of the events, and this meant obsessively watching news coverage. The timing of these life-changing events, both globally and personally, set Sara on a course to raise awareness about diabetes. She is doing that now, using her voice and her journalistic talents, to offer people with diabetes a “Helping Hand.” Her recent article, On Our Own, Why We Who Struggle To Live With Diabetes Could Use A helping Hand, in Health Affairs details the challenges of living with diabetes and offers suggestions for systemic change.

The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at 30 years old came as a surprise to this busy career woman, but Sara says looking back on the years leading up to her diagnosis, she recognizes some red flags.

“Every afternoon when I was walking home from work I’d feel shaky,” she says. “I’d stop at a bakery and carbo load and then I’d go home and fall asleep for a couple hours. It was a terrible cycle.” A change in doctors lead to the diagnosis and she was started on Avandia. She now manages her blood sugars with insulin, metformin, exercise and healthy eating.

A ‘series of fortunate events’ lead Sara to a week at Canyon Ranch for a diabetes program, where she says she learned how much she didn’t know about the complexities of diabetes.

“I worked with Dr. Alan Moses who became my guru,” she says. “I’ve learned so much from him about the science, history and management of diabetes, and it started me thinking about people who don’t have these resources. Even the people at Canyon Ranch who had access to education and support were struggling. That’s the thing I love about cultural journalism; it allows me to get into worlds that are inaccessible and communicate what I learn to a wider audience.”

This was a turning point for Sara who realized that she wanted to communicate the scientific information about diabetes to the general public. Then, fate interrupted, and she got a call from Diabetes Forecast.

Sara worked as the Editorial Director from 2006-2011 and stepped down last summer to spend more time with her young daughter. “The decision was wrenching,” she says. Her work at the magazine was rewarding and she felt that she’d accomplished her goals of transforming DF into a “Lifestyle Magazine,” but it was hard to leave. (So hard to leave in fact that she has stayed on as Editor at Large.)

(A side note here, I remember the old Diabetes Forecast, before Sara came on board and I was never a fan. The magazine didn’t speak to me as a young woman with diabetes, it felt dated and depressing, and I was not a subscriber until she took over the helm!)

“I wanted to cover diabetes like Yoga Journal covers the ‘culture’ of the yoga lifestyle, and focus on the culture of being a diabetes person—issues, science, tips on storing meds—all the different aspects of living with diabetes.”

Sara succeeded in turning DF into a compelling lifestyle magazine, writing some especially inspiring columns on living with diabetes that speak to me as a woman with type 1. She still writes columns for the magazine, and one of my favorites is: A Question of Health. In it she asks whether she is “sick” because she has diabetes. Sara writes: day to day, it’s important to me—given how often I have to think about my disease—to consider myself healthy. And I am happy when I feel healthiest, swimming around in the pool with my daughter, jogging laps in the park, taking walks with my husband.

Sara continues to write from home and we are lucky for it. Her ideas about ‘fixing the image problem’ for diabetes will help people change the way they think about diabetes. This is a smart woman with diabetes.

Kim Vlasnik is a diabetes advocate living in Nebraska with her husband. She is the author of the great blog “Texting My Pancreas,” and the “You Can Do This” project.

You were diagnosed in 1986 at the age of 6. Tell me what you remember from that time. I’m a big believer that the way parents handle their kid’s diagnoses has a big impact on the way we see ourselves and the way we manage our diabetes. How did your parents approach diabetes management-do you have siblings and if so, did you feel like you were treated differently? Did you go to a diabetes camp? Did you feel overprotected or were you given independence?

There aren’t a lot of things I remember about the days following my diagnosis – learning to inject into oranges, a tupperware container with all of my new  ‘diabetes stuff’ residing on our kitchen counter, and a little bit of fear are what have stuck with me. I had known that my grandfather (who had passed before I was born) had also had type 1 diabetes and endured many of the complications, and so I knew that I now had this big, scary thing too. My parents did a great job of learning what needed to be done and tried to engage me in the process of taking care of myself. I can’t remember there being anything I wanted to do that diabetes prevented me from doing. Slumber parties, dance classes, art lessons, cheerleading – those were all experiences I still got to have.

I attended Camp Floyd Rogers in Nebraska for two years as an almost-teenager, and those experiences helped me in so many ways – though I’m not sure I realized that at the time. I got to see firsthand that I wasn’t alone in having to deal with diabetes as a person my age; I saw that other people had to take shots too. I saw that I was mostly capable of handling the diabetes stuff without my parents nearby. I think it was here that I started to taste a little bit of freedom and hope.

You’ve mentioned that you went through some years of not being in the best control (me too, I would not want to return to adolescence!). What changed? How and why did you decide to do things differently?

College was the roughest time for me diabetically speaking, as I think it is for most people. For me, this period of time also included an undiagnosed thyroid condition that sort of spiraled me out of control – of diabetes and of life. I didn’t want to have diabetes anymore, and many of my actions were true to that wish. It’s a dark place that I want to help others stay out of. I was lucky to escape it relatively unscathed.

Finding a doctor who properly diagnosed me, and subsequently finding the right combination of thyroid medication, helped me start to feel a little more like myself. Things still weren’t as good as they could have been, though. It took a few more years and an accidental finding of a few diabetes blogs and communities that really helped me own my health and feel confident and supported in doing what I needed to do. I’m not sure I would have been convinced to try an insulin pump (and definitely not a CGM, to which I am now certainly addicted) had I not found this online community when I did. I found people who felt the same things I felt and struggled with the same things I struggled with, and if they could wear those things and be okay (and even more than okay) with it, why couldn’t I? Emotional support has been essential to my overall health.

You have been a big part of the DOC since 2010 with your blog and the “You Can Do this” project. Tell me where you got the idea for the project and what makes your blog unique. (I would say your humor but I’m not going to put words in your mouth!) 

 The You Can Do This Project was born while I was on an elliptical, watching Glee. A Google Chrome commercial about the It Gets Better project came on and moved me to the point that I froze mid-stride, watching and wiping tears away. There is such power in positive realism, and in acknowledging and validating the really tough experiences in life. One of the most universal things I see from people with diabetes who first find the online community is that whatever their situation was, they “don’t feel so alone anymore.” I wanted to help foster that feeling in others by asking PWDs to share their stories: what they’ve been through, what they’re working on, and what they’ve accomplished. The project has generated dozens of videos from all walks of diabetes life, and I love that there exists this pool of videos that anyone can access when they need encouragement. And we’re not done yet!

With Texting My Pancreas, I just do what feels right. I share my story – the good, the bad, and the way ugly – because that’s what I appreciate from others. I try to help people feel a little bit better about life with diabetes, and if they actually laugh? I’m not sure how it gets better than that.

What advice would you give to other women with diabetes? Or what is the best advice you ever received about how to live well with diabetes?

One of the biggest revelations I’ve had about living with diabetes is the idea of “perfect,” and how it doesn’t actually exist. “Perfect” is one of those dangerous mythical things that can really damage your self-worth when you try to measure yourself up to it. No one is perfect. Let me say that again - no one is perfect. No one has all of the answers, and if you have diabetes, highs and lows will be there no matter what. The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep trying, keep working, keep starting over. Try as hard as you can, but also forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned – and start again tomorrow.

Heather is now a professor at Penn State studying the healing properties of arts. I talked with her recently about her paper, “The Role of Creative Expression in Diabetes: An Exploration Into the Meaning-making Process.” Following a group of 8 women with type 1 diabetes, researchers explored the role of creative expression in helping women ‘make meaning’ out of a life with chronic illness. Using narrative interviews, visual arts (photography) and creative writing, researchers found that “creative expression gave space to literally and physically make meaning through the use of artistic forms.”

Make Meaning=a search for understanding and meaningfulness that assists individuals in finding a sense of purpose in their lives.

The study showed that: The use of narrative and creative expression encourages people to recognize their emotions and attitudes about diabetes, make meaning, and creatively express how they are going to live with a chronic illness. (…) By engaging in creative expression, participants were able to share their experience of diabetes in a positive way and exert (nonclinically) a sense of control.

We are so much more than our numbers and Heather’s research is helping people with diabetes live happier and healthier lives. She offers a few tips to incorporate creativity into our diabetes management:

• Do what you love and figure out how this can relate to diabetes.
• The beauty of creative expression is that it doesn’t have to be “art,” it can be found anywhere.
• Take a walk, be attentive to nature.
• Take a gardening, creative writing, painting, or cooking class.
• Explore the connection between doing these creative activities that you love and diabetes.
• Talk to your doctor about how you feel, and tell he or she that you are more then a number!

The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes / Women & Diabetes Diabetes Lifestyle Everything Diabetes.

Excerpt taken from Chapter 6: Dating, Sex, and Marriage, When to Talk About Diabetes With Your Date

Jennifer Ahn is fairly open with her diabetes when it comes to dating:

When I was dating, it would depend on how I met the person. I usually would let them know about my diabetes prior to meeting. If it was a blind date, however, I would refrain from telling them until it looked like it was going well. I met my current significant other (my fiancé) online. After exchanging a few emails, I shared with him my background, as we were planning our first date and going biking. I didn’t want him to be alarmed if something happened during the ride. He appreciated my openness and asked some questions, that is, what to do if something did happen, how it affected me, and so forth. He asked whether it was the one I took for or insulin. It wasn’t a big deal to me. It was nice to have it out in the open. There was no shame or embarrassment.

For Lesley Hoffman Goldenberg, sharing her secret was a little more uncomfortable:

When I first started dating my husband, I was so nervous to tell him I had diabetes. We got drinks and then dinner for our first date, and I ate the entire meal and then snuck into the bathroom to give myself insulin. Not a good idea ––my sugar spiked up really high that night. For our second date, we went out o lunch and I did the same thing––ate two sushi rolls and took insulin like an hour later. I was on shots at the time, so it wasn’t as easy as it is now with my pump. I decided to tell him on our third date. After discussing it with multiple friends and my mom for hours, I decided that straightforward, nonchalant, and simple was the way to go (ironically, those are three adjectives I would never, ever use to describe diabetes). Anyway, we grabbed slices of pizza, and I said, “By the way, I have diabetes and I take insulin before I eat. It’s totally not a big deal, just wanted you to know.” (Ha, not a big deal!) He said something really nice and sensitive like, “Oh, okay, I have a coworker with diabetes so I know a little bit about it. Thanks for telling me.”

1. How old were you when you were diagnosed with diabetes and how long have you lived with diabetes? 

I was diagnosed two weeks before my 18th birthday; I was a high school senior, excited to go to prom, graduate and start college.  I had come down with a pretty typical throat infection after a stressful couple of weeks of school, and started getting very dehydrated, lethargic and thin shortly after.  I knew it had to be something other than the throat infection – I had lost 15 pounds in two weeks!  After falling into DKA and being hospitalized, I was dealt a hand I didn’t care for.

I’ve lived with type 1 diabetes for 12.5 years now.  At first it was difficult for me to cope with having it, and I went through every stage that typically exists with being diagnosed with a chronic disease – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance.  I didn’t reach the acceptance stage until about 3 years into having the disease, and after a major bout with depression complete with several hospitalizations for DKA.  Once I did finally accept it, I slowly began to test frequently, count carbohydrates and take my insulin, and I honestly wanted to kick myself after discovering how manageable it was – even more so now that I’m on a pump, CGM and am very active!

2. On the insulinDependence site your bio reads: 

“I’ve never really been an athlete and wasn’t involved in sports until about two years ago when I discovered triathlon.  Since then, I’ve competed in 19 races overall, but more importantly I’ve become passionate about using exercise to control my disease and inspiring others to do the same.”

I find it hard to believe that you were “never really an athlete” because you have accomplished so much in such little time since then! Can you tell me about this experience…how your life has changed as a result of becoming an athlete?

I guess I find it hard, even now, to consider myself much of an athlete because I still feel very new to triathlon and sports in general.  Many people I train and race with have been athletes since they could walk!  When I open my armoire in my living room filled with all my gear and plastered with all my past race bibs, however, I feel very accomplished.  Part of my personal stigma with the word “athlete” is that it implies you are good at sports.  I mean, I train and race a lot, but I’m pretty mediocre in my performance so far.  My motivation is fun and health far before competition.  This has been an eye opening experience that, as cliched as it sounds, if I can do it, anybody can do this stuff!  My life has changed considerably since being bitten by this bug.  I eat, sleep and manage my time much more efficiently.  I’ve become more outgoing and confident, and I’ve even shifted my career goals to becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator and Nutritionist, something I’m currently in school for.

3. How do you keep your blood sugars in check during exercise, on both training and competition days?

Training and competing with diabetes can really be just like eating, sleeping or traveling with diabetes – you just have to experiment with a lot of trial and error, and be prepared for the “what ifs.”  I find what works best for me during training and racing is to reduce my basal rate on my pump during, depending on the activity.  For example, I typically run much lower running than I do swimming or cycling, so I reduce my basal to 50% while running as opposed to 70% with other activities.  Because my insulin sensitivity is higher during and after exercise, I will also cut my correction and meal boluses in half two hours before, and up to six hours after an event.  Also, one of the most useful tools I’ve used to date is my Dexcom CGM.  For longer distance races, I do check my BG every few hours, but in between checking, and during shorter distance events, I rely entirely on what my CGM tells me, and I take in carbs accordingly.  Certain things are always essential for the “oh crap” moments – I always carry glucose tabs, or usually something like an energy gel or two on me just in case of lows.  When I cycle, I keep one bottle filled with plain water and the other filled with carbohydrate and electrolyte powder.  And for longer distance races, I make sure I have two infusion sets for my pump in two different areas of my body, just in case one should fail, and I usually keep a pre-filled syringe of insulin in transition should I go wildly high (exercise also releases stress hormones which sometimes block the absorption of insulin).

4. What is the biggest challenge to living with diabetes as a woman? What, if any, has been positive about living with diabetes?

Although I’m now married, living with diabetes as a young single woman was a nightmare – the fear or embarrassment of telling the person you’re dating, the fear of being intimate with infusion sets and sensors sticking out of your body and the frustration with not being able to be quite as spontaneous as you would sometimes like!  Lucky for me, I met my husband five years ago, who is very supportive and constantly praises me for having the strength to deal with all I do.  As much as I would love to do away with this disease, having it has taught me a lot about myself.  I’ve become fascinated with health and nutrition, and am now a student nurse aspiring to help others with diabetes.  I also appreciate knowing more about my own body and metabolism than the average person and consider myself somewhat of an expert on the subject by now.

5. What has been the greatest piece of advice you’ve received about living with diabetes and what advice would you share with others?

I had a T1 Endocrinologist once tell me “you and this disease are in it for the long haul – it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”  I keep reminding myself of this when I get upset over a BG reading or a higher than I would like A1c.  We all have our battles with diabetes, but it’s important not to let it consume us.  I am a type 1 diabetic, yes, but I’m also a wife, a daughter, a sister, a student and yeah, maybe an athlete as well.