advertisement

Category:
Type 1Type 2Oral MedsInsulin & Pumps
ChildrenFoodHighs & LowsRelationships
ComplicationsEmotionsIn the NewsFitness
Women's IssuesMen's IssuesReal Life


files/pictures/picture-20.jpg
Michelle Kowalski

Michelle Kowalski is a writer, editor and photography hobbiest from St. Louis. She now lives in Phoenix with her husband and three young children where she is an editor for a global human resources association.


Diagnosed in February 2005 with pre-diabetes, Michelle started on a regimen of healthier eating, a daily 30-minute walk and oral medications. Just two months later, she learned she was pregnant with her third child. With input from a diabetes educator, Michelle's diagnosis was changed to type 2 diabetes based on the log she kept. She started on Lantus and later in her pregnancy took Novolog to manage her blood sugar.


Post-baby, Michelle continued on Lantus, started Metformin, tried Byetta and eventually went back to Novolog because it offered her the best control. In January 2008, as part of her quest to start on an insulin pump, Michelle learned that she actually has type 1 diabetes.



I chanted: Iwillgetupinthemorning. Iwillgetupinthemorning. Iwillgetupinthemorning.

 

I got up on time.

 

I did not go back to sleep. (Monday is easy, surprisingly.)

 

I left on time.

 

I did not freeze in the 45 degrees.

 

I pushed.

 

I coached.

 

I encouraged.

 

I praised.

 

I wondered where the Drill Sergeant was.

 

I looked for the coyote I've seen three times.

 

I was surprised my muscles didn't ache.

 

I praised.

 

I encouraged.

 

I walked for the first time in two weeks.

 

I breathed the cold air in deeply.

  (READ MORE)



Rating (3):
3.666665
Email this Comments (2):: Add a comment


The magazine I work for is not for health-care professionals. It’s not even close to being something read by health-care professionals. Yet the audience deals with health-care and insurance issues on a regular basis. So for me to read and edit a story about wellness or diseases is not uncommon.
 

I have become quite defensive of the truths about diabetes and of making sure people understand the differences between type 1 and type 2. As someone who was originally diagnosed with type 2 and who lived with that label for three years I know the blame that can be placed on the victim.
  (READ MORE)



Rating (3):
4.333335
Email this Comments (4):: Add a comment


I have not had good blood sugar the last four days. Watching the little blips on Dex go crazy high and then plummet below my "low" mark has been nerve wracking to say the least.

 

What did I eat? Did I not exercise enough? Did I overdo my exercise? Am I stressed? Is it hormones? Is my meter calibrated right? Did I calibrate Dex right? What did I eat? Did I forget to bolus? Did I miscalculate carbs?

 

What did *I* do?

 

The last four days I blamed myself for my roller coaster blood sugars. They were horrible, really. Highs so high and not responding to insulin. And then when those highs finally started coming down I felt comfortable enough to eat and my sugar would shoot back up. I think Dex woke me up most of those four nights.

  (READ MORE)



Rating (0):
0
Email this Comments (0):: Add a comment


I went shopping last night for just one new outfit and for the first time in a very long time I tried not to be so hard on myself about the way I look.
 

I’ve been heavy for a long time. I remember my mom helping me try to lose weight when I was in sixth grade. I think I lost 13 lb. and was beside myself with excitement.
 

I can’t ever remember a time when I was happy with the way my body looks. Though when I look back now at pictures of myself in college I realize that I wasn’t as heavy as I thought I was, didn’t look as undesirable as I thought I was.
  (READ MORE)



Rating (0):
0
Email this Comments (1):: Add a comment


ADM logo"You know," I said to The Mr. this morning as I sat on the bed putting on makeup and getting ready for work, "it's really hard to get out of bed in the morning when we're snuggling."

 

He smiled and I leaned over to kiss him.

 

"It is nice, isn't it?" he said. "But you got up and left anyway."

 

"Well, I wanted to make sure I got to walk this morning because I'm not sure I'll be able to go tomorrow," I said. The Mr. looked at me confusedly. "They're calling for rain. And the high is only 63. It's going to be cold and wet," I argued.

  (READ MORE)



Rating (1):
5
Email this Comments (2):: Add a comment


ADMThe lowest A1C I ever had was 5.9. I've been striving to get back there for years. My highest: 9. I continue to strive not to get back there ever again. And yet I can't seem to get below 6.8 and when I do get there I don't stay there for long.

 

At my last endo appointment I asked K if they were going to do an A1C. I was sorely disappointed when she said that since it hadn't been three months since my last one that my insurance likely wouldn't cover it and that the out of pocket cost was about $50.

 

"I don't think it's worth it," she said.

  (READ MORE)



Rating (2):
5
Email this Comments (2):: Add a comment

advertisement

Julia
JuliaJulia lives behind the Tofu Curtain, in the Pioneer Valley, in Western Massachusetts. It's a nice place. She likes it there. Her eldest daughter, Olivia, has type 1 diabetes. She's also 13. It's a real toss-up as to which is more difficult -- the diabetes or the teen-age drama. (Read More)
Lindsey Guerin
Lindsey GuerinLindsey is a typical, yet unique, Texas girl who loves shopping, movies and reading. She loves to travel and take risks. She dreams of diabetes cures, never-ending cheesecake and her own airplane. The rest you can discover in her blog! (Read More)
Our Other Bloggers: Brenda Bell, Carey Potash, Michelle Kowalski, George Simmons, Nicole Purcell, Scott Marvel, Kim Doty, Kerri Sparling,