Michelle Kowalski is a writer, editor and photography hobbiest from St. Louis. She now lives in mid-Missouri with her husband and three young children where she works for the nation's largest agricultural magazine.
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 upgraded 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. She maintains a blog at
Just Too Sweet.
I thought carefully about what I would wear today, and reconsidered several times. I applied my makeup with an eye toward the wow factor. I wasn't trying to show off, I just feel incredibly good today and wanted to reflect that outwardly.
Truthfully, I couldn't wait to get to my appointment with my endo. Truthfully, I've been waiting for this for some time. Truthfully, if I were still on Byetta I think I would have dreaded this day. Truthfully, with a solid month or so of excellent blood sugars thanks to Novolog and a fairly decent walking schedule, I was proud to report to my endo about how well I believe I'm doing. (READ MORE)
Cure. Disappear. Diabetes.
The one nightly newscast that I trust and enjoy the most threw those words out there tonight. Carelessly.
I am absolutely fuming, and I can't ever remember feeling like this over a news story.
Granted, Brian Williams on his newscast initially said "type 2 diabetes", but then the lines got blurred and type 2 diabetes became just "diabetes." The Associated Press story on the MSNBC web site, does not make a distinction; it buried a mention of type 2 (not even a whisper of type 1) toward the end of the story. This makes me even more mad.
I'm speaking as a person who masqueraded as type 2 for three years, too.
The story summarizes an Australian study that reveals that gastric bypass or lap-band surgery can "cure" diabetes. Brian Williams says type 2, the AP story just says diabetes. (READ MORE)
I have a confession: I haven't exercised since before Thanksgiving. E-gads! Ugh, and I'm so feeling it. My pants are feeling tighter, I'm more tired, I'm more cranky, it's harder to bend over and tie my shoes, blah, blah, blah.
There are so many excuses I could hand out for this (stress being a big one), all of which would come back to me staying up later (right now it's almost my bedtime and I should be getting ready for bed and not writing, for example) and, therefore, having trouble forcing myself out of bed in the morning. I tried blaming it on my alarm clock, too, but I think even that is a cop out.
I absolutely hate making New Year's resolutions. I can never stick to them and I never have really taken them seriously. I don't really know how to get myself to stick to that kind of goal. (READ MORE)
This is not the post I intended to write this morning.
Today, I woke up to a fasting of 151, which is pretty darn good considering where I've been lately. I dressed for my morning walk, sat on the couch and ate what I'm now referring to as a snack--a small cup of yogurt, just 15 grams of carbs. It was all I needed to sustain me through my walk. I used to eat half of a peanut butter sandwich, but it's really hard to choke down that much dryness before the sun even comes up. But I digress.
I decided that with a fairly decent fasting, so few carbs and a 30-minute walk upon me that I didn't need to take any insulin. I mean, 15 grams of carbs! C'mon! (READ MORE)
When to tell?
I have accepted a new job. It's in a new city (half way across the country!!). It's with new people. New people who don't know that I have diabetes.
It was during my four-year tenure at my current job that I was diagnosed. I had no problem telling just about everyone in my very small office about diabetes. I already knew them and their personalities.
It's different now. I have a problem with going in to the boss on my first day and saying, "Hey, guess what..." I also have a problem with waiting three months until my benefits kick in, or even longer when someone sees me checking my sugar (or doesn't know what to do if I pass out) to say, "Oh, yeah, maybe I should have told you sooner."
(READ MORE)
Dear Diabetes Supply Bag,
It is with regret that I write to inform you that your services are no longer needed. Though your time with me was short, you have provided me with dependability, style and functionality that I will forever appreciate.
I remember when I found you. My family and I were leaving on our first airplane trip. For the sake of airline carryone rules, I needed something I could pile all my diabetes supplies and regular purse supplies in. I searched the purses and handbags area at my supercenter rather quickly. Some bags were too big, some were too small. Some were just plain ugly. Not only did I need something for that trip, but I needed the bag to be functional after the trip, as well. (READ MORE)