Diabetes, gastroparesis and weight loss

Hi everyone! As some of you may have noticed I have been AWOL for quite some time on social media and although I am trying to keep up with my diabetes activities I'm finding it a bit of a struggle. The main reason for this is the sudden and (currently) unexplained lack of energy I have been experiencing which has left me with little to no "get up and go" to do the extra work that I used to do on my blog. I say it's unexplained, but there are a few reasons which stand out to me such as being unwell with gastroparesis which had caused me to vomit almost daily for around 3 months now, sometimes up to 4 - 5 times a day. Sexy, right?

A perfect appointment?

So I had my first diabetes appointment at Kings College Hospital (London) last week and here's a little summary of how it went in my latest Diabetes Times Article. Enjoy!

Laura xx

A letter to my parents...

Please click on this link to access my latest piece for The Diabetes Times; A letter to my parents 14 years after my diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes.

Laura 

Insulin pumping 4 years on

To begin this blog I must send out an apology. It would appear it has been 6 months since I last posted on here and although I have regular thoughts on blogger topics that I'd like to share, my time and energy levels have taken me away from my previous health-related brain dumps. I'd like to say that I can now go back to blogging as I had before, however working as an actual real life nurse now (I know, it's a scary thought) is far more physically and mentally demanding than I could have ever expected. That's not to say that I don't love my job, I absolutely adore it in so many ways, I just now need to summon enough energy and motivation to get back to my old advocacy and social media ways. It would appear that people have, sadly, lied to me, and coffee does not provide adequate support in summoning these blogging essentials.  

Meal time management and hypoglycemia

A little while ago the team at Novo Nordisk approached me to write a blog and record a video about how I manage my diabetes to avoid hypoglycemia. As food is one of my favourite things in the world I decided to focus on carbohydrate counting and the way that it has helped me to overcome my highs and lows around food. 

Please click on this link to read my blog and watch my video. 

Please also give Novo a follow on twitter for more updates. 

Laura x 

Diabetes and Social Media

Click on the picture above to watch my video about how the Diabetes Online Community and social media has helped me. The video has been made for the new BERTIE online diabetes education programme which is being relaunched in September 2016! Keep an eye out for an update on BERTIE here where I will share more details. 

Laura x 

Guest Blog - So what is a diabetic diet?

A big thanks to Dan for writing this guest post! You can check out Dan's social media platforms at the end of this blog.

How many times have you been asked the question:

"But you're a diabetic, can you eat that?"

If you're anything like me, it's been a fair few times.

I understand the well meaning of this from those who aren't familiar with diabetes. They've heard certain stories from the media and word of mouth about how diabetes is essentially a sugar related disease and they've assumed that you can't eat sugar or anything fun.

Blog exclusive: The UK LibreLink app launch

                       

Exciting diabetes techy stuff on the blog today! 

Abbott's LibreLink app has been launched in the UK for android users who wear the FreeStyle Libre glucose sensors, with an aim of making diabetes management even more simple. You can get the app in the Play Store if you have a smartphone with NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities. 

Diabetes week 2016

Get your 'Faces of Diabetes' picture here 

It's Diabetes Week and this year's theme is 'Setting the Record Straight'. This means patients, carers, professionals and charities are taking to the streets (and the online streets) to dispel myths around diabetes. Join the Diabetes Online Community (#DOC) in telling your stories, experiences, facts and videos and help set the record straight about what diabetes is and what it is like to live with. 

Seeing Beyond Diabetic Retinopathy

According to Time hop, five years ago today was a very important moment in my life, although at that time I couldn’t see past the fear and uncertainty I was facing. I had come to a dead end and I couldn’t see my future ahead of me...

Continue reading my column at The Diabetes Times.

Laura/Ninjabetic x 

Review of the new Carbs and Cals books

A few weeks ago the lovely people at Carbs and Cals contacted me to see if I wanted to provide feedback on their new books; Carb and Calorie Counter, Smoothies and Salads. Of course I said yes straight away, these would be the perfect tools to aid my new diet/exercise and overhaul of my diabetes/gastroparesis management, all rolled into three delicious looking books! (cont)

A letter to my 16 year old self...

Dear 16 year old me,

One day everything will change for you. You may not feel it now, or for a very long time in fact, but one day everything will start to get better. I promise you that.

You’ve just been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. You’re scared, angry, confused and currently you’re very much in denial about your condition. You’re hiding away from it as much as you possibly can and at the same time you’re trying to fight it, to protect yourself and your family from the way it makes you feel. It’s exhausting, isn’t it? Each day is an ever weakening battle to muster up the energy to move, to think, even to smile, but you but you carry on regardless because you don’t know what else you should do. You don’t really understand what it entails, what this diagnosis will bring, and what you do know of it has frightened you enough to make you want to run as far as you possibly can and hide from it... (cont)

Let's talk about sex (and diabetes), baby!

"I thought about my own knowledge when it comes to sex and diabetes and realised that this page seemed to be missing from the book. You know that giant dusty diabetes book that most of us edit and adapt in our own unique way..."

It's time to grab a tea or coffee, maybe a biscuit too (go on, treat yourself!) and settle down on the sofa to read more about sex and diabetes in my latest column for The Diabetes Times.

Laura x

It's okay to be selfish

I’ve realised recently that it’s okay to occasionally be selfish. 

I’ve realised that saying yes isn’t always a good thing and that by occasionally saying no I’m taking better care of myself. 

I’ve realised that the activities I enjoy can be difficult to get pleasure from if I don't think about my own needs as well as others.

I’ve realised that comparing myself to others is destructive and can impact on me physically and emotionally... (cont)

Diabetes Care - What Works

**Disclaimer** This blog is about methods that work for me and my diabetes, in my clinic setting, with the team that provides my care. We all have very different care, funding, time, management techniques, preferences etc, so this blog is from my personal experience and musings.

I’m conscious that when I’m asked to present at conferences, training sessions, lectures or write for journals and other publications, many of the requests I receive are about what went wrong with my diabetes and my care. When I deliver a presentation I always ensure that whoever is listening understands that what happened was in my past and is not my present or future. A great deal has changed in my T1D care over the last 4 years and I have a lot to be thankful for... (cont) 

Creating new T1 Diabetes models of care

The weekend just gone was very special for me and one that I will remember as the first time that I have ever felt truly positive about change in Type 1 Diabetes care. 

I was invited to attend an inaugural meeting in which patients with T1D, carers, Health Care Professionals (HCPs) and commissioners would come together to develop ideas to improve the care that patients receive throughout the UK. It was an honour to be asked and to be amongst some of the best in the world of diabetes... (cont) 

December Favourites

Find my favourite December purchases here... (cont)

Dear Doctor

Dear Doctor,

I don’t know if you’ll remember me, we met 13 years ago in your GP surgery. You were the first Health Care Professional that I had spoken to in the UK following my diagnosis in Paris. You had a kind face and you were friendly and welcoming... (cont) 

My monthly article for The Diabetes Times is a delicate discussion about understanding the reasons behind insulin restriction, omission and diabulimia. Please click this link to read it. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, so please comment here or find me on twitter (@ninjabetic1) or on facebook (ninjabetics) to let me know what you think.

Laura x 

November 2015 Favourites

Here are some of my favourite diabetes things that I've been using this month. I should really have made this into a video but maybe this will work for now... Please let me know what your favourite diabetes things are! (cont)