DEVELOPING A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM IS EVERYTHING
We feel fortunate to have the strong support system we do. From family to friends, coworkers, and all those we connect with throughout the online community, we know there is someone out there to help whenever and wherever we may need it. We believe reaching out and connecting with others has improved our own lives with diabetes as much as we have shared tips/tricks with others!
We are definitely each other's biggest support. Being diagnosed just three days apart and living with the highs and lows of T1D for 5792 days together and counting... We could not understand each other any better than we do. Everyone deserves to have that support available and that’s why we created our platform @doubletheinsulin. We have created lifelong friendships with others that live with diabetes and their supporters. The community support is indescribable… Let’s chat!!
GET INVOLVED
online & in your local community!
IDEAS: Follow instagram and facebook blogs, join local facebook groups to create or join T1 and T2 meetups and socials, attend JDRF events,.. and don’t ever hesitate to reach out to others in public when you spot diabetes tech!
STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
There is so much to talk about when it comes to exercising with type one diabetes. First and foremost- staying active is essential for us to keep our mental health and glucose control in its most optimal state. We have found that our trends are easier to manage and we spend more time in target range (due to the increased insulin sensitivity, mood, and eating habits) on days in which we exercise!!
Throughout exercise, blood sugar levels can change rapidly depending on how your body reacts to the various types of activity. For example, when our workout regimen incorporates high intensity or a prolonged duration of cardio activity, it is likely we will experience a rapid drop in BG, therefore we prefer to start our workouts with a blood glucose above 120 mg/dL. Another important aspect: timing. Timing is everything!! Prior to the workout, we have to consider active insulin (how much insulin is on board & how long ago it was given) & also set a temporary basal or “temp target” at least 30 minutes in advance. We ALWAYS make sure we have rapid acting sugar on hand in case our sugar does not stay in range like we hope for- and LIFE HAPPENS!
It takes a LOT of patience and trial and error to find techniques that work for you. Keeping consistency with your workout regimen certainly helps! We understand that blood glucose excursions aren’t completely avoidable as T1Ds we have learned so much about how our bodies react. The more we have learned about our trends and find ways that work best, we can feel even more accomplished after completing a workout with a BG in range!!
We would love to hear your experience with exercise!!
Stay ON TOP of appointments (in addition to your endo check ups)!
It can be so nerve-racking going in for our annual appointments even thought we know they are necessary if living with type one diabetes. Although we try our best to control our glucose levels each and every day, we understand the long-term complications that are associated with diabetes. We often preach "you can be as healthy as anyone living without diabetes as long as you stay on top of those sugars and take care of yourself”. We are NOT perfect and experience those daily highs and lows- which is why daily management is key and annual check ups are just as important to detect any changes early.
Yearly eye exams and dilation are to check for diabetic retinopathy and microvascular changes. Retinopathy affects up to 80% of all people with diabetes > 10 years, however 90% of these new cases can be reduced through treatment and monitoring.
Visiting the dentist regularly is another appointment we stay on top of! According to the American Dental Association, periodontal disease is the most common disease affecting those with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes can cause dry mouth, higher risk of cavities, higher risk of infections in the mouth (thrush), and gum disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis if left untreated.
Some important habits of dental health include:
Brushing twice daily for ✌🏼 minutes and flossing ☝🏼 daily, following BGs closely 😜, chewing sugar-free gum to promote saliva production, avoiding smoking and tobacco products 🚬, consuming a healthy diet 🥬, and visiting your dental professional regularly to stay ahead of potential problems. 👍🏻
We visit the dentist every 4-6 months! Do you agree that there's no better feeling than leaving the dentist with a fresh polish and good checkup!?
USE TECHNOLOGY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
We are constantly learning from each other & the online community about traveling with T1D, ways to combat workout lows or stressful highs, pump & sensor tips and tricks,. and the list goes on!
Diabetes technology can fit into your lifestyle as you need and wish! For us, the use of automode on our 770G pumps helps us to live life with less worry as the basal insulin is automatically adjusting every 5 minutes with consideration of our CGM readings. Whether its using temp target with exercise, suspend before low when not in automode, or having a day in manual mode when taking a CGM break - technology is here to help you :)
So many people in the diabetes community are here to support YOU!! Just reach out!!
