Pat's Influence, My Diabetes Educator
15 years ago I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I know what it's like to struggle with this disease daily, and I want to help people who have recently been diagnosed. I had a lot of help and support from my diabetes educator, Pat. She explained what diabetes was and how to manage it. She made it seem less scary.
Pat influenced me to become a diabetes nutritionist. She helps me by telling me diabetes is not holding me back. Diabetes is a part of me and I want to help people the same way Pat has helped me. The diagnosis of diabetes was a complete shock. The first thing my mom told me was to go to the doctors and have my first insulin injection. It all felt like it was just a dream.
I couldn't stop crying. My mind was on one thought. I will have diabetes for the rest of my life. She calmed me down by showing me all the people like me. Every time I see her she brightens up my day. I am a better person because of her advice. Diabetes felt like a jail sentence, but talking to her helped me see it as a part of who I am, and not necessarily a bad thing. She gave me my life back through support and relieved my mom's worry about me being away from her. She helped me through difficult times. When I was home I could call her and ask for help to lower or raise my blood sugar. She is and will always be there for me. Pat is more than my diabetes educator, she is my friend.
When I first met her I didn't know how to handle my diabetes. I didn't even know what it was. She gave me advice and explained everything will be okay. I saw and remember what she did for me and appreciate it every day. It took a long time for me to heal. My appointments with Pat helped me to be confident and have a positive attitude. It's good to have someone that gets it but sometimes there is no answer; it's just the way it is.
Now, that I see Pat she keeps me in focus. It helps to not think about the bad parts about diabetes. It's nice to go to a "Step out Walk" for curing diabetes every year because she has influenced me to make a difference. I feel good every time I go because I know it's a part of me and Pat is proud of who I am. I learned that I'm a strong person, and I will not let diabetes take me down. Being a diabetes nutritionist will make me feel accomplished and I'll know that she got me here and will always be there for me in the future.
How To Choose The Right Endocrinologist or Diabetes Educator?
You need to find an endocrinologist/Diabetes Educator that you feel comfortable with that doesn't judge you for a "bad" diabetes day, like my endo Dr. Arshad. To clarify we don't have bad days in diabetes management, because everyday we successfully made it through another 24hr period with diabetes. And remember there's no good or bad number, it's just data! A wise diabetes educator, Pat, taught me.
You are in control of your own body. Parents and doctors may help guide you, but you are the one dealing with it 24/7, no time off.
You may miss a bolus or not test your b.s. as often as you should, but this is an ongoing disease, and sometimes you may need a break from checking 6+ times a day for 9 years of my disease by at least 4 times daily. That's being human, we all need a somewhat break, even people with diabetes that is a job all day, every day.
And not only checking your b.s. every time your pump says to check your sugars to stay in auto mode for 80% of the time, endo's should be lenient for this rule. Especially, when it's winter and cold outside, your fingers are sore, and you only have 8 to choose from, and we all know we choose certain fingers, right?
It's also ok not to always give insulin 15 minutes before because especially at restaurants you should carb count once you see the food, or either know what you're going to eat for the meal.
My Aunt Bertie's Monologue
Hello everyone; my name is Alexis DeCicca. Unfortunately, we are here today to say our last goodbyes to my Aunt Bertie on Nov 3rd, 2014.
Today we give thanks that she is not suffering anymore and is in a beautiful place with her father Marion N. DeCicca, mother Marian B. DeCicca, brother, Donald E. DeCicca, and husband, John D'Eredita of forty-five years.
My aunt is survived by her brother John B. DeCicca; sister-in-Law/brother-in-Law, Norm, and Ad Wesley; several nieces and nephews, cousins, many, many friends, and her special dog "Taffy."
My Aunt Bertie is not surrounded by the stars,
but instead the new beginnings of heaven, where she flows through her family and friends,
and shines down above
to let everyone know she is happy.
Her death is not blowing out a light,
but rather capturing the light
within us.
Life is set to people,
we earn it by contributing.
Love your life, flawless life,
Enhance all things of your soul.
When you rise in the morning,
give thanks for brightness,
every day is a blessing
This is a gift for me to be here to today to share some wonderful memories of my Aunt Bertie. I remember vividly when the first time my brother Johnnie, twin sister Paige, and I waved goodbye on the big yellow school bus. She was so proud. She came every year when we were young and took pictures with us on our brick front porch with a maroon framed door.
This next story is what made her feel like she had kids of her own. The one and only, Taffy. My mom, brother, sister, and I knew something was up. My Aunt Bertie had a big black coat on and it looked too puffy. The next thing we knew, something was moving around. Load and behold, out pops Taffy. She was the cutest dog. You could see Bertie light up whenever she looked at her dog. Taffy was her whole world and she was Taffy's.
Me and Paige would have our signature sleepovers at her house after staying up late watching movies, playing Go Fish and Right Left Center, and painting our nails. After every meal, Aunt Bertie would feed her dog some leftover human food. Sometimes she would eat better than us, eating prime rib or chicken breast.
It was also a ritual to go to Oak Island with Taffy, Johnnie, and Paige after we had a sleepover, watch the ducks, and occasionally feed them. Of course, we can't forget when we had duck poop all over our sneakers, and guess who cleaned them? That's right, she did.
The last unique memory I have of her, symbols the closeness we had of each other. We decided to take a road trip to New Hope Mills diner/store. She was so dedicated to the trip to find a gluten-free restaurant, that we drove for a whole hour. We asked a woman for directions at a gas station and went in the completely wrong direction. Lastly, Aunt Bertie was so happy to see another human being, that she almost ran down a mailman to get his attention. We finally found the place and laughed about it for a week and told everybody she knew how much fun we had looking for the place.
Live, laugh, and love often,
find the best in others,
to leave the world a little better,
at the rebirth of Spring, we remember them.
Diabetes Burnout and Mental Health
Hi everyone! For me diabetes burnout effects me personally. For almost 9 years of having type 1, I've experienced diabetes burn out multiple times...
Testing (pricking my finger) 6 to 8 times a day, remembering to count carbs, change pump infusion sets, order prescriptions/pump, and sensor supplies, while being on hold for numerous times, health insurance, administer insulin shots when I run out of pump supplies/too high b.s (blood sugar), feeling lows/highs, things that affect my b.s-exercise, my emotions, too much or too little insulin, my period...
Celiac Disease- (which is linked between type 1: it's the same gene that causes Type 1 diabetes)(accidentally eating gluten: wheat, barley, rye, and oats); which drops my blood sugar tremendously low really fast by not absorbing nutrients (the carbs I eat), without low warnings, ranging from my lowest; 32mg/dL (1.8mmol/L) to 70mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L).