2017

Happy New Year!

I've decided that 2017 is going to be an exciting year.
Don't question my control over that outcome, just embrace my positivity.

Why you ask? Well:

  • I'm starting a CGM (sensor that checks your blood sugar 24/7 and alarms when you're going low) full time this week
  • I'm travelling in short bursts while I finally get a holiday from uni and placement
  • I'm reteaching myself French
  • I'm actually reading for fun for the first time in over a year
  • I'm finishing my degree this year
I'm excited. Also terrified. But there is some actual excitement in there.
I've already made some amazing gains this year and I'm only 9 days in!

Recently I went on a camping trip to Forster with a friend. It was incredible, and I finally got back into photography which is something I've been putting off for a long time. 


Going on this trip was a huge deal for me because I haven't been camping since I was 14, a few months pre-diagnosis. Camping is hard because there's no power (except in communal areas), increased incidental activity giving more opportunity for low sugars and it's just a huge change in routine. 
I'm not awfully fond of changes in routine.
Until now! I did so many things on that trip that I never thought I could do with t1.
Little disclaimer: Other people with T1 can do these things, it's just that I was always too scared of them.

I went on a long walk for hours in dreadful weather. Considering I go low just from going to the shops, this was an enormous deal for me. But I did it. I did multiple walks and only went low once.
Yes it was a nasty low and resulted in some pretty wicked sunburn because I had to sit on a beach in direct sunlight for ages to treat it. But it was okay. I was okay. 

I had a carb-tastic breakfast of pancakes mixed with chocolate chips that I had NO idea how to bolus for. Then I went on a long walk. One hypo? I came off easy.

I had a drink and then went on a long walk at night. I NEVER do that because alcohol lowers my sugar quite a bit, as does walking. But off I went doing both at the same time and I was fine. 

I recognise that for many people this might sound like a list of very easy things. For me though, they were enormous challenges that I've avoided for what's soon to be 7 years.

A close friend of mine likes to remind me that being brave isn't the absence of fear. It's doing something despite that fear. She'll get a kick out of me finally breaking on this topic- I felt pretty darn brave doing that stuff.

I think a lot of the time I let my fears of hypos and imperfection stop me from living. 
Not any more.
I've got two more trips planned for the coming weeks and I figure if I can do this without a CGM, imagine what I can do with one.

Happy New Year indeed

Comments

  1. Ramblings 10 January 2017 at 08:37

    Good on you! I'd never stray abroad without my mum because I was terrified, even holidays at home would give me the shivers. I'd had a drink (or three) on my 29th birthday and promised my friend via video chat that I'd visit her...she'd just moved to Melbourne! I did it and it was amazing. Enjoy life T1 shouldn't stop us it just makes the challenge harder. ��

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bec10 January 2017 at 08:42

      Woahh all the way to Melbourne? One heck of a flight, fantastic!!
      I'm hoping to go over to the UK at the end of the year/early 2018... let's cross that bridge when we come to it haha

      You're 100% right :)

      Delete
  2. Rick Phillips10 January 2017 at 13:41

    I hope you enjoy the sensor. Its has made such a big difference in my life. I honestly do not think a person should use insulin without one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bec10 January 2017 at 14:10

      Thanks Rick, I hope it goes okay. Do you use dex or medtronic?
      When it works it makes life so much easier. Comforting to know that it'll tell me when I'm going low.

      Delete
  3. Ashleigh11 January 2017 at 23:24

    Bravo Bec! I felt the same way the first time I did a long walk after being diagnosed...so super proud and happy. Its a much bigger accomplishment than anyone without diabetes can perceive. Lows can hit out of nowhere and leave you feeling wrecked, so I was (and am still to a degree) afraid of what would happen if I got a low and have to walk for a long time afterwards.

    Keep taking small trips, they are awesome. I hope to see more of your trips in 2017.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bec12 January 2017 at 08:41

      <3 Such a good feeling.
      Just took me 7 years lol.

      You sure will!

      Delete

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