Type One Diabetes Myths – What It’s Really Like As A Type 1 Diabetic

I’m sick of being judged and misunderstood for having type one diabetes. I’m not going to sugarcoat this…
At school, I remember my teacher talking to the class about being healthy. She said to eat your five a day, to do exercise, and to get plenty of sleep, because nobody wants to be unhealthy.
“People who are unhealthy become overweight, and can get nasty things like heart disease and diabetes, like Juliet has got.”
Everybody turned to look disapprovingly at me. I felt like I’d done something horribly wrong. But what did I have to feel guilty about?
I have been a type one diabetic since I was seven. A lot of my memories pre-diabetes have faded, and I struggle to remember a life that didn’t involve blood test strips and insulin vials. It’s a manageable, yet inconvenient disease, but the biggest bother to me will always be other people’s misconceptions. Queue the rant.
Now, let’s make something clear from the beginning: I know that non-diabetics have no reason to be experts on the disease. Of course, there are many diseases about which I’m sure I’m very misinformed myself. However, a lack of knowledge is all the more reason for people to stop telling me how to deal with my condition. Funnily enough, as a diabetic, I know more than you. So listen and learn, people.
I can eat sugar. Stop judging me when I do.
“My Grandma’s diabetic, and she can’t eat cake, so you can’t either,” is a personal favourite from ignorant non-diabetics. I have lost count of the number of times people have judged me for eating something sugary.
No, I am not rebelling. Continue reading

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Post-Workout Meals and Diabetes: How to Fuel for Success

Post-Workout Meals and Diabetes: How to Fuel for Success
Editors Note:Ben Tzeel is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Im going to the gym. It needs to happen. I need to get in shape, you tell yourself day after day, for months.
Well guess what? That day has finally come. You went to the gym and just completed a challenging workout. Congratulations! Then you remember the old mantra, You cant out-train a bad diet and you rush home to eat a healthy snack.
What should I need to eat to look and feel great? When should I eat it? How will it affect my blood sugar?Why do I even need a snack?
Which brings me to What is the point of a post-workout meal?
When doing an intense workout, your body turns to a few sources for energy:
After an intense workout, your body wants energy and wants it NOW. There is no wait a minute. So how does our body respond? We turn to the most accessible sources: glycogen and (some) blood glucose.
Did you know that glycogen is branched chains of glucose stored in the liver and muscles for energy use? While blood glucose is convenient since it is already sitting in the blood in usable form, the average person carries 1500-2000 calories worth of stored glycogen, and our blood glucose is limited.
Okay, why does this matter? you might ask.
Heres why: a reduction in glycogen is associated with fatigue.
You know when you hear runners say they feel like theyve hit a wall towards the end of a long race? That would be glycogen depletion, boys and girls.
Fatigue = decrease i Continue reading

Diabetes & Tattoos: The ONLY 2 Things You Need to Know

Diabetes & Tattoos: The ONLY 2 Things You Need to Know
Diabetics cant or shouldnt get tattoos would likely be uttered from the same person who would say people with diabetes cant or shouldnt eat carbs. Not only is it an ignorant, projected opinion filled with misinformation, but it is simply incorrect.
For some odd reason, people with diabetes get treated like we have leprosy and get told we cant do anything and that gets pretty frustrating at times especially because it is the furthest thing from the truth!
Getting a tattoo is a personal choice and if you decide to get a tattoo, diabetes or no diabetes, you need to make sure of the following:
The tattoo shop is accredited, licensed, up-to-date legally, and clean
The tattoo artist has good reviews not only of the quality of his or her work (no one wants a bad tat, right?) but the healing process
You are willing to 100% adhere to the healing procedure as directed by your artist
There are many in-home, or street tattoo artists that might be cheaper but never risk your health to save a buck. After all, cheaper doesnt mean better and, in most cases, means worse in terms of quality.
By simply following the advice above, getting a tattoo shouldnt be a problem for the average non diabetic but as a diabetic, there are 2 huge areas of caution you need to be aware of: your A1C and your healing time.
A1C Requirements for Diabetics Getting Tattoos
As much as we sometimes HATE checking and living by our A1C, it is a relatively good tool that lets us know how are blood sugar has been. If you really want to get some fresh ink Continue reading

Can Diabetics Get Piercings?

If you are diabetic and love piercing, there are several factors that have to be kept in mind. You have to not only consult your doctor adequately, but you will also have to keep your blood sugar under control , while also determining the adequate area where you would want to get the piercing done. In this article, we have tried to accumulate all the required guidelines which will help you decide whether or not you would want to go for piercing if you are a patient of diabetes. So, come and join in for the article Can diabetics Get Piercings?
Body Parts in Which You Should Avoid Piercing if You are Diabetic
Relationship Between Diabetes and Body Piercings
Well, before getting any type of piercing done, people do think about the same as you need to take care of the area. However, when you are diabetic, you tend to pay more attention and you naturally become all the more wary of getting different parts of your body pierced. Being diabetic, you always stand at a higher risk of having elevated levels of blood glucose. This is important to consider as with this situation, you stand a greater chance of developing infections. The second school of thought is which part to get pierced. You have various options at your disposal- the tongue, ear lobes, belly, to even your private parts. As a diabetic, it may not be safe enough to get just any of your body parts pierced.
Must Read: What Are the Signs of Too High Blood Sugar?
There are several risks involved when you want to get your body pierced. The below-mentioned risks are the common risks that affect a person when his or her Continue reading