Thursday, November 26, 2015

Why I'm Thankful to Have Type 1 Diabetes

This is actually my current post over at "My Type 1 Diabetes" blog.  You can read it below, or you can head straight over (here) to my other blog to read it, as well as check out other post I've written about my life with Type 1.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Why I'm Thankful to Have Type 1 Diabetes

Since it's Thanksgiving Day, and it's the time of year I generally like to count my blessings more than usual, I wanted to make this post all about my gratitude for Type 1 Diabetes and the impact it's had on my life.

That may sound a little strange, because having any ongoing health "situation" isn't necessarily awesome.  But I'm one for looking for the silver lining.  So here goes.

I secretly like having a disease that most people don't understand or even know about. I feel special and I feel smart.  I know a lot more about how food, stress, exercise, hormones, etc effect my body than most people do.  I'm doing calculations throughout the day,everyday. And all that calculating keeps me sharp.

I make healthy choices all the time, just because I know how it all effects my blood sugars.  I rarely over indulge (food or drink-wise) and I'm active a good amount of each day.  Somedays, I don't necessarily feel like running or going on a long walk, but because of my diabetes, I just make myself.  And then, I'm alway glad I did.  I've often thought I'm probably healthier because I have diabetes, all things considered.

I'm so grateful for insulin. Although I had a big fear of needles as a kid, I got over that pretty quickly when I realized my alternative if I didn't take multiple daily shots for the rest of my life.  These days, the shots don't bother me one single bit. Shots seem to be a more-than-fair trade off for staying alive. I know there are plenty of people with far worse diseases out there that wish they had it so good.

In the past couple of years, my interest in my blood sugar control has become more extreme- bordering on obsession- thanks to Dexcom.  Seeing what my blood sugars do throughout the day and night leave me with no reason to ever let things stay in a bad range for too long.  I told my husband the other day that it's sort of fun- like some strange and challenging game.  Just when I think I have it all figured out, something goes wrong and I have to try again.  And weirdly, I like that.  I guess I just like a good challenge and diabetes provides that.

I also love that I have a disease that I'm pretty much in charge of.  I don't have to wait for my doctor to advise me on what to do, ever.  I switch things up all the time and honestly I feel like I know more than most endocrinologists do.  I can't necessarily explain how it all works as well as a good medical doctor can, but intrinsically, I know how my body reacts to things, and I know how to make adjustments when things get "off".

So seriously- Like I said, I'm thankful.  I knew nothing about Type 1 Diabetes prior to my diagnosis over 20 years ago.  But now, I'm an expert. And even better, I still continue to learn knew things about it all the time.  And I'm still interested and challenged by it after all these years.  Sounds like a pretty good marriage to me.

Happy Thanksgiving, to my beloved Type 1.



Monday, November 9, 2015

Music Monday- Max Gomez and Liz Longley

Happy Music Monday!

I got to see both Max Gomez AND Liz Longley here in Dallas at the Kessler Theatre last night.  First of all, the Kessler is my very favorite venue for live music these days.  It's just the right size, they book musicians I happen to love, and it's in an old, but swankily updated theatre in Oak Cliff.

I really love both of these artists, and I got so lucky to pay for just one ticket and see both of them.  They co-headlined this concert.  Max played first for about an hour and a half, and then Liz did the same.  Then at the end, they sang one song (one I didn't know- ) together, brilliantly.

The videos posted below were my favorite songs of the night by each artist, but I didn't take the video- That would've sort of blown the live music listening experience for me.  Fortunately, there are loads of other's that apparently don't feel the same so there are live videos a-plenty to hear these and others!

Here's Max Gomez' "Rule The World"....

And my current female singer crush- Her voice is clear as a bell and she can do pretty much anything she wants with it. And on top of all of THAT, she's a brilliant lyricist that can create a catchy hook. Here's Liz Longley, singing "Bad Habit"...

Monday, November 2, 2015

Music Monday- Damien Rice "The Blower's Daughter"

I watched the movie "closer" over the weekend. Ahhh. Heartbreak.

And it's clear from the beginning of the movie, as it opens with Damien Rice's brilliant song "The Blower's Daughter", that it's going to bring you to your knees. Damien is the master of a sad love song, and this is my all time favorite.  As many times as I have listened to it, it never loses it's power over me.

It's from 2002, so it's nothing new, but it's still the most beautiful song I've ever heard.