GRRRR!!!! Yet Another Challenge in my Already Hectic Life

Hahaha now THIS would be so useful!!!

So as mentioned briefly in my last blog, I am currently preparing for my class 5 road test (drivers license). I have had my learners for a year and a half now and I'm just tired of waiting! I'm scheduled to do my test tomorrow but just yesterday I thought "hold the phone. I have diabetes now, this changes things." So in a panic I started doing some research to see what the conditions were, what I had to do, etc. I freaked out when I saw a European article where there was talk about a new law not allowing diabetics to drive if they have  two or more hypos a year. TWO! And that includes while they're sleeping!!! I also posted on some diabetes forums to ask if people knew the protocol but it nobody really knew for my area. After some extensive searching I found that in Alberta, apparently all you need is a medical screening saying that you're okay to drive. This alone bummed me out because I though that I was going to have to completely reschedule my test because it would have taken forever for me to get in to see my doctor. Luckily though I called the agency where I was planning to sit (drive?) the exam. I'm allowed to take the exam but if I pass then I will need to have that screening filled out and sent in before they can re-class my license. Bummer, but at least I get to do my test. Wish me luck!!!

It Just Hit Me

This weekend it hit me just like that. I have type 1 diabetes. I wasn't really doubting my disease beforehand but I never really actually sat down and thought about the fact that I have a life changing condition. I guess it was something to do with the fact that by the time I got out of the hospital two months ago, I felt completely normal again. I felt like I did before I was sick and nothing felt different. But these past couple weeks with the stress of finals, piano examinations, work, my drivers test coming up, and just plain teen angst (I will admit I do suffer from that one haha) my blood sugars have been going a little bit out of whack. Now I'm pretty good about counting my carbs, taking my insulin on time etc. But I've realized that it's way more than that. It is a constant juggling act of  food, insulin, stress, exercise, activity, even horror movies set them off because your heart starts racing. I came to terms with diabetes as soon as I found out I had it, but I didn't quite understand how it's kind of an "allover" disease. I am learning everyday though.

NO WAY!!!

So I'm out for a midnight run to McDonald's with a bunch of my friends and I saw this girl there that I was acquaintances with. I went over to say hi and catch up because I hadn't seen her in awhile. We were sitting at one of the tables and she asked me if I was buying anything else. I responded with "No I have to be careful about what I eat because I've got diabetes." She just looked at me dumbstruck and was like "You have diabetes? Me too!" I hadn't known this fact about her before and because I have only been a diabetic for 8 weeks and I hadn't seen her since then and the topic of diabetes had never come up. We went on to have a huge conversation and yes, it came to us excitedly showing off our meters and insulin pens to each other. Some of my other friends walked in and I was literally jumping up and down and pretty much yelled "She has diabetes too!" Everyone in McDonald's must have thought we were insane. But then again it was the middle of the night and it was mostly filled with teenagers. She was just as excited as me because she also thought that she was the only one in our town that was our age who had type 1.

But hang on, here's the craziest part. About an hour later after this girl had left, I was still at McDonald's talking with my other group of friends and one of their friends who I'd never met before. My friend Lara and I were just getting up to go home and I was still talking about how excited I was that I had met another diabetic. Anyway, this girl that my friends brought with them looked up at me and said "Wait, you have diabetes? Same here!" Well to say the least my mind was blown. I looked to Lara who was getting ready to drive me home and just said "Well we can't leave now!" Same story as before. We talked about our diagnosis and experiences. This one girl had had a couple runs of DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) just like I had when I was first diagnosed.

 My excitement was through the roof. I mean, what are the chances that I had never met another T1D and I meet TWO my age in the space of about two hours at the same place? It was so neat to talk to people who had to go through the same stuff as me and who completely understood. We must have looked like losers showing and comparing our meters and medical alert bracelets but to be honest it was so awesome to be able to see that someone else other than myself had to live with this condition on a daily basis. Although neither one of these girls goes to my school, I have swapped numbers with them and we have been talking non stop since last night. I guess they're right when they say "you're not alone".

Thank You to Everyone Who Donated!!!

This is just a quick little post to thank those people who donated to the Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes that happened today. I will put up a full post tomorrow when I can upload the pictures and videos from the walk. This is a shout out to the following people who donated to my team.

                                                                    -Rick Brilz
-Trudy Chapman
-Daphne ter Kuile
-Janifer Calvez
-Siqueria family
-Susan Sosick  and family
-Kerri Lockwood
-Robin Greenwood
-Reid Mercer
-Dave Kennady
-Gord McCulloch
-Max Zbrodoff
-Teresa Fowell
-Pat and George Taylor
-Angela Haworth
-Chalane Potaka
-Patrick McMillan
-Kayla Hickey
-Dale and Brian Fea
-Cheryl Taylor and Owen Key
-Chris Burke
                                                                   -Andrea Vaney

My JDRF Bag of Hope Finally Came!!!

So after I first got diagnosed I definitely took advantage of all the freebies that companies were offering. Free meter's, free literature, and yes, the infamous JDRF bag of hope. This bag is given out free to type 1's who order no more than 3 months from their diagnosis date. It is designed to help new diabetics under the age of 18 cope with their new condition. Although it varies, the contents usually include and backpack, different sorts of literature and promotions, and if you're under the age of 12, a teddy bear with diabetes named Rufus or Ruby that is meant to help teach children about injections (I still got a Ruby bear and I'm 17! lol). 

I think that this is an awesome tool especially for younger children to ease them into their new lifestyle. It's cool to know that you are supported no matter what and who doesn't love free stuff right?

Newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic? Get your Bag of Hope here!

U.S.A - http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=110888

Canada - http://www.jdrf.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=49CBE4C1-CF1C-2465-1A563F42916C1785

SUPPORT ME IN THE WALK TO CURE DIABETES!

If anyone could support me in the Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes that would be really awesome!!!

To join my team go here:
http://jdrfca.donordrive.com/index.cfmfuseaction=donorDrive.team&eventID=1218&teamID=32953

To pledge me as an individual go here:
http://jdrfca.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=151785

Shout Out To The Type 3's - A.K.A The Parents

     Can you imagine, having your infant baby so sick and losing weight and and crying all the time? Or your 7 year old always home ill and away from his all his friends. Or your teenager failing classes because they're missing so much school and are always so tired. Then getting so worried that you finally take them to the doctor's/ ER and are told that they will never be like normal children again. That they will have to take daily shots and prick their fingers for the rest of their lives just so that they can live. That you, as a parent might have to be the one to do it for them if they can't do it themselves. No parent wants to cause their children pain.....

 
     Often it is harder on the parent's then it is on the children with diabetes. I remember at my diagnosis I didn't cry at all. I was scared a little bit, but I didn't really feel any different after they brought my blood sugar back on. My mum (and my dad a little bit) were not quite as calm about it. My mother, while in tears, told me multiple times that she wished she could be the one to have the disease, that if she could take it from me she would. That she would take the 4+ needles a day and the finger pricks if it meant that I didn't have to...

     So this is just a shout out to every kids (whether diabetic or not) parent's. They are our biggest fans and would literally do anything for us. Love you lot's Mum and Dad xoxoxoxo.... <3

p.s I found this video on YouTube and thought it was absolutely brilliant!

Learn To Laugh

I have always been the kind of person to laugh and make fun of myself. That didn't stop when I got diagnosed. The first day I got back to school from the hospital, my friends and I were joking about how I now have "diabeetus" and how I should play the song "Shots" by LMFAO when giving myself insulin injections. Diabetes doesn't have to be all bad. I find it's actually a really good conversation starter and that it gives me an opportunity to educate others about my condition. If you can laugh at yourself and learn to accept that you are unique, life becomes more relaxed. Until they find a cure, you will always have diabetes. But you can have diabetes with flare! :D