Newly Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes? Here’s my Advice.
Embarking on the Type 1 Diabetes journey can be overwhelming, to say the least. It's a path filled with unexpected twists and turns that no one fully comprehends until they're on it. In this post on T1Disco, I'm here to share some of the things I wish I'd known when I was first diagnosed.
From managing meals to navigating social situations and embracing technology, let's explore the lessons that have shaped my perspective on living life with T1D.
You can eat whatever you want, as long as you know/can estimate how many carbs are in the food, and understand how to balance the food so that it doesn’t have any negative impact on your body.
For example, if you want to have a bowl of pasta for dinner, you can do that, but in a perfect world, you’d have a salad 15 minutes before your pasta and mix a protein like chicken into the pasta. This way, your carbohydrates and sugars are balanced by your protein, fiber, and fat.
Want to eat carbs? Pair it with a protein and a veggie.
Drinking is more complicated now. It’s okay to drink, but be extra cautious and aware of how each drink makes you feel. When I was diagnosed, the medical team around me suggested I cap my drink count at 2. But, I was in college, and admittedly not the most responsible version of myself. So, I continued going to parties and having 4 or 5 drinks, only to fall asleep in the Uber home and wake up to an urgent low alarm at 4 am. Luckily, I’ve grown up a bit in the past 3 years, and since learning how to do it safely, I sometimes drink 1 or 2 spiked seltzers and have a great experience.
Recently, I have found myself less interested in drinking, which means I spend more of my time sober, present, and feeling alive. Once I learned how directly drinking can impact sleep quality, I knew I didn’t need it in my life. Be wary of prepackaged drinks like BeatBox and Mike’s Hard, as they contain a lot of sugar. Sugar and alcohol are a dangerous combination for diabetics.
When I am at a restaurant or bar, I typically opt for a spiked seltzer, a Mojito without agave/syrup, Michelob Ultra, or tequila soda with extra limes. Every diabetic has a way of doing things that work for them, and for me, being strict with what drinks I order helps keep my numbers stable.
I view insulin pumps and continued glucose monitors (cgms) in the same way I view tattoos. They decorate your body and, if you place them right, can even compliment your figure!
I used manual pen injections for almost a year once I was diagnosed. I was not ready to wear my diagnosis for everyone to see. I had internalized shame and convinced myself that a pump would make me less attractive.
Flash forward to today, I am so grateful for my Omnipod. I love the way my body looks with my pump and cgm, but that’s not the point. My OmniPod is the reason I was able to travel to 9 countries in 12 weeks with only 1 tiny bump in the diabetes road. My OmniPod is the reason I am an extremely controlled diabetic! How could I deprive myself of those luxuries that are available to me in fear that someone won't like the way it looks?
My body is for living, not looking (thanks, Liz Moody), and having a pump truly gives me more life; more life spent not replacing needle caps or trying to remember if I dosed or not.
Your body is in a weird place right now. It’s going to change. Do not donate all of your clothes just yet. At the time of my diagnosis, I was down 30 pounds- the smallest I have ever been. Since then, I have gained the weight back, and more.
My weight has fluctuated a lot, and 3 years since diagnosis, I have finally come to a healthy body weight, and my hair is the thick, wavy mane that I knew it to be. At the time of diagnosis, and for a few months after, my hair was lifeless. I had lost so much of it, and the hair I had left was so weak. When I mentioned this to my nutritionist, she explained that my body was in such dire condition, that it could not worry about keeping my hair healthy, as it needed to keep my heart pumping. Give yourself grace. Your body is going to change during this time. And that is okay.
It’s okay if you feel anxious thinking about going to the doctor. If you are reading this, you may have had a similar experience to me - I went to the doctor for a check-up, she ordered blood work, and I received a phone call at 6 am the following morning ordering me to go to the hospital, as my blood sugar was over 500 at the time of my blood test.
I went to the doctor last week and was relieved to tell her that my numbers have been steady and I feel very controlled. I explained to her that for the first time, I did not dread going to a doctor’s appointment. She reassured me that that feeling was normal, that I had a life-changing doctor’s visit and it was okay to feel uncomfortable going back to that.
Starbursts, glucose tabs, Airheads, Juice boxes, Laffy Taffy, Skittles, apple sauce, whatever floats your boat. Put them everywhere: your purse, nightstand, backpack, car, bike, living room, leave some with your gym, etc. because you will need it. Most importantly, you will need it when you forget to bring it.
Be prepared and a lot of the stress that is related to this disease will be relieved. I have gone on trips where I realized my long-acting pen was empty, forgot my OmniPod transmitter, and more because of anxiety tied to forgetting them!
Remember, your T1D diagnosis doesn't define you; it's just one aspect of your beautiful, vibrant life. As you navigate this path, embrace change, cherish your health, and don't let fear hold you back. It's natural to feel anxious about doctor visits and unsure about your choices, but you're not alone. Keep some candies in your pocket, maintain a positive outlook, and, most importantly, keep living life to the fullest. Your body may change, but it's all part of the journey.
Stay strong, stay curious, and stay hopeful because, together, we'll thrive with T1D.
