Welcome to my blog: Juvenated!

Please "follow" me, leave comments and suggestions, and take the polls at the bottom of the homepage! They change often.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

HELP WANTED!

Okay so this post is going to be VERY short! I need your help. I am doing a project and I am basing it off of those "10 reasons to date a volleyball player" or "10 reasons to date a dancer" things that say things like "good with their hands" and stupid stuff like that.

I am switching it up and I need the 10 reasons to date a type 1 diabetic!!! It has to be family friendly. Please give me some good reasons!!!! Leave comments!

Goodnight
-Ash

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Psychology: Good or Evil?

Many of you said that you would go see a psychologist if it would help or that you had no opinion on the matter in the poll about psychologists. I am here to say that psychologists are really not that bad! There are a lot of people who refuse to go. Believe me I know. I was one of those people. My parents wanted to send me to a psychologist for my diabetes when I was first diagnosed. I did everything but throw a temper tantrum in rebuttal to the idea. However, after going one time...I realized that it really wasn't that bad. I never returned for many reasons, but one of those reasons was not that it didn't help or I didn't like it.

Moral of the story: don't knock it before you try it. Sorry this was such a short post. I'm running low on time today. Lots of homework.

Goodnight.
-Ash

Monday, March 28, 2011

Scholarship Searching = Pain

So, after many nights of scholarship searching I have decided that there are not enough scholarships out there for white women who's parents are not making a very little amount of money. As a result, my roommate and I have been forced to enter scholarship contests. We entered one that required us to write an essay and have people vote. The person with the most votes wins a scholarship.

Please vote for us:
my entry
harley's entry

You can vote numerous times a day! You would be doing us a huge favor.
Goodnight.
-Ash

Friday, March 25, 2011

Show Me How You Burlesque

Okay so I know my last post was mostly non-diabetic, but I need another break. I have had a rough couple days and I need some happy in my day! SO, on that note I will be talking about Burlesque, my new favorite movie. I could probably recite the entire thing if prompted. Christina Aguilera and Cher are a great pair in this movie. It is so amazing to hear these awesome voices throughout the film. I am going to talk about my three favorite songs of the movie. But I promise I'll tie it in to diabetes in the end.


pearl outfit
#3: A Guy Who Takes His Time: Ally, played by Christina Aguilera, is dressed in a costume made of nothing but pearls. So awesome! The music is funny and the choreography is awesome! The song is about a girl who simply wants to meet a guy who's "arriving in low" and "takes his time".






#2: You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me: Tess, played by Cher, sings this amazing song standing all alone on a stage...just her, a chair, and the music. It is so inspirational. Every time I feel like I have failed or am heading downward, I listen to this song. The lyrics, "I've been brought down to my knees and I've been pushed way past the point of breaking, but I can't take it. I'll be back, back on my feet. This is far from over. You haven't seen the last of me" are awesome! I mean what says "hey everything is going to be okay" more than that!



#1: Bound To You: Ally, played by Christina Aguilera, sings this song in a lime green strapless gown. Gorgeous much?! This song touches me personally because every time I hear it, I think of my amazing boyfriend Andrew. I'm just going to leave you with the lyrics...you'll get it. "I've found a man I can trust and boy I believe in us. I am terrified to love for the first time. Can't you see that I'm bound in chains and finally found my way. I am bound to you". I love you Andrew. Forever and always. Amen ;)



My tie in to diabetes...I wonder how these girls would wear all of these skimpy costumes if they had an insulin pump? I mean there's not really anywhere to hide it in a see-through pearl costume or a little bustier...anyways...I bet they aren't diabetic so it doesn't matter. I guess I'll just have to give up my dream of being a club dancer haha


So, if you haven't seen the movie yet...DO IT! It is filled with sexy dances, awesome costumes, and singing! Oh and a super sexy guy that ends up naked. Go on girls...check it out. Welcome Famous Amos cookies!

Goodnight
-Ash

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Snapple Say What?

Okay so this is going to be my first ALMOST completely non-diabetic blog. Yes, this blog's focus is diabetes, but we all need a break now and then. I am focusing it on Snapple Facts. I know random...but that's me!

My roommate and I, along with guests to our dorm such as my boyfriend and our friends, drink a lot of Snapple. It is a good alternative to pop (the diet kind for me!). Anyways, under each Snapple cap is a Snapple fact. We thoroughly enjoy reading these aloud to each other. Yes, we are dorks. But that's why you love us! Some of the facts are so interesting! So, below I am going to list my top 10 Snapple facts (my ten favorites that I have seen so far). I may add a Snapple fact to the end of each of my blogs from now on! Hmmm...fun idea.

#10: Elephants are the only mammal that cannot jump.
#9: All porcupine's float in water.
#8: It is possible to lead a cow upstairs, but not down.
#7:There are 18 different animal shapes in the animal cracker zoo.
#6:If you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will eventually turn white.
#5: Animals that lay eggs don't have belly buttons.
#4: A "jiffy" is actually 1/100th of a second.
#3: A duck's quack doesn't echo.

#2: Squids have eyeballs the size of volleyballs
#1: A pineapple is neither a pine, nor an apple. It is actually a large berry.


I HAVE AN IDEA! I think that during November, Diabetes Awareness month, that Snapple should dedicate Snapple Facts to facts about diabetes! Hmmm...I wonder if we petitioned, if we could actually get that started?

Goodnight all.
-Ash

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

We can dream can't we?



   The most current research project of the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) is the Artificial Pancreas Project. The Artificial Pancreas, in my opinion, is one of the most interesting and amazing inventions I have heard of. It is a machine, sort of like the insulin pump, but the huge difference between the Artificial Pancreas (yes, other than the capital letters) and the insulin pump is that it runs by itself. The Artificial Pancreas takes a reading of your blood sugar through a sensor in your skin and sends it to a monitor that would be in a purse or pocket(based on your gender or personal preference). Then that monitor would send a signal to the sensor to dispense insulin according to that blood sugar. No checking sugar or manually giving insulin!!!! It's automatic. For a type 1 diabetic, that sounds like heaven. Something that only happens in our dreams right? NOPE! It is possible in real life!
   When, you might ask? Well they have gone through clinical trials in hospitals where the patients have been closely monitored and have been successful with minor changes needed. They are now performing clinical trials in the home. Doctors and researchers have said that it will be about one or two years, give or take some time, that this device will be open for patients to own and to use to control their diabetes in their every day life. This project was completely funded by JDRF and was on by JDRF researchers. That is where the money goes when people donate to my team, TEAM ASHLEY (topic for another post).
   I have linked two videos to this blog because of two reasons. First, these videos are my sources for the information included in this post. Second, these videos were incredibly moving and informative. When I heard there was going to be a special about the Artificial Pancreas Project and the clinical trials attached I immediately set an alarm on my phone to remind me to watch it. As my family and I sat down in front of the television and observed this video footage, tears welled up in my eyes as they are currently while writing this. The thought of having a machine that would take care of my diabetes without my help would be simply life changing. As the girl in the first video says, “If this comes into play, I can live a life like I did before.” It would eliminate the precautions I have to take and the work I have to put into it. Sure, I would still have to change the site and put insulin in the machine. Yes I would have to do this as I do with the pump, but the fact that I wouldn’t have to check my blood sugar or deal with most of the other perils of diabetes…well that is breathtaking.
   I can only imagine what that would be like. As I watched the second video, I was very pleased with the results of this as well. The Artificial Pancreas project began on December 19, 2005 in Lister Hill Auditorium. A doctor on the case, William Clarke, calls the Artificial Pancreas a “major breakthrough for the management of Type 1 Diabetes”. The device runs off of a huge math equation called a logarithm. Until recently, this logarithm did not exist, but now researchers have developed it. It gives a formulated dose of insulin every fifteen minutes to reduce highs as well as lows. In the second video, the Artificial Pancreas was called a “lifesaver”. The subject of this video said he no longer worried about his blood sugars or even about going to bed at night, as many diabetics do. That is a problem I have had a lot. Just ask my boyfriend how many times I have said the words "I don't want to go to sleep. I am scared" to him. This invention is said to “dramatically impact lives of type 1 diabetics” and when it is available for the public, I can promise I will be doing everything I can to obtain one.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Double Trouble

Do any of you diabetics out there have any certain foods that affect your blood sugar differently than normal? Well, I do. My two foods are pretzels and bagels. Pretzels raise my blood sugar a little more than normal food does and I usually have to take about an extra unit of insulin when eating them. Bagels on the other hand raise it WAY more than other foods. I feel like I have to take almost double the insulin I normally would based on the carb count of the bagel. I have not done any research as to why this is and I do not know if there is a reason for it or a name for it...just something I have observed. However, I may do another blog post on this some time if I can find some research or information on it.

This is the most frustrating thing in the world. I mean, can't we just make diabetes a little easier by not throwing in all of these loopholes, roller coaster blood sugars, and random changes for no apparent reason at all? Grrrr...sometimes I just need to vent.

Sorry this was such a short post, but I have an exam to study for (last one!).
Goodnight
-Ash

Thursday, March 17, 2011

SICK of diabetes

This post will be a short one because I am completely exhausted and feel pretty rough. The topic is illness and diabetes. I figured since my life has been pretty hectic lately, this would be a good topic. Currently, I am very sick, sleep deprived from studying for college exams as well as being up all night coughing, and diabetic. Being a college student, diabetic, normal person, and sick patient all at the same time is not easy...not easy at all. Sickness messes with a diabetic big time. I have blood sugars that are all over the place...from 66 to 423...and not being able to eat tricks the diabetes too. Of course, being diabetic I have to force carbs into my system, but that is very hard to do when sick. Those are the two main problems with illness and diabetes.

Being a college student on top of that is also stressful (stress:another blood sugar changing factor). I have had exams all week and have spent many long sleepless (well near sleepless) nights studying along with being sick. This has thrown my body off completely and I can see the results in my blood sugar readings.

Last, but not least, being a normal person has left me sleep deprived and being normal has not been diabetic friendly lately either. In the past month my family (and my second family: AKA Andrew's family) have had a total of five family emergencies including two deaths. All of this stress and sadness also plays a role on diabetes. However, it was really good to see Andrew tonight. That calmed me down a lot.

Bottom line is, I need some rest. I need a day to just chill. But instead I get to work tomorrow and go to the doctor. However, I will be getting off early due to illness so maybe I will get some relax time then. I don't care if I am sleeping, reading, chilling with Andrew just laying around, or what...I just want some down time. Okay. I am done ranting now. I am off to attempt sleep, but my cough rarely lets me.

Goodnight
-Ash

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Sleepover Safety

For months after I was diagnosed (I would even go as far as saying a year), I was afraid to stay the night anywhere but the comfort of my own home. For some odd reason I felt like if I was not at home I would not be able to properly take care of my diabetes or that something terrible would happen. After I finally began going places again, I realized that is not the case at all. However, when you stay the night somewhere you must inform the adults or someone else in the house of your condition and what to do in case of emergencies. So, I am going to inform you on what to tell them (if you have diabetes) or what to learn (if you are housing a diabetic).

instructions for Glucagon
For all of us diabetics...make sure SOMEONE in the house who will be there the whole time knows you have type 1 (it also helps if you have a medical bracelet). Next, be sure to tell them what to do in case of an emergency. One example of this is extreme low blood sugar in which you do not wake up. Teach them how to use the Glucagon kit and MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT WITH YOU EVERY TIME YOU SLEEP ELSEWHERE. Tell them where all of your supplies will be and how to use the ones they may have to use, such as your meter, the glucagon (as mentioned before), and where your juice and sugar tablets are. Make sure they know to call the ambulance for your care.

For those who may have a diabetic staying at your house, make sure you ask all of the questions regarding what was printed above. Also, take the time to educate yourself. Do research. Ask questions. Learn about the disease. This will make you more knowledgeable in a time of emergency if one should arise.

Bottom line. Do not be afraid to reach out of your comfort zone and spend time with friends. Everything will be okay as long as you take the proper precautions. PARENTS: Do not force your children with diabetes to leave their comfort zone too soon. When they are ready to take care of themselves and venture out on their own, they will.

-Ash

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Love Don't Cost A Thing

I have decided to dedicate this post to my amazing boyfriend Andrew. :) Because truthfully, without him I would be doing a lot worse. There is nothing more important in a diabetic's life than support, because without support they do not have the motivation nor the courage to take care of themselves properly. Some may argue that insulin may be the most important, but what good is insulin if you do not use it correctly. I have had my setbacks in which I did not take care of myself to my best ability...well...mainly because I just got fed up. This disease isn't fair and it isn't easy...and sometimes I just want to give up, but I see those beautiful eyes staring back at me saying please take care of yourself, do it for me...and I simply cannot refuse. I know there are probably things I could be doing better, but I am doing A LOT better than I was before he came back into my life.

Yes, I said back into my life. A quick update on how we met, our history, all that jazz. We met at the campground both of our families camped at when I was eleven years old and he was thirteen. We have been best friends ever since then. Yes, we have had our fights and periods where we didn't talk as much, but we always came back to each other. We tried dating a few times, but never got to that point for reasons I won't discuss on here because honestly they don't matter. We are together now. During my last relationship, Andrew made it clear to me that he was in love with me and wouldn't back off until I was his...and that he did. He pushed his way in there and after a short period of time following my break up, there he was...back in my life again. :) We began dating (finally) on October 10, 2010 (yes that is 10.10.10). I know cute, right! Anyways, he is the man I plan to spend the rest of my life with. No one has ever treated me as good as he does. I am so lucky to have him (and his WONDERFUL family) in my life and I never want to let them go.

Now, back to diabetes. Like I said, without him my diabetes care would be down the drain and I truly believe this. Sometimes I get sick of having to check my sugar or change my site, so what does Andrew do? He does it for me...and I cannot be more thankful. He has learned everything there is to know about diabetes and taking care of me...and that he does VERY well. So, with that being said...the greatest thing in a diabetic's life is the love of those around them. Whether it be a friend, family member, or significant other...their help is a necessity. Diabetic supplies get pretty pricey, but their love and support is free.

Goodnight
-Ash

Monday, March 14, 2011

Pssshhhttt...who needs a pancreas anyways?

pancreas: everything but number 12
glucagon emergency kit
somatostatin
For this post I decided I would vent about my thoughts concerning the organ that has failed me. First off, I should probably explain what exactly the pancreas is and how it affected me and brought diabetes into my life (I know I explained in earlier posts, but for those who didn't read). It is a "gland organ" and is part of the endocrine system. For those of you unfamiliar with the endocrine system it deals with hormone secretion to regulate your body throughout your blood and other fluids. Anyways, back to the pancreas. It produces hormones such as insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. Insulin is what helps break down carbohydrates into energy (which is why I have an insulin pump). Glucagon is what helps to bring up your blood sugar naturally when your body senses it is getting too low. I have a glucagon shot (seeing as my pancreas does not work) that can be injected into me if I were to pass out from low blood sugar. Somatostatin is just another hormone that regulates the endocrine system.

What happens when type 1 diabetes occurs is that the beta cells inside the pancreas (the cells that produce insulin and other hormones) are attacked and killed leaving the body unable to produce insulin, glucagon, or somatostatin. This is why my bloodsugar shot up to 717 before I found out I was diabetic. Wow, was that scary. I easily could have been comatose, but someone was looking out for me. I'm am going to throw in my religious views here (even though I probably shouldn't). I am Catholic...but not one of those die-hard follow every belief Catholic. I guess you would say I am more Christian. Either way, I believe in the big man upstairs and he was watching over me that day.

a real pancreas
Now for my frustrations about pancreases. First off, WHY can they randomly just stop working like that? (I know I told you why, but I guess I mean how is it fair?) I mean our bodies don't attack other organs when fighting off illness. Why would my own body want to murder another part of my body, and a vital one! You cannot live without a functioning pancreas or diabetes management (such as shots or a pump). I just don't understand WHY it happens. I know how, but why? And who decided what the pancreas would look like. I mean it sure doesn't look useful. It looks like a big blob to me. Here I go with my God talk again, but it looks like God put all of the other organs in the body and then said "Crap, I forgot the pancreas!" and decided to just squirt some pancreas goo into the body and it just molded around the other organs and hardened. It really has no definite shape. It is just flopped in there. Now I have not done research on this, so I am sure there is SOME reason for its look or shape, but to me it seems ridiculous. When I dissected cats in my high school anatomy class just a year ago, I was so excited to see the pancreas because of my diabetes. I was interested. But when I actually saw it, I was severely disappointed. I believe I am done rambling now about my thoughts on the superficial state of the pancreas.

Goodnight.
-Ash

BIPOLAR PUMP SITES

my bad pump site
Okay, so I informed you all about what an insulin pump is and briefly described the downfalls of having a pump. BUT just yesterday I (again) experienced one of the most random and bipolar parts of having an insulin pump. So, I am going about my day, cleaning my room, waiting for my boyfriend to come over and my site feels funny. For those of you who are unsure of what a "site" is, it is the place where the pump is connected to my body. Anyways, so I lift up my shirt to look at it and what do I see? Brownish-red crusty stuff around the bottom of the sticky part of my site. I was like hmmmm weird I wonder what that is. As I began to push lightly on the site, it was sore. My next step was to check my sugar...455. WOW! Not good. I came to the conclusion that I needed to change the site, so I went about the process of putting a new one in and when I went to take the other one off, I was surprised by a discolored sticky thing (the part that holds the site to my skin). It had not only the brown crusty stuff around the sticker and as a circle around where the site was in my skin, but also a yellowish-brown color as if insulin/blood had been leaking. It hurt! There was a hard core like substance inside where the pump was in my body, too! I don't remember bumping it or anything, but somehow it got messed up.
where you can put pump sites

There was a happy ending because my sugar came back down to 121 (which then turned into two other low blood sugars that night; 66 and 71) and the new site is working fine. The moral of this story is that diabetes can never be perfectly controlled. Something always happens to mess it up, but you can get it under control and get back on track. It is a constant battle and really a big guessing game. Anyone who has ever experienced a bad pump site, whether it be on your own body or by watching me have to change it because my sugar has skyrocketed knows what I'm talking about.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

The Honeymoon: Love, Sex, and Making Insulin?

nasty little organ that is the stem of this bipolar disease
Okay for those of you who do not know, there is a stage is most every diabetic's life called the honeymoon period. This is a time when the person's pancreas randomly decides, hey I want to make a little insulin again just for old time's sake. NOT FAIR. That's what I have to say about it. The honeymoon period is the most unfair and meanest thing in the entire world. I mean it is like...hey you have diabetes and will be on insulin for the rest of your life...then randomly...oh hey you get to be normal for a few days maybe weeks or even months again and then I am going to RIP that away from you just as I did before. It not only gives us diabetics a false sense of hope, but it can lead to depression. It really messes with your head.

what honeymoon should be
And who decided to call it the honeymoon stage anyways. I mean I thought the honeymoon in a couple's life (directly after marriage) was supposed to be about being in love and happy and sharing that bond with one another. Where in that do you get "making insulin again" or being non-diabetic for a short period of time? It is totally unneeded. I mean if the feelings I had during and after my honeymoon period are what I should expect from my actual honeymoon then count me out. I mean it is like saying okay your honeymoon will be awesome but afterward your life is going to suck again. Point is...whoever named it=estupido.

Goodnight
-Ash

Friday, March 11, 2011

Paging my Pancreas?

pager
insulin pumps/meter
Believe it or not...that little device on my hip 24/7 is not a pager! I know people are addicted to the many ways of communication now-a-days, but I promise I am not that obsessed. However, I do understand how people make the mistake. I mean look at the pictures here. They are very similar. BUT most pagers (in fact all) do not have a tube coming out of them that is constantly attached to the user. I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked when giving insulin, "Is that a pager?!" or "Wow, what kind of cell phone is that? I've never seen it before!". Sometimes I am tempted to say "Oh yeah it is this new thing from this country far away or whatever, it is like super cool. I am the first person in the world to have it."

Anyways, an insulin pumps are a form of therapy. This device functions as a normal pancreas would. Yes, the diabetic has to manually enter the amount of carbohydrates they eat and what their blood sugar reading is, but it is a lot easier and more convenient than shots. Giving shots is inconvenient for many reasons. First, shots are annoying. I mean who wants to stab themselves with a needle four times a day. Second, they are averaged. They give a round-about amount of insulin. You cannot take .05 units of insulin with a shot as you can with an insulin pump. However, there are downfalls to insulin pumps as well. With insulin pumps you can get bad sites that do not distribute insulin correctly, your site can become disconnected accidentally leaving you without insulin for hours (speaking from experience), and it also can make you gain weight (for a few reasons). First, because it is so convenient to eat. Instead of having to take a shot every time you want a snack you can simply push a button. Second, because the constant drip of insulin under the skin can cause you to bloat and sometimes insulin distribution can simply make people gain weight.


Despite the downfalls, I am in love with my insulin pump. It has changed my life soooo much and I would never go back to shots willingly. It has made me more independent and also gives me the option of hiding my diabetes if I would choose to (which I never do). The technology simply amazes me. In another post I will explain some other technologies that have been developed in diabetes care such as the CGM and the Artifical Pancreas (which is not fully developed, but awesome). I cannot believe that this small little PAGER-LIKE machine is keeping me alive. It is truly my hero, along with my boyfriend (love you superman). :)


Goodnight
-Ash

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Type 1 lost in Translation

Most people have NO idea what type 1 diabetes really is. They may think they know, but really have no clue. So, here I am providing you with links to websites that provide clear and accurate definitions and information on type 1 diabetes. I am not going to write you a research paper because let's face it...that would be pretty boring. What I am going to tell you about (after my list of links) is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to people's misinformation about type 1 diabetes...and that is the rules of EATING.
a little humor to lighten the mood

First, the links.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001350/
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-1-diabetes/DS00329

Second, my pet peeve...the misconception of a diabetic eating pattern. I AM NORMAL. I do not have to shudder at the sight of a chocolate chip cookie or run in terror from ice cream. However, what I do have to do is eat ONE cookie instead of four and eat one cup of ice cream instead of a whole pint. Diabetes is all about portion sizing. The way my endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) put it is...I can have whatever I want, as long as I eat smaller portions and take insulin for it. We have to count carbohydrates and take insulin based on the carbs we eat. One of the most annoying things in the world (other that totally misinformed people) is when my close friends would yell at me for eating a cookie or when someone will ask me what I am allowed to have. I get that this is due to a complete lack of knowledge on the subject, but I mean come on...if someone who is close to you in your life has this disease (or any disease for that matter) take the time to LEARN ABOUT IT so you don't look like a jackass when speaking to them. Believe it or not, us diabetics have feelings, and we don't like being singled out in front of everyone when you attempt to deprive us of sweets a birthday party or make a fool of yourself by going off about my apparent HORRIBLE eating habits. Learn something before you speak. Thanks.

Something that people are also very confused on (but is far less annoying, in fact almost not bothersome at all) is what foods have carbohydrates in them and what carbs do. Carbohydrates help make energy out of the food in your body. Therefore, a diabetic who takes too much insulin and lacks carbs cannot function properly (so give me a break when my sugar is low people!). Carbs come from things like whole grain foods...such as pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, some vegetables, fruit (because it is sweet even though it is healthy). There are also carbs in things such as pop, candy, and donuts...these are more sugar-filled carbs and a lot less healthy. Another list of common carbohydrate packed foods are bagels, cornstarch, crackers, chips, granola, grits, muffins, pita bread, popcorn, tortillas, beer, liquor, sugar, and syrups. This is a very SMALL list compared to all of the foods that contain carbohydrates.

Well, I think I am done rambling about carbs and annoying people for the night. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. As you can see I am pretty open about talking about my diabetes, so I am more than willing to discuss any topic brought up. Please leave comments!!!! Also, subscribe so you can be updated when I post new blogs and take the polls on the bottom of my homepage (they change so check if they are the same ones you have previously completed). Leave some comments with topic suggestions...like anything you want to know about or get my opinion about. Spread the word :)

Goodnight
-Ash

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

I Am Diabetic, Hear Me Roar

meter
insulin pump site
Okay so this is my first post on here, so bear with me. I am trying to figure all of this out. This blog, Juvenated, will be about my life with type 1 diabetes, as well as some other random topics that will be thrown in there. Anyways, here we go with the first blog.


You can call me Ash. I have been diabetic for 2 years, 7 months, and 3 days (as of this moment). I have been on an insulin pump for almost years now. Wow I cannot believe it has been that long. Life with diabetes is rough. I am not going to sugar coat it. It is a physical and emotional roller coaster, but it is manageable and that is what is most important. There are SO many worse diseases out there that I could have, so in a way I am grateful for my diabetes. Truly, it has made me the person I am today. Being diagnosed 24 days before my SWEET sixteen (ironic that I was full of SUGAR at this time; a reading of 717 blood glucose) sucked. I panicked, thinking I wouldn't even be able to have a piece of cake on my 16th birthday. I was hospitalized (in intensive care) for about three days. For those of you who do not know what type 1 diabetes is or anything about it...I will do my best to explain the gist of things.

Type 1 Diabetes (also known as Juvenile diabetes; hence my choice of blog name) is a chronic illness that comes about when the beta cells of your pancreas are killed. This can happen during an infection (such as bronchitis, as mine was), in which your body fights so hard against the intruders that it attacks (accidentally I am guessing) your own beta cells. If you do not remember anything else from this blog, remember this. I CAN HAVE A PIECE OF FREAKIN' CAKE! And if you tell me I can't...well I would like to see you try and stop me. The most annoying (and most common misconception) is when people think I can't eat because of my illness. Well, I can eat...just not the portion sizes that most of America would prefer. Anyways, living with type 1 diabetes is a life of control, management, hard work and effort, and realistically never getting it completely right or under control. I will post another blog at some point further describing the perils of juvenile diabetes, but for now...back to the main point. My life with the disease.

Okay, so over the past (nearly) three years I have had ups and downs. I have gone through everything from my "honeymoon stage" (something I will describe in a later blog as well) to barely taking care of myself. I have come a long way throughout this process and I would say I am pretty proud of myself, as would my family and friends. Taking care of my diabetes is hard and constant work and it can get very tiring. This is where the most important part of diabetic care comes in...your support system. To effectively live with diabetes you must have the support of family and friends who love you and want to help. I have an amazing support system filled with peoples who do everything from hold me when my sugar is low to walking in the annual Walk to Cure Diabetes with my fundraising team...TEAM ASHLEY (another blog topic).

First, there are my parents. They are there with kind words, suggestions, and a hug now and then, but honestly...they haven't done much in my diabetic care physically. From day one I have taken care of myself and I did this by starting to give myself my own shots when I was in the hospital. They are always there if I need something and are on top of things when it comes to getting supplies and reminding me of things though, so thank you both for that.

Second, there are my friends. A few shout outs to some special people who have greatly affected my diabetes care. Jessica Balcerzak...wow, I have never seen someone jump so quickly at the opportunity to stab their best friend with a needle. You thoroughly enjoyed giving me my shots, and it was a nice break when I didn't feel like doing it anymore. You have been a big help from day one when you visited in the hospital (even if you did eat my emergency food in Chemistry). Katie Johnson...I have never been jumped on so quickly. As you walked in the hospital room, you pounced on top of me in the hospital bed, began crying, and screaming I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD! You always knew how to make me smile (especially with your diabetic friendly goodie bag). Harley Rohrbacher...you are the most recent friend to join the diabetic care team. Best roommate ever right here. You have done so much for me...from turning in papers for me when I can't seem to make it to class due to high sugars to checking on me before you go to bed to make sure I'm not passed out in a coma or something. Thank you very much. There are wayyyyy too many friends to name that have helped me out in some way, but thank you to everyone no matter how big or small your act of kindness may have been.

Lastly, I would like to mention my wonderful boyfriend, Andrew Boes. You, my love, are a lifesaver. You have been the greatest help of all. When I am feeling down because my pump site gets in the way of your hug, or it just won't seem to quit hurting...you remind me of how much you love me, diabetes included. When I am tired of having to constantly take care of myself, but have to change my site or insulin, you are there (more than willing I might add) to do it for me. When I feel like something is wrong with my sugar, but feel too lazy to get up and do it, you make me and won't let me lie back down until you hear the number come out of my mouth and make sure I treat the reading how it needs to be treated. You motivate me to be better and take care of myself the best I can. I cannot even explain how much you mean to me or how much you have done for me since day one. For those of you who do not know our story (I will give you the shortened version and maybe you will be lucky enough to get the full version in another blog), Andrew and I have been best friends for like seven years. We always attempted to date but someone *cough cough* would always end it. Anyways, here we are many years later, together and in love. (Ps. Andrew I am never letting you go this time...so don't even try). We have only been dating for 5 months (as of tomorrow), but it feels like a lifetime and we have a lifetime ahead of us.

Well, this blog is getting lengthy so I am going to end it there. That is my diabetic life in a nutshell. There are MANY more things I could write about, but I am going to do so in separate blogs on other days. Please comment and subscribe! Oh and take the three polls that are at the bottom of my homepage. http://iamjuvenated.blogspot.com/ just in case you can't get back to that page or don't know which one I was talking about. Spread the word about my blog also! :)

Goodnight all.
-Ash <3