In a recent coaching session, someone asked me a question I really appreciated.
“What are the things that have most helped you with managing Diabetes and getting to the place you’re in now?”
I like the question, because as T1Ds, we know the decision tree can quickly become overwhelming. A Stanford University study revealed that on average, T1Ds will make an extra 180 decisions every day. Talk about decision fatigue and room for error!
Going back to the basics is usually a very good place to begin.
So, here was my very short, two-item answer:
- Removing foods that were inflammatory to my unique body.
When testing and an elimination diet revealed that I had a gluten sensitivity, I found cutting this food from my diet was a game changer. My blood sugar and insulin sensitivity improved, and my brain fog lifted. Blood sugar control has been easier ever since I made this change.
- Practicing Acceptance
For all the work we can do to better support our bodies and improve the day-to-day of T1D, there is no changing the fact that many days are still a struggle.
You still get stuck in a blood sugar yo-yo.
You miss sleep because you had to wake up and deal with a low.
You feel sick after being stuck in the 200s all afternoon.
But, being angry at your body or rage bolusing doesn’t make it any better.
My best approach in these scenarios is to acknowledge the reality (this sucks!), do the next right thing based on the information I have available, and accept that my body is doing the best that it can.
As always, our bodies are unique and individual, and your short-list will look different from mine, and different from everyone else’s. If this resonated with you, drop me a message – tell me the things that have most helped YOU navigate T1D and get to the place you’re in today!
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