Great food is like great sex. The more you have the more you want. ~Gael Greene
For some, living with diabetes is much like living on a diet. One must always be aware of the number of carbohydrates and amount of fat in each food or beverage, and properly deliver the corresponding dose of insulin to adjust. Special meals, dining out, or snacking can make estimations difficult. Packaged foods display the exact number of carbohydrates, but everyone enjoys a warm, prepared meal now and then. Especially if your dorm is less than five minutes from a dining hall open for 16 hours a day.
The wide selection, cozy setting, and of course delicious food itself make frequent trips an obvious necessity during those early days of freshman year. But soon enough the pizza, prime rib, lo mein, and ice cream add up and leave you with blood sugars over 300 for the whole day. You've eaten all these foods at home, but struggle to keep your scores in check now that you're away.
The biggest change lies in portion sizes. Unless you plan on carrying a plastic measuring cup with you around the dining hall, its difficult to determine if that pile of mashed potatoes is one, two, or maybe even three cups.
Best way to master the dining hall is simply through practice. Be careful of course, but overtime you will learn how to handle your favorite foods in any desired size. About 15 minutes before heading to eat, deliver a bolus of half the normal number of carbs. This will help prevent the severity of blood sugar spikes while also giving you a safety net in case you decide to eat less than normal.
But one very helpful resource I can give you now is: Calorie King. The nutrition fact counting monopoly has managed to track down the data for every major fast food chain, restaurant, grocery store, and major food producer. Their small and handy comprehensive food guide also includes the average nutrition information for almost every prepared item imaginable. I always get the newest edition every year, and it has helped my counting immensely. Even more convenient is the company's mobile app for iPhone users, which directly connects you to the entire guide of 17, 000 foods (the same information can be accessed on other smart phones by typing www.calorieking.com into your browser).
And I advise you to continue searching the web yourself! The beauty of blogs are their individual nature and the stories everyone has to tell. As Justin Hall, freelance journalist himself once said: "The best content comes from people who love what they are doing." Everyone will experience their own set of challenges, but by sharing part of our personal experiences through the freedom the Internet has to offer, we are able to begin a conversation that may have never taken place.
Be healthy, have fun, and enjoy tonight's supper!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Oh, Roomies
Freshman year of college is alive with countless changes: both those good, and those bad. But for most students, one of the most major changes becomes real even before stepping onto campus.
Roommates.
There are those few lucky students who receive singles their first year, but the majority face sharing their space with at least one complete stranger, if not multiple. You know when to expect your older brother to stumble home on a Saturday night, or how long your sister takes in the shower. But when the first day of orientation comes, you know very little about your new housemate. And like most aspects of life with Type 1 diabetes, managing these new changes is only more complicated with a chronic illness in tow.
Do you tell your roommate about your diabetes before you meet in person? How much insulin should you bring? Where are you going to store your supplies? Should your RA know? What about your professors?
First, talk over how to manage things with your doctor or health care provider. They will be able to give you advice in sync with how you've been managing your health for years. Next, figure out how you will receive new supplies as those you bring from home run low. If you use a mail order company, look into forwarding the supplies to your new address on campus. Or, report to Mom and Dad your supply levels during those vital calls back home. As for storage solutions, buy an under-the-bed container to keep everything together (if you have a fridge in your room, a small plastic notecard box is a great place to keep insulin cool and organized).
But now back to the roommates.
Over the summer, I wrestled with the dilemma of if I should tell my roommates about my diabetes before we ever met or on the first day in person. We had spoken some, and from what I could tell, they seemed nice enough, but I wondered how much they knew about Type 1 and what its like to live with. I also wondered if when we did meet in person, my diabetes would be something they would use to identify me by, rather than knowing me for me.
I ended up deciding to wait and tell my roommates in person about being diabetic. Don't let first impressions be unfairly tainted by false information or assumptions people may have about diabetes. Be honest and upfront immediately with those around you about what it takes to keep you happy and healthy.
Love always,
Emily
Roommates.
There are those few lucky students who receive singles their first year, but the majority face sharing their space with at least one complete stranger, if not multiple. You know when to expect your older brother to stumble home on a Saturday night, or how long your sister takes in the shower. But when the first day of orientation comes, you know very little about your new housemate. And like most aspects of life with Type 1 diabetes, managing these new changes is only more complicated with a chronic illness in tow.
Do you tell your roommate about your diabetes before you meet in person? How much insulin should you bring? Where are you going to store your supplies? Should your RA know? What about your professors?
First, talk over how to manage things with your doctor or health care provider. They will be able to give you advice in sync with how you've been managing your health for years. Next, figure out how you will receive new supplies as those you bring from home run low. If you use a mail order company, look into forwarding the supplies to your new address on campus. Or, report to Mom and Dad your supply levels during those vital calls back home. As for storage solutions, buy an under-the-bed container to keep everything together (if you have a fridge in your room, a small plastic notecard box is a great place to keep insulin cool and organized).
But now back to the roommates.
Over the summer, I wrestled with the dilemma of if I should tell my roommates about my diabetes before we ever met or on the first day in person. We had spoken some, and from what I could tell, they seemed nice enough, but I wondered how much they knew about Type 1 and what its like to live with. I also wondered if when we did meet in person, my diabetes would be something they would use to identify me by, rather than knowing me for me.
I ended up deciding to wait and tell my roommates in person about being diabetic. Don't let first impressions be unfairly tainted by false information or assumptions people may have about diabetes. Be honest and upfront immediately with those around you about what it takes to keep you happy and healthy.
Love always,
Emily
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