Never Say These 5 Things to a Type 1 Diabetic

diabetes spelled in sugar cubes

1) Test your blood sugar
– This is sure to incite anger. Who do you think you are? I know where my blood sugar’s at! Undoubtedly, each time someone asks you about your blood sugar, it’s always low.

2) You got diabetes because you ate too much candy as a kid, huh?
– NO!!!!!!!! I have no idea how I got this disease. My parents didn’t even have candy in the house! (more…)



How-to-Guide to Hiking with Diabetes

As a native Oklahoman, I can say that hiking is not part of our DNA. I am a flatlander by birth.

That being said, hiking contributes significantly to why I love waking up each day. The challenge, smells, camaraderie, and drinking beers afterward on the tailgate, make up the appreciation I have for glorified walking.

Most summers I travel out to the Rocky Mountain National Park , outside of Estes Park, CO. Yesterday, I took off on a hike with my grandpa (yeah, he’s 70) to Bluebird Lake (13 miles roundtrip). We covered about 2500 feet of elevation gain pretty gradually with a steep climb to the lake nestled next to Ouzel Peak. We hiked and explored for roughly 8 hours. This can be a real challenge for a diabetic. (more…)



How to Fight the Morning Low

Anhh.Anhh.Anhh. There goes the alarm. I turn over and hit snooze. Fifteen minutes later I’m up and feel like I can eat a horse (since I eat plant-based we’ll say a field of tempeh). I stumble my way down the stairs and test my blood sugar; 66. I immediately snag an apple off the counter and demolish it. Drink a glass of OJ soon after and polish it off with a bowl of granola. All in about 5 minutes.Before I can even truly wake up.

Obviously, this is not the ideal solution. I just took in about 75 carbs. Sure, it knocked out the low blood sugar sluggishness but I’m set to be looking at a blood sugar over 200 by mid-morning – then potentially a corrective low after lunch time. It’s a vicious cycle. (more…)