\n
There\u2019s not too much that\u2019s certain when you\u2019re trudging through life with the big D. Will the battery in your insulin pump last through this job interview? Will 15 grams of carbohydrates really <\/em>be enough to deliver you from hypoglycemia hell? Does it count as a fasting lab if you had seven sips of Diet Coke right before the blood draw?<\/p>\n It\u2019s comforting, then, to know that there are a few things that are always certain when you\u2019re dealing with diabetes.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n People who don\u2019t know much about diabetes (and who like to get all up in other people\u2019s business) might express their concern about the effects of sugary foods on your health. Little do they know that pizza has always been the real enemy. There\u2019s something about that magical combination of grease, protein, carb-y crust, lactose and tomato sauce that can destroy your blood sugar for hours. Popsicles and jelly beans just take a few extra units of insulin; two slices of deep dish demand complete mastery of all insulin pump features and a PhD in physics.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n If it\u2019s not difficult enough to take over for one of your digestive organs, let me introduce you to the wonderful world of health insurance (or lack thereof). Life with diabetes means tracking blood sugars, health expenses, doctor appointments, receipts, prescriptions, those little instruction sheets that come with the prescriptions \u2013 it never ends. You\u2019re always trying to prove to the powers that be that you still have diabetes and need a prescription for insulin, or that you shouldn\u2019t have to pay ten million dollars for a life-saving piece of technology. The struggle is real.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n You know what goes terribly with toothpaste? Orange juice. Or granola bars, especially when they get stuck in your teeth and all you want is to go to bed. While there\u2019s currently no concrete evidence that the act of brushing one\u2019s teeth contributes to hypoglycemia, anecdotal evidence tells me it\u2019s for real. Do your blood sugar checking \u2013 and your orange juice gulping \u2013 before your pick up that toothbrush.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n On one hand, you\u2019re surrounded by food. On the other hand \u2013 oh no \u2013 you\u2019re surrounded by food. Hey, you haven\u2019t eaten a Star Crunch in 17 years, but why not fill up the cart? Mashed potatoes and spaghetti sure sounds good for dinner. With pancakes and strawberry Crush for dessert. What?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Of course, all the pokes and stabs and sharp objects that come with diabetes aren\u2019t fun to deal with, but you get used to them. And while most people without <\/em>diabetes might see the shots and finger sticks as the worst part of living with this disease, it\u2019s everything else that makes diabetes such a struggle: the highs and lows (see #4), the doctors appointments and medical expenses (see #2), the twisted, nonsensical mathematics that go into enjoying a simple meal (#1). Compared to all that stuff, the needles don\u2019t hurt a bit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" People who don\u2019t know much about diabetes (and who like to get all up in other people\u2019s business) might express their concern about the effects of sugary foods on your health. Little do they know that pizza has always been the real enemy. There\u2019s something about that magical combination of grease, protein, carb-y crust, lactose and tomato sauce that can destroy your blood sugar for hours. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":42091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1453,1428],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n1. Cake and ice cream ain\u2019t got nothing on pizza. <\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Paperwork, y\u2019all.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Oral hygiene = low blood sugar.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. The grocery store is the best (and worst) place to crash.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. It\u2019s not really about the needles.<\/strong><\/h3>\n