The 3 Keys to Living: OTR/T1

Unlocking your potential and being your best you can be challenging no matter your circumstances, but I have found it is especially difficult if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Hence, today I want to talk about the three keys to unlocking the potential we all have inside us to live on the run.

🔑 #1. Accountability: I start with this one because like I said in the last post, I lived for so long telling people that I was taking care of myself and I was honestly just pushing my diabetes under the rug so that I would feel “normal”. Therefore, when people find out that I have T1D, most of the time they are shocked because I do my best to hide it and never really talk about it, mostly because I don’t want any extra attention or pity because of it. However, what I am learning now is that the more I talk about it, the more I am held accountable to it. I have always felt like I can take care of myself on my own, and I would always play this same dialogue in my head: “I am responsible, I am fine, I don’t want anyone to worry about me. I don’t want to be a burden. I don’t feel great, but I never will know what it feels like to really be healthy again because of this disease.” If you have had these same thoughts, please know that it is SO important to be honest about where you are and to have someone or a group of people that will hold you accountable in every step of your journey. I always say that no one should ever have to do anything alone…especially if they don’t have to. I encourage you to reach out and find some accountability partners, not tomorrow not a week or month from now, but TODAY. Seriously…choose anyone that truly cares about you and your well being…for example, me, your doctor, your best friend, your family, whomever you choose that won’t nag you but will love you through the ups and downs and hold you accountable. Things truly are much better when shared. Our society doesn’t really push this message, but I am here today to tell you that the more accountability you have, the better your life will be and you will have so much more motivation to take care of yourself, your health, and your body. Which brings us to our next key…

🔑 #2. Motivation: There used to be far too many days that I had ZERO and I mean Z-E-R-OOOOOO motivation to live on the run. I always felt sluggish, I was carrying extra weight, and I felt like no matter what I was doing, I was never going to look like I wanted to look or feel happy and healthy. I also felt like when I did get up to exercise my blood sugar would go low and then I would have to eat and then what was the point of exercising in the first place? Not only that, but then my blood sugar would go back up and it was just a constant cycle of highs and lows. Then, during my junior year of college Pepperdine University, something changed. I took Nutrition 101 for my science requirement (because in my humble opinion science isn’t my strongest subject), and it seemed like the class I would have the most success in at the time. Little did I know it was EXACTLY what I needed to spark some internal motivation to have a better relationship with food, exercise, and my own personal health. I remember going to the beach one day (since you can do that when the university you go to is less than a five minute drive) and thinking instead of just laying here (which is what I was used to doing), I put one foot in front of the other and began going on short twenty minute walks. Those short walks turned into longer forty-five minute walks. Those longer walks turned into walking a minute and running for a minute, which turned into running for five minutes, and then ten, and then thirty. Before I knew it, I was starting to see my body change and was on the path to a healthier and happier me. There are so many different things that can motivate you, both internal and external. So for me, my nutrition class was my internal motivator at the start of my journey back to a healthy me, and running along the ocean was definitely an external motivator. I encourage you to find your own internal and external motivations, to live life on the run. Write them down and treasure them. They surely will not be the same every day, but recognize them, be grateful for them, and when you don’t feel like putting one front of the other, they will be there to remind you to stay strong and to never give up!

🔑 #3. The Right Tools: I end with this point because once you have your accountability and motivation, the right tools are essential to live on the run. I am amazed at the technology we have these days compared to what I was working with when I was diagnosed at age seven. The first tool I highly recommend if you do not use it is a continuous glucose monitor. I use Dexcom and as you can see from the picture below, it sticks right on your tummy and communicates with your phone to constantly monitor your blood sugar. I used to use an insulin pump, but after living in Arizona and constantly having it overheat in the summer, I decided to go back to regular injections. Once I went off the pump, I actually felt like I had more self-control and made smarter food choices because I was putting a needle in, not just pressing a button. My doctor keeps recommending I go back on the pump, but every time we talk I tell her that I don’t mind the injections. About two months ago she recommended I use a new product called the InPen. I love it. It also uses bluetooth technology, like the CGM so that I know how much active insulin is in my body so that I am not stacking my insulin. I encourage you to check out these two tools and if you have any questions about them, comment below. There are so many tools out there, so it can be overwhelming to know which ones are best…but I will continue to share ones that work for me, and would love to hear about ones that work for you!