Saturday adventures are one of my favorite things; I love to break out of my comfort zone and explore new places with my family. This afternoon we decided to take the kids out to a corn maze, which is literally a maze created out of corn stalks. Corn season is over here but the stalks remain until mid-October, so some farm owners cut paths into their corn fields, in the form of creative shapes and designs. The design that we tackled today was the Grey Cup 2011 logo (the championship event for the CFL, which happens to be next month in the city in which I live). Looks simple? I assure you, it is anything but...
The entrance and exit are in the same place, on the right hand side of the photo, near the buildings. Once you enter the maze you follow the paths in search of numbered posts, in order from 1-10. The first 8 we found very quickly, and I was starting to think we were pretty darn good at this! Then sign #9 took a little longer than the rest, and then we got totally stuck. Towards the top right corner of the maze is a lookout (1 of 2 lookouts in the maze) and from there we kept going around in circles, trying to find our way out. We tried every possibly path and turn (or so we thought) and yet kept returning to the lookout again. To add to our frustration, there was another family lost in the same spot, so every time we took the wrong path, we'd run into them, again, meaning that we were going the wrong way. The corn stalks are about 12 feet high and densely planted, so not only can you not see anything but the sky above you, you must stay on the path or you'll get really lost.
Eventually we found our way out, with the entire task taking us just under an hour and a half. It was loads of fun and a great way to get out in the fresh air and get some exercise with the kids (I love those activities in which the kids are having so much fun that they don't realize they're exercising!). But of course, me being a D-mom, kept thinking, what if Dylan was to get low while we're literally lost in a maze? Yes, I had dextrose tabs with me, and glucagon, but still, it was a very vulnerable feeling nonetheless...
For some time now the Unicorn has been the metaphor for the DOC, so what a great surprise it was to see the unicorn featured on GLEE this week!
The show, entitled "I am Unicorn" opens with a conversation between Brittany (Heather Morris) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) in which Brittany is offering to help Kurt with his campaign to be student body president because she believes that he is "the biggest unicorn." Kurt, of course, doesn't understand her reference, so she explains the story behind the unicorn (keep in mind this is a 16 year old girl who still believes in Santa Claus). "When a pony has done a good deed he gets a horn, so he becomes a unicorn. Then he poops out cotton candy until he forgets he's magical and his horn falls off...The point is, a unicorn is someone who knows they're magical and isn't afraid to show it."
Albeit Brittany's explanation is a bit silly, I couldn't help but think what an accurate description it was for the DOC (Diabetes Online Community). Its members are truly magical, in the ways they support each other, are there for each other, and take care of each other.
I cannot think of a more perfect metaphor for the DOC.
The first part of the above mentioned episode is available below.
Watching "Biggest Loser" is a longstanding Tuesday night tradition in our household. My husband and I have faithfully watched the show since its early days with Bob Harper and & Jillian Michaels, through Jillian's departure after Season 2, her return for Seasons 4 to 11 (and corresponding rise to "fitness diva" as I like to think of her), and her departure again at the end of Season 11, to the current Season 12 with new celebrity trainers. It is a weekly family event in our house; sometimes our kids watch the first hour with us and then my hubby and I watch the second hour after putting the kids in bed. Other times we tape the entire 2 hour episode and watch it later in the week. The kids love to witness the contestants' extreme transformations and I love the healthy lifestyle message promoted by the show and its trainers.
With each new season we watch the new contestants face the grueling workouts, the dramatic weigh-ins, and the before and after health evaluations. Early in each season, all of the contestants undergo a full medical exam by "Biggest Loser" doctors, and some of the findings are shared on the show. Most, if not all, of the men and women are told that they have some kind of health condition as a result of their weight; for some its high blood pressure, for some its early signs of heart disease, for some its asthma. There is usually at least one contestant who is told they have diabetes (or that they show early signs of diabetes and will develop the disease unless they make some major changes to their diet and lifestyle).
Don't get me wrong, I love the show and I have the utmost respect for the colossal challenge that its producers and trainers have taken on. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in North America and if a big television network show with celebrity trainers and Cinderella-style weight loss stories can motivate people to make positive changes in their lives, then power to them! After all, every little bit helps, right?
Where I do take offense is when the show promotes incorrect and/or insufficient messages about diabetes. At least two contestants in this week's episode were informed by "Dr. H" that they had diabetes. There was no mention of what kind of diabetes, not even a brief explanation of what diabetes is. The doctor presented the information to the contestants as if it was a death sentence and with each diagnosis the receiving contestant began to cry. My son, upon watching the scene, asked, "Mom, what's wrong with having diabetes?" My heart broke at his question and my eyes welled with tears. Yes, diabetes is a scary, unpredictable, life-threatening disease. But there is nothing "wrong" with it, and there is nothing "wrong" with someone who has it. It is a manageable disease that does not prevent a person from doing anything. Furthermore, my type 1 diabetic son (as with all type 1's and many type 2's) does not have diabetes because of obesity, lack of exercise, or poor lifestyle choices, and there is nothing he, or I, can do to change it. And I know that Dr. H is referring to type 2 diabetes, just as I'm sure he knows he is referring to type 2 diabetes, so WHY CAN'T HE SAY THAT? Why promote ignorance when this show has the ability and the reach to educate millions of viewers? This is a great teachable moment that "Biggest Loser" has simply let go to waste.
Okay, end of rant for today.
For full info about the show, visit their website.
It's that time again, when we can nominate some of our favorite blogs from earlier this month for a "Best of the 'Betes" award! Sara, over at momentsofwonderful.com, has put together this great recognition system to highlight, honor and/or pay tribute to some of the month's top blogs in the following categories:
When Dylan asked me in the spring of 2010 if he could start playing ice hockey, I have to admit, my reaction was less than thrilled. Yes, hockey is the national sport in Canada, and yes, we Canadians take our hockey pretty seriously, but the fast-paced, hard-hitting, high intensity game watched on tv rises to a whole new level when my type 1 diabetic son asks to play the same game.
I had so many questions, so many worries. Some were typical of any parent...
~ Was he too old to start playing in grade 5? At the time Dylan asked, he couldn't even walk in ice skates, yet he would be playing with boys who began the sport at age 3.
~ What if he got hurt? Dylan was small for his age when he started playing, and very thin. I was terrified he'd break a bone.
~ Could we handle the long term financial commitment? Team fees alone are $600 a year, plus equipment, power skating, tournaments, off season training, etc.
~ Could I juggle the time commitment? A minimum of 1 weekend game and 2 before school, 6:00 am practices a week, plus 1 power skating lesson a week.
~ Would the behind-the-scenes competitiveness drive me crazy? There are always parents who think their child is going to be the next big thing, and hockey is no exception. In this sport parents can be aggressive, overly competitive, and mean, taking the game far too seriously. Could I be a part of the team without being part of the drama?
Some were exclusive to a parent of a child with diabetes...
~ How would his blood sugar react to the intense level of performance? Games are 60 minutes long and the intensity never slows. Should he test in intermission, or do I let him stay with the other boys?
~ Do we run a temp basal or just suspend the pump altogether? The intensity is so high, would be need insulin for that hour, or would burn enough carbohydrates that it would balance out?
~ What if he gets hit too hard? This is a child who has had seizures in the past. Now they were hypoglycemic induced, but he does have a low seizure threshold. Could a hard hit induce a seizure on the ice?
~ Would the hockey schedule greatly impact his diabetes routine? 2 early morning practices a week mean less sleep, different breakfast time, etc. How would that work with his current pump settings?
And finally, my biggest worry...
~Could I put everything above aside and say yes? Not just because it would make my child happy, but because it would reinforce the message that we have always tried to live by:
Diabetes does not stand in our way.
Well, that was 18 months ago, and yesterday Dylan had his first practice for his second season of ice hockey. We've adapted pretty well and so far, everything has been pretty good. There will be some tweaking to pump setting and pre-game meals over the next few weeks, but we can handle that. And has diabetes stood in Dylan's way of playing a sport he adores? No way.
And just in case you didn't already know, there have been a few players in the NHL with type 1 diabetes. Nick Boynton has enjoyed a professional hockey career of over 10 years already, and currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes shortly before his first NHL training camp, and has never let his diabetes prevent him from playing the game he loves. Listen to him talk about it here:
Other current and past NHL players who have type 1 diabetes include Bobby Clarke (diagnosed at age 13), Toby Petersen (diagnosed at age 5), and Curt Frasier (diagnosed at age 25),
Earlier this week I visited a new specialty grocery store that recently opened in my neighborhood and, while wandering the aisles, passed a display featuring Dan-D-Pak's new Goji Omega Boost Oatmeal. Sold in a 1 kilogram bag, it features quick oats, plus dried goji berries, dried blueberries, and ground and whole flax seeds. It was on sale, and looked delicious, so I grabbed a bag. The next morning my daughter and I tested it out for breakfast and it was absolutely delicious! My daughter needed to add a bit of honey to hers, as she found it a bit bland, but I thought the dried berries added just the right amount of sweetness for my taste.
Dan-D Foods is a local company that started here in Vancouver in 1989, and has grown dramatically and expanded to 5 countries worldwide, including the USA. Their foods consist of healthy, mostly, natural items and they actively support local community organizations, including our JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes here in Vancouver. Great company, great products.
With only 26 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein per serving, it is low on the glycemic index, and a very healthy breakfast alternative. Full nutritional information for the Goji Omega Boost Oatmeal can be found on the Dan-D Foods website.
*Review of this product is strictly voluntary and has nothing to do with Dan-D Foods Ltd.
I'm really excited to be participating in "Invisible Illness Awareness Week" for the first time. And while my responses are a week late (doh!), the process has been not only thought provoking and reflective, but cathartic.
1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes. My son has type 1 diabetes, but our family lives with it each and every day. 2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: Dylan was diagnosed November 21st, 2005, at the age of 4. 3. But I had symptoms since: About a week prior to diagnosis. 4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Letting go of doing all of the diabetes care myself, and realizing that Dyl is responsible enough to start doing some of his own care. 5. Most people assume: That we have Dyl's diabetes "under control" (man do I hate that phrase. There is nothing controllable about type 1 diabetes). 6. The hardest part about mornings are: Everything. Mornings are crazy in our house; diabetes simply adds an extra element to the madness. 7. My favorite medical TV show is: House M.D. Love his sense of humor. 8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Dyl's insulin pump. I never want to go back to syringes. 9. The hardest part about nights are: The worry. Need I say more? Every D parent knows EXACTLY what I mean... 10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. Just insulin; lots and lots of insulin. 11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Would try anything for a cure. 12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible, I think. That's a tough question and I have mixed feelings on both sides. 13. Regarding working and career: I work on call (teacher) so that my schedule can be flexible. 14. People would be surprised to know: That it DOES get easier. 15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: The unpredictability. That one day everything can seem ok, and the next day diabetes kicks you in the butt. 16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: N/a. We have never let diabetes prevent Dylan from doing anything, and we never will. 17. The commercials about my illness: What commericals? They're all for type 2 diabetes... 18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Leaving the house without all of the extra supplies. 19. It was really hard to have to give up: n/a, see #16. 20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: cycling to raise awareness and funds for type 1 diabetes. 21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: n/a, see #16. This is our "normal". 22. My illness has taught me: That life is the most precious gift we are ever given and needs to be cherished as such. 23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: oh boy, don't get me started, there are too many things people say about D that bug me... 24. But I love it when people: Understand what we're going through. 25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away." 26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You can do this and you are not alone. 27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: That we have never let diabetes define us, or stand in our way. 28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Listen. 29. I’m involved withInvisible Illness Weekbecause: I am passionate about spreading awareness about type 1 diabetes and will never give up until a cure is found. 30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Grateful. Not alone. Understood.
