Related Posts

• Curious about my Diet ?

  A question I get asked frequently is what my diet is like. I deviated from my regimen last night . I went out for my trainer’s birthday for about an hour at a later time than I usually go out.  My life is very routine - I try to eat at the same times every day, work out at the same times, and wake up and go to bed at the same time.  In the time that I was out, I danced briefly; however, my last meal had no carbs and left me with an empty stomach.  In other words, I didn’t have any food in me when I went dancing, so my blood sugars went low. When your sugar goes low, you go into panic mode.  You worry about fast acting carbs , when will they work, will it be enough, is it going to affect my weight, my sleep, my morning routine.  Unfortunately my body required more than 60 carbs overnight which left me exhausted this morning.  Not only did I lose an hour of sleep due to ...

• Sugar Free Comedy - An interview with comedian Chelcie Rice

  (image courtesy www.chelcierice.com )  Chelcie:  My name's Chelcie Rice. I'm a stand-up comic, based out of Atlanta, and I am a type one diabetic. I've been wearing a CGM now for three or four months and I'm on an insulin pump. Alissa:  And what kind of insulin pump and CGM are you using currently? Chelcie:  I'm using the Dexcom CGM.  I've been on a Medtronic insulin pump] since 2005. Alissa:  How old were you when you were first diagnosed, and what were some of the challenges? Chelcie:  I was diagnosed at 25.  My symptoms were the usual – frequent urination and constant thirst. At the time, I was a musician in a local church along with my roommate.  It was my roommate who noticed the symptoms first – noting that I was going to the restroom multiple times during service. Upon his suggestion, I went to see a urologist who diagnosed the diabetes. I spent five days in the hospital re-hydrating and learning about diabetes as I confess that I didn’t know much. I knew my grandmother was diabetic but that was about ...

• Diabetes and Pageants: An interview with Miss New Hampshire 2016 and T1D, Caroline Carter

  Miss New Hampshire 2016 and T1D, Caroline Carter You can keep up with Caroline by visiting her official Facebook page, Miss New Hampshire Caroline Carter Alissa:   When were you diagnosed with diabetes? Caroline:  I was diagnosed on November 17th, 2008. I was just about 10 years old. Before I was diagnosed with diabetes, I had been dealing with Mononucleosis.  Then something changed. I lost 13 pounds in one week despite the fact that I was eating a lot. I was urinating frequently, and losing muscle alarmingly fast. Ironically, the day I finally went to the doctor I had eaten a bag of nacho chips and a pint of ice cream to keep my weight up. My blood sugar was 545. Alissa:   Does diabetes run in your family? Caroline:  No, an environmental factor eventually led to my diagnosis of diabetes. No one else in my family has diabetes before me, or after. Alissa:   Being diagnosed as a child must have been challenging. How did you learn to cope with your new norm? Caroline:  When I was diagnosed my mom told me that “Everyone has something.” She ...

• Olympic Skier Going For The Gold - An Interview with T1D Kris Freeman

  Alissa is wrapping up 2015 with an interview of 4-time Olympian Skier and T1D Kris Freeman.  From Campton NH, born 10/14/1980, Kris Freeman’s accomplishments include the Under 23 World Champion, 17 X National Champion, and Lilly Diabetes Camp Care Ambassador.  Kris is a Dexcom Warrior and Omnipod user since 2008.  You can keep up with Kris at his site, www.krisfreeman.net Alissa: Your interest in skiing came at a very early age. Your parents both skied, can you tell me a little about your parents, and how they first got into skiing? Kris Freeman: My Dad was a pig farmer from Iowa. My mom grew up in a suburb of Chicago. They started skiing in their mid-20s when they moved to New Hampshire. Alissa: What was it that you loved about watching your parent’s cross-country skiing? What made you pursue this as an athletic sport over other types of professional sports? Kris Freeman: In my town, there is a private high school that has its own ski jumping facility, cross-country ski trails and downhill mountain. The school opens their facility to residents, offering free coaching. I took full ...

• Pageants and Insulin Pumps: An Interview with Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson

  Nicole Johnson, DrPH, MPH, MA  has worked professionally in diabetes for over 17 years and has lived with Type 1 diabetes since 1993. She is most well known for her time as Miss America 1999. In recent years, Nicole has gained a reputation for her engagement in diabetes research focused on quality of life, psychosocial issues, and family dynamics in diabetes.  At the University of South Florida, Nicole serves as the Executive Director of Bringing Science Home, a $6 million diabetes research program that focuses on those very topics.  Nicole is also the Chairman of the Diabetes Empowerment Foundation, an organization focused on adults with Type 1 diabetes. Examples of the foundation’s work include the programs Nicole created Students With Diabetes, Young Adults With Diabetes and Diabetes Partners. Over the years, Nicole has served on many diabetes advisory boards including the JDRF International Board, the American Diabetes Association National Board, the Florida Governor’s Diabetes Advisory Council and the National Institutes of Health Council of Public Representatives. Since 1999, Nicole has helped raise more than $27 million for diabetes research and programs In her journalism career, ...