Category: Motivation

One of the best parts about being a father is having the ability to allow my child to indulge in the things that I can’t. Namely, food and sweets. Although I try to keep my son on the nutritional straight and narrow, a big part of me is often envious that he can make it through his day by consuming high-carb foods without worrying about his blood sugar levels. A good example would be a few days ago. I woke up and hadn’t gotten any coffee in me yet.

My son had eaten a light breakfast, but expressed his desire to have some eggs. I was taken aback by this, as he is usually opposed to anything that isn’t crackers, bread or wraps. I told him I’d immediately fry him up a couple of eggs, but he corrected me by showing me the small bag of Hershey’s Eggies I had sitting in my workout area from a low I had suffered the day before (BTW, chocolate is absolutely horrible and the worst choice when you’re having low blood sugar, but I’ll save that one for another post!) I ended up shrugging my shoulders and said, “Why not?” and let him consume the five or six eggies that were left in the pouch. It was nine o’clock in the morning. Meinh…

My son has that benefit and his immune system is showing no signs of attacking his beta cells, much to my relief. But what can those of us who suffer from Diabetes do? If you’re anything like me, just HEARING about a specific food will have me craving it. I’ve lost count of the number of times that my wife has spoken the words, “You know what would be good?” only to have me salivate and suffer in silence. Okay, who am I kidding? I never do ANYTHING silent…

Although I am currently on pump therapy and some “experts” may say that the use of insulin allows for the consumption of sugared goods if I so choose, piling on more insulin isn’t a great solution and it has its share of side effects. Depending on the routine of your day, constant infusions of insulin outside of your meal periods can lead to difficulties controlling your overall blood glucose levels. I also don’t need to remind anyone that people with Diabetes can have difficulties with managing body weight and increased insulin definitely doesn’t help with that.

First and foremost, sugar can be addicting. Yes, you read that right. When was the last time you heard of a white powder that WASN’T addicting? But seriously, craving sweets can be an addictive habit where your body seeks the release of dopamine through the consumption of something sugary or sweet. The idea is to try to find some way of curbing that craving without succumbing to it. I can easily admit that I’m a big fan of allowing the occasional indulgence. Doing so not only allows you the occasional treat, it makes it easier to stick to your meal plans and less likely to falter from a diet you may be on.

According to an article posted on HealthLine.com, there are a number of foods that you can consume that will help to curb those nasty sugar craving. Although I won’t list ALL the foods in this article, I’ll point out my favourites and which ones I feel have worked the best for me. Obviously, you want to be able to recognize the difference between a craving and genuine hunger. But here are some options…

1. Fruit: This is a great alternative since most fruits have a sweet taste. They do also contain sugar, so you want to know how much you’ll have to bolus in order to compensate. The difference is that it’s a much healthier option with fibre and other good stuff thrown into the mix;
2. Dark Chocolate: My wife and I are both fans of dark chocolate. And it usually refers to any chocolate that is higher than 70% cacao. Dark chocolate has a number of fantastic benefits, which I wrote about in my post Embrace Your Dark Side. But the higher the percentage of the chocolate, the less sugar is usually contained within. Chocolate is still pretty high in fat, however. So, that’s a consideration;
3. Chewing Gum: Yup, that’s right! Some studies have shown that chewing a piece of sugar-free gum can help to stave off sugar cravings, as well as help to control hunger. They’re sweetened with artificial sweeteners, of course, and not everyone likes that. But it’s certainly an easy way to stave off cravings.

These are just my top 3 and the ones I usually lean on. The chewing gum is actually my most-used method of staving off sugar cravings and/or controlling hunger throughout the day. The article includes 19 foods and does go on to say that if you find yourself constantly craving sugar, you should probably examine your diet and figure out what you’re lacking that might be causing it.

Last but not least, there are plenty of “Diabetes-friendly” desserts out there. Don’t be afraid to do some research and find some recipes, should your craving be for an actual dessert. The Diabetes Canada website has an entire section on recipes and can offer a variety of Diabetes-friendly recipes for not just desserts, but healthy meal options as well. The idea is not to try and go cold turkey, but to be smart about it and recognize the cravings for what they are. ☯

I’m not a fan of tea… In fact, anyone who knows me is well aware that I have a particular affinity to coffee and caffeine in general. But despite my personal preferences, tea in general does tend to have a reasonable amount of caffeine. In fact, a normal cup of pure green tea (without any additives) usually has almost 30 milligrams of caffeine, despite some sources claiming that green tea is “naturally” caffeine-free.

I learned this lesson the hard way last week, when I decided to enjoy a cup of green tea at about 7 o’clock in the evening and wound up being awake for most of the night. I spoke to my Sensei about it, who studies herbs and Chinese Medicine, only to be told not to consume tea after 5 p.m. for this very reason. I should have asked BEFORE trying it. Nothing like learning the hard way…

I wrote a post last year, outlining the benefits of green tea, called My Tea Is Green With Envy. In fact, I also wrote about the aspects of coffee called Sweet, Blessed Caffeine…, although it doesn’t necessarily cover the benefits of coffee so much as it discusses the appropriate levels of caffeine one can consume. Regardless, I won’t get into the benefits of Green Tea in this post, as you can easily read them in the linked article above.

As I said in the beginning, I’m not a fan of tea. I remember the first time I tried a cup. Although I don’t remember exactly when it was or how long ago, I had decided to try a cup in lieu of my constant stream of coffee. I remember wondering why in the hell I subjected myself to the brew as it reminded me of a cup of hot bath water (And no, I’m not speaking from experience. Before anyone asks…)

But I try and enjoy (and I use that term lightly) a cup of green tea at least once an afternoon. According to an article posted by the Pacific College Of Health And Science, “Green tea polyphenols and polysaccharides are effective in lowering blood sugars. […] The polyphenol group of green tea catechins has been shown to lower blood sugars, as well as the polysaccharides in green tea.”

Some other studies have explained that some blends of black tea can also have the same benefit, although I can’t seem to find my source so I’ll leave it to you to decide. But after my little insomnia “incident” with the green tea, I asked Sensei about some different teas that provided some, if any benefit. Here are some of the options he threw at me:

• Ginger Tea: This is good for helping to stomach pains and nausea. It’s also been shown to help with muscle aches, making it ideal for post-workouts. A true herbal tea, this is a genuine caffeine-free alternative when compared to green or black teas;
• Barley Tea: I honestly had never heard of barley tea until Sensei mentioned it. But it’s also good for helping with stomach issues and can help alleviate problems with your sleep patterns. Some also enjoy drinking it for it’s nutty flavour. Since barley tea is made from, well… barley, it falls under the same category as ginger tea and is said to be completely caffeine-free (I’m seeing a trend and I think Sensei is trying to tell me something!);
• Dandelion Tea: Alright, this one sounds straight up disgusting! Sensei even suggested picking and drying my own dandelions to make this tea. But once I got to researching, dandelion tea has a significant number of benefits, according to an article posted by Healthline.com. These benefits include reducing water weight, helping with stomach issues, increasing liver health and preventing urinary tract infections. Sounds pretty good, although dandelion root can interact with some medications, so chat with your medical practitioner before drinking it in any serious way. Another caffeine-free alternative, some claim it tastes surprisingly similar to coffee;
• Ginseng Tea: I’ve heard for decades that the consumption of Ginseng helps with increased brain function. Healthline.com also has a pretty decent article on this one. But some of the benefits include helping with erectile dysfunction, boosting the immune system and may increase energy levels. The interesting benefit to this one is that it could also help to lower blood sugar levels. Ginseng is actually on par with coffee on the caffeine front, which is likely how it “helps” with energy levels.

Last but not least, is a blend of tea that I actually kind of enjoy. This would be mint tea. Sensei recommends having a cup of mint tea in the evenings as it helps you to relax. Peppermint tea is said to be caffeine free as it is an herbal tea, and has a significant number of benefits that include the ones listed above. Not least of which would be the fact that it also helps to freshen your breath.

Although you can easily obtain any of these teas at your local grocery store, it’s also important to know what you’re putting in your body. Take a close look at the ingredients listed on the package. Some commercially-made teas will include additives, preservatives and ingredients you may not want with your tea.

I stand by my preference of coffee over tea, but there’s no denying that the benefits make it worth having a cup. Whether enjoyed while reading a book, streaming your favourite show or simply because you like it, a cup of herbal tea can be a great idea. Although I admit that I won’t be harvesting my own dandelions from the back yard anytime soon… ☯

April is always a bit of a catch-22 for me, because it contains so many dates and milestones in my life… Some good, some bad but all remembered. For example, it was in April of 1988 that I first set foot inside a karate dojo and forever changed the direction of life as I knew it. It was in April of 2013 when my wife and I became a couple and April of the following year that we got married.

As fond as I am of those memories, April is also the month that my brother passed away after a chaotic, 18-year battle against kidney failure, heart issues, Epilepsy and a score of other illnesses too many to list. Ironically, April is also the month in 1982 where I passed out cold into my bowl of morning cereal, which resulted in an emergency visit to the hospital where I was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes…

For weeks, my parents had started seeing a change in me. I had been going to Kindergarten for a while and had joined a younger version of the Boy Scouts called “Beavers” (insert the NSFW jokes here). Life was playing out the way it should for a child my age, with the exception of spending the majority of my free time at the hospital with my brother and my strange affinity to reading books.

But as the next couple of months passed, I began to lose weight. I couldn’t stand foods I usually enjoyed and I was always moody, bordering on crabby. I started wetting the bed again, and I’m not sure who that chagrined the most; my parents or myself. I was constantly thirsty and often suffered from bad stomach pains and cramps. Having never experienced a normal childhood through my brother, my parents felt that I was likely just going through growing pains. How very wrong they were!

I awoke on a quiet morning in April of 1982. I remember my body feeling like a lead weight and my head was spinning. My stomach hurt like hell and I couldn’t seem to formulate any words. I managed to make it to the washroom, although I had wet myself once again. When I stumbled out to the main area of the apartment we all lived in, I found that my mother had prepared a bowl of my favourite cereal: Froot Loops. I remember sitting at the table and my mother saying something to me, then everything went black.

That’s the last thing I remember before waking up in a hospital, several days later. According to my mother, I sat down at the table and stared at my cereal. She started asking me questions, to which I apparently frowned at her and continued to stare without answering. She started asking me what my problem was and what was wrong. And then my face flopped down into my cereal and I was out cold.

I don’t recall how I would have gotten to the hospital. As I remember it, my father was gone to work and we only had one vehicle, so I have to assume that my mother either called for an ambulance or a neighbour in our building helped out. I opened my eyes and found my parents standing there with some medical staff. Oddly enough, I wasn’t scared. I was more upset about the fact that their voices seemed to have woken me than I was about my locale.

This was the first time I heard the term “Diabetes.” I had no idea what it meant, but the mention of it brought a look fear on both my parents’ face. I recognized that it must be something bad, although I wouldn’t fathom the seriousness for quite a few years to come. The next week flew by in a blur as I was taught how to test my blood and use a massive plastic brick called a “glucometer.” I was taught how to properly load and inject insulin into my thighs, butt and triceps, although my mother took care of injections for the first couple of years. And I spoke with nutritionists and dietitians at length, all of whom repeated the same mantra: DON’T EAT SUGAR!

By the time I was released and sent home, I was wearing a shiny new metal bracelet that read: JUVENILE DIABETES, a term which is now considered a misnomer but still used. I had a batch of new equipment that my family couldn’t afford and significant limitations placed upon me. I had to quit the Beavers. My kindergarten teacher was advised of my condition who in turn, advised the whole class that “I had a special illness and had to be watched carefully” and to advise the teacher if I was found acting strangely or looking ill. This set the stage for the decade that would follow and permanently give me the top position on the weirdo podium of life, guaranteeing I would never be popular and most kids even went as far as to avoid me (this pre-dated a time when everyone had tender sensitivities and angry phone calls by parents to teachers were a common thing, so I actually had to DEAL with my problems).

Although Diabetes was a well-known condition in the early 80’s, many of the specific aspects weren’t as focused as they are now. Carb counting was not a thing in my household; it was always “DON’T EAT SUGAR.” This meant that my parents erred in some respects that I now know better. Thirsty? Sure, have that glass of milk. Milk has no sugar… or If you need a snack, stay away from Froot Loops and have a handful of crackers. There’s no sugar in crackers… When in truth, crackers are just as bad (in some cases worse) than sugared cereal.

The next five years included a number of short-term comas, complications, lifestyle issues and my presumed death in the years to come due to the onset of severe insulin-resistance. By the time I had reached 9 years of age, I had grown accustomed to going to sleep wondering if I’d be in my bed or the hospital the next morning. My brother also became a combat veteran at waking up and fetching my parents if I slipped into medical distress. I truly owe him my life in more ways than I can count.

Over the next year, significant lifestyle changes and taking myself in hand turned things around. I refused to let my mother provide my insulin injections and began doing it all myself. I tested multiple times a day as opposed to the once or twice a day that we could afford, sacrificing other things I didn’t need in order to make it work. I was able to spread out some of my supplies. For example, I used to cut ketone test strips down the middle, creating two thinner test strips. You’re pissing on them, for pete’s sake! Who cares how wide they are, right?

The I started karate. The following year is when I started to see light at the end of the tunnel. Structured fitness and exercise routines, mixed with a heavy dose of discipline, helped me to gain mass, increase my cardio and overall health and reduce the effects of insulin-resistance. I had been studying karate for a number of years before I finally told my parents, who didn’t approve of the choice for fear that I would get injured or succumb to the effects of my condition.

I developed a drive for life that has seen me succeed in every aspect I’ve ever pursued. Because I always refused to simply lie down and die. And those doctors who believed I would succumb to my Diabetes in my early teens? I’ll be celebrating my 42nd birthday this year, and guess what? I’M STILL HERE!

I sometimes look back at those early years and wonder what may have become of me, had things turned out differently. At the time, my brother and I shared a bedroom. What if I had slipped into my comatose state and he hadn’t gotten my parents? Or what if I hadn’t decided to get into fitness and karate and allowed my condition to take control? Would I have been more popular? Would I have had more friends, joined more sports, gone on to do something different with my life?

SO many variables that I’ll never know… But ultimately, it’s all led to the here and now. And all of it had created the person I am today; the person who is currently typing out this blog. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change a thing… ☯

The world is in a state of division: one side that is doing everything they can to avoid going out and having contact with other members of the public. The other side are the ones who throw caution and by proxy, all of our safety, to the wind. I can’t stress the current importance of social distancing and staying home unless absolutely necessary.

As much as some people would absolutely love to have the world grind to a halt for one or three months, there are some things that simply can’t be avoided. For example, families need groceries and pharmaceutical amenities. Some people have medical needs that extend beyond the call-in phone lines and require in-person visits. For those of us with Type-1 Diabetes, those appointments can mean the difference between continued health or the slow descent into loss of control.

As I’ve written before (and included gross photos), I attend Saskatoon City Hospital every 8 weeks for eye injections in order to reduce swelling and eliminate the effects of Diabetic Macular Edema. I’ve already written about this specific condition and you can read that post here (Part 1) and here (Part 2). So I won’t get into the conditions, per se. But if you read those two posts, you’ll understand what it is I go through every 8 weeks.

The point is, I had an eye injection appointment scheduled for yesterday. About two weeks ago, I reached out to the Saskatoon Retinal Consultants and consulted with Health Canada as well as the Saskatoon Health Region to ascertain what dangers may be considered and what options I had available. Based on all the consultations I received, Saskatoon was considered a “safe zone” and patients were being encouraged to keep their eye injection appointments.

The reason behind this was quite simple: Maintaining one’s eyesight and preventing blindness is definitely considered essential. I can’t say that I disagree with that sentiment, but the thought of leaving my family during these trying times was less than ideal, in my mind. But I couldn’t drag them out with me, considering everything going on. I didn’t want to bring an infant, a young juvenile and my wife into another large city where they’d be exposed to people who weren’t being safe.

I contacted my usual hotel of preference, the ParkTown Hotel. It’s a 10-minute walk and the price and comfort is above reproach. I reached out and asked if they were still accepting reservations. They were, but they had shut down everything within the hotel: restaurant, gym, pool and Finn’s Irish Pub, which is where i usually wash away the pain of my injections with a pint or two.

I booked the room regardless, and was offered a 20% discount, which tickled me to no end. The only problem is I would have to pack some food as the restaurant wasn’t available. No big deal. I woke up yesterday morning, packed my bags and took to the highway. It was a surreal 2-hour ride. There were almost no vehicles on the highway. It felt like something out of a bad book.

I reached the city at about 1 p.m. and went straight to the hotel. I had to be buzzed in, and I approached a reception counter wrapped in plexiglass. The receptionist confirmed that I had a reservation and had me press my ID against the glass and swipe my own credit card as a hold on the room. The place was quiet and the entries to all the amenities were shut and locked.

I checked into my room and responded to a number of emails and blog notifications before prepping my shoulder sling and walking to the hospital. Once Arrived at Saskatoon City Hospital, I was met at the door by security services who requested my name and checked a list. I felt as though it was Night At The Roxbury and they were checking if my name was on the VIP clipboard. I regretted not wearing my red satin suit…

I was “requested”, and I use that term lightly, to use hand sanitizer and place a face mask before accessing the hospital. I saw that my name, S. Cook, was on the clipboard, leading me to believe that I would not have been permitted inside had my name not been on the list.

Once inside, I reached the fourth floor where the Eye Care Centre is located, and checked in with the reception. Contrary to the usual process, I was given a small identification “sticker” to place on my clothing instead of the usual hospital band. I was ushered through all the usual steps I go through, but much quicker and all the waiting rooms were empty as I passed through.

My ophthalmologist came into the procedure room wrapped in paper OR gear, from head to toe. He was quick and efficient, and mentioned that the clinic administrator would mail out my next appointment. I walked out of the hospital half-blind, avoiding people as I walked. The problem with the paper face mask is that it would fog my glasses, making it all but impossible for me to make my way out without removing them.

I sauntered back to the hotel and spent a quiet evening watching Star Wars and writhing in pain. My usual regimen of beer and burgers was sorely missed, last night. Now, I make my way back home. If I’m being honest, it was a SHITTY 24 hours and I can’t wait to get back to the relative safety and comfort of my home. You think self-isolation and quarantine measures are bad? It could be worse.

Yes, the world has gone to hell without the benefit of a hand-basket. And some people will be outside their house despite the requirements of the Quarantine Act. But don’t be so quick to judge, as these people may be on route to required and necessary medical appointments they need for their continued health and well-being. As much as we should all be self-isolating and staying at home, some situations simply don’t make that possible. Respect and understanding can go a long way, especially now. ☯