What’s been happening in the world in recent weeks is certainly stressful and I think I can comfortably speak for everyone when I say that the hope is that this pandemic will pass quickly. With all non-essential services being shut down and the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada having doubled since I posted about it two days ago, things are looking bleak.
With families self-isolating and people gathering two-week supplies of everything and staying inside their homes, schools and businesses closing and little to do outside of the routine many of us get so used to, it can be easy to go a little stir crazy. Far be it from me to intentionally break the rules, but certain necessities still need to be accommodated. I’m talking about groceries…
I stepped out of the house to gather some required groceries, and there were a number of things that I noticed along the way. There was a sort of hush over the city. This is saying quite a bit, considering the fact that we live in a suburban area of the city. There are always sounds of car horns, people moving about and the continuous pulse of the city. But not yesterday morning.
There was an eery yet calming silence as I walked to my vehicle. I could even hear birds chirping, which is usually not the norm. As I drove to the local grocery outlet, traffic was light and things felt calm. I didn’t have the typical stress and anxiety I usually experience while running errands, which was kind of nice. Despite the reason behind it, less vehicles in motion, less hustle and bustle and a quieter environment certainly was nice.
Then I walked out of the retail location I was shopping in, and found something I didn’t expect: a rock! More of a stone, really. But it was painted and polished and left sitting on top of one of the concrete pillars outside the building. It caught my eye, and as I looked closely I noticed that it had the words “donut worry” painted on it.
It was kind of nice to know that amidst all the chaos, some people were still trying to encourage calm and peace. I snapped the photos attached to this post, but left the stone where it sat, so that others could enjoy it as they stepped out of the store.
A close-up of the stone
Despite everything happening in the world right now, there are always little rays of light that shine through. We need only to be receptive to them in order to see them. Stay safe and stay the course. ☯
Life is never without difficulty. It seems as though no matter how hard you work at it, there is always a new bump in the road, a new obstacle to overcome and another problem to solve. Sometimes, carrying the weight of the world is more of a burden than the toned shoulders are worth!
We all have aspects of ourselves that we’d rather live without. Some of these aspects are internal; a personality trait or emotional state. Some of those aspects may be something physical, like my love handles. There’s nothing to love about them, really! I joke, but the honest truth is that no matter what aspects of ourselves we don’t like, we really need to learn to love ourselves, flaws and all. If you can do that, then your flaws become strengths. Allow me to provide you with a vague, yet fitting example…
Let’s say you’ve cooked your specialty for dinner. Maybe it’s a meatloaf or a shepherd’s pie; something you’re really good at making (speaking from experience). It’s absolutely delicious and the whole family enjoys it. Unfortunately, there is some left (or fortunately, depending on your perspective). You scoop the leftovers into a tupperware container, intent on enjoying it the following day.
Now, if you forget that the meal is still hot, seal the lid and place your leftovers in the fridge, the heat and cold contrast will create a heavy amount of condensation. When you remove the lid the following day, all that wet condensation will fall onto the leftover food, making it wet and soggy. Do you still eat it? Or do you get grossed out by the prospect and toss it in the trash?
If you chose to toss your leftovers on the trash, you have much to learn. After all, that condensation is actually part of the meal you prepared. The moisture is a byproduct of the heat from the food and the cold from the fridge. The gaseous vapour from the food fall into solid form and collects on the container. Regardless of how you look at it, that moisture is part of the leftovers and shouldn’t be simply tossed aside, even if your perspective of its effect may not be favourable.
The same can be said about yourself. No matter what you feel your flaws or weak points may be, you owe it to yourself to love yourself despite these things. If it happens to be something you can work on and improve, then go to it! If it’s something that you may need to simply accept and learn to live with, this can be a tad more difficult but you can do it. Even if it means you may have to adjust or learn to focus on the positive. After all, you’re worth it. Don’t let the world tell you otherwise. ☯
Having been diagnosed as Type-1 Diabetic at quite a young age (4 years old, to be precise), I’ve had just about every type of doctor imaginable. I’ve had the detached cynics, who see their patients but are just trying to scrape past the retirement line. I’ve had the eternal optimists, who seem to go out of their way to have you call them by first name and focus on being a friend more than a doctor. I’ve also seen the medical dominatrix types, who basically make you feel like shit and a failure if your last A1C isn’t absolutely spot on. So from a patient standpoint, I’ve pretty much seen it all, Diabetes or not.
There has been a silent tipping of the scales taking place over the past twenty years. It’s been subtle and if you haven’t been paying attention, it’s snuck up on you without notice. I don’t need to tell anybody that waiting to see a medical professional can be excruciatingly frustrating. Increased wait times, doctor availability and sometimes feeling as though you’re being ignored and rushed out the door can all lead to bad experiences and scare you off from going to a doctor, even when you need one.
This tipping of the scale basically involves the internet. I’ve never hidden the fact that the internet and I share a rather love/hate relationship. I admit that I absolutely love the internet for the purposes of education and research, but I loath the effect that social media and the unnecessary propagation of disinformation has damaged our society. But I would be lying if I said that the internet hasn’t been a thorn in the side of most medical professionals. Most doctors absolutely hate “Dr. Google”. And why is that? Wouldn’t it make sense that a doctor would want to get all the help they can to ensure the best diagnosis? Apparently not. And there are reasons behind that.
First of all, unless you ARE a trained diagnostician, you can do more harm than good by going online to seek out the cause of your symptoms. Especially if your symptoms are vague. For example, having frequent headaches does not necessarily mean you’re having migraines. Online symptom checkers can be a real pain in the ass for doctors, especially if you arrive and “challenge” your doctor with a half dozen possible diagnoses that you’ve found online.
According to an article posted on Forbes.com by Robert Glatter, MD, a study was performed four years ago that compared the results of online symptom checking when compared to visiting an actual doctor. He wrote, “When doctors in the study were armed with patients’ medical history and symptoms, and then compared the information entered into a symptom checker, doctors arrived at the correct diagnosis 72% of the time, as opposed to 34% for the apps.”
I don’t know about you, but 72% accuracy doesn’t make me feel all that comfortable when confronted with a possible illness that could be treated by way of medications or other treatments. But it’s a hell of an improvement over the 32% that you would get from using an app. The article goes on to say, “And 84% of the time, doctors provided the correct diagnosis in their top three choices, compared with only 51% for the symptom checkers.”
The take-home lesson here is if you want to go on a reputable, peer-reviewed medical site such as WebMD or the Mayo Clinic to look something up, such as Diabetes… What is it? What causes it? Can it be prevented? Etc… That’s fine! The problem is if you go online to find out why your legs might be turning blue and assume you have deep vein thrombosis, when all you did was fail to properly wash your new jeans before wearing them for the first time. This is where doctors and health professionals get pissed and frustrated.
The other side of the coin is no brighter. Because of people’s tendencies to look symptoms up on the internet before consulting their doctor, many medical professionals have started shirking or ignoring what their patients may bring up upon arrival. Don’t even get me started on a doctor’s reaction if you utter the words, “I looked up” or “I read online that…” That’s a surefire way to start a verbal battle of wills. Most medical clinics have extended wait times and many medical professionals have even started limiting the number of things that a patient can bring up during any one visit.
In some respects, it’s rather hard to blame them. The average doctor spends well over a decade of study and training to actually BECOME a doctor. So if you walk in and presume to have diagnosed your problem already by spending two minutes on Google, it only makes sense that they may be offended and dismiss your thoughts.
The best approach would be to ask your doctor questions. Don’t necessarily bring up your online search, but feel free to ask your doctor if what you found is possible and why he or she believes that it’s not. This keeps you involved in the diagnosis process and doesn’t make the doctor feel offended or as though you’re trying to tell them their job. If you feel as though your concerns are being ignored, then say so. And be certain to exercise your right to a second opinion if you aren’t comfortable with what’s being done to help you.
When I was a kid, I literally never waited more than 15 minutes to see my doctor. Once in, I’d be greeted with a handshake and we’d talk about how my Diabetes was doing, how I was managing with my current medications and what life and family issues may be affecting all of it. Nowadays, seeing my personal physician includes well over an hour’s wait, followed by a five minute visit that usually doesn’t even involve reviewing my most recent blood results or Diabetic issues. Times have changed.
As the world continues to turn, we all have a tendency to turn towards the World Wide Web for answers. After all, we have the world’s knowledge at our fingertips. And although all the information required to become a doctor may be available on the internet, it doesn’t mean you have the skills or knowledge to use it. As far as doctors go, they could probably stand to lighten up a touch and be willing to listen more. Because as time passes, the growing trend of doctors using online resources is increasing, as well. Food for thought… ☯
Sometimes I try to avoid being mainstream as much as possible. It’s not that I’m anti-social, per se. I’m more of what I call “socially independent”. Be that as it may, my wife and I don’t have cable. We don’t subscribe to the news or social media and we tend to be somewhat disconnected from mainstream issues that surround us. My wife is pretty good at keeping me in the loop by following certain discussion groups. Otherwise, I learn everything as I go along through pure research. This usually involves subjects related to this blog: Diabetes, Buddhism, Martial Arts and Health & Fitness.
Despite everything I’ve just explained, it’s time for me to jump on the proverbial band-wagon and talk about the latest pandemic that seems to be on everyone’s mind and involves absolutely every aspect of current society. I’m talking about the Coronavirus Disease 2019, better known as COVID-19.
So what the hell is this nasty bug? According to a page on Diabetes.ca, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection that causes patients to develop mild to severe symptoms including a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19.” Because it so closely resembles generic symptoms that a person can get with the common cold, some people who have been infected may not even recognize that they’ve been exposed until they’ve exposed a bunch of other people through their work, schools and public places.
Why is this so important? Well, I don’t think I need to bring up the ridiculous issues surrounding the selling out of toilet paper or hand sanitizer from practically every available outlet in Canada and the U.S. Most people of common sense are of the opinion that you should be able to find plenty of alternatives to wipe your backside, so why aren’t more people focusing on food and medications in order to get through their quarantines? We went grocery shopping this morning and I noted that the shelves in the paper aisles were essentially empty. But I digress…
For folks with Type-1 Diabetes, COVID-19 poses a particular threat. According to that same post by Diabetes.ca, “Since Diabetes is a chronic disease, questions and concerns about the impact of COVID-19 is understandable. People living with Diabetes, especially those with poor glycemic control have an increased risk for infections. It is for that reason that vaccinations are recommended when available.” (https://www.diabetes.ca/media-room/news/novel-coronavirus-(covid-19)-and-diabetes–what-you-should-know)
There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, but this is why it’s SO important for people with Diabetes to eat well, exercise and check their blood sugars often throughout the day. The better control you maintain on your condition, the better the chance that you’ll keep your system strong. I may sound like a broken record with how many times I’ve repeated this holy trifecta, but it seriously eliminates and/or reduces so many issues and complications associated with Diabetes. And COVID-19 is no exception. No, it doesn’t mean you won’t get infected if exposed, it may simply help to prevent it.
You can check the CDC website, Government of Canada website and Diabetes.ca, but the general guidelines for prevention of the infection are pretty standardized:
Wash your hands often, with hot water and soap. This should be done before and after eating, after any visit to the washroom and if you’ve shaken hands or had contact with members of the general public;
Don’t travel abroad. Let me say that again: DON’T TRAVEL ABROAD!!! This whole mess might have been better contained had people listened from the beginning and didn’t travel internationally. Preventing the spread of the virus is quite a bit more important than making your yearly trip to fuckin’ Cancun or travelling to another country to film a movie. It’s simply not worth the risk;
Sneeze or cough into your elbow (which people should have been doing prior to this anyway) and try to avoid touching your face any more than necessary;
Be prepared. Make certain you have an adequate supply of insulin and medications to get you through a 14-day quarantine if necessary, and enough food and supplies for the household in general. This doesn’t mean buying out the toilet paper aisle or panic-shopping, but buying a little extra in order to be prepared is not a bad thing (whether there’s a pandemic or not).
Since being sick affects someone with Diabetes, be sure to contact your medical practitioner if you become ill and symptoms become aggravated or worse over the course of a week. If you believe you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, the Government of Canada website has guidelines to follow and you should phone your doctor BEFORE going into any offices in order to obtain pertinent instructions.
Far be it from me to make light of the situation, but hopefully people will shake off the panic in the short days to come. So far, COVID-19 has not been shown to be lethal to strong, healthy individuals. We just need to nip this thing in the bud. Considering that since the turn of the century, we’ve had to deal with SARS, H1N1, outbreaks of ebola and cholera as well as the resurgence of polio (thanks to anti-vaxxers), this too shall pass!
As long as the proper preventative steps are taken and protocols are followed, this WILL pass in time. And then everyone can get back to buying their bathroom tissue at a normal rate, twelve rolls at a time. ☯
I was pleased to wake up this morning and discover that I seem to have accumulated 100 followers! I’m not sure exactly when this happened, although I’m guessing it happened with the last person who started following… This is me digressing, first thing in the morning before I’ve had sufficient caffeine!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year already, and I started this blog as a way to share the information and knowledge I’ve gathered after dealing with Type-1 Diabetes for over 37 years and studying the martial arts for what will be 32 years, this year! I used to admin a Facebook page that had the same kind of vibe as my blog, but I lost it when I chose to step away from social media in late 2018.
I love writing! Blogging has given me a forum in which to do so, and I intend on continuing for as long as my fingers and mind will allow me. I’ll keep writing what’s cool to me; and hopefully, somewhere along the way, it will also be cool to you! Keep reading, my friends! ☯
If there’s something I’ve seen a lot of in the martial arts, it’s prejudice. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. Even in the most classic kung fu movies, you can see one style pitted against another, one clan fighting another or comparisons of one style against another. Prejudice has run rampant throughout the martial arts, as every style tends to believe it has the perfect way, all the while dismissing or belittling other styles in favour of its own.
I gotta be honest, that shit drives me nuts! Yes, the martial arts are thousands of years old. And some styles have a pure lineage that can be traced quite a ways back, as opposed to some others. But every style is descendent of another, almost without exception.
The biggest issue I see is when someone comes out with their own “style” and touts it as something they’ve created from scratch. This is always a bit suspicious and can possibly be a “McDojo”, depending on who and how the style was developed. But let’s examine the concept of developing one’s own style, shall we?
My own style, Uechi Ryu, was founded by Kanbun Uechi and renamed in his honour after this death. The exact history can be easily looked up, but the jist is that he fled to mainland China and studied a style of kung fu for a long period of time before returning to Okinawa and having it develop and evolve into a style of karate do.
My point is, every style comes from SOMEWHERE. So why would you be opposed to it, when someone says that they’ve created their own? There are some pretty famous people that are socially well-known, who have created their own styles of martial arts. I’ve gathered my favourites here:
Jeet Kune Do: It stands to reason that this one would be on the list, and not least of all first… This is a style of Kung Fu that was founded in 1967 by none other than Bruce Lee. Lee had spent his childhood studying Wing Chung and eventually came to feel that there were too many restrictions and classical mess, and founded Jeet Kune Do as a “formless” style, which was considered more of a philosophy for practicing the martial arts. The point is, he used the influence of kung fu to develop his own style and it’s still practiced by many to this day;
Dux Ryu: This is a style of ninjutsu founded by Frank Dux, an American marine who studied several different styles of martial arts. Some people may know him from the movie representation of his victory in a secret full-contact martial arts tournament called the “Kumite”. This movie was a little hit called “Bloodsport”, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The movie was released in 1988, and Dux had several martial arts schools in the U.S. Although some of his claims have been disputed, argumented and disproven since the release of this movie, he’s still known as a professional martial artist who founded his own style of martial arts. And the movie is totally awesome! Jus’ sayin’…; and
Chun KuK Do: The last style on this list is a style created by Chuck Norris. Now, I have to be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of his work (ducks under the desk to avoid being punched, as Chuck Norris is EVERYWHERE). But there’s no denying that the man has studied martial arts… A LOT! In fact, he’s studied Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Jujitsu and Judo. Chun Kuk Do has many aspects of a traditional martial art, including forms and techniques adopted mostly by Korean styles as this is what Norris primarily studied. Chun Kuk Do was founded by Norris in 1990, making it one of the newest styles of martial arts.
There are students currently studying all three of these celebrity-developed martial arts styles, even to this day. And here’s a newsflash: karate is only 150 to 200 years old! In fact, Kyokushinkai is a style of Japanese karate founded in 1964, making it only 56 years old! My point is that it’s an effective style of karate and has made its mark on the world, nonetheless.
I’m not saying that every schmo who studies a martial arts for a few years can suddenly open their own doors and introduce their own “style”. But the ones who have, deserve to have that style explored and examined before being dismissed out of spite. The martial arts is a constantly evolving creature that will always continue, so long as there are serious practitioners who will indulge the way. 200 years from now, Chun Kuk Do may be as widely regarded as karate. ☯
Children are a blessing. Wait, maybe I should replace “are” with “can be”… Because they can also be property-destroying little minions sent by the devil to destroy all your prize possessions, provide a constant source of headaches and teach you why you aren’t the alpha male… But I digress…
My son Nathan came to us after some difficulty and proved to be a miracle for my wife and I, in an otherwise happy life. By the time he was born in 2014, I was firmly convinced that my Type-1 Diabetes had taken its toll (it had been 32 years at that point) and that I would be quite incapable of having children. Imagine our surprise and joy to be proven wrong!
Born in the early hours of the morning after a gruelling night of labour, we gave birth to our wonderful little man, my squishy, my booger, my child of a dozen nicknames and the spitting image of all I’ve done wrong in my childhood, Nathan!
Nathan’s first week, still in hospital, watching the iPad for the first time!
Nathan and I have enjoyed a rather love/hate relationship for the past five years. He’s started kindergarten and is extremely bright and intelligent in some respects, while acting like an absolute goon in others. He puts on his own personal brand of theatre, every morning and every day. This is a common example of how a day in the life of Nathan goes…
I wake just shortly after 6:00 a.m. Both my sons are still asleep, so I take advantage to enjoy a hot shower without Nathan asking a million questions. After my shower, I dress and get upstairs so that I can start working on Nathan’s lunch for school…
NATHAN (7:04): Walks into the kitchen, still in pyjamas, hair all askew. This is a rare occurrence, as it usually takes a wicked amount effort to get him out of bed.
ME: What are you doing, booger?
N: Stares vacantly into space…
ME: Can you go get dressed?
N: Blinks at me a few times and walks away…
N (7:15): Can I have Banana bread for breakfast? (not yet dressed)
ME: If I give you banana bread, can you get dressed and sit quiet until school time?
N: Nods vigorously…
I cut him a small piece of banana bread and he sits at the table and eats contently. I run my usual routine of taking out the recycling, starting the car and bringing both our backpacks out to the vehicle. Then I come back into the house and find Nathan with an empty plate, watching cartoons on Netflix.
ME (7:35): Go brush your teeth, pal…
N: Why?
ME: Because you’ve eaten and you don’t want to go to school with smelly breath.
N: Oh… (walks into the washroom to brush, but does way more singing than brushing)
ME (7:45): Alright, booger! Let’s get our stuff on…
N: I have to go potty first… (runs to the downstairs bathroom)
I notice he’s taking a while, so I go downstairs to see what he’s doing. Rather than pull the front of his pants down like a normal guy would, he’s got everything dropped down to his ankles and is swaying back and forth while singing to himself. he sees me and starts asking me something, causing his urine stream to hit the toilet seat, toilet cover and splash on the floor…
ME: Pal!!! Keep your eyes on what you’re doing!
N: (looks down) Oh, sorry Daddy!
ME (7:55): Okay, let’s go. We need to get to the bus stop.
We load into the vehicle and drive to the intersection where his bus will pick him up shortly.
N: Daddy, can we go to McDonald’s?
ME: No, pal…
N: Why?
ME: Because you have to go to school.
N: Oh. Daddy?
ME: Yeah, buddy?
N: I need my sunglasses…
ME: We’re already at the bus stop!
N: We have many minutes. You can go fast and we can get my glasses from home.
I sigh audibly, and recognize that a parent has to pick his battles and pull away towards our home. I run inside and grab his sunglasses, affording a quick smile for Nathan’s mother, then rush back to the vehicle and hand Nathan his sunglasses. I rush us back to the bus stop with several minutes to spare and settle back into my seat.
N: Now that I have my sunglasses, can we go to McDonald’s?
ME: No, pal…
N: Why?
ME: Because you STILL haven’t gone to school yet.
N: But we can go McDonald’s AFTER school.
ME: No, pal…
N: Why?
ME: Because we’ll have things to do at home when you’re done school…
N: What things?
ME: Just things…
N: Like going to McDonald’s?
Just when I think I’m about to lose my sanity, I see the school bus round the corner and step out of the vehicle, ushering Nathan along the sidewalk to where it will stop. He clambers up the steps that are still too large for his little kindergarten legs, turns and holds his arms out for a hug. I give him a squeeze, which instantly reminds me why I love my son so much. He’s now in the hands of the world and I have the day to myself.
Look at that devilish grin…
I run my usual errands for a Monday morning, which include going to work, making multiple stops and getting home. My wife and I were able to sneak a brief nap in, until the doorbell woke us (I got my new Medtronic 670G today, BTW. But that’s a post for another day!)
At about 3:30 in the afternoon, I leave the house to grab the items we’ll need for supper and make my way to the bus stop to meet with Nathan. I pull up to the curb and read for a while until Nathan’s bus arrives. It pulls up to the curb at about 4:15 in the afternoon and Nathan steps off, proudly wearing his sunglasses.
N: Hi, Daddy!
ME: Hey booger! Did you have a good day at school?
N: Yeah, but I hurt my back today at school.
ME: How did that happen?
N: I fell down some stairs and hurt myself. I think to make me feel better, we should go to McDonald’s.
ME: No, pal…
N: Why?
ME: Because we need to go home for supper?
N: Can we have pizza for supper?
ME: No, buddy…
N: Why?
ME: Because it’s not a pizza day. We’re going to make supper at home.
N: But I don’t like supper, I just like pizza. Hey, can we go to McDonald’s?
It’s a wonder that I don’t bang my head against the steering wheel all the way home. I find out that he didn’t eat his lunch for fear of missing out on recess, so I tell him that this will be supper. I make beef burgers for my wife and I and as Nathan wolfs down the remainder of his supper, he decides our burgers look good and wants one as well. This is what happens when you don’t eat all day, I guess. You become ravenous.
In case you didn’t keep score, in the hour and half that I had spent with Nathan to this point, I was asked “WHY?” six times and also asked to go to McDonald’s six times. And that’s keeping it light. He definitely keeps life interesting, and Anticipate that his infant brother will create just as many comical situations. Children definitely keep you on your toes! ☯
There is suffering in the world. More than we often choose to acknowledge or discuss, but some of this suffering comes at a personal cost and in our personal lives. Because of this, we are usually want to complain. After all, most people feel it’s easier to complain or “vent” then it is to spread positivity.
Depending on what school of thought you adhere to, venting can be beneficial. It allows you to get things “off your chest”, which in turn is meant to make you feel better. Normally, this can be a good practice as long as it doesn’t become your modus operandi. If you make complaining your normal habit, it can also have a number of detrimental effects on you and the people you’re complaining to.
First and foremost, long term complaining can lead to quite a few physiological problems. Increased stress, increased cortisol levels, lack of sleep and weight gain can all be long-term effects of constant complaining. Not to mention that if you’re a constant source of negative, verbal diarrhea, you’ll start to notice your friends, acquaintances and family start to avoid you or make excuses not to be in touch with you. Couple that with the psychological effects of constant negativity, and you’ve got yourself some real problems.
I was reading an article posted by Inc.com that covers the topic of complaining too much. I was entertained by what Dr. Jeffrey Lohr, a psychologist who studied venting, mentioned in the article, “People don’t break wind in elevators more than they have to. Venting anger is… similar to emotional farting in an closed area. It sounds like a good idea, but it’s dead wrong.” Funny and entertaining, but he makes a good point.
I’m still of the firm belief that the occasional venting is important. Sometimes, you just need to get things off your chest. The important thing to remember is that the recipient of your venting should understand what’s happening and why. And even if they’re a trusted family, spouse or friend, it shouldn’t be a constant thing. Otherwise, you could find yourself becoming the subject of THEIR venting as opposed to the recipient of yours. ☯
Travelling can be a real pain in the ass for anybody, whether it’s domestic or abroad. Especially if you’re flying. But any level of travel becomes even more involved when you have Diabetes. Considering the amount of equipment that the average Type-1 Diabetic requires on a day-to-day basis, the preparation required for any trip can be quite involved. When you add in the supplies required for an insulin pump, it can also be quite an ordeal.
Since I’ve recently “indulged” in some cross-country travel, I thought I would take the opportunity to touch on some of the more important aspects of travel preparation for someone with Diabetes.
First, let’s discuss travel by its very nature. Travel is abnormal. At least it is for the modern person. Our ancestors were thought to be nomadic and usually never settled in one place for extended periods of time. But as humans evolved and we developed societies and technologies, we became more sedentary and started establishing permanent homes. This means that we usually find comfort in staying in one place and having daily routines. These routines become important for someone with Diabetes. In fact, routine tends to make the control of Diabetes far easier. When we stray from our usual routine, it tends to rain hell on the Diabetic system.
One of the first things I noticed from my flights home yesterday, was my unusually high blood sugar level. Despite my best efforts to correct and bolus accordingly, my blood sugars stayed in the teens until a while past 10 p.m. when I finally worked it down to 8.6 mmol/L, the highest being 19.4 mmol/L earlier in the day. There are a number of reasons behind these high levels; not least of which being stress, from travel and some bad news.
According to an article posted online by BeyondType1.org, “There have been studies that suggest that higher altitudes can cause insulin resistance due to carbohydrates not being metabolized as effectively. This can be another cause of high blood sugar and it can also lead to ketones/ketoacidosis in extreme cases.” The article goes on to say, “Blood glucose meters, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and pumps have been known to not work as effectively in high altitudes.” This could certainly be one of the outlying reasons for my extreme highs. The jury’s still out…(https://beyondtype1.org/altitude-type-1-diabetes/)
An important thing to remember is to calculate your approximate insulin needs prior to your departure and pack two extra sets of everything BEYOND what your requirements will be for the entirety of your travel. For example, my trip to New Brunswick last September saw me run short of supplies for my pump. I ended up having to buy a bottle of Lantus and some syringes in order to maintain myself until I landed back in Saskatchewan. Damned inconvenient!
The next step is to ensure that everything is properly labeled and clearly legible, identifying it as Diabetic prescription medication. Airlines are a bit sticky on the transportation of needles and sharps, so you need to ensure that you’ve dotted your “i’s” and crossed your “t’s”. Wearing your MedicAlert bracelet is also a smart move. I’m told it’s a smart move to wear it at ALL times, but I absolutely hate mine and never wear it unless I travel.
Another issue would be the airport security x-ray machines. Now, opinions about the validity of what I’ll say next has been discussed and debated for years now. But some sources, including some of the manufacturers, seem to indicate that exposing insulin to x-rays can cause damage and even affect its potency. For the most part, airline security SHOULD be reasonably accommodating in allowing for a manual inspection of your person upon request. This should include any bottles of insulin and your insulin pump. That being said, you may encounter some staff who are resistant and will claim it’s unnecessary. Don’t be afraid to ask for a security supervisor to plead your case.
That being said, there’s been no evidence that the same x-rays will affect your insulin pump. Granted, your pump is filled with insulin, so… yeah. At the end of the day, planning ahead and being familiar with your airline’s policies and requirements will go a long way. If you’re like me, you show up two hours prior to your flight’s time of boarding. this provides the extra time required to ensure a manual inspection of your insulin and medical devices and still allow you to make your gate in time to be boarded on your flight.
Test your blood frequently and adjust your insulin accordingly. Although it may seem unusual to bolus so much, the unusual circumstance may require it. Ensure you don’t skip meals. That much is often my mistake. Speaking with your doctor or medical practitioner prior to your travel may be an option as well. As much as having Diabetes may be a major pain, travel can be just as painful if you aren’t prepared. ☯
All things considered, I decided to hit the sack pretty early last night. Given everything that had taken place that day, I thought I should err on the side of caution and keep the evening simple. After over an hour of tossing and turning, with my mind running a mile a minute, I finally gave up and turned on the lamp in my hotel room. I watched a total of two movies and didn’t get back to bed until about 3:30 this morning. Then I woke up at 7:00 to start my long journey home. So much for getting a good night’s rest. I’m just a “little” bit tired!
I stayed at the same hotel I used when I travelled to New Brunswick last September. The nice thing about this location is the complimentary breakfast that’s offered, which normally includes eggs, variations of toast and a meat option. I stepped into the dining room to find flat, fried eggs sitting in an inch of water in a warming tray. I stuffed myself with a piece of toast and a handful of sausage links and packed up my room to check out.
I drove to Fredericton International Airport with my rental vehicle, intent on returning it well ahead of my flight to avoid any complications. This was likely a good thing, as I walked into the rental trailer and found the front counter unmanned. This wasn’t unusual, as these folks are human too, meaning that washroom and food breaks must and do happen. But when twenty minutes elapsed and no one showed up, I started to wonder what was happening. Honestly, patience is a virtue. But since yesterday, it rather seems as though every yahoo and their dog is hell bent on making me wait unreasonable periods of time for simple things.
An employee from my rental agency’s competition explained that she believed the guy working this counter had gone into the city, but that he should be back in about twenty minutes. I checked the time. I had been waiting almost twenty minutes already. I decided to be proactive and looked up the rental chain’s primary office and call. I was directed to a call center.
I totally understand that call centers make sense. For the company. For customers, they often present an obstacle that needs to be overcome in order to achieve one’s goals with that particular business. I explained my situation in great detail to the person on the other end, who ultimately provided that she would direct me to a supervisor. I was on the phone for over ten minutes before I gave up and hung up the phone. My rental agency’s competition jokingly mentioned that had I rented from their company I’d be in the airport by now. I was not amused.
By this point, I had been waiting at the counter for almost half an hour. Under normal circumstances, car rental locations have drop boxes that a person can drop their keys when arriving outside of normal business hours. But this WAS the workday, and I had arrived two days earlier than my rental contract indicated. I didn’t want to take the chance that they would bill me all the way to Saturday, so I felt I should be dealing with someone in person. There had to be something else I could do.
A quick Google search provided three local branches of this same rental agency in the city. Ah, good ‘ol Google comes to the rescue! I phoned the first one that listed a local number as opposed to a 1-800 number that would direct me to a call center. THAT phone call lasted for less than a minute. The person I spoke to apologized and explained that it was his fault as he had asked the employee to run some spare vehicles down to his location. Apparently, as there were no “scheduled” rentals this morning, it was an ideal time to make a run. The person on the other end indicated that he had left about ten minutes ago and it’s a twenty-minute trip. He advised he would call the employee to ensure he made no added stops as I was waiting for him. I politely explained that despite having no “expected” rental pick-ups, there was always the chance of someone stepping in to rent a vehicle that wasn’t pre-scheduled, or someone who would return a vehicle early. Like me! A business had to plan for such contingencies.
I turned in my vehicle and made my way inside the terminal. I was provided with my boarding passes and got through security without issue. My flight also boarded and took off without any issues, which was a nice change. The only exception was that they wouldn’t allow me to bring my carry on bag into the aircraft. I was too exhausted to argue and turned it over but I understood once I was inside the plane.
The tiny PVC pipe they were trying to pass off as a plane!
It was without a doubt the smallest aircraft I’ve ever been on. A single row of seats on each side, no overhead bins, no flight attendants and the only staff were the captain and co-pilot. It was a brief, 45-minute flight but the small stature of the aircraft made it so that I could feel every minute adjustment in heading and every little bump of turbulence. Loads of fun, if you don’t mind riding your roller coaster at 15,000 feet above the ground!
The rest of the trip home, albeit exhausting, went off without a hitch. I had breaks of at least an hour between all stops, which allowed me to rest and caffeinate. Once I reached Toronto-Pearson Airport, I had an excellent burger that was made with lamb and sampled a Toronto IPA.
A patty of lamb, coated with gravy on a soft bun with mayo. Perfection!Some dangerous shopping options, while browsing Toronto-Pearson
I arrived in Regina at roughly 7:45 p.m. this evening and let me tell you, it’s been something. I left on a plane on Tuesday morning. A total of about 7,800 kilometres travelled, including flights and vehicle rental, six different planes, two hotels, passed through at least seven different communities while driving and all of this was accomplished in about 62 hours. All for an interview that lasted an hour and I was dropped from the process about an hour later. Brutal.
I’d like to say this has taught me a lesson, but it honestly hasn’t. I’m too damned stubborn to stop or quit, despite the effect that this trip has had. One thing is guaranteed; as nice as it is to travel back to New Brunswick, nothing topped walking off that escalator and seeing my wife and kids waiting for me. Now if y’all will excuse me, it’s been a slice but I’m gonna go sleep in my own bed now. ☯
The Blogging Buddhist 