Hi, hello, howdy- It has been forever and a day since I’ve posted. My apologies. I’ve been busy with work (shameless plug for my shoe and denim articles) and sleep… because that’s really all I’ve had time for, despite my recent trip back to Boston.
Category: Other
A Diabetic Winter Break
A few hours ago at Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Wow, I am the worst with posting lately. I know most of my posts say something to that effect, but this really takes the gold(man) on the longest I’ve gone without posting. My apologies.
I hope you and your loved ones had an amazing holiday, filled with great food, good times and even better people. I know my time at home has been filled with smiles and laughter. I know this for the obvious reason of being present, but also because one of my best friend’s brother’s pointed out, half of our conversations consist of hysteric laughter. What can I say? My friends and I are pretty funny, and coincidentally our own best audience.
Clearly, this time of year really makes me feel some sort of way. Okay, maybe I’m also just a much more emotional sort of person that I’d like to admit (my twin would definitely agree with this sentiment), but there’s something about being home for the holidays that makes me grateful for the crazy people in my life. I say crazy because if you knew them, you’d agree.
While I’ve been home for winter break I’m getting quite the tuneup. Spending this winter break taking care of the procedures I’ve been putting off over the last year, and hopefully setting myself up for a healthier 2016. Oh em gee. 2016. I graduate in the next four months.
Anyways, putting the oncoming nervous breakdown aside, as an acknowledged control freak, having anesthesia and entrusting others with my blood sugar numbers during minor sinus surgery was stressful (to say the least) as a relatively new diabetic. I really wasn’t too concerned with my sinuses or the recovery period, etc. What I was concerned about, you may ask? Dropping too low during the procedure, something that the doctors were of course extensively trained in handling, with dextrose (glucose/sugar) on the standby.
Basically, This is real this is me I worry so damn much. That’s one thing about having all of these medical issues, that only certain things worry me now. I was not nervous for the potential pain of the procedure, the issues I might have afterwards with my breathing until my sinuses healed, or even really any potential bruising or issues with appearance (that was not likely to happen at all so good thing I didn’t worry about it el oh el). What I was worried about? Being out in la la land for the day and leaving my body in the hands of extremely talented and educated people who’s job it is to make people live.
Needless to say, I was fine, as I’m sure you were all waiting with baited breath to hear. But I learned a lot about myself and my apparent trust issues. Oh, I was also reminded as to how amazing my parents are at taking care of me. I may be in my twenties, but damn is it nice to have my mom their to hold my hand and make me laugh.
Up next week: my knee! Minor minor minor stuff people, so no worries. Also, expect another segment of Fashionable Friend of the Month.
Stay… cool? and beautiful peeps!
P.S. It’s still in the 80’s here in Florida, but stay warm wherever you’re reading this!
XX
A 2nd Diabetic Thanksgiving
Happy belated Thanksgiving to all of you and your loved ones! This year, my second Thanksgiving with a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) proved another difficult feat, with another year of carbohydrate filled goodness that is a Goldman holiday.
I’m not complaining, just wishing for a working pancreas, or even a bionic one (hint hint wink wink). Anyways, I digress. Like every other year my amazing chef of a mom made a scrumptious sweet potato concoction, brussels sprouts, stuffing, roasted veggies and of course my dad made the turkey. Not to mention my grandma’s infamous stuffed mushrooms and baked brie. When I say baked brie, I meant hat she literally baked a brie inside of a pastry lined with some kind of sweet and savory filling. I still am not entirely sure what was in that dish, but it was so amazing it doesn’t matter. Thanks grandma!
So, naturally I’ve been coasting on high blood sugar the last three days, coming down every five or so hours only to have a smidge of pumpkin or chocolate pecan pie. Yes, you read that right, my mom’s chocolate pecan pie is so good that one of my cousins wrote a college essay about the dessert. el oh el, classic Greg.
Having a one track food mind, I naturally forgot to take a picture of the table with all of the food, but managed to get a shot in before we destroyed the various pies.
After what I believe is my fourth meal concerning Thanksgiving leftovers, and the continuous highs associated with said diet, I can honestly say that I am missing the old days where I only felt bad about my growing waistline, and not the two arrows pointing up on my glucose monitor showing that my blood sugar is rising faster than Kanye’s ego. I’m reminded of silly worries like what to purchase for my friends for secret santa this year or getting solid grades at the end of the term. Don’t get me wrong, this things still worry me, but now everything pales in comparison to the constant struggle of a day-to-day life with this disease. I am well aware of the plethora of diseases and medical issues out there that are far worse than mine. I know thousands, probably millions also struggle with T1D, but all of these factors do not make me feel better. It drives me into a sort of frenzy thinking of all that can go wrong with the human body. I feel for those worse off than I, not glory in the fact that I was dealt a better hand.
So, this holiday season I am grateful for the family and friends that make me laugh through the highs and lows, and make me remember what it’s like to just not worry for a few hours. Not worry about myself, my health, others, my friends, the world, and just sit back and watch countless hours of What Not To Wear. Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that Clinton and Stacey are singlehandedly made the world a prettier place.
Pop, Fizz, Clink to 2015
As tomorrow brings a new day and with it a new year, I feel it an appropriate time to take a glance back at 2014’s Highs and Lows (in life and blood sugar).
First things first (I’m the realest-jk), 2014 showed me, well… myself. I discovered my strengths (in my self and in my friends and family), my weaknesses (always chocolate cake and Netflix) and everything in between.
2014 revealed my Diabetes. 2014 showed me that I can laugh through the sadness. And, at the risk of sounding dramatic (LOL classic me) 2014 personified my future. No more late night snacking on whatever I want, no more morning workouts without eating breakfast, no more- well no more normal life.
However, with the changes of 2014, I can say yes to healthy eating, yes to routine, yes to friends and family that continue to support me and my constant babbling about my health and life aspirations. With 2014 I say yes to London and New York City and Boston. I say yes to the Florida sun and tanning on the beach with my pumps out for the world to see. I say yes to so much-yes to me.
As quickly as I glanced back at 2014, I look forward to 2015.
Next year brings new, untold stories, adventures, friends, countries, twists and turns and so much more. I would be lying if I said I was not anxious about what the future holds, but with that anxiety comes a semblance of strength. With a year like 2014, and all of those twenty-something years that got me to where I am today, I know that with every year comes a new lesson, and every lesson an important block in the foundation of my life.
2015 is an unwritten chapter in my life story, and I cannot wait to see what this chapter brings.
Stay tuned for London posts! I will also post abroad updates on this blog. Let me know if you have any specific ideas for posts!
Stay beautiful and kind!
XOXO
A Diabetic Thanksgiving
Shoutout to my talented twin for making the pies!
I love Thanksgiving. I always have, and I always will. Thanksgiving and I go way back, and our love blooms from the fact that my mother is a chef. She is an amazing chef that cooks the best (in my humble opinion) mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and pecans, the best cranberry sauce, the best fudge pecan pie and pumpkin pie—well you get the picture. She’s fantastic. She’s like Martha Stuart minus the jail time and uptightness. Okay, maybe that was a little harsh on Martha. Martha, if by some odd twist of fate you’re reading this, you rock don’t ever change.
This Thanksgiving was my first as a Type 1 Diabetic (RIP pancreas, it was a great 20 years).
While I longed to fill my plate with large unwarranted portions of carbs and fat and everything delicious… diabetes got in the way.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Poor Emily, not able to over eat on a holiday that exacerbates Americans’ issues with obesity and their climbing rise of obesity, also ironically, type 2 Diabetes. So yes America, you are literally eating yourselves into a disease where you cannot eat what you were eating before. Irony? Moderation people. I digress.
Anyways, back to my first Carb-controlled Thanksgiving.
While I got to eat almost everything that I normally do (except the ice cream AND pie, but I mean, that really is gratuitous isn’t it? Well that’s what I’m telling myself at least), I still wished I could eat without worrying about how much insulin I gave myself and if my pump could handle the carb-load that is Thanksgiving dinner.
That being said, I had a few high blood sugar numbers, while on the whole, it went well. I learned that diabetes, although sucky and just a bad disease in general, does not mean that I have to swear off of the foods that I love. Everything is about moderation. I have learned self-control, and maybe, just maybe, that is the silver lining of having a faulty pancreas—andType 1 Diabetes.
This Thanksgiving, I realized that I am thankful for my family, friends, food and most of all: Insulin. While I hope that one day I can be thankful for a cure, until now, insulin will have to do.
So as finals approach, and I find myself reaching towards chocolate instead of carrots, I’ll take what i’ve learned and realize I can have one square, and then eat the carrots and pretend that I am eating chocolate. They say seeing is believing… well if I see the chocolate and eat the carrots… that works too, right?
There actually might be such a thing as too much icing, but there is not such a thing as too much beach. I miss Florida sometimes.
Stay warm you beautiful people~
~XOXO
toomuchicing.com 