I was having a really bad day yesterday with my diabetes. REALLY bad.

It wasn’t that I ate poorly or failed to exercise, but I still had a hard time controlling my blood sugar. I got up and my blood sugar was 150. I took the proper insulin dosage, didn’t eat any breakfast, and then went to work. A couple hours later I worked out. When I tested after my workout, my blood sugar was 250!

Frustrating. But it didn’t end there. After my workout I was hungry finally, and now my blood sugar is high. I took my insulin, waited, and then ate lunch. A very healthy and sensible lunch. When I tested after that, my blood sugar was 228.

Now here’s the thing. I’m under a lot of stress this week and next. I’ve got a lot on my mind and tons of work to get done. I know that always affects my blood sugar. Besides that, I’m getting sick. Another thing that can send my diabetes up and down.

The problem is, I wonder how many non-diabetics would look at me with my high readings and shake their finger because my blood sugar is high? I wonder how many would be foolish enough to believe that I wasn’t eating right or exercising?

This is one of the most frustrating things about diabetes… that people just don’t get it. And I mean…. DON’T GET IT. It’s not just your average folk, either. It’s nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals and that sometimes treat us poorly because they lump all diabetics into a “brought it on yourself” kind of category.

So…. that’s my bad day. But here’s the thing, with diabetes I’m not allowed to get all down on myself and just give up. It doesn’t work that way. So I will try again tomorrow. I will try again the next time I test my blood and take a shot. I’ll try to do my best, and on days when things aren’t clicking, I’ll try to take it in stride. But I’ll always keep trying. I have to.

Post from: Blisstree

Did You Ever Have a Day Like This?

Since we’re coming up on the holiday season, I thought I’d remind all my fellow diabetics out there to be extra diligent about checking your blood sugar. If you’re anything like me, stress greatly affects your blood sugar.

I was reminded about that this past weekend. We had some sad family news and then I had the added stress of trying to bake, finish Christmas cards, and deal with an extra work project. In trying to “fit it all in” I found my blood sugars somewhat up and down, despite eating and working out the same.

My husband (smart guy that he is) suggested I take a rest. Ease up a bit. Change my attitude about “getting it all done” so that I could change the level of stress. When I did this, my blood sugars were much better.

This is one of the hardest things to try and make people understand about diabetes. That stress affects it. Stress can make it harder to control blood sugars.

I think sometimes when people hear that diabetics “aren’t controlling their blood sugar” that they automatically assume it’s because they aren’t exercising or eating right. But it’s so much more than that.

Post from: Blisstree

Stress and Diabetes