Stronger together
Katie Doyle talks to six women from around the world to find out what motivates them them to care for their diabetes when life gets tough.
Australian Fiona Scott: “I’ve learned how lucky I am to have such an amazing partner.”
Thai Nutnaree Bubpasiri:
“We are a close family.”
Norwegian Martine Hemstad Lyslid: “Find people who fill you up with good energy.”
Canadian Michelle Auerbach: “Women with diabetes are some of the strongest people out there.”
American Anne Johnston: “Let a day of bad blood sugars go.”
Kiwi Elisabeth Fraser, who lives in Tanzania: “Eating well is the best tool and motivation.”
What do you do when you feel defeated?”
It was my first time joining a meet-up group for people with type 1 diabetes in New York City, and I was caught a little off-guard by this question from my new friend Anne Johnston. I had actually just been feeling defeated only the night before, so I paused for a second before responding. What do I do when I start feeling like that?
“I try to be nice to myself.”
That’s not an easy thing to do when diabetes presents plenty of new challenges each day and many opportunities for self-criticism, but I try to remember to be nice to me – the hard working, perfectionist, nonstop me.
Anne has since told me that she feels like she’s always the one asking people how they stay motivated when it seems like diabetes has the upper hand. I was inspired by her curiosity and decided to pose the question to women around the world with type 1, starting with Anne herself.
“Staying physically and mentally active helps,” says Anne, an accountant in New York. “I fill my calendar with things that make me happy. If I am not doing things I enjoy, it’s easier to get focused on the negative things. For instance, working out keeps my blood sugar more consistent and doing things with friends and family keeps me feeling positive.”
Anne and other women also look to the diabetes online community (DOC) for inspiration.
Canadian blogger Michelle Auerbach says her mother, who has had type 1 diabetes for over 40 years, set the standard for how Michelle shapes her circle of support through the internet.
“We live in a society where women tend to want to fit into a perfect mould. People want to look like the airbrushed models in magazines. When we want to wear a dress and we have a pump, we have to figure out where to put it and where it’ll look good,” Michelle, who lives in Montreal, says. “I’ve formed friendships with others who know exactly what I deal with every day. I am a Global Ambassador for Beyond Type 1, and I have my own blog, called Love, Light, and Insulin. Getting involved in this amazing community is what motivates me to keep my head high.”
All over the world, the DOC readily provides solutions for overcoming diabetes-related obstacles. Elisabeth Fraser, a Kiwi living in Tanzania, counts worrying about how to keep her insulin cool amid power outages as one of the obstacles she faces.
“My current challenge is managing blood sugars as a new mum, particularly while breastfeeding. There’s just no predictability,” she says.
“The online community is really important in helping me feel like I’m not alone. Having been diagnosed late in life, I’ve never actually met another type 1 diabetic face to face. One community I recently became a part of is a type 1 diabetes/pregnancy/motherhood group. It’s like a sisterhood, so supportive and inspiring. I wish I’d found them earlier.”
Knowing she’s not alone also drives Nutnaree Bubpasiri, an art teacher from Thailand, to keep her nutrition in line and her coffee and tea habit in check. “It’s hard to be cautious about my diet but my diabetes friends help me a lot,” she says.
After all, that’s the mission of the DOC – to bring together those who know the relentlessness of type 1 diabetes. “I have friends who will get through this along with me,” Nutnaree says.
Nurse Fiona Scott is a diabetes educator based in Geelong, Australia. She is a healthcare professional who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 29 years.
“For all the challenges I face with diabetes, the rewards I have in life are much greater. Daily living is made much easier due to the support of my family and friends who believe in me.”
Fiona was recently named the 2017 Victorian Diabetes Educator of the Year. What advice does she give to other people with diabetes who are struggling to stay motivated?
She recalled a date-night-turned-learning-opportunity with the man who’s now her husband. She discovered she had left her NovoRapid pen at home – throwing their evening dinner plans off-course.
“If I had to give one tip about making life with diabetes easier, it would be to create two different kinds of ‘emergency diabetes kits’. One for day-to-day use that you can carry in a handbag or backpack, and one that is left at home in case you need a few days’ supply in an emergency,” Fiona says.
“If you are in an accident and are admitted to hospital, a friend or relative can grab your kit, and presto! You have enough supplies for the next week.”
Fiona recently spoke about the topic during a Virtual Roundtable with Beta Change, a diabetes organisation that uses broadcasts on social media to bring the diabetes community together.
No matter how prepared we are, it can be easy to overlook all of the emotional energy and calculation we put into our diabetes care.
Martine Hemstad Lyslid, a sociologist in Norway, reminds all of us who live with diabetes to take a moment to practise some mindfulness.
“I think we are world champions at criticising ourselves when things do not go as well as we want them to do. Stop that right now. We are self-treating a lifelong disease, and sometimes we have to allow ourselves to be a little tired. You’re doing a great job. Don’t ever forget that.”