Thanks and Giving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Who doesn't love Thanksgiving? It is a time to get together with family, watch some football (GO HAWKS), and of course eat until the buttons on your pants pop off; it really is a marvelous day.  Not only is Thanksgiving a day where you can cheat on all those calories you may be counting or have that extra beer as you watch the Seahawks beat the 49ers but it is also a day to express your love and gratitude for those around you, the things that you have, and the life that you live. 

Yes, it may be said that often the spirit of Thanksgiving gets lost in the concept of the day being all about food.  If you look on the surface this may seem true.  However, the key is to look beyond the turkey, stuffing, and potatoes sitting on your table and at what those items brought together.  Most likely if you take a look around the table and past the food you will see family members that maybe don't get to see each other as often as they would like sitting next to each other.  You will see brothers and sisters who maybe spend most of the year arguing and fighting kindly passing the stuffing to each other as they know that is their favorite part.  You see the turkey that mom made, the pies that grandma baked, and the cranberry sauce that your neighbors makes and knows that your family loves.  If you look past the surface of the food what you'll find is something beautiful -- a day that brings together love, friendship, and family where differences can be put aside and for maybe just a short bit the appreciation for each other comes out.

There are a lot of things to be thankful about in life if you take the time to look at them and I know that I for one am very fortunate and blessed to have so much in my life.

What I am Thankful for:

My family:

Everyday I am thankful for the family that I have; for their love, support, constant smiles, and slightly tough exterior.  Without their love and support I would not have made it through any of the life's challenges that have been thrown my way.  They have always been their to pick up the pieces when I explode and to cheer and smile when it goes right.  I am blessed to be best friends with my sister whom I wish I could see more often, who's strength and courage has helped me to find my own strength.  It is through my parents that I have learned to believe in love, learned how to work hard and always strive to do my best, and to believe in myself as they have always believed in me.  My parents are my rock and in reality I can't even express how deep my love for them is.  

I am even more blessed because over the past year my family grew.  Being welcomed into Brandon's family is one of the strongest things that has happened to me.  It warms my heart to be a part of the love that this family shares for one another and a blessing to be a part of the friendship that Brandon has with all members of his family.  Seeing the belief that they all share in each re-affirms, on a daily basis, the strength that this is family.  I am so thankful to have them in my life and blessed by their care and support they give to me.

Brandon:

On January 4th this man walked into the clinic I was working at and from that day forward changed my life.  The best part of my day is every minute spent with him.  I am thankful for his support in putting up with / embracing my crazy workout and eating habits, for his understanding in the fact that I fall asleep at 9 every night, and for knowing exactly when I need him.  I am so proud of him and how hard he has worked this past year to come off of back surgery stronger than ever, keeping his blood sugar stable, being in the best shape he has been in in years, constantly striving to meet goals at work, and to be the best boyfriend, friend, and son he can be.  I pray everyday that I can match the support and love he has for me towards him and that he knows how proud I am of everything he has accomplished.  

Our puppy Gage:

Yes, sometimes he can be a pest and I want to squeeze his super cute fluffy little head off but I am so thankful to have him.  His energy, love, and warmth is a blessing.  I knew I was going to love him when we got him however I did not realize how much and am so thankful for him.

Being able to participate in the things I love:

I am thankful to be blessed with the ability to run, swim, bike, hike, and all around be active.  Many of these activities have molded me to be who I am to day and more often than not if it wasn't for running, lifting, or being active I wouldn't have gained the strength and drive that I have today.  I am thankful that I was given a chance to fall in love with being active as it is brought me joy, strength, and the confidence to believe in myself.

Education:

While I am almost four years out of being in school I am thankful that education was always a part of the plan.  Without the education I received growing up I wouldn't have the job I have today and wouldn't be able to participate in many of the things I do.  Despite being out of school I am still constantly growing and learning.  Everyday is a learning process and I am thankful for the chance to continue to grow throughout the challenges and drives that are life.

There are many things that I blessed to be a part of and am thankful for.  The list could go on and on yet that would most likely get boring and repetitive as they all stem from the same thing; the strength. love, and courage that I have found in those around me.  So with one last THANK YOU to all those who take the time to read my articles I will wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and may your holiday be blessed with love, happiness, good cheer, a wonderful meal, and family.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."  --Melody Beattie

Fun ~ Fit ~ Fast and Type One Diabetes

November is Type One diabetes month; a month where awareness for those living with Type One diabetes is brought to life. 

Diabetes, clinically known as diabetes mellitus, is a disorder in which the pancreas has a difficult time regulating its blood glucose levels.  There are two types of diabetes; Type One (juvenile diabetes) and Type Two diabetes.  While both are something to be taken very seriously this article is going to specifically speak about Type 1 (T1D).  

Type One diabetics are known as insulin dependent as they must manually take insulin in order for the body to continue functioning.  An autoimmune disease that occurs when the bodies immune system attacks and destroys beta-cells within the pancreas resulting in the body no longer being able to independently produce insulin needed to break down glucose levels within the body.  

Living with T1D can be very challenging and often frustrating as you are constantly having to watch the amount of carbohydrates you are consuming and your blood sugar levels are always in the back of your mind.  Yet living with T1D is not debilitating; one of the largest misconceptions is that a person with T1D cannot live a normal life.  There are a lot of myths and lack of knowledge from the public in regards to T1D such as someone with diabetes cannot participate in sports, they can't eat sugar, and no matter what someone with diabetes does there will always be complications in the end.  Yet these are all myths.  A diabetic can participate in athletics and exercise; in fact leading a healthy and fit lifestyle ensures a reduce in the chance of having complications later in life.  Physical exercise helps to lower blood sugar levels keeping them within a healthy range.  The key to preventing future complications is maintaining within a healthy range; it is known that merely four years spent constantly in the two - three hundreds can start causing damage, something that can be prevented by living a fit and healthy lifestyle.

One of the biggest issues with T1D is the lack of education many receive when being diagnosed with diabetes.  When you are not educated on the affects carbohydrates, protein, fats, and sugars have on your body it makes it hard to understand why your body is acting the way it is.  Yes you are probably told you should stay within a certain range and when you should inject insulin however it can be seen that the affects that not strictly monitoring your glucose levels can have on a person's body is not adequately brought to attention. Often the idea that living a fit and healthy life, where one exercises on a daily basis, eats well balanced meals, and keeps a close eye on their blood glucose levels is put on the back burner. 

Some of the main goals that those with T1D should be made aware of are:

• Maintaining normal growth and development (particularly in children)
• Keeping blood sugar levels within a target range (not too high, not too low) by controlling through a balance of exercise, healthy eating, and insulin

This article is inspired by my amazing boyfriend, Brandon Bowker, who in February will have reached the milestone of 15 years living with T1D.  At the age of 15 Brandon was diagnosed with T1D and since then he has made it his a mission to live a healthy, fit, and normal lifestyle.  Even at the age of 15 he made the mature decision to constantly pay attention to his blood sugar levels, and to continue living his life as was.  While it was a challenge and learning to count carbohydrates and sugars was not always something he wanted to do he did not let it stop him from running cross country, playing basketball, and baseball.  Now 15 years later his strength and dedication is something that inspires me everyday. 

His blood sugar levels are steadily within a healthy range resulting in his HBA1C levels being as low as ever, golf game the best he's ever had, and in the best shape since he was in high school.  He never lets anything stand in his way and because of it has overcome many obstacles put in his way.  Someday he wishes to help others who are diagnosed with diabetes to understand that just because you have diabetes does not mean you can't lead a fit and healthy life.  His passion for life has been an inspiration for myself throughout my work and training.  

Currently approximately 3 million people are living with T1D and more than 15,000 children are newly diagnosed with T1D yearly.  While the research is out there for finding ways to better maintain and help those diagnosed with T1D it is sorely under rated.  Most importantly education and awareness for those diagnosed is seriously lacking.  Take some time today to learn a little about the life that those with T1D have, maybe your awareness and support will help others to understand that they too can lead a healthy, fit, and long life.

" There will be obstacles; there will be doubters; there will be mistakes; but with hard work there are no limits"