How to "Reset" with Type One Diabetes

I have had type one diabetes for more than twelve years now. Anyone who has type one diabetes knows how difficult it can be to be “on” 24/7, to have to continually check your blood sugar and make decisions that cannot only affect your whole day, but the rest of your life. The long-term repercussions of bad blood sugar and the immediate effects of lows can make life scary and unpredictable. Burnout is a very real thing. So how do we combat this? How can we hit reset on a disease that is not able to be cured?

I am lucky enough to volunteer at a camp for kids with diabetes for one week every summer. This helps me reset with the constant flow of positive mental attitude from my co-counselors and the community of people who have to deal with the same challenges I do. But how do you deal if you’re not lucky enough to have this support system, this community?

1. Take one week.

Pick a week to be your reset week. You don’t have to go to camp, or take a week off of work, but pick a week where you can have more low-key plans than you normally would or a week that is especially slow at work. Remember that your job is just your job and you deserve to feel healthy at work, so taking one week to slow down is going to be a good thing.

2. Be mindful.

It’s very easy to let diabetes fall into the background of life, giving insulin sporadically and “forgetting” to check your sugar when it’s not convenient for you. When you’re burnt out it can be very easy to just let your sugar do its thing and worry about the consequences later. Instead of setting your diabetes aside, pay extra attention to it for this one week. Remember that there is no such thing as a bad number, just a bad reaction to that number. Keep your head up and breathe, even when the number is so high or low it makes you feel like death itself.

3. Eat well.

For this one week, splurge a little. But not on treats or a steak dinner. Splurge on produce, on fresh ingredients, on proteins, and healthy fats. By being mindful of what you’re eating for one week you’ll automatically become more mindful about what you’re putting in your body after that week. Eating well can be expensive, but by eating healthy for a week, and paying attention to exact carb counts, you can really get your blood sugar under better control for your reset.

4. Remember that you are a person with diabetes, not a diabetic.

Try some meditation or yoga or some sort of positive thinking exercise that helps you remember that diabetes is just one small aspect of who you are. It does not define you. It will only hold it back if you let it. You are in control, not your malfunctioning pancreas.

5. Organize.

Reorder any diabetes supplies you may be running low on, check on your prescriptions, and make a doctor's appointment if necessary. While not the most fun step, by knowing what supplies you have and when your appointments are, you can rest easy knowing you have the resources you need to manage your diabetes and take care of your health.