It's part of the reason my A1C came back last week at a much higher 6.9, compared with the 5.8 I dominated with in November. (A lot of other things are to blame for that, as well.) But I think it also might be part of what helps me feel some balance with all of this super-regimented stuff I do during the week. After all, everybody "goes off the deep end" sometimes, and "needs a second chance". (Loverboy = lyrical geniuses?)
Monday through Friday, I'm getting up at the same time. I'm taking my pills at 6:12 each morning, pre-bolusing while I blowdry my hair, and eating breakfast - always an egg, Canadian bacon or turkey sausage with egg whites and organic provolone on a bagel thin, made by my awesome husband - on my way out the door.
I'm in one location for most of the day. Jim hangs out on my keyboard tray, and my testing stuff is sitting there, ready for me when I need it. I bring an easily-carb-counted lunch from home, and I go walking for 15 minutes twice a day, always at the same time.
On Saturdays and Sundays? HA! I dare you to find any kind of pattern.
Sometimes, too, I ignore Jim. Yesterday I helped throw a bridal shower for a good friend of mine, and my Dexcom receiver sat in my purse, in her laundry room, for three hours. I honestly didn't have the time or energy to feel badly about it either.
For me, it's helpful to have some time here and there where I do just the bare minimum. I test a few times throughout the day, take insulin, but try not to worry about much past that. I wish I could say that I'm okay with being super attentive to diabetes every single day, but the truth is that I'm not. It's mentally exhausting.
Some days you just want to pretend to be "normal" and not worry about dealing with all of this crap.
Weekends are always messy for me too. I think it's important to embrace this style (to a limit, of course). Taking these mental health breaks is a necessary part of life with a chronic condition and being SANE! So good for you. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honest post. It still sounds like you are taking care of yourself, even in your "time off" on the weekends. My 7 year old T1 daughter must feel the same way. I notice that on weekends she asks if we can just look at her CGM instead of doing a bg check too. And I think once in a while that is OK! (although I should point out that I am not doing corrections based on a CGM reading)
ReplyDeleteOh it's the exact same with me! I had today off (President's Day), so it was essentially another "weekend" day for me. I woke up at 7 AM, had 3 cups of coffee and a bowl of cereal, cleaned the house for 3 hours, then spent the rest of the afternoon at the doctor's office. Try finding some routine for a basal rate in that! Y
ReplyDeleteeah, my diabetes management takes a backseat on the weekend. But I think it sort of should be like that, you know? ;-)
I love seeing this. I have a 7 year old T1 and she's already bored with this diabetes gig. I wonder how she will handle the constancy of the disease when she's 20 years post-diagnosis and I hope that she is able to cut herself some slack (safely) and have a little down time. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteStacy
Amen to that. (And Misty is right; you're not doing that badly when you're "bad." :^)
ReplyDeleteIt's a whole lot worse when you're retired, and don't have that job to give you constancy!! I tend to sleep at odd hours or not sleep at all. And I eat when I'm hungry, which is not the same time every day. So I don't rely as much on basals, as on checking frequently -- my CGM gives me a rough idea of where I am (except when it's making things up, but that usually ends up being a RAPID change, so I recognize it), and I test when I think I might be high. I can feel my lows, so that is not a problem.
ReplyDeleteI think the very most important part of managing diabetes is having a plan that works for YOU, not some imaginary perfect diabetic. And if that means easing up on the routine sometimes, or eating a high-carb meal and going a bit higher than usual sometimes, so be it!
Natalie ._c-