I just thought I would post again! I have been really bad about this, high school and sick-being got in the way again. I hope you haven't given up on me! I am required to do a service project for school, and of course I will be supporting the ADA. I am putting together a chap book, I never knew what these were or that they existed until a few months ago. They are small (10-18) page poetry collections. I will be selling them for a few bucks a piece and donating 100% to the ADA. Then of course with expo coming up I will be there! I won't get a kidney infection this year.... On to the poetry note again however, I am officially published! There was a competition a while back that I entered and while I was not in first place, my poem was selected to be in their collection book. I was in a photo-shoot yesterday for girl scouts 100th anniversary and I will get those up as soon as
I have them. On March 12th, there is a flag ceremony at the Utah capitol building and I will be carrying the Oklahoma state flag. If any of you want to come out and support, it is at 4:30. I'm going to work on the paperwork for my gold award soon and then I can get started on my project more!
Not done yet!
Spring is here.
I'm so sorry that I haven't posted much on here. I was really sick towards the end of February. But who is glad for the nice weather? I know I am. That means I can start to get ready for tour de cure thats coming up in two months. Can you believe it? Only two left! And once again I will be riding the 25 mile, and this time my ankle won't get in the way. Lets hope that it doesn't have bad weather again. Three years in a row is good, don't you think? I'm going to get started up on my gold award soon, and once I get the planning all worked out, I'll tell you what it is! Well, I hope you all are having a wonderful time. Happy Easter!
Life in general
There comes to be a time in a persons life when you realize how important the little things in life are. Or more importantly the little living creatures that you let into your life and call your own. I lost my beloved pet hedgehog. Her name was Laurel, she was four and a half years old and had cancer in her jaw, but she was more than just a pet. She was my mascot. Shortly after I had gotten her my mom found out she had diabetes. She was seriously with me through everything so you can see how saddening this could make me. But I think it makes me feel closer to her because she was here for me. And now, I am here for everyone out there who thinks they are alone. There is a such thing as hope even in everyone's darkest hour.
Girl Scout Silver Award Speech
When the counsel had their lunch get together for girl scouts getting their silver and gold award, I had the honor of giving a speech.
I won't let it destroy me, neither should you
Missie, New Jersey
What's your inspiration?
On August 31 2008 I became diagnosed with diabetes (type 1). So what inspires me would be my experience with it.
What is one experience that taught you a lesson about diabetes that could help others?
To be honest everyday is a new experience that teaches me a lesson about my diabetes. However my one experience is when i get sick with the flu or even something simple, but to us diabetics we know nothing is ever simple. Although when i get sick the best way i can keep my sugar stable is by calling my endocrinologist, they work with me on changing some things around until i get better. They'll tell you the best way to maintain your sugar and what would be best to eat when sick and it really does help.
For example when i get sick my sugars always seem to sky rocket and i can never bring them down, which makes me feel a lot worse then i already do from being sick, however when my mom calls my doctor and they help me manage and or change things to make me feel a little more comfortable until i get better I've realized that my sugars are a lot better maintained and i also notice i get better quicker than expected. So when ever you feel sick even if its not something serious i would still call your doctor or whomever is in control of your diabetes because the littlest change can make the biggest difference.
How could our families, neighborhoods, or communities better prevent or live well with diabetes
Well for type 2 diabetics i guess the only advice i can give is to maintain a perfect diet and if necessary lose weight and maintain check ups with your doctor.
Therefore with type 1 diabetics i really don't believe there is anyway of preventing it but that doesn't mean its impossible to live with. Check ups like every three months with your endocrinologist is usually necessary and so is your A1C blood work, but do more than just that like exercise, be active, eat healthier. I'm telling you thats the best key for diabetes.
Most importantly for those with diabetes the world may seem impossible to live, but with a fight and believing even diabetes cant destroy us. Things may always be difficult but will never be impossible. Diabetes is a world wide thing, but its up to you on how you choose to live with it for those who do have it, but to me living with diabetes i believe that i can fight and live with it just fine, because i won't let it destroy me and neither should you.
Janette's Story
Janette's Story is inspiring because she doesn't stop trying to help others even though she has diabetes herself. In her interview she makes a point about how a persons attitude can affect how they take care of themselves and it is so true! If you have the attitude that diabetes is going to prevent you from living your life to the fullest if you try and take care of it, you may decide to not take care of it at all which is not good. Then again, if you have the attitude that you are going to use it to your benefit and become a healthier person you will have an easier time taking control of your diabetes.
Remember, the glass isn't half empty, its half full. Always look on the more positive side of things and you'll go far.
~Gen
Diabetes Clubhouse
The past two days I was a counselor at Diabetes Clubhouse for children ages 4-7. Clubhouse is a day camp for children who have diabetes and it is 2 days for 6 hours each day. Not all the children there had diabetes but the ones who didn't went with a sibling or their parent was a volunteer. This was my second year being a counselor. I had 4, 6 year old girls. Only 3 of them had diabetes. 2 of them checked their own glucose and I checked it for the one that didn't. When it came to insulin time, one of the girls was on an all day one so she didn't need it. And one of the girls gave her own shot, she only needed help with measuring how much she needed, which the nurses did.
The Theme this year was around the world, yesterday we "flew" to Africa where we made tribal masks and animal finger puppets. After that we "flew" to the South Sea Islands where we learned to hula dance and got lea's. Then we "flew" home just in time for the kids to be picked up. Today we "flew" to China where we made wind socks and sushi. After that, we cleaned up, said Xie xie (thank you in Chinese) and "flew" back to the USA to participate in the Olympics. Thanks to My Gym we had a sea saw, vault horse and a balance beam. The kids had a great time. They all got gold medals and then made flags for their own country. They had a flag parade and after that they made all us "grown ups" get on stage so they could give us gold medals. That's when the day came to end. I said bye to my girl with tears in my eyes, they were honestly the sweetest things alive.
Today all of the counselors including myself were dragging. What woke us all up and gave us enthusiasm was the energy of all of those adorable kids. I love helping, and even more so with kids. They were all very good at telling us when they needed something and if they were feeling high or low. I encourage anyone with diabetic kids in Utah ages 4-7 to sign them up next year. They have fun and learn a lot from it.
Don't let diabetes make you give up. You still have a strong body and will to fight with, just never give up hope.
~Gen Ellis