Ah, Christmas...
My favourite holiday but also the source of much frustration for people living with type 1 diabetes. Will that distant cousin ask you "Haven't you got over that diabetes thing yet?". Will someone buy you a terrible diabetes-related gift? (Honestly, some sugar-free chocolate should be considered a crime against humanity). Will type 1 send you on a not-so-merry rollercoaster ride?
Well, I say stuff that! The holiday season is a time to be enjoyed and that's the wish I have for each and every member of the type 1 tribe. No matter your beliefs, it is a time to connect with people, celebrate and take a breath from this crazy rollercoaster we call life.
So, as we settle into the holiday season I wanted to share a couple of tips for making the most of any holidays you do get.
Generous Assumptions: Boy does my patience get tested when people want to say stupid things about type 1 diabetes when I'm living my best life. But if you want to enjoy your holidays and not worry about who will drop the next clanger, my best advice is to convince yourself that people are genuinely trying to help.
Yes, even those people... Most people are trying to be kind and helpful when they say something bone-headed about type 1. Do you remember what you knew about type 1 before D-day? If you're like most people, you knew almost nothing. You probably made one of those ignorant comments yourself. You genuinely thought you were being helpful. Most people aren't trying to be jerks. And if you can convince yourself of that, anything they do say won't sting quite as much. You can smile, know they mean well, and decide whether to give them helpful upskilling or just let the comment through to the keeper.
Assertiveness: Don't mistake me though, having generous assumptions doesn't mean putting up with inappropriate behaviour. Don't be afraid to stick up for yourself. If someone snatches your food away screeching "You can't eat that!", you have every right to assertively, calmly, tell them that you are more than capable of making your own decisions about what to eat and not eat. And if they're real jerks about it, ask them if "they should be eating that?". Turnabout is fair play after all. I will pre-empt this sometimes. When I'm catching up with family I don't see often, it can quickly turn to nervous conversations like "What can you eat?"... I am quickly on the front foot to say that I manage my own choices and ask specifically if there's anything I do actually want that is unusual. And, if there's something I want that is different, I bring my own. Have you ever seen what a non-type 1 thinks is type 1 appropriate? Please no! Never again...
Even this looks better than the average "diabetic meal"! Stress and Perfection: If you are the type of person who starts to beat yourself the second your blood sugar heads out of range, it's time to cut yourself some slack. Do you see all those people with a fully functioning pancreas who are over-indulging? Their blood sugar is not perfect either! Don't fall for the myth that everyone else has perfectly flat blood sugar graphs and you need to have them too. It's a bit naff, but the old saying in range most of the time, on most days is the goal. This is most definitely my mantra on Christmas and I struggle with perfectionism myself. I might normally be wound tighter than a coiled spring, but on Christmas, I cut myself some slack. Avoid crashing hypos and ridiculously high BSLs if you can, because they'll make you feel crappy, but don't obsess. Besides, stress hormones are bad for blood sugar...
But hey, use whatever advantages you got!
Happy Holidays!
If you take nothing else from this post - make sure to take some time to breathe, to relax, and to enjoy life over the holidays. Remember, type 1 diabetes management is all about making type 1 smaller so it doesn't get in the way of the life you want to lead. It's too easy to let type 1 diabetes into the driver's seat... and it's a terrible driver!
Have a safe, merry and wonderful holiday season, a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Benjamin
"the Dia-boss"
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