Mastering Diabetes Blog

A letter to my future self...When it comes to dealing with life’s calamities I choose to cross that bridge if and when we have to, not a moment before. I refuse to waste any of my time or precious energy worrying about something that may never happen. However there is...

2017 Cannon Media Awards, here we come!A few months ago encouraged by my boss I entered the 2017 Cannon Media Awards. The awards are described as ‘New Zealand publishing’s premier awards. Showcasing and acknowledging the best of NZ newspapers, magazines and websites.’...

So many rookie mistakesYou’d think after almost 18 years of living with type 1 diabetes I’d have mastered it. I’m afraid not. I’ve been caught out a lot lately, forgetting some of the real basics and if I’m truly honest I should know better. We all make mistakes and...

Sharing my story - our story  I was asked to share 'my diabetes story' at the New Zealand Ministry of Health's Diabetes workshop last week. The workshop was for District Health Boards, Primary Health Organisations and clinicians to come together to discuss...

A letter to my future self...Adjusting to life with a new baby can be exhausting at the best of times however throw a type 1 diabetic, breast feeding mother into the mix and the game becomes even more gruelling. I’d spent nine months fine tuning my blood glucose...

He's hereI felt the public health system had let me down when Miss six arrived into the world. It all seemed to go horribly wrong. Even though many events were out of anyone’s control, when my blood sugars dropped drastically during labour it was obvious the hospital...

CGMS - could this be the answer?The moment I found out we were having Baby No. 2 I knew I needed a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in my life, well at least for the delivery and the month following. In my mind getting my hands on a CGM meant we could predict when a...

It's time to share and let go... Many new mums can recall their terrifying birth stories, I am no different. As the arrival of our new addition draws closer I realise the first time round had rattled me far more than I ever let on. Clinging to this experience is not...

Raising diabetes awareness - the cold hard truthRecently I was filmed for a Diabetes NZ campaign. The four short videos of diabetics sharing their story would be used to encourage others to take action and better manage their type 1 or type 2 diabetes or get proactive...

Feeling brave and ready to do it all againIt’s taken five years, but we’re finally ready to do it all again… All going to plan, in October we’ll welcome the newest member to our little whanau (family). Baby number two! With every pregnancy there’s a chance things will...

Diabetes burnout, you're not welcome hereIt’s ironic that on 7 April 2016, World Health Day I find myself parked up in bed, absolutely shattered. The world health organisation’s goal this year was to call for global action to halt the rise in and improve care for...

Diaversary a reason to celebrateMany diabetics celebrate the anniversary of their diagnosis, their ‘diaversary’. As we should, we’ve survived! Balanced 365 days of highs and lows, handled over 1825 finger pricks and injections, more than 121 insulin pump site changes,...

Quitting sugar - is it worth it?It’s day 21 in the eight week I Quit Sugar programme (IQS). So far, so good. I’m joined by hundreds of other people from around the world all trying to break their addiction with the ‘white stuff’ (including three other type 1...

I have two optionsWhen life gets tough I certainly stamp my feet, cry and shout like the best of them. Then once I’ve cooled down, I hunt for the lesson. What can I learn from this? Always have, always will. Perhaps it’s the learning facilitator, trainer and...

Is quitting sugar the answer to mastering diabetes?At the start of every year I take stock, reflect and think of ways to make the coming year, bigger and better than the last. This January has been no different. I continue to ride the diabetes rollercoaster and while...