The Big Controversy

Since I first started on this road less traveled, I have encountered many skeptics to say the least. People and other Type 1 Diabetics have a hard time believing that it's possible to live an insulin free life. Labels such as "misdiagnosed" or "still in the honeymoon phase" are frequently used to try and explain this situation but in reality it is all about an internal conviction to explore other options. The controversy surrounding this lifestyle is the fact that its not medically accepted and by not taking insulin I am going against the accepted idea of diabetes management. I have had a lot of scoffs and have had people ask why I would try and live a insulin free life....why wouldn't I just take the insulin? Well, I believe it takes a special person to want to be different and go against the grain even when the world is against you. I don't think it is a good lifestyle for everyone or that it works for every pancreas. All I do know is that I have a passion for it, and that passion is what keeps me motivated and strong. In the end, unless another has walked my walk, they can never truly understand or make a justified argument.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation." ~Herbert Spencer

 

Why Did I Choose This Lifestyle?

I get asked this question a lot by people with whom I share my story. Mostly, because it seems obvious to obey the doctor's orders and take the insulin and to be honest, if it was just me alone on the journey I would be taking insulin today.  My mom and my aunt were the ones who lit the candle inside of me and gave me the opportunity to think outside the box. I wouldn't have questioned the management of diabetes nor would I have been a skeptic towards conventional medicine, if it weren't for their "philosopher-like" thinking. Nonetheless, I was always given the choice of taking insulin. I chose this lifestyle so that I could be a healthier, stronger, happier me. I never look at insulin like a punishment or a necessity, instead I look at it as medicine. Medicine is traditionally used when you are sick and when you absolutely need it but society today abuses that "need" and replaces it with "want" or "convenience". Its uncomfortable to say no to good food and sometimes even healthy food but by sacrificing a little I get a lot in return. I believe I was given this disease for a reason, not to kick it under the rug but to become a better person because of it. I don't need processed food to survive and because I have diabetes, it has given me an even better reason to live without it. Ultimately, I chose this lifestyle consisting of no dairy, wheat, sugar, or grain because I have faith that my body can survive and thrive without a large amount of insulin if I am eating correctly. In the end, I believe that if you give your body a chance to heal, it will never fail you.

Parties and Goodies

I think every diabetic struggles when going to parties whether you take insulin or not. For me, Parties in the last 2 years have been a little difficult to say the least but it has gotten a lot better. The candy, cake, cupcakes, and junk food in general are all placed before your eyes in a very pressured environment. Unfortunately, we have to be stronger then the rest. We have to have enough willpower to say no to something that tastes good but doesn't do you any good after the fact. I also believe its about understanding and accepting the affect that candy and cake has on a type 1 diabetic body, even if you take insulin. Now unlike a type 1 diabetic that takes insulin shots to correct themselves, I chose to live a life insulin free. For me, I don't have the option of cheating when it comes to candy and cake, but its more then not having the option...its a conviction that happens within that gives me the strength to be ok with saying no. This conviction and willpower did not come from me, I have to give that credit to a higher power.  When I go to parties, instead of eating candy I have fruit as a treat..as for the cake, that recipe is coming soon!

Coffee and Diabetes

I admit it....I love coffee, but there seems to be a lot of speculation surrounding whether or not coffee is beneficial for people who have diabetes. Through research, I came to the conclusion that because everyone reacts differently to caffeine, there is no sure way to tell whether caffeine has a positive or negative impact on blood sugar levels. I was intrigued to find that regular consumption of coffee can help to prevent diseases such as: Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, liver disease, and liver cancer. The only serious downfall to drinking coffee is becoming dependent on it and this is due to drinking coffee in excess. Personally, my blood sugar levels are only impacted when I get coffee outside my home because they use soy milk with added sugar. Thankfully, when I am at home drinking a cup of coffee with my momma, it has little to no affect. 

Iced Coffee Ingredients: 

• 100% Organic Fair Trade Coffee (Trader Joe's)  
• Almond Milk 
• Stevia     

Diabetic Friendly Pancakes

Coconut Pancakes  

Dry Ingredients:  

• 2 tbs coconut flour 
• 1/8 tsp baking soda 
• 1/2 tsp stevia 
• dash of cinnamon 
• dash of salt  

Wet Ingredients: 

• 2 tbs coconut oil 
• 2 tbs almond or coconut milk 
• 2 eggs 

These pancakes have no effect on glucose levels and are extremely simple to make! The unique part about making recipes with such wholesome ingredients is that they never come out exactly the same. Sometimes the batter might come out a little thick, but a little almond milk can always fix the problem. I hope you enjoy!   

Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis

January 9, 2012 is the day when my life changed forever, my whole world as I knew it crumbled around me. It felt like a dream to be honest, like I was gonna wake up and this burden would be gone. I still remember what I ate that morning before the doctor's, I ate my last banana without worry. Before that day I was slowly withering away, losing pounds, drinking more, infections non-stop, not eating, and overall feeling like absolute crap. Now I look back at my childhood and I realize that I never really felt good, I didn't know what it meant to feel just plain old good. It was always either I had a stomach ache, or my heels hurt or I had a headache. I remember just praying that maybe I would get an answer, maybe they could finally help me and stop telling me everything was ok. My wish came true, not in the way I wanted it to, but nonetheless my diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes saved my life. I went into the doctors that morning weighing only 82 pounds at 5'3, I remember shaking as I sat in my chair because I was cold. I had taken a urine test and by the look of concern from our doctor I know something was wrong. We were then quickly ushered to the endocrinologist where we sat hoping and praying that everything was ok.

Everything was a blur from then on. My finger was pricked and then my blood was put into this weird machine. I heard a beep and the nurse looked down. She tightly closed her lips in a frown and nodded to the doctor, the meter read 540. I think I was in shock when I heard that one sentence "Well Missy, you have Type 1 Diabetes". My heart literally went into my throat, my eyes welled with tears as I looked back at the doctor. He saw me and replied with a snarky remark "At least you don't have cancer." I was no longer listening to the big words that the doctor told us. I was stunned but I felt something lift off my chest. I was relieved that they found something wrong because I knew there was. They gave me a bag of needles, a vile of insulin, and quickly took me over to the dietitian. I will always remember the butterfly paintings on the walls and the rustling of the needles in my bag as we quickly walked to the office. We were greeted by a kind lady but I wanted none of her kindness, I was confused and irritated like a wounded animal. All I remember from that visit is her forcing me to inject myself with insulin in my belly for the first time. It still brings anxiety as I write this passage. I can confidently say that, that was the worst day of my life but what came out of that day made the rest of my life better.

The hour of sobbing in the car followed by the pitiful looks from family and friends forced to acknowledge that I was no longer who I used to be. The days following diagnosis were slow and foreign but nonetheless my strong momma gave my the strength to pull through. We called the doctors everyday and took the insulin as instructed before every meal, because the doctors know best right? Doctors have some kind of information that we don't know. They have the power to control our health. Well I think a bit differently, I believe we each have a doctor inside us. After all, no one knows our body as well as we do. Four months after diagnosis, I forgot to take my insulin, uh oh. Before this happened, we decided to watch our diet closer and slowly started eliminating things such as wheat, dairy, and sugar. This caused me to have extreme lows and enabled me to take less insulin. So the days went on and the insulin slowly dwindled out of my life. My endocrinologist wasn't too happy about the fact that I was taking near to no insulin. Anyway, by August of that year I was completely off of all insulin. (I will tell you guys more about the elimination process in future posts)

Now here I am, two years later still trudging on the road less traveled. I am thankful for the opportunity to live a healthy life and to wander off the beaten path. I have my ups and downs, my struggles, and my victories. Nonetheless, I still have faith in our lifestyle each and everyday and I have willingness to do it for the rest of my life. On this blog I will share with you recipes that have made it a bit easier living a life without sugar, dairy, wheat, or grain; some of my workouts, and the struggles that I have as a teen with diabetes. I hope teens and adults alike can find this story to be a shimmer of hope. That there is in fact another way to manage type one diabetes.

About Me

Hi,
This is my very first post and let me tell ya, it has taken me a year to finally sit down and muster enough courage to display my unique story to the world. But before all that, let me properly introduce myself. My name is Marianna but most people call me m.j. I am 15 years old and reside in California with my beautiful family. To tell you the truth, without them by my side, none of this would have ever happened. My hobbies include skateboarding and working out with occasional hiking. I go to virtual school now that I am in high school, but I have been homeschooled since second grade. I love music and I believe that animals are the best therapy for a soul needing some lovin'. Nature is my meditation and food is my medicine. I tend to be the black sheep of the crowd and I usually never swim with the current, but surprisingly I would have it no other way. It's what makes me who I am and it enables me to be a skeptic, form opinions, and have a strong foundation in what I believe in. I have been led out of the cave as Plato would say it and into the harsh reality of living with a chronic disease called Type 1 Diabetes.