After one week of pricking my finger and taking blood samples, giving “insulin shots” twice a day to a teddy bear I’d been carrying everywhere but the bathtub, and following a meal plan that, while fair, was far different than my regular intake, I felt I’d gotten a good taste of what it’s like to be a person with diabetes.
But while I had stuck to the schedules, and even made sure to get at least a good half-hour walk in each day, I’d never thought it would be my name diabetes educator Cindy Gauthier would call out at the Canadian Diabetes Association’s “Celebrity Challenge” wrap-up banquet here last Wednesday night.
After all, as far I knew, all the participants I talked to also had stuck to their schedules more or less, and while I was aware of at least couple who did not always have their bears with them (some even came into the Times office and received a “scolding” from Pam Munn), I hadn’t heard of any egregious errors in judgment.
(Not like when Times publisher Jim Cumming, a previous “Celebrity Challenger,” accidentally “killed” his bear with an insulin overdose years ago).
Why me? While I definitely was honoured that evening, and am still proud of it, I can’t answer that. If all 10 participants had learned something about living with diabetes, which it appeared they did while giving brief speeches at Wednesday’s dinner, we were all winners in a way.
But what I can write about is what I learned during the week-long challenge, about being a diabetic, and perhaps life in general.
First off, time is not on your side. You’re always looking at the clock, thinking: Is it time to eat yet? I wonder if my blood sugar level’s dipped or spiked? Where’s that bear hiding—it’s time for his insulin shot?
As a diabetic, this is a fact of life. And while us participants might not have realized this before the “Celebrity Challenge,” it’s really a way of living differently.
Diabetics are required to eat breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, supper, and an evening snack—every day. What this means is, regardless of where you are, whether it’s a social occasion, work assignment, or even on the road, when it’s time to eat, it’s time to eat.
Consequently, unless one spends much of their time at home, you’ll probably have to pack at least one meal or snack with you on any given day.
And having to stick to a healthy diet, you have to get creative or I’m guessing you might be tempted to grab a chocolate bar or something undoubtedly bad for you.
I know I was tempted after eating a snack of six soda crackers and a cup of apple sauce every afternoon for a week!
And you can’t be stubborn with what and how you want to eat. If you’re diagnosed as a diabetic, and dietitian Jodis McCaine gives you a meal plan, you should stick to it.
Shots can be a pain. While I didn’t mind pricking my fingers at first, they got a little sore after 14 blood sugar samples. And as for those insulin injections—I’m glad my bear, “Miguel,” was a braver soul than I.
On the other hand, exercise is good for you. While this holds true for anybody, regardless of their health, it’s especially true for diabetics, who can benefit greatly from increased circulation, particularly in the feet, and burning off any unnecessary fat.
That’s because maintaining a healthy weight puts less stress on the body and facilitates insulin production.
As for me, being a non-diabetic during the “Celebrity Challenge” I found a little exercise to be a good reason to take a “time out,” get out of the office or the house, and de-stress—another factor that can aggravate the effects of diabetes, as well as many other conditions.
Besides, it’s good way to spend a half-hour while waiting for that afternoon or evening snack.
All in all, the “Celebrity Challenge” was a great way to get a better understanding of what living with diabetes can be like, and I would recommend participating in it to everyone.
I’m also proud to say I’ve contributed to the lineage of “Celebrity Challengers” from the Fort Frances Times. Past participants have included editor Mike Behan (the 1992 champ), former reporter Jeremy Loome (who shared the 1994 title with Dana Begin of the RBC Financial Group), Jim Cumming, Linda Plumridge, John Pierce, and former sports reporters Jennifer Battler and Reuben Villagracia.
I have to add the whole experience was made a whole lot easier thanks to my “very small yet very good support team.” (Even if she did once suggest I skip my dairy requirement of a half cup of milk when the carton in my fridge ran empty on the second last day of the challenge . . .)
But I was left with one question after the week-long “Celebrity Challenge”: Didn’t people think it was strange to see 10 local citizens walking around town with teddy bears? Most sure didn’t seem to say anything.
Perhaps this means they recognize the “Celebrity Challenge” as a local tradition and have openly accepted the annual public parading of plush bears. And that’s a good thing.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
