Stepping up to the challenge

When George Bartlett first approached me about participating in the Canadian Diabetes Association’s annual “Celebrity Challenge” a few years ago, I put it off.
Always thinking I was simply too busy to do it, there were no excuses left after seeing some of my former co-workers (Jennifer Battler and Reuben Villagracia, to name two) do it instead of me—proving me dead wrong.
So when he approached me yet again last fall about giving it a try, I finally considered it. After all, I’d written about it several times and talked with others who had stepped up to challenge.
Why couldn’t I? Talking to these people, the overwhelming opinion seemed to be it was a life-altering experience—they learned something important firsthand, not from some pamphlet or television program.
And I wanted to find out for myself just how that felt.
But after attending an information session Monday evening, at which Jodis McCaine, a registered dietitian with the Valley Diabetes Education Centre, and Cindy Gauthier, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, gave the half-dozen participants on hand a better idea as to what living like a diabetic entails, it became clear: this isn’t going to be as easy as it sounds.
For those who don’t know, this is what being a part of the “Celebrity Challenge” means: 1). Pricking your finger and taking a blood sample twice a day for a week (this I don’t mind as I’m not the squeamish type nor do I faint at the sight of blood).
2). Giving “insulin shots” to a teddy bear twice a day for a week (much better a plush toy than me).
But since this has to be done onehalf hour before breakfast, this means I have to be awake that much earlier in the morning, including on weekends.
And ask anyone who knows me—I like my sleep.
3). Following a meal plan, which at least for me, is quite different than my normal eating schedule (which is anything but normal).
This includes eating three square meals a day, plus snacks in the morning, afternoon, and before bed. And consuming much more dairy products than I’m used to.
This means I’ll be hauling a knapsack full of food to work every day, and dropping everything to ensure I eat when I’m supposed to—something that’s easier said than done at this job, when you’re usually running on everybody else’s schedules and often miss the time slot that most other people consider “lunchtime.”^Or else you’re covering an event where there’s free food—just not the kind you’re allowed to have on the meal plan McCaine has made out for me.
Sure, this might sound petty, but adults, I seriously ask you: When’s the last time anyone told you how to eat and you had to listen? 4). Being willing to talk to anyone— family, friends, strangers on the street, or co-workers—that might have questions about the challenge or diabetes.
The fact you’re carrying a teddy bear around is bound to prompt an inquiry at least once, I’ve been told.
Yes, like all my fellow celebrity competitors I’ve talked to, I agree it’s going to be tough. But I like a challenge, and with a very small yet very good support team behind me (she knows who she is), I’m sure I’ll be able to do it.
Check out the Times next week to see if I can live up to the challenge like I’ve so brashly said I would be able.
Oh, and by the way, if you see me and my “diabetes bear” on the street, the bruin answers to “Miguel.”