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My diabetes story

Happy 21st DIAversary To Me!

by tanja October 15, 2019

Do you know what day is it today? It is the 16-th of October, the day when 21 years ago, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. And yes, today marks my 21st diaversary. 🙂 I feel that each year that passes while managing Type 1 diabetes is an accomplishment Moreover, it reminds me of how strong am I.

During my first 12 diaversaries, this day the 16th of October was simply too hard, especially for my parents and sister. I can’t imagine how hard it was for them to try and accept that I had to live with a life-changing condition. They felt angry that they couldn’t take it away. They also felt sad because, in the beginning, our life revolved around learning about carb counting, fasting, insulin adjustments, and hospital appointments. But, I know that my family has always been amazing and so supportive. And I will always be thankful for that.

For my 21st diaversary, I deserve a cupcake.

Each year, this day reminds me of the strength that I have. Moreover, how far I’ve come and that I take diabetes in my stride. I consider my diaversary as the birthday of my journey which has defined me and my determination. I like being the Queen and having two birthdays (especially in the same month)! 🙂

Inspirational thoughts for my 21st diaversary

For my diaversay, I would like to share some thoughts with all of you. No matter how hard it may seem:

Always look on the bright side of life.
Love your broken pancreas.
You were given this life because you’re strong enough to live it.
I believe that we’re about to accomplish something amazing.
Life is not over because you have diabetes. Make the most of what you have, be grateful.
Don’t forget how strong you are.

I am wondering what the following year will bring in my life. We will see. Until then..

HAPPY 21ST DIAVERSARY TO ME! 🙂

October 15, 2019 0 comment

My diabetes story

How does living with diabetes look like?

by tanja August 19, 2019

I have been living with type 1 diabetes for almost 21 years. I learned that I have to control it every day if I want to have a normal life. A lot of people have asked me: “How does living with diabetes look like?” In order to answer their question, I wrote this blog post. I hope that it will help them realize what we are going through every day.

Currently, I am treating my diabetes with insulin pens. I use two types of insulin: long-lasting insulin Lantus, which I inject it every night (at 10 pm), and short-acting insulin Apidra, which I inject before every meal. Moreover, I inject this type of insulin when my blood sugar level is high. I use a blood glucose meter, called Plus Med. With this machine, I need to prick my fingers to draw blood. I usually check my blood sugar level 5-6 times per day, usually before my meals, after the meals and in the situations when I feel that my blood sugar level increased or dropped down.

Living with diabetes is not easy at all

This is how my day with type 1 diabetes look like:

Normally, during the working week, I wake up at 7 am. The first thing what I do after waking up is checking my blood sugar level. Usually, it is in the range between 6 mmol/L -8 mmol/L. Sometimes it can be bellow and above this range. For example, my personal lowest result was 1.2mmol/L and my personal highest result was 26 mmol/L. Depends on the result and of the amount of food I am planning to eat, I inject a dose of the insulin Apidra.

While I am at work, I normally check my blood sugar level two or three times. I usually check my blood sugar level before my lunch and one hour later. Of course, I don’t forget to inject a dose of the Apidra insulin before lunch. If I have a project with a tight deadline or I feel stressed, I check my blood glucose level every one hour and a half. In these situations, when necessary, I inject small doses of Apidra as well.

After I come back from work, I usually relax for one hour. After that, I enjoy going out with my friends, ride a bike or run. But before being physically active, I don’t forget to check my blood sugar level. Being physically active for me is a more interesting way to decrease my blood glucose level.

Finally, at night, I check my blood sugar level two more times: before my dinner and two hours after the dinner, which is usually the time before I go to bed. Before my dinner, I inject once again a dose of the insulin Apidra and before going to sleep, I inject the insulin Lantus.

Conclusion

So many injections and so many pricks, right? Living with diabetes is not easy. In fact, sometimes I feel like I can’t manage at all. However, I know that I am not alone. I know that this condition is manageable and shouldn’t stop me from achieving my dreams. 🙂

August 19, 2019 0 comment

My diabetes story

Six things diabetes has taught me

by tanja March 12, 2019

Living with type 1 diabetes is not easy at all. Especially if you are a young girl/boy. I was 6 years old when I was diagnosed with diabetes. And the only thing I remember is the doctors didn’t allow me to eat sweets. At that age, it is hard to accept that situation. I remember how scary and difficult it sounded to me.

Besides the fact that diabetes has taken me to scary, difficult, and painful places, but it also has taught me valuable lessons:

The things diabetes has thought me

I have been very lucky. Five years ago, I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, but with regular control, in the end, I overcome it.

One of the things diabetes thought me is that I don’t have to be afraid of it. I have to be afraid of the consequences that may occur if I don’t control it.

I learned that diabetes will never stop me to achieve my dreams and goals. Whether I want to travel or do work my dream job, I just make sure I’ve got all my diabetes stuff with me.

Being alone with your diabetes can be tough. But having diabetes has taught me that it is really valuable to have people to share the experience who are going through it too.

Another thing diabetes has taught me more than anything else is that I am responsible for my own health. My parents helped me become self-confident about my diabetes management as a child. They have never caused me to doubt that I could do what I wanted to do.

And last, but not least, the waiting is the hardest part when it comes to a diabetes cure. But we should stay positive and never lose the hope that one day a cure will be found.

March 12, 2019 0 comment

My diabetes story

How did I celebrate World Diabetes Day?

by tanja November 21, 2018

It’s been a week since World Diabetes Day. Every year, there are so many wonderful things happening around the globe to call attention to diabetes. It is a great way to generate widespread interest around World Diabetes Day. For example, engaging families and members of the public, businesses, and governments and organizing exciting events.

This year was special for me.Natasha Despotovska Dimitrievska, president of the “Association for Children with Diabetes – Balans MK” invited me on the forum that took place on November 10th at Sports Center „Boris Trajkovski“. During the event, the attendees discussed the most important information about the diabetes situation in Macedonia. At the same time, the children were playing together and having fun.

Furthermore, on the 13th of November, I was invited by Dimche Velev, president of the “Diabetes “Shekerche – Lollipop” Veles, MKD” to participate in a debate. The topic of the debate was “Diabetes has a family” or “Family has diabetes”. I had a chance to meet a lot of people, share my experiences with diabetes from the beginning until now, as well as hear their experiences and learn from them.

I hope that all of you celebrated this day with your loved ones. Happy World Diabetes Day! <3

November 21, 2018 0 comment

My diabetes story

The moment when I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy

by tanja November 11, 2018

The past two posts encouraged me to tell you about my experience when I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. A couple of years ago, I had a very tough period. I had been stuck in a place where I felt that my diabetes management was “good enough”. I didn’t go on regular controls, I didn’t check my blood sugar regularly. Honestly, I don’t know why I was acting like that. Probably, because I thought that I had to power to control everything alone. But, I was wrong. And that resulted negatively.

Diabetic retinopathy – the diagnosis

In March 2014, after a long discussion with my parents, I decided to go on a normal dilated eye exam (which I normally do once in a year). I thought that everything will be okay. But, I was wrong. The doctors told me that I have diabetic retinopathy. Then she sat me down and asked me two questions: – “Tanja, do you want to be a mother one day?” I answered her “Yes, of course, I want to be, who doesn’t want to?” But then, she asked me: Her question was “And do you want to SEE your children growing up, achieving their dreams and goals?”

Yes, of course, I want to see my future children every day, I want to see them growing up, becoming better people, achieving their goals and dreams and be proud of them.

Those questions made me realize that I have to change something. I had to start taking care of myself. I had to start controlling my blood sugar level more often. Fortunately, the doctors discover it in the early stage and I had chances to recover. My doctor suggested a fluorescein angiography, in order to see what is happening with your retina. The doctor injected a yellow dye (called fluorescein) into my vein. Then the dye traveled through my blood vessels. A special camera took photos of the retina as the dye traveled throughout its blood vessels. This process shows if any blood vessels are blocked or leaking fluid. It also shows if any abnormal blood vessels are growing. Fortunately, in my case, everything was okay and I didn’t need to do laser surgery.

The moment when I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, my doctor suggested me to do a fluorescein angiography. — The moment when I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in the early stage and there were chances for me to recover. My doctor suggested a fluorescein angiography

Besides the fact that everything was okay, I had to manage my diabetes, monitor my blood sugar level on a daily basis and take one pill vitamin c 1000mg per day.

Three years later I went again on the eye appointment. My eye doctor told me the news I was hoping for – I didn’t have diabetic retinopathy anymore. 🙂 I was the happiest girl in the world. But I knew that I have to continue with my diabetes control regularly in order to prevent it from developing again.

My message to all of you people is: Don’t be afraid of diabetes. Be afraid of the consequences that may occur if you don’t control it. 🙂 With a regular control of your diabetes, you can live and have a normal and happy life. 🙂

November 11, 2018 0 comment

My diabetes story

Happy 20th DIAversary to me! :)

by tanja October 16, 2018

Today marks my 20th DIAversary! 🙂 On one level it’s frustrating and on another, I can’t imagine my life without it.

Diabetes demands constant work to stay alive and while some days are manageable, some days are just tough. Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed. Balancing the food you eat with exercise and medicine (if prescribed) will help you control your weight and can keep your blood glucose in the healthy range.

However, I have to keep advocating for awareness and better general knowledge in the public to end the stigma. Moreover, I have to help those like me remember that we are greater than the highs and lows of this illness. 🙂

During these 20 years of living with type 1 diabetes, I have been facing a lot of challenges: regular controls, highs, and lows, sadness, tears, happiness. Although I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, in the end, it made me realize how terrible and scary the consequences can be. To sum up, I realize that I don’t have to be scared of diabetes. I have to be scared of the consequences that may occur if I don´t control my blood glucose level regularly.

Diabetes gives us chances to learn from each other

But also, these rollercoaster called “DIABETES” gave me a chance to participate in the IDF Youth Leadership Camp in Prague. There, I had a chance to make new friendships, share my own experiences and learn from their experience as well. Furthermore, it made me stronger, wiser and more disciplined because of what I go through every day.

Last, but not least, it gave me the strength to start writing this blog. Also, it gave a chance to help other people with diabetes realize that diabetes doesn’t limit their ability to do anything. With a regular blood glucose control, they can have a normal and happy life.

I will continue this fight. I won’t quit. I won’t…. 🙂 Happy 20th DIAversary to me! 🙂

October 16, 2018 0 comment

My diabetes story

DIAmazing dance for diabetes in the centre of Prague

by tanja September 15, 2018

DIAmazing people can’t stop the feeling, so they just dance, dance, dance.. 🙂 They dance for diabetes.

People with diabetes, diabetics, sugar buddies, sweet people. No matter how you will call us, we are 24 people from Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Greece, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Germany, Italy, Iceland, who got a chance to unite together at the IDF Youth Leadership Camp in Srby, Czech Republic.

DIAmazing dance for diabetes in the centre of Prague.

Those 7 days were a lifetime experience for all of us. It is the moment when I was the happiest girl in the world. Moreover, each of us understands and knows that besides the painful and sad moments we have, life with diabetes can be PERFECT and NORMAL. We just have to learn how to control our blood glucose levels and catch and enjoy every opportunity the life gives us.

In my opinion, the 8th edition of the IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp was a great success. It is no doubt that the highlight of the week was the flash mob. We had to think of a flash mob to do while in Prague. With this flash mob, we wanted to create awareness about diabetes, to show to the other people that we can live and have a normal life, inspire new activities, bring diabetes to the attention of the general public and support all those people how are fighting against diabetes.

Diabetes dance – The flash mob

We decided to dance on the song “I can’t stop the feeling” by Justin Timberlake. In order to do that, we were responsible for choosing the song and to think of the choreography. We were dancing in the middle of the main “Old Town Square” in Prague. Likewise, for all of us, it was an exciting experience Since the moment we started to dance, we were surrounded by the people who were crossing by, they were taking pictures of us, and some of them were dancing with us. At the end of the flash mob, by hugging each other, we made the blue circle, which is the universal symbol for diabetes. The result was AWESOME.

Moreover, we shared our live performance on Facebook and other social media platforms and attracted a lot of users. That means that we did a great job.

With our flash mob, we showed everyone that diabetes doesn’t limit our ability to do anything. Moreover, with regular diabetes management, we can live a normal life and achieve our dreams and goals. And of course, we proved that everyone can dance.

The moment when we finished with the diabetes dance.

September 15, 2018 0 comment

My diabetes story

Let’s make the change we want to see in the world

by tanja August 27, 2018

From the 8th of July until 14th of July I had a chance to participate in at IDF Youth Leadership camp. During that week, I met great friends, inspirational professionals, and leader. Furthermore, in the camp, I realize that together we can make the change we wish to see in the world.

After that camp, we got eager to get more involved in raising awareness of diabetes at a national and international level with concrete projects. During the “Communication and social media in campaigning” session, we discussed that online channels play a significant role in reaching out to the population to support, educate and raise awareness on the subject of diabetes. As a result, we decided to create our own channel. On our channel, we can publish videos about our differences in diabetes care and daily-life realities across Europe. Furthermore, we share our strategies on how to cope with diabetes and learn from our day-to-day experiences.

Let’s make the change

There are many more videos to be published. Until then, I wholeheartedly recommend you to watch our experience of the IDF Youth Leadership camp 2018.

This video will make you think about how wonderful the world can be if all just manage to unite ourselves. We do have the power to make this world a better place, a world where science and progress will lead to happiness. I also believe that small kind gestures can have a massive effect on other peoples lives. If you make just one other person’s life better, he or she will be more likely to make other peoples lives better. Your kindness can potentially echo in eternity.

Conclusion

Just remember. We are all leaders. We have to smile and believe in ourselves. On that way, we will achieve our goal. We will make the change we want to see in the world

August 27, 2018 0 comment

My diabetes story

Fifth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp

by tanja August 20, 2018

The fifth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp (YLC). Lots of best friends, unforgettable memories, loyal hearts, blossoming faces and only one reason: DIABETES.

The first session of the fifth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp

We started the day with the session “How to work with partners”. This session gave us insight from industry, diabetes association, and patient organizations on issues such as partnerships between industry and NGOs and collaboration between diabetes national organizations and IDF Europe.

Second session of the fifth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp

Next on our agenda was the summary of “the situation of diabetes treatment in Europe”. We filled a form about the diabetes situation in our country and later we were discussing the results.

Third session of the fifth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp

The last 4 inspirational presentations were from Ametkhan from Uzbekistan, Valia from Greece, Giuliano from Italy and Ines from Portugal. Each story inspired, highlighted different aspects of living with or being affected by diabetes.

The participants are having a group discussion.

Adding more physical activity to your day is one of the most important things you can do to help manage your diabetes and improve your health. On the fifth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp, we were playing football (it was my first time playing football) 🙂 and later, we enjoyed an aerobic class led by Valia.

Our last night

On the last evening, we organized a closing ceremony where each of us was performing something. We were singing, dancing traditional dances and performing some interesting tasks. Furthermore, we projected a short video with some of the best moments of the camp. Later, the members of IDF Europe gave us certificates for participation in the camp. Last, but not least, the organizers had a surprise for all of us. They let us make a barbecue outside of the hotel and they arranged a DJ who made the best party for us.

The participants are making the blue circle.

My final thoughts

This camp was the most wonderful experience of my life because it gave me a chance to meet many interesting and inspiring people from across Europe. No matter how hard sometimes it may be, these people help me realize that I am not the only person with diabetes in the world. Diabetes is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs. But it’s our choice to scream or enjoy the ride.

Our last physical activity on the fifth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp

And guys remember. Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end. Goodbye simply means I will miss you until we meet again. <3 Take care guys and keep fighting until the cure is found. 🙂

August 20, 2018 0 comment

My diabetes story

Fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp

by tanja August 11, 2018

With the fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp, new strength and new thoughts came.

The beginning of the fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp.

The agenda for the fourth day

We started this day with the session about social media and communications. We were discussing social media channels and their characteristics. Moreover, we discussed the steps that we have to take for setting up campaigns and increasing engagement on social media. Later the trainers divided us into groups and we had to plan a social media campaign.

One of the sessions of the fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp.

Next, we had a presentation skills session on which we were focused on verbal and nonverbal communication. After that, we practiced our communication skills through role plays. Each of us had to tell our story about our experience with diabetes.

Our lovely trainers at the fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp.

Next on our agenda was the “Introduction to design thinking” session. We learned that design is defined as the intent behind an outcome. It’s a framework for teaming and action, which helps the teams to deliver outcomes that advance the state of the art and improve the lives of the people they serve.

My happy face during the sessions at the fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp.

Diabetes success stories are a great source of inspiration and support. This day we heard success stories of Louise, Anna, Martina and Marusha, who don’t let diabetes slow them down in achieving their dreams and goals.

Quote: Don't let diabetes rule your life.

The “taboo box”

At the beginning of the week, our trainers created a “taboo box”. Each of us wrote down and put anonymous questions. and during the session “living with diabetes and taboo forum” we were discussing them. We were talking about diabetes in the workplace, diabetes and sexual performance, diabetes, and pregnancy, diabetes, and alcohol as well as the pros and cons of using insulin pumps. Although this was the longest session and we didn’t have time to answer all the questions, in my opinion, this was the most interesting session.

Afternoon session at the fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp.

And of course, I can’t forget the regular physical activities. At noon, we had the freedom to chose whether to play tennis, table tennis, or relax in the swimming pool. While, during the afternoon, we enjoyed the long walk around Srby. We had a lot of fun and of course, we took a lot of pictures.

And that is how was our forth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp.

The participants enjoying the fourth day at IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp.

August 11, 2018 0 comment