I caught up on the last two episodes of Sweet Talk, which is a weekly podcast by three people with diabetes.  Sometimes it’s hard to listen to 45 minutes of discussion about diabetes, but the topics have been very relevant, so it goes by quickly.  Also, I have the luxury of listening while I work instead of the typical iTunes or radio.

Here are a few points I wanted to note from episode 6 and 7.

In episode 6, there was a guest, Bill, on the show who writes a blog and has some good videos on YouTube relating to diabetes.  I immediately could relate to Bill in the sense that it also took me about 40 minutes to give myself that first insulin injection when I was diagnosed.  The difference was that Bill was 8 and I was 22.  After that first shot, insulin injections became second nature and I was injecting myself practically in my sleep. 

Another thing that came to mind from listening to Bill was the fact that I learn very little from my Doctor (Endocrinologist).  Most of what I have learned has been trial and error, self taught or via the Internet.  It’s a shame that the online Diabetes community is so much better than a Doctor who we typically look to for guidance.  I guess it’s just in my nature to learn from others with diabetes who go through the same things I do, than someone who talks theories and science.  Don’t get me wrong, both server their purpose, but I learn more talking to others with diabetes.

Also from episode 6 was a discussion about exercising.  One of the activities I am trying for 2009 is to not sit while watching TV.  I have an elliptical and treadmill sitting in front of my 42″ HDTV.  So there’s no excuse to sit on the couch and watch TV.  I am trying to always be doing either cardio or weights while I watched the shows I have on my DVR.

In episode 7, the discussion started off by talking about S.E.X.  Don’t worry, it’s not a new acronym, I just don’t want any more spam then I get today.  For me, I was diagnosed at age 22 while I was dating my now wife.  So, she is the only intimate person I have been with.  With her having an insulin pump or diabetes isn’t really an issue because she’s been there every step of the way.  I do think about someone that is diagnosed early in life and has to go through their teen years with diabetes.  Those first intimate moments may be embarrassing or awkward, I don’t really know. 

The last part of the episode talked about eating and the stereotypical things a diabetic “can’t” eat.  Early on after being diagnosed, my Doctor told me something that has stuck with me these years. He said, “Tony, you can eat whatever you want, you just need to count carbs and take insulin to cover the food.”  Well, this might be true, but it’s really bad advice for one main reason.  Try eating two pop tarts, take insulin to cover the ridiculous 80 carbs, and stay within the normal 70-140 blood sugar range.  I can almost guarantee you will spike high or low trying to keep that control.    So theoretically, you can eat anything, but I wouldn’t advise it.  Here are some things I don’t eat unless it’s a low blood sugar emergency: candy bars, pop tarts, many juices, most cereal and pasta night.  It’s simply too hard to control my sugar with these foods.  Yes, you can probably eat small amounts of these foods, but who eats just 1 cup of Fruity Pebbles?  Seriously.