American Diabetes Association Expo

Get ready, the 2016 American Diabetes Association Chicago Expo is here! 

 

The American Diabetes Association Expo is very, very informative and fun. It’s an amazing experience; everywhere you turn, you can find great information and tons of diabetes support! I handed out flyers in the  Family Fun Zone last year, and I saw firsthand how much effort goes into making sure that every person who walks through the door can learn and have as much fun as possible. I talked to friends, siblings, and teachers of many people with diabetes who came to learn and had that request fulfilled. It’s a great, great experience for all! Come take advantage of cooking demonstrations, giveaways, information, and medical/health screenings at the free Expo, April 9th in the Lakeside Center of McCormick Place! 

Learn more and register at www.diabetes.org/expochicago

Sports and Diabetes

Sports and diabetes can be tricky! Each different exercise requires something different from your body and therefore does something different to your blood sugar. It is an intricate calculation to figure out what/when/if to eat, how much insulin to take, how much you will play, and how all of these and other variables will affect your body and blood sugar. Over the years, I've played many different sports, including volleyball, hockey, track, basketball, and soccer and weight training/conditioning for many of these sports. I can confirm it is complicated to take all of these factors and calculate them, but from my athletic experiences I've gained wisdom.

One of the first things I've learned is talk to the coach(es). Keep a strong communication with him/her because your blood sugar will most likely be affected the most while exercising. Tell the coach exactly what you need and always tell him/her if something is wrong or you need to take a break to eat/drink/bolus. It can be weird or embarrassing to have to take a snack during games, but it is necessary and nothing to be ashamed of!

Sometimes, teammates will want to know why/what you’re eating or if they can have some. I've found that it’s usually easier to bring a “disguised” snack, like Gatorade, a protein bar, etc. to have so that you can “blend in” with others’ snack choices. Treating a low blood sugar is nothing to be ashamed of, but it can be easier and quicker to treat if people aren't asking questions or asking you to share.

Third, listen to your body! Take the time to check your blood sugar to see how your exercise affects you and learn to interpret the signs your body gives you. It’s no big deal if you ask your coach what exercises you’re doing that day so you can adequately prepare; for example, I personally keep my pump on when I lift weights, and on days that I practice volleyball I bolus for half my food before and take my pump off.

Lastly, make sure you have everything you need on the bench. In case of a situation, it’s easier to have your supplies near you rather than in your bag at the other end of the gym. Also, this can alleviate any anxiety you might have about going low and help you to focus on giving your all at whatever exercise you choose.

Be sure to check out the American Diabetes Association Webpage to learn more tips on how to prevent hypoglycemia while exercising or playing sports!

Good luck in all your future athletic endeavors!

-Amelia

2016 Illinois Youth Ambassador
American Diabetes Association

Dealing with Diabetes at School

One of the hardest thing about managing my diabetes is managing it at school. It can be uncomfortable to be high/low at school, awkward to tell people that you’re diabetic, or embarrassing to have to leave the classroom when no one else is available to help treat your blood sugar. Sometimes, it is hard to have to explain it over and over again to classmates who may not fully comprehend what diabetes is or the difference between type one and type two.

            Over the years, I've developed some strategies that have helped me deal with diabetes in school:

            a) It is very important to tell your teachers/coaches that you have diabetes. It’s reassuring to know you have support in case anything happens. Although I have a school diabetes management plan, I've found it helpful to make a clear, concise, one page document that I give to my teachers explaining what diabetes is, what I need, and a couple of other important details.

            b) I am very open about my diabetes. I keep my pump clipped to the outside of my pocket and I test in front of people. That is what works for me and my school; however, it is important to do whatever you feel comfortable with. If you want to tell only your close friends, that is completely fine! If you choose to have a whole-class meeting to tell your peers, that works too! Remember, it’s your diabetes and whatever works for you will work for everyone, too!

            c) Do whatever makes you comfortable! Diabetes is about you, and whatever makes you feel safe, secure, and happy is what should happen. It is you who has to deal with it all the time, and therefore everything you need should be provided to you! If you want a space to store your diabetes supplies within a classroom, permission to leave/stay in the classroom while you test, or having an alternate choice if an edible prize/snack is given in class that is not compatible with diabetes, that is something you deserve to have. 

And, if you have any questions about in-school diabetes management, the American Diabetes Association Safe at School program has great resources to support you, you can find more information at www.diabetes.org/safeatschool. 

Thanks!

Amelia Renner

2016 Illinois Youth Ambassador
American Diabetes Association

Introducing the American Diabetes Association 2016 Illinois Youth Ambassador!

Hello! My name is Amelia Renner and I am the American Diabetes Association 2016 Illinois Youth Ambassador. I am fifteen years old and a freshman in high school in downtown Chicago. I play competitive volleyball at a club and at my school, I love to read, and I use an Animas insulin pump and meter.

I began my experience with the American Diabetes Association almost immediately after my diagnosis. I was diagnosed in August of 2009, right before I went into the third grade. I was terrified, anxious, and completely dependent on my parents and teachers to control my diabetes for me. My mom then sent me to the American Diabetes Association Camp Confidence where I learned many, many lessons on managing my diabetes, viewed many positive role models, learned about my condition, made new friends, and had a great time! 

For the past 3 years I have been volunteering at Camp Crossroads and for the past 2 years at Camp Confidence because it is so important for people with diabetes to learn these lessons and I am sure that American Diabetes Association diabetes camps are the best places for this to occur. To me, being the Illinois Youth Ambassador means that I get to help more people learn these lessons and get to know the American Diabetes Association support system. I am very, very lucky to have been able to participate in diabetes camps and to have become the American Diabetes Association 2016 Illinois Youth Ambassador; I am very excited to work in this position and to get to know all of you!!

Happy Holidays and Thank You!

Happy holidays everyone!! This is my last blog as my role as the American Diabetes Association Illinois Youth Ambassador is coming to an end. I just wanted to say how thankful I was for this opportunity and to help other kids with diabetes. I want to encourage other kids out there to help out around their community and help other kids with diabetes because you never know whose life you are really going to touch or be an inspiration for. Remember you're not alone there is always someone who is going through the same situation. I cannot wait to see who the 2016 youth ambassador will be to continue being an inspiration to all!

I had a lot of fun helping out this year. Some of the activities I did was going to the Family Link Mini Golf Day to golf with kids while their parents were able to connect, I got to speak at the diabetes Expo, rode in the Tour de Cure, walked in Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, got to go to a race car speedway and cheer on Ryan Reed in his Stop Diabetes race car, and going to diabetes camps (my fav!) as both a camper and meeting with kids at the day camps! I had a lot of fun doing all of these.

I'm glad I had this opportunity so I could help other kids out. I don't think diabetes is a burden, in a way it's more of something to learn from. It taught me to never give up and that I am still "normal". I can still do everything like I used to. Diabetes for me hasn't slowed down anything that I do. It pushed me to work harder and show people that I am still the same person.

We had a diabetes awareness day at our school recently where everyone wore blue. We had blue face paint and since my number for all of my sports is #31, many of my classmates wrote “31” on their face with paint. Even the state representative came to our school and saw what we were doing. It was quite inspirational!

Having diabetes made me want to work even harder to accomplish the goals I want, even though it might be a little more tougher down the road. I'm so happy I got this experience and let everyone know that diabetes can't and won't stop you. You are still normal and will accomplish everything you want to. Just keep a smile on your face and never give up. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!

Its the Holiday Season

Hi everyone! Halloween recently passed, and I still remember my first Halloween after I got diagnosed. I felt like I could barely enjoy any of it. Little to no candy, so what's the point?! So my parents told me if I traded in my candy and gave it all to my sibling we could go to a local candy store and pick out some sugar free candy for myself and I could “trade” some of my candy in for toys! We put candy values on certain toys that we scoped out before hand. For example, a smaller item was worth 25 pieces, or for a bigger item that I really wanted, was 75! Believe me, I did my best to get that toy and it was totally worth it!! I thought it was fair because the toys were a lot more fun than the candy you get from strangers! Ha! (I did manage to sneak a few into my low supplies, which make a fun treat when my blood sugar goes really low!).

Thanksgiving is coming up and all I can think about is food. Food, food, food. Yum!! It is a time to give thanks and some of the things that I am thankful for is my family, friends, food, shelter, my Omnipod, and this opportunity to be the 2015 Illinois Youth Ambassador. I really enjoy helping out and talking to other people with diabetes my age and younger. Since my time is coming to an end, I encourage kids all over to apply to become the 2016 Illinois Youth Ambassador, it's a great experience to help out and tell other you are not alone. So good luck to all who apply! Peace ✌️

Diabetes Can't Stop Me

Hi everyone! Lately I have been busy helping out with younger kids with diabetes. Recently I went to the American Diabetes Association's Family Hole in One Day, which is part of the Family Link program. It is a great way to meet other parents and children that are going through the same things. We have all been there, experienced that, but it is a great support system for those that are recently diagnosed to parents that have diabetes as well. I went to a miniature golf course with the kids and was able to hang out with them. It was just a fun activity to do with these young kids with diabetes and with their siblings as well. The fun doesn't stop once you get diagnosed- you can do the same things as every/any other child out there. I remember talking to one of the young girls in my golf group and she told me, "Sometimes in my sleep I dream about being normal." I promise you are not alone, at some point every single person with diabetes feels the exact same thing and has the exact same thought as well. Just because you have diabetes does not mean you do not have a normal life. You are just like every other kid out there, but as I like to say, even more special.

I've recently joined the Chain Reaction team/club this year. I volunteered as the leader. I like helping people out when they need it most. I think it's really cool for kids any age to help out in their community or for people their age as well. Me and my team are thinking about have a Walk/Run for Diabetes this year. I'm really excited to put it together and see how any participants I have. I also can't wait to see how much support I will have while doing this project!

I am currently in school basketball and travel softball. I have had some other team coaches come up to me saying how proud they are of me playing sports with diabetes. And I don't even know them. After one of my basketball games, a coach came up to my coach saying how impressed she is as how active I am with diabetes. What helps me keep going is my mentality. If you don't let diabetes stop you from playing sports and accomplishing your goals then you are unstoppable. Anything is possible. You may not think its a big deal to go out there and play sports with diabetes. It doesn't even have to be sports, it could be any club or activity. Just knowing that you won't let diabetes stop you from doing what you like to do best feels amazing. Other people will notice it as well and will just as proud of you as you are to yourself. Remember if you've not been inspired by someone else, you always have that one person that you inspire. You never know who's watching you or looking up to you. Diabetes is a major impact in life but it makes you stronger and who you are today and in the future. Don't let diabetes stop you from accomplishing your goals and biggest dreams. Let it push you to work harder, and one day all your effort will pay off.