Part 16 of the “What Does It All Mean?” series, a real-life reflection on living with Type 1 Diabetes, written by Dennis Goldensohn, who has lived with T1D for nearly 60 years.
By Dennis Goldensohn: T1D for nearly 60 years, advocate, and mentor
Making Diabetes Management a Priority
We have so many responsibilities every day. Some are caring for our family members, earning a living, paying bills, maintaining an automobile, saving for our future needs and wants, etc.
So, what is missing here, and what should be one of our top priorities?
If you are a person living with diabetes, your health usually is front and center on this priority list. So, let’s take a deeper dive into why managing your diabetes is so important and what the different hats we wear are in order to maintain good diabetes management and health.
There are several reasons why we should consider good diabetes management to be so important. First and foremost, it helps avoid the complications that can arise from poor diabetes management. Some are retinopathy, kidney disease, heart disease, loss of limbs, poor circulation, and others.
All of these can be avoided if we start from the very beginning and use good diabetes management practices. To better understand what they are, discuss this with your primary care physician, endocrinologist, dietitian, and trainer.
The Different Hats We Wear
So, what are these hats that we wear?
Nurse
We are nurses when we replace CGMs, replace inserts and tubes, check our blood glucose via a glucometer, fill insulin pumps with insulin, and review AGP reports that are provided by the CGM manufacturer that you are using.
Dietitian
Each day before meals and snacks, we count the carbohydrates that we plan to consume. We also must read the ingredient labels of the food we eat to see where the hidden carbohydrates are, how much fat there is, protein, minerals, and vitamins.
We really have no choice here, because all of these components determine how healthy our meals and snacks are and how they are directly related to good diabetes management!
We are the “GATEKEEPERS” here, and we need to be very cognizant of these components to better understand how they will affect our diabetes and blood glucose levels.
A diet for people living with diabetes is an essential diet for those who are not. It includes all of the essential components and reduces the possibility of having health issues.
Trainer
To maintain good muscle tone, heart rate, blood pressure, and good stamina, we have to exercise!
Being complacent is not in your best interest!
I walk every day about two miles, and after I have completed my walk, I feel much more energetic and want to do more. It does motivate you, and you will have burned off those excess calories and carbohydrates!!
Doctor
Me, a doctor? Well, not really, but we do observe and try to reflect on what we see each day with our measurements of Blood Glucose (BGs), Time In Range (TIR), and Variance—wide fluctuations in our BG readings.
For example, I eat the same thing for breakfast each day and take the required number of units of insulin from the pump’s bolus calculator. Then every once in a while, my BG goes up much higher than it normally does.
Why, I ask?
I then reflect on what I did and realize I did not wait long enough before the bolus took effect. So, my intake of food was well ahead of my insulin.
Thus, going forward, I made a mental note to WAIT long enough so that my BGs do not rise quickly and the bolus is timed with the meal I am having.
It sounds so simple, but you sometimes have to be a detective to sort out the issues to find a solution.
Psychologist
Living with the everyday stresses that life has can be overbearing for sure! Then add managing your diabetes on top of that, and we now have a whole new scenario to deal with.
Thus, we must find ways to deal with this pressure to relieve some of the tension. To have good diabetes management, one must have a good outlook and be able to deal with daily responsibilities.
In a Diapoint article titled “Something to Hold Onto: Music,” I wrote about how music was a way to deal with issues that I was having daily and also dealing with diabetes as well.
The music I listened to cleared my mind at the time, and it allowed me to relax and then have a better attitude toward meeting those issues I was having.
You may have a hobby, enjoy reading articles and books, sew, knit, crochet, or cook. These all take your mind off the current state and give you some space to enjoy life. It will also hopefully give you a better perspective on how to deal with and solve the issues you are now facing.
It does work!
It All Begins With Us
Dealing with life’s dramas and issues can be, at times, a very daunting job. Adding a health issue like diabetes does not make this any easier!
But we have to take on the responsibilities that we are responsible for in a sensible way.
What we need to avoid is a feeling of defeat and the belief that the current state will not get any better. That is why we need to better understand “What Is My Role in Managing My Diabetes?”
It then requires us to have good diabetes management practices and put them into their proper priority order!
We can, and we must, do this because it all begins with us!
………………….and that is what My Role in Managing My Diabetes really means!
Disclaimer: The discussion in this article is only for informational purposes. Please consult with your general practitioner, endocrinologist, dietitian, and trainer for advice.
What Is This Series?
At Diapoint, we believe that the most powerful education comes from real people and real lives lived with diabetes.
That’s why we’re proud to introduce a new blog series by Dennis Goldensohn.
Dennis has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for nearly six decades, diagnosed at just 16 years old, and now approaching 59 years of life with T1D, without complications. His journey is not only a testament to resilience but also to what is possible with the right mindset and support.
Beyond his personal experience, Dennis brings a lifetime of dedication to service and advocacy. He spent 45 years working in aerospace manufacturing, while also volunteering with organizations such as JDF, JDRF, Breakthrough T1D, DPAC, and the Diabetes Research Institute. Today, he continues to mentor young people navigating their futures, while sharing his lived experience with diabetes to support others.
His series, “What Does It All Mean?”, is exactly what it sounds like: a reflection on life with diabetes, beyond the numbers, beyond the devices, and beyond the daily routines.
Through this series, Dennis explores:
- The realities of living with diabetes every single day,
- The misconceptions and stigma people face,
- The history and progress of diabetes care,
- The power of community, advocacy, and teamwork,
- And ultimately, what it truly means to live a full, successful life with diabetes.
This is not just education. This is perspective and lived experience.
And above all, this is reassurance that yes, you can.
