Take it from Gina: Team up to tame diabetes

I recently met Gina Angeloni at an athletic gym. She is a 34-year-old medical test engineer at McMaster Children’s Hospital and uses diet, exercise and techniques to manage her life as a diabetic. This is her story.

“I was really sick of various viruses for years until I was diagnosed at the age of eight. My body produced antibodies to fight infections and then began to attack itself, and that In the process, I was destroying my pancreas, which prevented me from producing insulin, which led to the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. “

What are the restrictions since then?

“As long as I maintain a good relationship between diet and exercise, I really have no restrictions. That said, losing control is a complication of stroke, blindness, amputation, and pregnancy. It can also cause a variety of serious health problems, such as anxiety and depression, which are called diabetic worries. “

How have you managed it over the years?

“When I was young, I hadn’t exercised and had a poor diet. I wasn’t thinking about my condition. I neglected to take insulin or took too much as a way to overcorrect. Then, the blood sugar level rose sharply and dropped.

As an adult, I was advised to change my lifestyle before resuming pregnancy because I had two miscarriages due to poorly managed diabetes. By consistently recording what you are eating and how much insulin you are taking, you have better control over your blood sugar levels. In the end, I gave birth to a healthy baby. When she was one, she moved to Alberta to enroll in a clinical laboratory technology program at the Polytechnic Institute in northern Alberta. from me.

My program lasted for two years and weighed 256 pounds when I graduated, but I knew I had to bottom out physically and mentally and change my life. Then I signed up for Goodlife Fitness, lost my £ 100 class in a year, did weight training, and built a positive relationship with food. I love going to the gym, it felt great and I was able to control my diabetes even better.

Until last year, I used a glucose meter to check my blood glucose level with my finger and injected it multiple times daily. Currently, I am using the Dexcom continuous glycemic monitoring system, which regulates insulin delivery to prevent highs and lows while allowing manual insulin intake for meals. It’s a small wearable sensor and transmitter that sends your blood glucose to your smart device up to every 5 minutes. It’s like the pancreas is functioning again, except that it’s clipped to the pants. ”

How about exercise?

“Exercise is one of the best ways to lower your blood sugar naturally. However, depending on the intensity of your workout, you may need pre-workout snacks to avoid hypoglycemia during or after your session. Sometimes I have a spin bike at home, use it first thing in the morning, lift weights and enjoy high intensity interval style training. When exercising in case of hypoglycemia Always have your blood sugar tablets handy. ”

Can you explain your nutrition?

“My diet consists of a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and low fat. I usually consume about 15-30 grams of carbohydrates per meal, depending on the diet, time of day, and before or after training. My diet is rich in dietary fiber and sometimes indulges in sweets. I wasn’t really a junk food eater, but I know exactly how much carbs and fat it contains As long as you can take insulin accordingly to cover your treatment. “

Do you have any advice for others with diabetes?

“My advice is to form a great team of medical professionals who can guide you to lead a normal healthy life. The teams are CDEs (Certified Diabetes Educators), Registered Dietitians, Doctors. , And an exercise specialist, because physical activity is essential to living with diabetes. Certain foods control blood glucose levels and incorporate healthy habits into life. Learn how it helps and allow you to treat yourself when you need it, without letting diabetes control your life. Instead, learn to control it.

It was very rare for me to have type 1 diabetes when I was diagnosed. I was the only one who gave me a snack during class at school, and I was embarrassed to squeeze my blood out with a needle every day. If I knew what I knew now, I wouldn’t have waited 25 years to switch to an insulin pump. We look forward to the upcoming new gadgets that will make your life even easier. “

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