Diabetes Isn’t Linear

Type 1 Diabetes management is often mathematical, calculated, and linear. We are asked to do the same, day in and day out. We are taught our bodies are a machine that will respond to a “simple” formula of insulin to carb ratios.

Those of us that live with T1D know this is far from the truth, as we move through the ever-changing waters of hormones, moods, nervous system states, and seasons. Last week’s approach might not work this week.

I find that like nature, our diabetes goes through seasons, too. In Fall, nature goes through a period of culmination, letting go, and harvesting as leaves fall to the ground. Fall comes for me when I’m feeling tired of putting a lot of attention on diabetes, and I feel ready to do less. Perhaps there’s a belief like perfectionism I need to let go of. In Winter, rest, introspection, and restoration are present as nature moves into a dormancy phase, snow on the ground, trees bare, nights dark. This is a time I’m resting in my diabetes sphere, intentionally loosening my attention and finding soul-nourishing self-care activities. Spring is a time of renewal, growth, and new beginnings as new sprouts break through the soil. Perhaps this is a time I’m excited to try a new device, hack or doctor. Summer is a time of abundance, energy, and celebration as the sun shines brightly and fruits are at their maximum ripeness. Something is in flow in our diabetes world, yipee!

A Note on Burnout

Our modern lives are undoubtedly productivity-forward. Summers are busy with social events, Falls with back-to-school, Winters with holidays and New Year’s resolutions, Springs with weddings. It’s a sprint at every turn. When, oh when, do we rest?

When we stay in productivity (Summer season) for too long, that is when we enter burnout. As humans, we are mammals, and our bodies evolved to have periods of dormancy and rest, just like the rest of nature. Trees actually make the next year’s buds in Summer, when resources are plentiful. Then, those buds are protected from harsh conditions during Winter, as the tree waits until Spring’s longer daylight to begin the bloom. We need the rest in order to strategically bloom when the time comes.

When facing burnout, I often re-assess my expectations of myself. Are my expectations reasonable? Have I been asking myself for constant productivity, for a long stretch of time? Is this coming from survival mode, or is it self-inflicted based on a cultural belief? Can I believe, that I too deserve rest?

Fall: Letting Go

It’s a period of culmination and transition, where we prepare for quiet and rest. In our diabetes journey, this might mean reflecting on our routines and identifying any outdated beliefs or practices that are weighing us down. What can I let go of to help myself prepare for rest?

For me, in diabetes, I’ve experimented with widening my blood sugar range a bit, deciding to worry less about a high blood sugar here and there. I’ve given myself a period of time to not take my vitamins, to pare down my routine to the minimum and take a break from the long list of self-care tasks that pile up when I’m actively managing/healing from my autoimmune conditions.

Winter: Rest

Winter arrives with its cold, stillness, and dark evenings. We’re encouraged to turn inward, to the fire in the living room and our inner light. In this period of dormancy, we have the opportunity to pause and restore our energy. It’s the opposite of the hustle and bustle of New Year’s resolutions. Instead, we honor the need for rest.

We can’t take a full dormancy period for Type 1 Diabetes, which makes chronic illness so challenging. But, just like trees stay alive through the winter but doing less we can create space for pockets of dormancy, and we choose to do things that nourish us. We can ask: What is an act of rest or healing I can provide myself?

For me, I practice committing to less social events and leaning into slow moments off-screen. Reading, art, writing, cooking, and singing. There’s a lot up right now in our world, and often when we are in survival mode it feels impossible to set down, but we must create pockets of rest to survive. Can I spend an evening? Five minutes? Two?

Honoring

It’s important to acknowledge the wisdom of those who have long understood the cycles of nature. Native American Medicine Wheels and the Pagan Circle of the Seasons have carried this knowledge forward, and I invite you to learn more about that beautiful wisdom that is outside of my cultural lineage.

Places to get Support:

• Interested in joining the first cohort of The T1D Self-Care Collective? In the new year, we’re starting up a new 3-month program to dive deeper into burnout, self-care, and the mental and emotional shifts we can take to keep ourselves resourced for the long-haul with Type 1 Diabetes. There will be 4-6 folks and a blend of group workshops, community and 1:1 support. Send me a message at mandy@sagediabetes.co to learn more!