Meet Lurina, an individual who has bravely navigated the challenges of type 1 diabetes for over two decades. In her journey, Lurina’s diabetes care team may not be extensive, but her wealth of experience and unwavering determination have shaped her unique perspective on managing this lifelong condition.
An active and influential presence on social media, Lurina is an asset to the diabetes community. Her insights and personal experiences resonate with those who face similar challenges, providing a source of support, inspiration, and a shared understanding. In this account, Lurina generously shares her wisdom and perspective on her diabetes management team, shedding light on her unique and insightful approach to living with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Who is Lurina?
I consider myself to be a fun-loving and optimistic individual, in love with life and everything that comes with it.
When I was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 16, I lost my spontaneity for a while. It felt as if the word ‘DIABETIC’ was carved into my forehead. I didn’t want to leave the house. As I gained knowledge of my new reality and realized that my T1D didn’t happen because of something I did wrong, it helped me regain the confidence to face the world again. I have no idea why I felt so much shame and guilt after the diagnosis. I guess I just felt like the odd one out, and I wanted everything to go back to the way it was before my diagnosis.
I love traveling and exploring new places. Nature is my happy place, and nature photography gives my heart that warm and fuzzy feeling. I never get tired of the beach and sunsets! Throw my dogs into the mix, and I’m one happy chappy!
I always find myself in a creative space, whether it is creating educational and inspirational content for the diabetes community or dishing up a nice plate of food with a flower on the side for my husband to enjoy… I love adding a personal touch to life.
Who is part of your Diabetes Care Team?
My Diabetes Care Team is not very extensive. When I was diagnosed (23 years ago), I was on my Dad’s medical aid. I had to visit a Diabetes Clinic once a month. I did not enjoy going to the clinic as I was the only teenager there, and most of the attendees had some serious diabetes-related complications, like poor sight or blindness, leg amputations, and kidney problems. It was very gloomy to me. It felt as if I didn’t belong there, and it was super intimidating to see all these people with their health issues, knowing I still had such a long life with T1D ahead of me. I always felt judged when I saw the care team, as if I had done something wrong and they were waiting for me like the principal at school, ready to tear me apart. I know it sounds dramatic, but it made me feel super insecure, and I decided to only visit a doctor if something actually seemed out of place.
I visit my GP every six months to renew my prescription and to do bloodwork. If there are any concerns, we usually schedule a follow-up appointment. I visit an Ophthalmologist every year as I do have a fear of losing my sight. Whenever I feel I need assistance in a certain area, I schedule an appointment with that specific healthcare provider. I find the online diabetes community to be rather helpful when it comes to mental health and burnout concerns, and they are always only a press of a button away. I have no interest in speaking with a psychologist who doesn’t also live or have a close connection with a life-threatening chronic condition because I don’t want someone to say, ‘I understand,’ when they have no way of truly understanding my reality. I know they are trained to ‘understand,’ but no one gets it until
they get it. My husband is very supportive, and he is always ready to assist where necessary or just to sit with me.
I never knew carb counting was a thing. A few years back, I decided to make an appointment with a dietitian to learn more about carb counting. It took a lot of willpower to make that appointment, and when I got to her, she said that carb counting was the worst idea ever and that she was not going to teach me how to carb count. It cost me R960 to not get what I wanted, and the medical aid rejected the claim.
My medical aid covers only a limited number of specialist consultations, so I try to save them for a rainy day when something is really wrong, and I have no other choice than to see a specialist.
I recently turned 40 and decided to make self-care a higher priority, which also means paying more attention to regular visits to a wider range of healthcare professionals, for example, a podiatrist and an endocrinologist.
Why do you think it is important to include the above-mentioned members in your Diabetes Care Team?
Prevention is better than cure, and through regular check-ups, underlying issues can be detected earlier. It also helps to avoid dealing with a significant load of continuous challenges on your own. By combining the expertise of professionals in the field with my lived experience, we can thrive as a team, achieving better results for both short-term and long-term health.
What is something that you wish people knew about living with diabetes?
The intensity of living with type 1 diabetes is not always understood. It is like a broken tap that just keeps dripping and dripping, and you are aware of it all the time. You can’t unhear it; it just keeps dripping and dripping. You can try to fix it, you can try to move away from it, you can try to ignore it, but it keeps dripping… dripping… dripping.
Where can we find you?
I’m mostly active on Instagram @theglucoseglitch.
Also catch me on:
You Tube: The Glucose Glitch
Facebook Private Group: The Glucose Glitch
Tik Tok: theglucoseglitch
Email: TheGlucoseGlitch@GMail.com
Continue the diabetes care and advocacy conversation with ‘not ARTIFICIALLY Sweetened’, a FREE weekly CDE Academy podcast, providing unfiltered reflections on all thing’s diabetes. These podcasts, aimed at both people with diabetes and the health professionals that facilitate their care, offer a free weekly knowledge, attitudes, skills and insight update. Join specialist physician Dr Stan Landau, and diabetes specialist nurse, Michael Brown in building bridges of shared insights between all people touched by diabetes. Now available on Spotify with listeners in 29 countries! If you see value in this podcast, we would appreciate you sharing either of the two image-based adverts attached with any health professional, or person with diabetes you know. If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or contributions for future episodes, please email Stan and Michael @ Podcast@CDEDiabetes.co.za
E xx
The Travellingmind 