Tesch West
Hey everyone! My name is Tesch West. Welcome to my blog.
December 21, 2008
Merry Christmas everyone! One thing I love about the holidays is that they make me appreciate my life. With all the feelings of love and thanks going around, you can’t help but reflect on your own relationships and circumstances. I am so thankful I have a family I love, a safe haven to call home, a great school to attend, and I’m even grateful to have diabetes.
Had I not received my diagnosis seven and a half years ago, I never would have journeyed along this remarkable path. In the last seven years I have learned, side-by-side with my family, how to be healthy. I have encountered dedication, compassion, and selflessness in dozens and dozens of American Diabetes Association volunteers and staff. I discovered one of my missions in this life: to cure diabetes.
This past year as the National Youth Advocate has been far more than I could have ever asked for. I am so grateful for this opportunity I find myself at a loss for words, but I hope everyone who has supported me along the way knows I love them and want to thank them all from the bottom of my heart. I know I could not have made it this far without their encouragement and I want nothing more than to reach out and help someone else in need.
In the past year I have met inspiration in children, parents, volunteers, legislators, Capitol Hill staffers, and peers. Everywhere I have been, they have welcomed my presence on their battlegrounds in the fight against diabetes and shared with me their stories. Not to mention, I have had fun! It has been a blast and I learned a lot about myself along the way.
Well I’m not going to get too mushy, (although I’ve kind of failed already) but thanks again everyone. I loved being the National Youth Advocate and I’m going to miss it, but this isn’t really good bye. I’m not going anywhere! You will still find me fighting diabetes here in good ol’ Utah and anywhere I get the chance. My experience in this position has opened doors and opportunities to me I couldn’t have imagined and I am excited to see what I can do!
Thank you everyone for reading my notes and hope you enjoyed what I’ve had to say. Have a fantastic holiday and don’t forget to be grateful for the beautiful world we live in and all it has to offer. This may be my good bye to 2008 and NYA, but then again it's really just the beginning of the next chapter for me, so thanks again everyone and I will see you around!...
December 12, 2008
The holidays have begun and I have been reflecting on how lucky I am to have the family I do. We all get along so well and genuinely enjoy one another’s company. My mom is the most amazing woman I know. She does so much to help me fight diabetes; she lives with this disease as much as I do, but gives me all the credit. I honestly love her so much and have no idea what I would do without her. In addition, in the last couple of weeks I have become aware of another perspective of living with diabetes: my sisters’.
Kalyn and Amy do so much for me and I’m very glad I have this opportunity to thank them because I have taken their aid for granted. My sisters are and have always been there to help me as much as I will let them. I tend to be quite stubborn and have tried several times to independently face my diabetes. And yet despite my resistance, they have always been willing to do anything for me.
Kalyn has taken the role of sending me reminders to test and waking me at 3am to check my blood sugar when my mom is out of town. Amy is always there for me to talk to and jumps to her feet if I ever ask her to get me anything. They have never complained or said no to any request I have ever made. They have told me how proud they are of me and my persistence, but to tell the truth I am in awe of them. I can be so difficult some times, I get really snippy when I’m low, and yet their patience never runs out and they always forgive me.
I could not have asked for a more fantastic support system and anything I have accomplished was not without the help of my mom and my sisters. I would like to thank you Amy and Kalyn with all of my heart and love. You have always been there for me, even without recognition, and I hope I can return the favor one day. I love you both so much!
Happy holidays everyone and don’t forget to give your family a big hug and tell them you love them because like my mom always says, “Friends will come in and out of your life, but your family will always be there.”
November 28, 2008
Less than a week later my mom and I found ourselves trying to figure out how the heck to cook a turkey. Yes indeed this was our first time preparing Thanksgiving dinner all on our own. We actually ended up using some of my syringes to inject the turkey with chicken broth and, surprise surprise, it came out awesome and remarkably tender!
During Thanksgiving and many other holidays I have discovered my greatest weakness — snacking. I steal a couple grapes here and a few chocolates there and next thing I know my blood sugars in the 200s.
The best way to avoid this is to simply set aside a specific amount of food you will allow yourself to snack on. For example, (and I do this all the time now after school), I know I’m going to be snacking in the next little bit so I will measure out a cup of cheerios and put them plastic bag I can pick from. Then I either pre-bolus or, depending on how quickly I plan to eat them, bolus a little at a time. The point is I know how many carbs I’m going to eat and will get the right amount of insulin for them. With this trick I was able to keep my blood sugar in control and have fun with my sisters and cousins dancing to 80s music.
Fall is coming to an end and it is only a matter of time before we find ourselves up to our ears in snow in good ol’ Utah. However I’m glad I spent my favorite season signing off my year as National Youth Advocate and giving thanks with my family. I’m lucky I ate all that turkey because after the craziness of the last 2 weeks what I could really use is a long nap.
November 25, 2008
My favorite season is fall and these last couple of weeks while the leaves have been turning colors I journeyed on the last of my trips as National Youth Advocate.
The Community Volunteer Leadership Conference (CVLC) took place in sunny Tampa, Florida this year. My mom and I stayed in a hotel right on the marina. The weather was so nice I went for a jog by the water and was blown away by the gigantic cruise ships parked right there at the tiny docks. But CVLC has been my favorite ADA event since I first attended it 3 years ago in Dallas.
We attended several meetings on Friday and Saturday discussing the best ways to use our ingenuity and combined efforts to promote ADA events and messages. Finally on Sunday I made my valediction (by the way this is my favorite word for the week; it means a farewell speech) and introduced the next National Youth Advocate. Check back in January to find out who it is!
Just before I made my presentation on Sunday I was literally chewing my nails off because I was so nervous for my last speech as NYA. In the end it went well and I couldn’t have asked for a better final NYA event.
November 12, 2008
After our trip to the sunny state of California we headed out to the opposite coast. About 7 hours, 3 time zones, 1 layover in Chicago, and 4 cups of coffee later, we arrived in Buffalo. It was a little bit chillier averaging around mid 30s, but we braved the cold and my mom conquered her fear of driving in other places outside of Utah and we drove all the way to Niagara Falls! It was amazing!
The Community Awareness and Education Forum was held in a newly constructed hospital in Buffalo. Like Feria, there were vendors from a lot of different companies handing out information. When the meeting began I inspired by the set up: There was a panel of Doctors and Certified Diabetes Educators (and myself) facing the crowd, which consisted of people from the community. After we made our speeches the audience could ask us questions. The whole experience was interactive and informative for each person's needs and questions. I laughed with my mom that we should steal the idea for Utah because it worked so well!
I made my presentation on the power of sharing our stories with our legislators, especially young peoples' perspectives. It means so much more to an elected official to hear from a constituent, "This is what I live with everyday. Please support me." than to read a briefing book on diabetes prevalence statistics. We all have a voice and concerns we need to share with those who represent us and sometimes the most effective stories come from kids.
At the end of our adventure, despite being a little jet-lagged, my mom and I came home excited with new ideas we could share with our local ADA. I am glad we have been able to see so many different ways of reaching the community and inspiring others to get involved. There is so much we can do, and after attending events like the Feria and the Community Awareness and Education Forum, I feel motivated to get started right away.
November 9, 2008
This last week my mom and I took the idea of spreading diabetes awareness from sea to shining sea... literally. First we attended the Feria (Spanish for Fair) in Los Angeles then hopped a plane to New York to participate in the Community Awareness and Education Forum in Buffalo.
L.A. was the perfect mid 80s getaway from Utah where we have already had our first snowstorm. It was my first time in L.A. and I fell in love with the tall buildings and palm trees. We could even see the HOLLYWOOD letters on the mountain from our hotel room! I could not have imagined a better location for the Feria.
When we arrived at the event there were tents everywhere. Most were testing stations where you could check your blood pressure, eyesight, dental health, and even send a blood sample to a lab for a full assessment. There were also vendors giving out product samples and information.
The program began with a group of dancers in colorful skirts and sombreros performing traditional Spanish dances. Then after a guest singer sang several fantastic songs it was my turn to present. I spoke about education and prevention. My family and I are Colombian and as a part of the Hispanic community we are at a greater risk of developing diabetes than non-Hispanic Americans. In fact, Hispanic women are up to 3 to 4 times more likely to get the disease than Caucasian women. I related that my family and I, knowing these risks, have committed to eating healthier and exercising regularly. Considering that there are already almost 24 million people living with diabetes in the U.S and the numbers are rising, we all need to be conscious of our health. I believe this event was essential in increasing awareness in the community about a disease we are all susceptible to.
There were many helpful resources to receive at the Feria, including the new ADA Family Health Pack we introduced at the event. This pack is a Spanish guide to getting the entire family involved in living a healthy lifestyle and preventing diabetes. The best part is that, like the Wizdom kit, you can get it by calling the ADA office and requesting one.
We had a fantastic time at the Feria and I have to give kudos to Julia Burgos and Franco for putting this huge event together. It was family friendly and everything ran smoothly. I'm very thankful I had the opportunity to attend.
October 31, 2008
Americas Walk to Fight Diabetes, now called Step Out to Fight Diabetes, was the first event I attended when I started volunteering with the ADA six years ago and it is still one of my favorites. This year I had the pleasure of attending two different walks; one in Salt Lake City, Utah and the other in Fargo, North Dakota.
Our Walk in Utah had a 2 mile and 5 mile route. We arrived early in the morning and caught up with some good friends. It was great to see so many families participating in the event. We all brought our sisters, brothers, parents and friends to build up our teams and help fundraise. After breakfast we had an introduction ceremony in which we introduced inspirational diabetes fighters and told their stories. We had a counted down to kick off the walk and listened to the theme from "Rocky".
The weather was absolutely perfect and the trail was beautiful. I walked with my sisters and cousins and we had a blast goofing off and cracking jokes the whole way. When we finished our 5 miles we were treated to a fabulous lunch and a performance by a live band.
I think my favorite thing about the walk is that it brings together all different kinds of people and unites us all in that fight against diabetes. We all have our own stories of where we have been and where we plan to go. At the walk we have the opportunity to share these stories with others. Each time I walk I gain new perspective and appreciation for my life and the technology we have to care for our diabetes. I am so thankful that I have the means to be healthy. The walk always inspires me to keep doing my best.
The Walk in Fargo was just as spectacular as my home state event. When we arrived in the morning they had booths and tables set up in the pavilion of the Fargodome to get people signed up for advocacy, educational sessions and even massages! We had breakfast together and I got to introduce the diabetes fighters from Fargo. It was a lot of fun and the audience cheered for everyone. At this walk you got to choose whether to walk indoors or outdoors. Although some chose to walk outside, my mom and I decided to lap the Fargodome. It was 45 degree s outside, a little too cold for us this early in the year!
The Fargodome was huge and perfect to walk through because all along the way there were pictures of famous people who had performed in Fargo and many different stories of the history of North Dakota. I was impressed to see Kiss, Shania Twain, and even The Rolling Stones on the posters. After the walk we announced the top fundraising individuals and teams and gave away some raffle ticket prizes. My mom and I had a great time and met the nicest people.
The Step Out event is one of my favorites because it is so family friendly. I encourage everyone to start building up your teams and recruiting friends. You will be surprised how close it will bring you to your loved ones. Like my mom always says, "There is nothing like volunteering to help you put your life into perspective".
September 8, 2008
I love baking and following recipes and I got a job late this summer, in which I can do just that. I work at an ice cream store and it's a blast! However I have learned a few things along the way about how to take care of my diabetes while on the job.
To start, I told my employer about my type 1 diabetes as soon as I met her. I made sure, much like I did with my teachers, that she knew what I needed to do to take care of myself. I have also talked to the other people I work with so they know what to do in case they see any symptoms of a problem. I keep my tester and glucose tablets near me in case I need them. I also got a new glucose drink that only takes seconds to drink but fixes most lows.
I have made taking care of myself a priority while I'm working. If I am serving a customer and I feel like my blood sugar is low, I will ask the person to wait for a minute while I test. If I'm low, it only takes seconds to chug the drink I mentioned earlier and then I can get back to my job. It is better to take those couple of minutes to make sure my blood sugar is where it should be than to wait for a break that could be hours away if you get caught up with a crowd.
I'm having a lot of fun using my new training and people skills. I've also learned to take care of myself and how to handle my diabetes while working shifts of multiple hours. It's fun to chat, get to know people, and try to brighten their day. Kindness goes a long way, but a little ice cream never hurt.
August 18, 2008
Back to school
The three most dreaded words in youth history! I unfortunately have been aware of its approach since JULY when my mother started the count down. Now the start of a new grade is less than a week away!
Getting ready to go back to school for people with diabetes requires a couple of extra tasks besides buying notebooks, folders and new outfits.
BTW, do you have a 504 plan? Mind you having it is optional but you and your parents consider developing one with the school so everyone at your school (school nurse, principal, teachers, coaches and others) understand what you need to make sure your diabetes is taken care of at school. It gives you legal protections just in case your needs aren't being met.
So back to my steps.
1. Meet with teachers. I meet with my teachers (yes, all 8 of them) at the beginning or before the school year starts each year. I explain that the device on my hip is an insulin pump, not a cell phone, and that there are times I need to use it in class. I also show them my tester, which I may have to use during the day.
Don't worry too much about these meetings. Just stick to the basics of diabetes and the teachers won't feel too overwhelmed. Much like Yoda once said, "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. And hate leads to lack of cooperation when handling diabetes in school."
If you want to take your teacher some info about diabetes, check out, this nifty little one page document, has 11 pointers of how to help a child living with diabetes in class. This should be enough to start with. Like I said, you don't want to overwhelm them.
2. Where will you keep your diabetes supplies? (This is be included in your 504 plan) I have extra test strips, lancets, sites, cartridges, and alcohol swabs in the attendance office at my school. I carry glucose tablets with me and store extra food in my locker. Make sure the school knows where your stuff is to avoid misunderstandings. Also be sure to tell your teachers you may need to eat in class or leave for a short time to get food from your locker. To this day none of my teachers have had a problem with this.
3. Where is the glucagon kit? I know that for the most part we would rather think it will never happen to me, but severe lows can happen and it is best to be prepared at all times so be sure this has all been spelled out in your 504 plan.
I keep my glucagon kit in the attendance office. The secretary who works there has a copy of my schedule and the schedules of trained school personnel so there is no confusion or delay in finding any of us.
Talking to a school nurse is also a great idea. Unfortunately in Utah we don't have a nurse for every school so I worked with my school to train a couple people who would always be around. Whatever fits your circumstances, just make sure someone knows where it is and how to use it.
Enjoy these last golden days of summer, but don't forget to be prepared for school. I am entering my senior year in high school so different meaures may be necessary if you're entering a different grade.
Remember, school schedules will take some time to adjust to. You will be waking earlier, exercising and eating at different times. Monitoring new patterns in your blood sugar is of the utmost importance for the first little while.
Good luck with the new school year! I can already smell the new erasers just around the corner.
August 6, 2008
So many kids with diabetes look forward to going to camp in the summer. I visited a few diabetes camps, and they are so much fun. I really like camping out in the woods, but it also presents a new set of challenges for managing my diabetes.
When I am camping, I'm out in the wilderness and far away from pharmacies where I can pick up the supplies I need. For this reason I always pack a couple extra of each of the materials I need. Camping involves a lot of physical activity – swimming, hiking, building a tent (goofing around with my friends!) Many times my site has been pulled off while I've been playing or gotten wet and slipped off. I always keep an eye on it and have a plan to fix the problem.
Another problem while camping is storing insulin. I keep it cool by switching out ice packs or storing it in shaded areas. I always make sure to prepare for this by calculating before-hand how long the ice will last. Insulin can survive at room temperature for a little while but it is easy for it to overheat in direct sunlight.
On a different note, when I go to the beach I put a cap, found in the package with the tubing, over my exposed site. This prevents any sand from getting into the little grooves. Otherwise it's hard to get the site to click back on. Finally, I always bring plenty of glucose tablets and alcohol swabs for unexpected lows and really dirty hands.
Sometimes summer trips mean you will be away from home and away from your parents. My advice for this adventure is to maintain communication. This allows your parents to be at ease and gives you the opportunity to get a different perspective for advice. My mom and I text all the time while I am away from home. We establish back-up plans as well for what to do in case we can't get reach one another. If my mom can't contact me she will call my sisters or my friends and if I can't reach her I will leave a message at work or on her cell phone.
When on your own, it is up to you to seize the initiative and take care of your diabetes as best as you can. That way everybody wins! You stay healthy and your parents will trust your ability to be in charge.
July 28, 2008
With all of my NYA trips, vacations and getaways this summer, I've had a lot of practice traveling with diabetes. So I want to give you some tips on traveling. Today I will be your personal tour guide through some advice for flying. Remember, these are things that have worked for me, everyone is different. If you or your parents have questions about traveling with diabetes, always talk to your doctor.
First: airplanes. Now, if you have taken a plane recently, you know there are a lot of rules about what you can bring on the plane, especially the amount of liquids. These limitations change OFTEN and can be very frustrating when trying to fit shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hair products and all the other necessary toiletries that typically aren't sold in 3 ounce bottles, not to mention all your diabetes supplies!
However, as people living with diabetes we are allowed to carry liquids that exceed the restrictions – for medical purposes. This includes insulin, ice packs, juice, etc.
If need be, I tell the airport personnel what the supplies are and that they are necessary for my health care. In most cases, simply telling security that I have diabetes does the trick, BUT to feel extra prepared, I print the explanation of the diabetes liquid exception. This can be found on the Transportation Security Administration's official website. If you want to bring one the next time you fly, ask you mom or dad to go online and find it.
Next stop: the dreaded metal detectors. Different batteries and pumps can cause the alarm to go off. Usually this just means a couple extra minutes of inspection. So I've discovered an effective little trick to avoid beeping: I hold my insulin pump in the center of my body and take one long stride through the detectors. This generally gets me through without a sound. (WARNING: This does not always work).
I always carry my medical supplies on to the plane with me, just in case I need something along the way. However unlikely, there is always the chance of mishap so it's better to be safe than sorry. Alright, you've made it through the tough part. Now its time for some fun! Hop on that plane and enjoy your flight!
July 25, 2008
Day Three at the Children with Diabetes Conference
Today is our third and final day of the conference and I finally had a chance to get to meet some of the people. Astonishingly, there are people living with diabetes here from all over the world. I ate lunch with two women from Colombia (the country) and New York. Later, I chatted with two other attendees about how to keep kids with diabetes safe at school in Australia. There were even people from as far as Russia! I learned that although we may different, diabetes does not discriminate and people of every shape, size and ethnicity can get it. Luckily we can all fight together to stop it.
The kids were a blast as well! This afternoon the ‘tweens' stormed the exhibit hall in search of the answers to their questionnaires. They asked us questions like: "How much money will the ADA spend on diabetes research in 2008?" I loved their surprised reactions when we replied, "A little over $42 million!"
Everyone here has been exceedingly kind and generous. I'm leaving with new meters, gadgets, pens, magnets, backpacks, bracelets, Frisbees, and lots of information. I have had a wonderful time! Not only have I learned new things about diabetes and gotten some helpful tools, I have also been able to help others and meet new people. What more could you ask for from one conference?
July 24, 2008
Children with Diabetes Conference: Day 2
Today is day two of the Children with Diabetes Conference. My sister and I have attended two sessions and visited the Exhibit hall (In hopes of picking up some free goodies).
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Our first session discussed "Continuous Glucose Monitoring." I was looking forward to this presentation because the technology is so new and exciting! The presentation began with a little history on diabetes care. I learned that the first pump was introduced in 1978, but few people used it because it was the size of a backpack! I also learned that the first meter was introduced in 1977 but didn't become main stream until the 80's. Up until that point, urine testing was the only means of determining blood glucose. Diabetes was first identified in this way by the Egyptians who noticed the sweetness in the taste of the urine… Yes I said taste… Ew!
Technology has come a very long way and I can't wait to see what is just around the corner. Take the CGM devices for example. They are already being designed smaller and more accurate! So as time passes we find ourselves closer and closer to what this session described as "naked diabetes," a term referring to having enough information to understand the causes of every high and low – clearly and completely as if laid out neatly before you. Just imagine the kind of healthy improvements we could make with this degree of control!
The Artificial Pancreas
The second session Kalyn and I attended was focused on a research project called "the Artificial Pancreas." It seemed too good to be true but with a little explanation the idea was excitingly feasible. The electronic pancreas or e-pancreas includes:
1) a continuous glucose sensor
2) an insulin pump
3) a computerized algorithm to regulate insulin delivery from glucose readings, and
4) a communication system between the devices.
Someday, we may have sensors and insulin pumps that work together automatically!
The Awesome Exhibit Hall
Finally, Kalyn and I finished our serious sessions and got to the fun! The Exhibit Hall blew me away with all the colorful booths!
Have you ever been to an exhibit hall? It's the one place where they throw free stuff at you! There were pumps, testers, photo booths, video games, stylish ID jewelry, custom designed tester cases, Freestyle butterflies and even a dancing pump named "Pumpy!" You could find just about everything!
I scoped the place out and then headed over to the ADA booth to advocate advocacy! I spoke with many parents about our Safe at School program, giving them helpful information to relay to their school administration and teachers. It felt so great to be able to give them the means to educate their schools about diabetes.
I am proud of the ADA for being so well prepared. We had enough papers and handouts to papier-mâché the hotel!…well not really but you get the idea.
July 23, 2008
Children with Diabetes Conference
What a beautiful day in Orlando, Florida to kick off the Friends for Life Children with Diabetes Conference! My sister, Kalyn, and I began the day with two different sessions.
Inside the Teen Brain
The first session we attended took a look 'inside the teen brain' and was directed specifically at teenagers on insulin pumps. There were about eight teens in the group and I was thrilled to get to chat with them about their choices of diabetic equipment. I discovered that color plays a significant role in which devices we do or do not like. The pumps and testers that were more interesting visually were considered 'cooler' and more fun. I have to agree. I remember how excited I was when I got my pink tester! I couldn't wait to use it.
While talking with the other kids in my group, I noticed that many of us used different pumps but we all loved the ones we had. I realized that we choose pumps in the same way we choose anything in life. Whether it is the format that is most appealing or the shape, we choose the one that fits our personality. There really isn't one device that will work for everyone. Some want simplicity, others want extensive features. Just as we are all individual people we also have individual favorites. It was great to listen to experiences with each type of pump.
Cool New Tools
The second session we attended was on 'cool new tools.' We started off talking about dumb things people say. At first I thought this sounded a little harsh but then I realized that there are a lot of misconceptions about diabetes that show up in questions like: "Can you eat sugar?" "Is it contagious?" "Is that (my insulin pump) a cell phone?"
We talked about how we deal with these questions.
For me, personally, I am glad when someone asks me something like this. Then I have the chance to teach them what I know and surprisingly enough those conversations usually develop into friendships. Later in the session we expressed our individuality yet again when we designed our own shirts. It was fun to see the diverse drawings of what living with diabetes means to others.
So far the day has been grand! Although I have never felt alone in the fight for diabetes it was encouraging to be surrounded by so many people just like me. Oddly enough, my favorite part so far has been merely listening to everyone talking about this disease. In the elevators, the halls and the meetings everyone can relate directly to what I live with. It's refreshing!
July 21, 2008
On my latest trip to Washington D.C my older sister, Kalyn, and I headed up the Hill to attend meetings with legislators from nine different states. It was thrilling to see that our Call to Congress in May had really made a difference.
I was with my sister instead of my mom this time, so we represented a completely different perspective of living with diabetes. Kalyn had the chance to share how she lives with diabetes. She reminds me to check my blood sugar and helps me wake up in the middle of the night to test. Her outlook showed our audiences that diabetes is much more than an individual effort. For those of us living with diabetes, we recognize that not only does this disease affect us and our parents but also our siblings and . . . well just about everyone we meet. Kalyn helped the legislative assistants and health fellows to see this on a personal level.
One of our key messages was that the numbers reflecting diabetes prevalence, cost, and growth should be enough to scare anyone into action, but diabetes includes much more than just the numbers. It is personal and emotional.
Take the current 23.6 million Americans living with diabetes and multiply that number by all of their families, friends and communities and that is a more accurate count of the massive influence of this epidemic. Worry, fear and constant consideration play a significant role in day-to-day management. We wanted the Senators to see a first-hand that this disease is serious and needs to be dealt with now.
I left D.C last week feeling like we made a difference. The strength and empowerment I feel after sharing my knowledge and dedication gives me a taste of victory that makes me want to fight harder yet. I hope that as an advocate I can inspire more people to speak up and fight this disease so that we can battle the enormous growth of diabetes in our communities. This week Kalyn and I took one step closer to this goal and I couldn't be more proud of myself and everyone fighting this battle with me.
July 14, 2008
One of my favorite ADA events in Salt Lake City is Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. These events raise money to help people with diabetes, and they happen all over the country!
Every year, my family and I start a Friends and Family walk team. My two sisters and my mom are always on it, and my sisters and I invite our friends, aunt and cousins to join too! I always feel really grateful that my friends and my family want to help in the fight against diabetes.
There are lots of ways to raise money for your walk team. My sisters and I had a bake sale last year, and it was a huge success. My mom was getting biscotti orders from her coworkers! Last year our team name was Team Tesch, but I want to come up with something new this year. If you have any ideas for a new team name, email me at nya@diabetes.org.
If you want to participate in your local Step Out and start a Friends and Family team, click here!
July 2, 2008
My older sister Kalyn and I flew home yesterday from my second diabetes camp, Camp Colorado. This camp was next to a man-made lake in the mountains. They have the 2nd longest zip line in the world; you must hike up a mountain to get to the starting point! Along with the cabins and mess hall there was a giant tent-like structure called the Thunder Dome where they had their daily camp meetings and guest speakers.
After dinner we all met in the Thunder Dome. It was packed with the 264 campers all of which, with the exception of 4, had type 1 diabetes. Before my presentation April, the camp director, called up all of the campers who had conquered their first site or first injection to get a prize. I was blown away by how supportive everyone was. When a name was called everyone cheered and clapped! It was wonderful!
After these announcements April introduced me. When I walked to the stage just about every camper stood up to applaud me. I honestly don't even know what to say. I'm just a kid like them and they made me feel like a movie star! I began my presentation about how young people can get involved in the fight against diabetes. We ran a mock congress and I choose the proposal of ‘buying new mattresses for all the cabins' as the bill we would debate.
I picked 5 lawmakers to defend the bill and 5 to oppose it. Then I gave them all, including the citizens, 5 minutes to prepare their arguments. They were all getting involved and I couldn't have been happier. The debate went very well and all of the lawmakers and citizens made great points. I don't think I will ever be able to forget the little boy (probably 8 years old) who came up and said, "It takes a real man to sleep in the dirt." We voted by testing which group, for or against, could scream the loudest. WOW! I nearly fell over they were so loud! In the end I asked them to share their diabetes story with Governor Bill Ritter, the governor of Colorado.
I had a great time hanging out with the campers later that evening and the next day. The most gratifying part of my trip was the next morning when I was chatting with one of the counselors. He said that he had asked his campers what they had thought of my presentation. One in particular said that my speech had made an impact on him. Neil, the counselor, asked him what he was going to do differently and he reply, "I'm going to write my congressman." I am so grateful and delighted that I have been able to share my knowledge of advocacy so that others can get involved. This camper's reaction was exactly what I had hoped to accomplish and it is hard for me to describe in words how ecstatic I was that I had succeeded.
If I can increase awareness even in just one camper I know I made a difference in furthering the fight against diabetes. Not only does this give me hope, it also makes me want to fight harder and recruit more advocates so that they might feel the same satisfaction that I feel by making a difference.
June 30, 2008
I returned yesterday from my trip to Jacksonville, Florida. My mom and I had a great time! We attended an ADA camp called Camp JADA on the campus of Jacksonville University. I talked with the campers about how kids can get involved in the fight against diabetes by becoming a diabetes advocate. Then we split into 6 groups to form a mini congress. Each group proposed a bill and I picked one to debate. We decided to discuss the bill designed to get rid of all homework as our practice legislation.
Two of the groups were legislators in charge of examining the good things and bad things about the bill. Then we called up "private citizens" to state their opinions. I was completely surprised that all of the "citizens" who spoke were in favor of keeping homework! Finally we voted and the bill did not pass. The group of probably 100 campers broke into applause when I said, "Congratulations we get to keep our homework!"
Once our congress ended its session I was able to make the connections to what our legislators do everyday and why we need to get involved. Our legislators discuss issues such as (1) more government funds for diabetes research programs (2) Ensuring equal protection for people living with diabetes at school and work and (3) Guaranteeing access to medical care for all people with diabetes. All of these issues will affect our lives as people fighting this disease and we should have the capability to states our opinions.
We gave the campers this chance in the end when the campers wrote letters to Governor Charlie Crist, the governor of Florida. I had a great time and I really appreciated the opportunity to see, first hand, the excitement in my audiences eyes when they got involved with their community.
June 22, 2008
Well I woke up today with 3 test strips tangled in my hair and 1 stuck to my leg. . . Is that normal? Does that ever happen to you?
So far summer has been a blast! I'm glad I still have two months left of fun before my senior year in high school. I'll be back with more blogs.
June 15 - 20, 2008
I left good ol' Utah to drive to Las Vegas, Nevada with 6 people from Skyline High School and 1 (not including myself) from Olympus High School for our National Debate Tournament. This was an amazing experience! I got through 6 rounds of extemporaneous speaking, in which you pick a topic from 3 choices and have 30 minutes to prepare a 7 minute memorized speech using as many statistics and quotations as possible. I was able to watch rounds of others as well and I learned what I need to do to improve my speaking.
After the tournament we toured ‘the Strip' where Las Vegas sports all of its tallest hotels and attractions. We saw replicas of wonders such as the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Empire State Building, and Excalibur's Castle. Our expedition also included Coke World, MGM, the Bellagio Hotel, and MnM World.
It was fun exploring the city, but I am glad to be home now and out of the 116º weather. One of the coolest parts of the trip was the acquisition of my new status as an NFL member. That stands for National Forensics League (debate) but I still love to freak out my friends when they think I'm playing football.
June 14, 2008
I rode in the Tour de Cure. This is our annual bike ride for the ADA and Utah is phenomenal! We broke the record for the largest team in the country, Select Health. Every year Utah raises thousands of dollars that are vitally important to funding research, education, and advocacy. I have a confession to make: I'm not a biker. I took the 25 mile ride and I had only been riding my bike for about 2 weeks prior to this event. I was hoping I could finish the ride because I had no idea how long 25 miles was!
We arrived in Brigham City early in the morning. There were giant colorful ADA tents and dozens of volunteers. Everyone was wearing their biking kits (the matching spandex outfit). I told my mom that if you had asked me a month ago if I would ever be seen in spandex the answer would have been no, but here I was with matching gloves and everything. The ride was fantastic!
I was absolutely taken aback by how gorgeous Utah is. I love the mountains and the greenery and when I ride my bike I get the chance to appreciate the sounds, sights, and smells. In the end I finished. Yea! We had some lunch and chatted with friends. Then when we got in the car to make the drive home I fell asleep immediately.
June 13, 2008
Friday the 13th! Kind of spooky but this was my birthday. I turned 17! Crazy I know! I swear I just got used to being 16 and now I'm a year older. Well I woke up to my mom and little sister singing happy birthday to me. My older sister Kalyn was on her senior trip in Florida. Then I went with my mom to KJZZ TV where I did a quick interview. I talked about the ADA and what we fight for. The focus was also on the Tour de Cure. Afterwards I went shopping with my friend Sophie.
When we finished shopping we sat a while in my favorite bookstore. This is my favorite place to relax because it has such a great environment. Not to mention you can always find a story to catch your interest... and they smell really good! Finally that evening I went to dinner with my family and then my friends took me to get ice cream. It was a great birthday and I enjoyed it.
June 9, 2008
San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 12:45 p.m.
Well it looks like I will be flying home to Salt Lake City today at 5:30pm and unfortunately my adventure must conclude. This has been the most fantastic experience. I am still blown away by the massive number of people here to learn more about diabetes. I see this event as the beginning of a new ripple. Tomorrow the 68th Scientific Session will close its curtains. All of these physicians, researchers, and endocrinologists will head back to their home states and countries where they will spread the new knowledge they have about diabetes. Considering that there have been over 14,000 people here I can only imagine how far this knowledge will travel. This is literally going to change the world and I'm sitting here at my computer watching it happen.
I want to thank all of the people here: The researchers who have spent years to find answers to questions that might make living with diabetes a little easier; the media and reporters ensuring that the public has a chance to see what is going on; the ADA volunteers who have spent long hours planning this event (they actually booked the Moscone Convention Center in 1995 when I was 4 yr old!).
I've had experiences here that have been inspiring, educational, and motivational and I just wanted to thank everyone who made it possible for me to be here and who made it possible for this event to take place. I hope that all of this information will travel not just to the people living with diabetes but also to the general public, because we need more diabetes education.
Elliot Yamin and I agreed during our interview that we hear strange questions about diabetes. He said he was once asked, "Oh you have diabetes. That means you can't wash your clothes in bleach. Right?"
Well despite the exaggeration, few people know what diabetes is. I am glad we have events such as this to help us spread awareness. One day we might not be stopped in the airports and asked to remove our cell phones (insulin pumps) or asked by our schools if we can eat sugar. The more people know about this disease, the better chance they have of taking action against it.
So once again thanks for this amazing opportunity. I hope my blogs have provided a little insight. Until the next time Adios, au revoir, do widzenia, hejdá, arrivederci, and goodbye!
June 9, 2008
San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 10:45 a..m.
Rituximab, Rosiglitazone, Rapamycin…the technical terms attached to research are absolutely crazy! And yet I can't get enough of it. I went to another session discussing Therapeutic Interventions for Type 1 Diabetes. The presentations centered on identifying biological factors that can be blocked to prevent the development of Type 1 diabetes.
The first presentation used language that I was more familiar with, and as a result I learned a lot. It is believed that diabetes is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. There is also the idea of a trigger setting off the autoimmune reaction. The majority of these studies attempted to identify what that trigger is. I also learned that once the deterioration of beta cells begins, the body does not actually begin showing symptoms until about 80-90% of the beta cells have been destroyed. This is one of the reasons diabetes is so difficult to prevent because by the time we notice any changes in our health, it is generally too late.
This presentation focused on investigating the role of B cells (different from beta) in releasing the agents that destroy the beta cells. These agents are called antigens and here is where all of the crazy terms come in to use. Many of these tiny biological cells don't even have names but rather codes like CDC22 and Foxp3. Confusing! I have honestly gained a new appreciation for how much work must go into research and how much knowledge must be accumulated to even understand the basics.
At the end of this morning's presentation the researcher announced that they we trying this new method of preserving beta cells (by blocking the development of b cells) on mice and it had been successful. He then noted that they will be testing this treatment on humans! My heart literally jumped out of my chest! We are getting so close and research has come so far. Will I have enough time to finish medical school before they find the answer? Who knows but hey, I am willing to find a new career if it means finding a cure.
June 8, 2008
San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 5:00 p.m.
One of the coolest parts of the Scientific Session is the Exhibit Hall. I have been gawking at this hall from outside for the past day and half. I finally got the opportunity to visit today!
When we first walked into the hall it took a moment to regain my balance after staggering back from the sheer size of the exhibits. Some of the displays are two stories high and they are all painted in bright colors. We had a fantastic time looking at the continuous glucose monitors, pumps, and pens. There was even a Wii! The whole area was packed with attendees and exhibitors.
It was a great opportunity to look at all of the different products from nearly every pharmaceutical company you could think of. It was wonderful to see patients, doctors, and researchers all side by side interested in the same technology. I still haven't seen all there was to see!
The most exciting part about the Exhibit Hall is that it symbolizes all of the options we have as people living with diabetes. We can pick the treatment plan that best fits our lifestyle. Whether it is a pen or a syringe or an insulin pump, the point is we have the choices. That is a luxury that was not available even 10 years ago. Walking through the exhibition hall made me grateful that the ADA holds events like this.
June 8, 2008
San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 3:10 p.m.
While here in San Francisco I have felt like a real reporter complete with the vest, audio recorder, and press pass. It has been so much fun to role-play, but I just had my first real experience as an interviewer. I just spent the last 30 minutes talking with Elliot Yamin and Erin Tetreault. Well to start, I was incredibly nervous because Elliot Yamin is Global Ambassador for the Inspired by Diabetes contest run by the Eli Lilly company and the American Diabetes Association. And if that isn't enough prestige, he also place third in the 5th season of American Idol, has been interviewed by Ellen DeGeneres, Regis and Kelly, and is well known for his hit single "Wait for You".
Erin Tetreault is equally impressive as one of the four U.S. national grand prize winners of the inaugural Inspired by Diabetes contest. She was recognized for her magnificent painting, "Self-Acceptance", which depicts a young woman wearing an insulin pump.
Once we started chatting I realized I didn't really need to be nervous, considering that both Elliot and Erin were incredibly friendly and easy to talk to. We chatted about camps and struggles that we have had with diabetes. Erin praised the benefits of attending the camps. She described it as ‘a big support group'. She will be participating as a counselor this upcoming year at their camp in Idaho now that she is too old to be a camper because she admitted, ‘I can't go a year without camp'. I agreed with her that attending a camp is a great way to gain self confidence around new friends experiencing many of the same trials together. I really enjoyed talking to Erin and found that we had a lot in common.
I've been telling my mom for the past year that if I had the chance to choose whether or not I would get diabetes I would not change a thing. It was an immense relief when Erin said the same thing. We have had so many opportunities to learn about ourselves and share our beliefs with others thanks to this disease that we can now look at it as a blessing. I am glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. This interview really helped me to see how fortunate we are to have been diagnosed with a disease in a time when it is manageable and we can still pursue our dreams.
Speaking of dreams, Elliot is living the life of fantasy. In talking with him I learned that he was diagnosed at the age of 16. Since I was diagnosed at 10, it is had for me to even fathom what it would be like to have lived a normal life for 16 years and then have to make the transition to a completely new lifestyle. When I asked him about this he agreed, "One day I was a regular kid and then all of the sudden I had this life long incurable disease."
He said that the best thing to do is just learn to accept diabetes. It was absolutely inspiring that in the face of adversity he was still able to accomplish all that he has. He is quite the role model with his hard work ethic and determination. I won't forget his advice to all kids living with diabetes, "Dream Big."
Well what an experience. I was able to see two people who have succeeded in not only controlling their diabetes, but also in pursuing their goals. I am glad I got a chance to speak with these remarkable people and gain from two new perspectives of life with diabetes. Oh, and my sister Kalyn is so jealous I got to meet and talk to Elliot Yamin!
June 8, 2008
San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 12 noon.
Today I began my day with a focus on biology. The session I attended was on autoimmune pathogenesis. Just from the sound of the name I had a feeling it would be fairly technical and boy was it! I can't honestly say that I kept up with everything but there were a few amazing presentations that I was able to follow. Basically the session was about different contributing factors that could potentially lead to diabetes (a pathogen is a disease causing agent).
One of the first studies was observing the possibility of environmental and viral (viruses and germs) impacts on the development of diabetes. I was astonished by the massive effort that was put into finding an answer to one question. They were studying two different groups of mice that were fed cereal diets, or complex high-carb foods, and HC diets, which were basically healthy food choices.
The final results proved that dietary factors played the largest role in the development of diabetes, more so than even germ exposure. This was fascinating to hear from a scientific perspective and reinforced my commitments to a healthy lifestyle. It is clear that with healthy food choices and exercise, the chances of developing diabetes (along with numerous other health complications) are greatly reduced.
Many of the presentations dealt with beta cells and insulin production. For me, one of the most fascinating observations was made in a group of participants in a study of people who had been living with type 1 diabetes for 50 years or more. This particular researcher found that these peoples' bodies were still producing insulin (not effectively or to a significant amount that would allow them to stop their diabetes treatment) however the c-peptide (insulin) was present in their beta cells!
This session was marvelous to attend because I got to view the next steps of diabetes research. The progress made me feel hopeful that we will one day have a cure. There were dozens of physicians and researchers from every walk of life, all studying aspects of diabetes that were unimaginably diverse. So many different fields of this disease are being investigated. I am sure this accumulation of knowledge will show results.
At this point, I can say that the strongest feeling I have had during Sci-Sessions is encouragement. I can see discovery and development right in front of my eyes. I feel encouraged to keep fighting because it is clear that we are winning. Today we can live longer and more normal lives. We control our diabetes rather than vice versa and that is a huge victory to me.
June 7, 2008
San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 10:00 p.m.
In my final session for the night I attended an advocacy session. Since our visit to Washington D.C. for the ADA's Call to Congress, my family and I have been aware of the lack of funding available to keep diabetes research thriving. In this session we addressed several issues: the spread of diabetes in minority ethnic groups, the current progress of research and our advocacy priorities.
Dr. Henry Foster, a very prestigious physician, spoke regarding the prevalence of diabetes in minority ethnic groups. Unfortunately we learned that diabetes is far more likely in groups such as Africans Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders than in the general population. This was important because it translates directly into the need for these ethnic groups' participation in clinical trials.
After Dr. Foster's presentation, we watched an uplifting group of slides describing the insurmountable progress we have made in diabetes research. From the discovery of insulin in 1922 to continuous glucose monitoring systems today, diabetes management has come a long way. People living with diabetes have astronomically higher chances of survival today than they would have had 50 years ago. I greatly enjoyed this part of the presentation because it directly correlated with why we deserve funding: because there are millions of Americans living with diabetes and this research is making our quality of life so much better.
Finally, Dr. Anderson identified some of the legislative priorities for the American Diabetes Association. We need $20.8 million for CDC (Center for Disease Control) which is approximately $1 for every person living with diabetes in the U.S. We also need a 6.6% increase in funding for the NIH (National Institutes for Health). Mind you these increases in funding are barely enough to keep up with inflation and as we have seen from the growing numbers of people living with diabetes, the funds are absolutely necessary. ADA also supports the American with Disabilities Act Restoration Act. This legislation will expand the definition of disability to include diabetes. For me, this means that I can't be fired just because I have diabetes. It also means that I deserve protection under the law regardless of how well I take care of my diabetes.
This session was absolutely fabulous because it was so empowering. I know now what I need to do and how to get it done. I can't help but feel like I can run outside right now and change the world.
June 7, 2008
San Francisco, CA - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 5:42 p.m.
I just attended my first session discussing a new way to translate the A1c. I have blogged before about how difficult it is to live with all of the numbers that come attached to diabetes. Diabetes can be incredibly overwhelming; even just understanding the basics can be difficult. This new reading, called the eAG (estimated Average Glucose), will translate the A1c so that it is easier to apply to diabetes management. Allow me to explain:
The eAG is a number that you can calculate from your A1c. For example, the translation of a 7% A1c is a glucose reading (eAG) of 150. That means that if you have an A1c of 7%, your average glucose (eAG) is around 150. This is easier to interpret because while a 7% really doesn't mean much to me, the number 150 is something I can relate to what I see on my meter 8 times a day.
After attending this session, this idea seemed so logical and useful that now the only question is when we can see this number (eAG) used regularly. The answer is incredibly soon. The ADA already has a website that will do the conversion: you type in your A1c and it will tell you your eAG. Go to www.diabetes.org/AG to learn more about this. It is now only a matter of time before we see this new number in general practice and that is definitely something we can be excited about.
The research was amazing but what really struck me at the meeting was the diversity of the reporters. There were reporters from Switzerland and Poland. One of the physicians was from Sweden. I was absolutely astounded by the huge numbers of people attending and participating. I observed people from all across the world fighting diabetes and striving towards making life easier for people like me.
June 7, 2008
San Francisco, Ca - ADA's 68th Scientific Session
at 2:30 p.m.
I have just arrived in San Francisco! It is my first time traveling to the west coast. The event, Scientific Sessions, is gigantic! I was able to see the exhibit hall from the walkway, it is filled with so many different booths and displays. There are almost 15,000 people here!
It is exciting to just walk into the press room with all of the reporters working on their stories. Well I can't wait to go to my first session and learn all that I can. The coolest part so far is that I get a press badge!! I'll catch up with everyone later with more information about the latest research.
June 1, 2008
School is finally. . . almost over and there couldn't be a better way to start the summer than with the ADA's upcoming 68th annual Scientific Session. This event will be taking place in San Francisco, California from June 6 to June 10. I am so excited to attend and report back to everyone on Planet D about what's happening at the meeting!
There will be over 13,000 scientists, physicians and health care professionals from all around the world gathered together to share their latest findings on their paths to finding a cure for diabetes. There will also be new treatment recommendations and technology. I really can't wait to get there and not just for the sights, but also for the feel of progress.
I have known for a while now that the ADA focuses on research, education, and advocacy, but to see the actual advancements, the new ideas, amazing and inspiring scientists revive the hope that this disease is getting more manageable and closer to a cure.
Diabetes can be a difficult thing to live with and we all know that. But we manage and take care of ourselves as best as we can. While this is an amazing feat to accomplish the only time we can truly feel like we are making any progress with this disease is through our research. When we get closer and closer to living normal lives we can honestly feel that we are defeating diabetes and that we are the people in charge of our lives. The 68th annual Scientific Session is event I'm excited to witness for this reason. To feel re-inspired do my best to continue fighting diabetes because I know it is going to get easier and I have a chance to eventually win the battle.
Be sure to check back this weekend, when I will be blogging from San Francisco!
May 10, 2008
As we celebrate Mother's Day, what could be a better time to show your appreciation for the women who do so much for us all?
My mother is honestly the most amazing person I know. I have always said that my family and I were diagnosed 6 years ago and it is true. Diabetes is something that affects everyone I'm around. My sisters are healthier and more aware of nutrition, and my friends understand the workings of my disease, but my mother does it all. She deals with diabetes in a very different way than I do however she lives with it just as much. She reminds me to test, bolus, and watch my exercise. She thinks about diabetes at the same times that I do. However diabetes is difficult for her in the sense that she can only watch and give advice. I am the only one who has control over my diabetes and while she encourages me to do my best I am the only one who can take the action. Knowing this and how much she loves me inspires me to do the best I can in managing my diabetes. I control my disease to the best of my abilities not just for myself but also for my mother, sisters, friends, and family because I know they all love me too. My mother helped me realize that we all take care of ourselves for that reason: for the one we love, and diabetes is no different.
My mom is one superhero that is very real. She has more spidy-senses, super-strength, and premonition than all the cartoons combined. I can see these abilities when she takes care of me and my sisters.
I love my mom and I'm glad I have caught a few glimpses of everything she does so I can recognize how remarkable she is. Our mothers do more than we could possibly imagine and never ask for applause. On Mother's Day we can finally give these amazing women the standing ovation they all deserve. Thanks again for everything you do! I LOVE YOU MOM!
May 3, 2008
I just returned from my first trip to Washington D.C for the ADA's annual Call to Congress and it was absolutely amazing! When we first arrived we spent the first day training and learning how to communicate with our congressmen and their staff. We had some training that included role playing and I acted as the distracted senator and tried to sidetrack the constituents by asking random questions about school and waterskiing. It was really fun and we were all prepared when it came time to walk up to the Hill the next day!
We asked our legislators for three specific things this week: 1) $20.8 million for CDC (Center for Disease Control) programs (approximately $1 for every person living with diabetes in the U.S) and a 6.6% increasing in the funds going towards NIH (National Institute of Health) programs, 2) Passing of the ADA (American's with Disabilities Act) Restoration Bill, that would redefine ‘disability' to include diabetes and ensure people living with diabetes are protected from discrimination, and finally 3) A multiyear extension of the SDP (Special Diabetes Programs) that fund research for type 1 diabetes and give money to Native American programs, that help to prevent diabetes in their sovereign communities.
While in D.C I met new people and revisited with friends. It was great to see some of the ADA members I hadn't seen since Oct. of last year. There were about 210 temporary ADA lobbyists in Washington D.C that week, including my mom and I. Everyone was and always has been so kind and helpful. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for all of their help and advice.
We had a great time and made a lot of progress. Amongst others we met with the Health Care Advisor for Senator Orrin Hatch's office. She was marvelous to talk to, engaging us with questions and understanding our situation. She listened to everything my mother and I had to say and then told us her story. Turns out, she has diabetes in her family and has been going into the hospital recently to be tested for pre-diabetes. I was amazed that diabetes honestly affects just about everyone.
All in all it was a fabulous experience and we are all looking forward to continuing our advocacy work at home and returning to congress next year.
April 23, 2008
Numbers, numbers, and more numbers! Being a person living with diabetes I have gotten very comfortable with mathematics. I am constantly calculating how many carbs, how much insulin, corrections, time passed, time till and so much more. However there are two specific numbers that I have focused on the most: 4.0 and 6.1. They were the standards I set for myself; 4.0 was the GPA (grade point average) I struggled to achieve and 6.1 was the A1C I dreamed to obtain. They became a problem when I fell to my absolute dedication to perfection. I wanted all A's on my report card and I wanted my blood sugar to metaphorically reflect the same results. Finally after nearly developing an ulcer I stopped and took a step back. Perfection is just not possible and more than that it's not desirable. The only way we can learn is from making mistakes.
Lately I have been stressed with AP exams and, quite honestly, my A1C wasn't that great at my last visit to the doctor, but that's okay! I am only human and I can't control when I get stressed out. The most important thing is that I tried my hardest and learned what I need to do next. I'm not going to push myself into crazy expectations because it isn't fair to me. I've learned it's actually easier to meet your goals when you can forgive yourself for your mistakes and recognize their messages.
Numbers are a great thing to help me keep my diabetes and my life in control but in the end I discovered life is more enjoyable when you don't require yourself to be flawless. So while I will continue racing my Mother's calculator to determine my evening bolus, I won't be obsessing over perfection anymore.
April 23, 2008
Diabetes costs this country $174 billion a year. Listen to me speak about Call to Congress and the importance of calling your Congressman or Senator to do more to fight diabetes.
March 17, 2008
March 8, 2008 was an exciting day for me. It was State Debate for our school team. We really need to call it something else because 'state debate' rhymes far too well. We should call it 'showdown debate' or 'last man/woman standing debate'?... or not. Well anyway it was a crazy day but here is how it went:
I got up at 5:30am (on a Saturday), tested my blood sugar (132- oh heck yes) and then jumped in the shower. I got dressed in my favorite maroon jacket and long black pants. After quickly doing my hair, grabbing a bite to eat and barely making it out the door in time to catch the bus, we arrived at Murray High School. Its always scary having a tournament at a school you have never been to and this one was no different. Quite honestly it was intimidating! I got a map and started to learn my way around the school.
Then it was time for the rounds to start. I had my box of information and was trying to get into my zone. The first 4 rounds went really well. I felt like I understood the topics and my time was close to 7 mins. Unfortunately the rounds were going a little slow so we didn't have time for lunch but around 4pm we had finally made it to the 5th round. It was nerve wracking because after the 4th round the judges add up all of your points from your previous speeches and pick the best 7 debaters to compete in the last battle!
After 20 nail biting moments they announced the final 7. I made it! But I was the first speaker of the final round. Ah don't panic whatever you do DON'T PANIC! Well despite my attempts to meditate I was still freaking out. I got to my room and there were 3 judges and a timer! 4 people all staring at me! My leg started to shake and I began my speech. It went fine at first but then I started stuttering and I couldn't get the words in my brain to form coherent sentences! What was going on? I felt like I was completely loosing it. I couldn't even hear what I was saying anymore, but I just kept talking.
I was so ashamed. I left my round feeling like an absolute failure. I went outside to walk it off but I felt like I was going to cry. My coach found me and was really sweet about the whole thing. He told me that my mess up probably wasn't as bad as I thought and I was still a great debater. Then he asked me the question I should have asked myself from the beginning: Did you go low? The answer was yes. I hurried back to my box where my tester was and my blood sugar was 46. I was so nervous for the tournament I had not paid attention to the passing time. I had not eaten lunch and being so anxious had made my blood sugar drop. I knew I should have tested before I started my last speech. If I had I would have been able to pop a couple glucose tablets and avoid this whole disaster.
At about 5pm we had awards ceremony. I won 2nd place! Turns out that in my first 4 speeches I had been ranked 1st and superior, out of rankings between 1-5 and superior, excellent, or fair. My last speech had not be as great as I had wanted, I was ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd by the different judges, but my other 4 speeches made up for the points. I was very happy, even when I had 'bombed it' one of my judges still ranked me 1st; maybe my speech wasn't that terrible.
Well in the end I had learned my lesson. Getting nervous lowers my blood sugar more than I thought and in the future I will test and eat a little bit before each round. I was very grateful for my compassionate coach and at the end of our day our team placed 3rd overall. We learned a lot, had some fun, and walked home with quite a few medals. It wasn't such a bad day after all.
February 24, 2008
WOW…Yesterday I went to the black tie gala dinner for Dr. Mario Capecchi, the Nobel Prize winner for medicine in 2007. There have only been 7 universities in the United States that have housed a Nobel Prize winner and the University of Utah is the 7th to receive the honor! It was absolutely fabulous! Here's how it went:
We met at the Grand America in Salt Lake City in one of the reception rooms in front of the ballroom. In this room there was an amazing display of all of the accomplishments of Dr. Capecchi. There were pictures of the research he had done with mice including his actual handwritten notes. In the middle of the room the Nobel Prize medallion was displayed in a glass case.
I was there with my Human Biology Teacher Mrs. Blumel-Wilson and we met with many of the other 75 students who were invited from all across Utah. It was great trading stories about what branches of medicine we wanted to go into whether pediatrics, biotechnology, or endocrinology. After about 30 minutes we were moved into the ballroom. It was gigantic! The chandeliers were enormous and the whole room had a tint of red and gold. At the front of the room there was a stage with a University of Utah podium, 2 screens with projections on either side of the stage, and a giant metal double helix DNA strand model painted orange and gold behind the podium.
The majority of the people were wearing red (including myself) to support the University colors. The program started with an explanation of what the acceptance of the prize was actually like. His wife did most of the talking because for as brilliant as Mario Capecchi is he is surprisingly shy and very humble. His wife explained that they accepted the prize from the King of Sweden after they met princesses, princes, dukes, and duchesses!
Then there was a portion of time dedicated to talking about what he has been doing with gene targeting that enabled him to win this award. Now I don't completely understand every aspect of it but basically he has found a way to manipulate the genes of mice, referred to as the ‘noble mice', to change everything in the animal from their appearance to contraction of a disease such as diabetes!
Several colleagues and admirers got up to give him thanks. Even Senator Hatch came to congratulate him, attributing his support of stem cell research to the influence of Dr. Capecchi's research and insight.
He was later awarded a personalized parking spot at the University of Utah, which the President of the University explained they do for all their Nobel Prize recipients. (Haha) They also renamed a local street, ‘Mario Capecchi Drive,' in his honor.
To my surprise, I sat right next to a colleague of his, Carol Lenz, who has worked very closely with Dr. Capecchi for the last 20 years, or Mario as she called him! She was incredibly kind and I didn't even know she was directly connected with Dr. Capecchi until they mentioned her when thanking his team. She gave me her e-mail and asked if I wanted to visit the lab for a tour. I am so excited! I'm going to get to see an actual research lab! At the end of the dinner, the students were invited to take a picture with Dr. Capecchi and shake his hand. We also received souvenir medallions with Dr. Capecchi's name and face on them. I even got to speak with him! Leaving the Grand America I felt excitedly eager to begin my own research and pursue a cure for diabetes.
February 17, 2008
Big news for Utah: Dr. Capecchi is a scientist at the University of Utah who in the last couple months won the ‘Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine'! Okay well if you don't know you this man is I will share some background but he is absolutely phenomenal! Mario Capecchi is an Italian-American who was born in Verona, Italy. He has overcome outstanding obstacles to get to where he is today. During World War II while still Italy Capecchi's father was an Italian airman reported missing in action while manning an anti-air craft gun in the Western Desert Campaign and his mother was taken away to a concentration camp for belonging to an anti-Fascist group. Capecchi lived on the streets for four years at the age of four and a half. He almost died of malnutrition before his mother found him. Later they traveled to America where he attended George School from which he graduated. He then transferred to Harvard to join the lab of James D. Watson, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA. He has accomplished many things since then but most recently he won the Nobel Prize in 2007 for his work with knockout mice. Amazingly enough there will be a dinner in his honor at the Grand America in Salt Lake City and he insisted students be invited. I sent in an essay and application about three weeks ago. I was selected to represent the Granite School District and I am so excited because I get to talk to him and ask him a few questions! This is the type of research and the type of person who can really make a difference in the lives of people like us. And look what an inspiration he can be considering the amazing obstacles he has conquered. The dinner is on February 23 and I will get back to you with the details. Now my only dilemma is to find a gown with a place to hid my pump.
February 7, 2008
Hello and welcome to the Food Channel. My name is Tesch West and today we will mixing it up with fabulous healthy snac... No I'm just kidding I don't actually have a cooking show, but my friend and I both love to cook and we have always kidded around about starting our own show.
For me when it comes to snacking there are a couple of requirements. 1- It has to taste good, 2- It can't take a lot of time to make (my life is chaotically busy) and 3- It has to be healthy. I can already see some eyebrows rising in skepticism but it is possible to get all of these qualities into one snack. And it's available now for the amazing price of just $19.99! Well not really.
When it comes to snacks, eating something out of a package that says it's healthy can be pretty risky. Prepackaged foods tend to be high in sodium (salt) and calories. Our greatest obstacle, as people living with diabetes, is when we look for healthy foods and only pay attention to the carbohydrates. Some things say they are 'sugar free' or contain ' less than 1 carb' but if you look a little closer they may also be loaded with fat and salt.
But back to how to find a tasty healthy snack in just 10 minutes or less. For me, I love fruit. After school when I'm looking for a snack I can always go for a banana. But don't limit yourself; pick whatever you like best. It doesn't have to be just apples and oranges. There are tons of options: cantaloupe, kiwi, grapes, watermelon, an African horned cucumber. The more options the merrier.
Don't let yourself get bored with the same thing everyday because then you won't enjoy it. If you don't like fruit you could try any number of items from the produce section. I enjoy a good bell pepper just as much as the next person. You can eat it like an apple, just not the seeds.
Well in the end the golden rule to snacking is just to pick something you love that will help fill you up until dinner. The best options are fresh because they are full of flavor, healthy, and you avoid the risks that come along with additives in packages.
Snacks are very important to keeping your energy up throughout the day and you want to make sure you are putting the healthiest and most efficient fuel into your precious tank engine.
Well, thanks again this has been Tesch West with the Food Channel. Catch me next week on Animal Kingdom where I'll be wrestling purple 'gators!
January 13, 2008
It's quicker than a racing cheetah; swifter than a karate Chop; faster than a speeding bullet no, it's not Superman it's time. It flies faster than the man in the red spandex!
Have you ever been hanging with friends or watching TV and suddenly 3 - 4 hours have passed? Well I have. In fact, it happens to me all the time, but I don't always mold in front of the TV. I mold in front of my books too.
I'm taking a couple of really hard classes this year and my teachers require us to do a lot of reading. I mean huge, 30-page chapters. I'm a pretty slow reader so it takes me a while, especially if I'm taking notes. So quite often I come home from school, start on my homework and before I know it 3 hours have passed, and the last time I tested was lunch-time at school!
I usually focus completely on my homework, so I end up going long periods of time without testing. One time, I showed my log to my mom and her spidey-senses started tingling. She noticed something was not right.
Lengthy gaps showed up in my log, increasing the chances of not catching a problem in time. My mom, being the super hero that she is, found a solution: texting. Now she sends texts throughout the day to help me remember to test. I take care of most of it myself, but with school being so chaotic I tend to forget. Her texts really help me stay on top of things and sending her my numbers all day keeps us on the same page.
So the next time my nemesis, Time Flying, comes knocking, I can count on my Super Mom to help me keep him at bay. We may not be living in a cartoon world, but there is nothing wrong with asking for a little help.
January 2, 2008
Oh the fantastical POWER of the mind! It makes me want to try and levitate or bend a spoon just by staring and thinking about it… Okay so maybe you can't bend a spoon or levitate but the influence of your brain over your entire body truly is amazing. Did you know that if you were say… running in a marathon, just by mentally not wanting to continue your muscles will cramp? I know what you're thinking… "what the heck is she talking about?" (and I know this through my mind reading psychological abilities, not really I'm just kidding).
Well it turns out our minds and our emotions can play a huge part in our diabetes as well. Take for example this week at school. I was in precalculus class when my teacher announced we would have a pop quiz!!! I hadn't memorized the formulas. They were confusing things like Sin 60º = √2/2.
Well of course I panicked and I could feel my stomach drop. Unfortunately my blood sugar dropped with it. Within a matter of MINUTES my blood sugar was down to 48 when it had been 116 less than an hour earlier.
Well now I had a new problem. I couldn't think my way through the quiz either, which by the way was 1 ½ minutes long (that only made me panic more). When the quiz was over I had gotten a big fat 0 out of 5.
For the next hour, each time I thought about my score my stomach would drop again along with my blood sugar out of dread. I ended up eating and eating just to keep myself from continuing to drop. Talk about the power of the mind.
The good news is that the quiz didn't count for very many points and my teacher let me make up the ones that I had missed when I explained the situation. However I learned a valuable lesson that day. My emotions play a huge part in my blood sugar levels and I need to anticipate that another situation like this one could arise.
So whether you're going to get a flu shot or riding a bike over a steep hill you have been dared to conquer, make sure to test often and respect the power of the mind.
December 10, 2007
Wow! Life sure is busy but to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way. I was very busy this last week but I managed to squeeze a few fun events in between the tests and homework. On December 5, I had an opportunity to go to the American Diabetes Association Sixth Annual Volunteer Recognition. We talked about volunteerism and recognized those who had reached new heights. My speech focused on the miraculous impact volunteering can have on the lives of many people. I aimed to express that volunteerism is an amazing power behind any cause, and yet the volunteers themselves are very humble. I then shared a couple of my stories and experiences. (I'll write them down later, but just a heads up - the Fisher and Laura story is one of my favorite) Anyway, I finally came to the end of my speech, and by then I had everyone standing to put their right hand over their heart while I recited a revised constitution that Kalyn, my older sister, and I wrote.
"We the people of the ADA in order to form a more perfect school system, establish equality, insure testing abilities, provide for the occasional disaster, promote the general healthcare, and secure the blessings of technology to ourselves and our families, do ordain and establish this promise for the American Diabetes Association."
We had a great time and my mom, Libby, won the 'Volunteer Vangaurd Award' for being involved in virtually everything the ADA does. Dawn and Marcina (two fabulous volunteers and friends of mine) also won awards. In the end I was glad I went even if it meant staying up till 1am to finish chemistry.
November 27, 2007
Hey everyone! My name is Tesch West and I am the 2007-2008 American Diabetes Association National Youth Advocate. This is my first post, and I'm really excited to have this blog, and talk with other kids who are living with diabetes.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 10 years old. At the time, my family and I didn't know a lot about diabetes, so we decided to learn as much as we could. All the information we found really helped me and my family to lead healthier lives. Six years later, I have control over my diabetes and I feel great!
Soon after I was diagnosed, I decided to get involved with ADA through walks, expo, and Family Resource Network. If you aren't already involved with ADA, you should be! It's a great way to help fight diabetes and meet lots of kids who are living with this disease just like you.
As you guys know, having diabetes doesn't define someone. I have lots of other hobbies and interests. I'm part of my school's debate team, and I am also a member of the Spanish club. When I'm not in school, I like hanging out with friends and my sisters. I'm really into cooking and baking, I want to put together a bunch of healthy recipes for kids with diabetes, so if you have any recipe ideas, email me!
During my year as the National Youth Advocate, I am going to blog about the things I think are important to kids and teens living with diabetes, things we all struggle with and can relate to. If you have any cool blog topics, let me know! My email is nya@diabetes.org.
Talk to you soon!