Diabetes Interview: 30 Questions
Sometimes, working on my own can feel slightly schizophrenic.
I know you have tons of questions for me.
And today you’ll get some of them answered!
I’ve done an interview with none other than my fabulous self. I asked myself, included the ones from you (and googled some) questions to answer.
So here we go, here is the GrainBrain.ch interview with Hanna Boëthius:
Beginning
GrainBrain: What type of diabetes do you have?
Hanna Boëthius: I have Type 1 Diabetes.
GB: How long have you had diabetes?
HB: I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 2, 29 years ago now.
GB: How did you manage, growing up? Did you hide your diabetes?
HB: I had my moments. Up until the age of about 10, my parents had full control of the diabetes and me. That’s also when I learned how to do my own injections, which gave me a little more freedom. I can’t say I ever took pride in having diabetes before.
Being a teenager with T1D was difficult for me, I wanted nothing else than to be like “everybody else”, and I felt the diabetes hindered me in that. Starting at about age 16 I started hiding the diabetes more and more, at times even ignoring it.
It was a stupid move on my part, as it brought me to the ICU on the night of my high school graduation with a life-threatening DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), but luckily I survived, thanks to the excellent health care staff around me. This complete roller coaster of taking care of myself vs not doing it continued a few years after that too, purely because I didn’t achieve the results I was promised and that I was working towards.
GB: Was it tough on your sibling, with you being the center of attention?
HB: Oh yes, most definitely. What she actually feels about it, you’ll have to ask her, but I think she has found it very tough.
GB: What was hardest for you and your family — emotionally? Or financially?
HB: A little bit of both, I think, but mainly emotionally. I’ve always been fortunate enough to have excellent health insurance.
I know my mother was terribly afraid of needles until my diagnosis, and then got over it because, well, she had to. And to get over something you’re afraid of is incredibly difficult. So it has affected my whole family in many, many ways.
Also having to deal with the doctors visits, the low blood sugars, the high ones, the inexplicable ones, the food, the insulin, exercise, hormones as well as other factors that influence the care of diabetes is life changing. And definitely not just for the patient, but also for the ones around them.
Treatment
GB: What treatment do you use to treat your diabetes?
HB: Medically, I use insulin and check my blood sugars often.
GB: How often do you have to test your glucose levels?
HB: It’s gotten a little easier with my newest acquirement of a CGM (continuous glucose monitor), but I still measure up to 10 times a day. Before that it was 7-12 times a day, depending on how I felt and what I was doing.
GB: Do you use an insulin pump or injections/pens? How often do you need to inject?
HB: Since about a year, I use an insulin pump. Her name is Doris, and we’re a great team. But for the other 28 years I’ve used syringes first, and then insulin pens. So I know all about feeling like a human pin cushion!
The benefit with an insulin pump is that it injects small amounts of insulin every 5 minutes, giving the body a smoother supply of insulin, rather than injecting huge lump-dosages and hoping for the best.
The reason I changed was a lifestyle improvement, but also to cut down the margin of error of the big dosages I mentioned.
GB: What kind of insulin do you take?
HB: I use NovoRapid in my insulin pump.
GB: What insulins have you had throughout your diabetic career?
HB: Oh, I don’t think I can even remember them all! But a selection of them is: Humalog, Lantus, Levimir, Protaphan, Humulin, Actrapid…
GB: How well do you think you manage your diabetes?
HB: I think I’m doing better now than ever before!
I take much less insulin and other medications now, my blood sugar is more stable and all my laboratory results and measurements are better than they ever have been.
GB: Can you recognize the symptoms of a low/high blood sugar?
HB: Yes, most of the times I can.
GB: What symptoms do you get?
HB: When I have a high blood sugar, I get sleepy, my brain feels like toffee, I’m lethargic and I can’t concentrate. Sometimes I’m insatiably thirsty as well.
When it’s low, I feel jittery, I might shake, I can’t see properly, and I can’t concentrate then either. But although that’s exactly what I need to do, I rarely feel hungry, that comes afterwards.
GB: How often?
HB: It depends on what I’ve been doing. Stress, too little exercise and water, and too many carbs make it go up. And too much exercise and insulin makes it go down. It’s a careful balancing act.
GB: How do you treat a hypo?
HB: I’ve learned to become more patient. Before I used to eat whatever I found, and too much of it, making my low blood glucose race up to be too high.
Now, I reduce my basal rate on my pump to -80% for ½-1 h and eat 4-8 carbohydrates in form of glucose tablets, depending on how low it is. Usually I’m back to my awesome self within 10-15 minutes.
The worst thing for me is waking up with a low blood sugar in the middle of the night and then falling asleep again, once I’m ok. Getting up the following morning is a real struggle. It’s (much) worse than waking up with a hangover!
Food
GB: What do you eat for breakfast/lunch/dinner? When?
HB: I actually eat very simple food. Clean, whole foods that have been minimally tampered with is my preferred choice.
I always eat proteins, good, healthy fats and vegetables. And I don’t eat grains anymore, as it impacts my blood sugars too much to handle. It’s not worth it.
I very rarely eat breakfast nowadays, but rather do a form of intermittent fasting, which has tons of benefits. But mainly because I’m not hungry then, and also because that gives me another couple of hours of stable blood sugars. For lunch, around 12am-1pm, I very often have a mixed salad with fish, meat or eggs and avocado and olive oil. Or a vegetable soup, or an omelet. And for dinner, usually around 7pm, it’s usually some kind of cooked/warm vegetables and meat or fish and some great fats.
If you want to see what I eat, you should follow me on Instagram where I have my “food diary”.
GB: Do you vary your insulin dose if you eat something that is not really good for you?
HB: Of course, that’s what I have to do to feel well. But I try not to eat things that I know aren’t good for me very rarely. And if I notice it wasn’t good for me, blood sugar-wise, I give a correction dosage as soon as I notice it.
GB: Do you eat snacks in between meals? Soda?
HB: Very, very rarely. I’m not hungry between meals, which is something I make sure of by eating what my body needs at meal times. And soda makes me feel terrible, even the diet ones, so that’s not usually on the menu either.
GB: Do you eat vegetables? Drink lots of water?
HB: I eat TONS of vegetables every day! They are nutritious and taste great. I have no problem substituting things like pasta or rice, which are frankly quite tasteless, for yummy vegetables.
I make sure to drink 2-3 liters of water a day. I notice on my blood glucose straight away if I haven’t had enough water.
GB: Do you ever skip meals?
HB: Mmmm, no not really. Apart from breakfast, like I mentioned before.
GB: Do you find the diet restrictive?
HB: Absolutely not. Actually, I vary my eating a lot more now than I used to before. And judging by the fact that I feel so much better eating like this, I only see benefits to it.
Completely besides the point is that I’m a nutrition coach that hates the word “diet”…. Ugh!
GB: Do you get annoyed when people ask if you should be eating a certain food?
HB: Not nearly as annoyed as I get by the word “diet”!
I actually don’t get that question too often, especially now that people have realized that I know best myself what I can and can’t eat. But I see it as people trying to look out for me rather than let it annoy me.
Exercise
GB: Do you exercise?
HB: Yes. It’s essential to my well-being, so I exercise pretty much every day.
GB: What do you do?
HB: For many reasons, I’ve found that the form of exercise that suits me the best are walks of varying length, intensity and geography. Sometimes I wish there would be more variation in my routine, but I do enjoy my daily walks a lot.
More
GB: Do you do anything else to manage diabetes better?
HB: Yes! Diabetes management goes WAY beyond just eating, medication and exercise.
I have found that having a daily routine helps me manage diabetes, as well as various forms of stress reduction, like meditation, breathing techniques, massages and self-love, keeping up motivation, the right supplements, along with exercise, eating the right things, drinking enough and taking the right medication.
GB: What is the hardest part of being diabetic?
HB: The constant worry. And keeping up with the roller coaster, both physical and emotional.
GB: And the best part?
HB: How it’s shaped me as a person. It’s taught me self-discipline, celebrating the small things and victories, made me stronger, more resilient and to find happiness in every day.
GB: Does your diabetes cause you any other problems?
HB: I try not to see the limitations of diabetes, and at least not let them limit me. But of course there are moments I have to sit down and take it easy rather than going at full speed…
GB: What would you like a non-diabetic to know about having diabetes?
HB: There’s much more to diabetes than eating and taking insulin. And blaming people for having diabetes is not exactly right either, it only creates a social stigma. That stamp is difficult to get rid of.
GB: What would you tell someone who has just been diagnosed with diabetes?
HB: I would tell them three things:
1) Take a deep breath, I know it’s overwhelming.
2) Your doctor doesn’t have all the answers, you’re your own best doctor.
3) Keep at it, it takes time, but when you find what works for YOU it’ll all be alright.
GB: Who do you get support from? Who treats you?
HB: Oh I have a whole team of teams!
My first priority is Team Hanna, which consists of my body and I. Secondary is my husband, then family and friends. Thirdly, I have assembled a real Dream Team of medical staff consisting of an endocrinologist, diabetic nurse, diabetic educator, ophthalmologist, podiatrist, and dermatologist.
Is there anything else you’d like to know about me or diabetes? Ask them in the comments and I’ll answer them too!
PS. Did you see my Diabetes Advent Calendar yet?! Sign up for the ADVENT-ure now!
Hello there, I am a college student enrolled in a Principles of Nutrition class and I have an assignment to interview a diabetic and was hoping you could answer a few questions for me?
1.) What does your diet currently consist of?
2.) What are some foods you can and cannot eat?
3.) What do you eat?
4.) How much do you eat at each meal?
5.) Do you ever have snacks?
6.) How do you balance your diet with your medication or insulin?
7.) How do you feel when you have not eaten?
8.) How do you feel after you eat?
9.) Do you have any other health problems with your feet, kidneys, or eyes from your diabetes?
10.) What specific type of diabetes do you have?
11.) How and when do you test your blood sugar?
12.) Do you exercise?
13.) How has diabetes affected your life and the lives that surround you?
14.) When and how were you diagnosed?
Thanks!
Hey Caroline!
I’ll happily answer your questions! Please email them to me at me@hannaboethius.com
Looking forward to hearing from you! Have a brilliant day! Hanna
Hi, I’m a newcomer nursing student in my country Iran, and i would be glad if you help me in giving me whole essential questions for type 2 diabetic patient to be asked.
With best wishes for You
I want report for this interview
Hey! Please let me know how I can help you?
Can jamun control the diabetes
Hey, thanks for your comment! I’m not sure I understand what “jamun” is? Please clarify what you mean and I’ll be happy to discuss!
Good Day. I was diagnosed [genetic hence my mother and sister passed away from diabetic] with diabetic 5 years ago but I just had a mild headache and I was sweating. I was then prescribe with Mertfomin and other tablets. I took them for 3 years and I stopped.I never got sick even when I was diagnosed. I want to know if I should continue and check, I do check my preasue most of the times but I stoped taking medication. I am getting old now and I think its wise what do you think. I am not sick at all, but I am now over 50years. Please advise.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Hi, thank you for your comment! I’m assuming you have type 2 diabetes? I think it is wise for anyone with a diabetes diagnosis to keep checking their levels, even if one is able to go off medication, as high blood sugars often can’t be felt. I hope that helps? If not, please let me know and we can discuss your situation more.
Hello Dear Respected Hanna!!
I Believe you’re doing great – I am working on the research side of “Artificial Pancreas Device” as part of my Masters degree – comparing currently available devices for management of Diabetes “as a beginning to my research work . Can I please have some very little time of your’s so that I can ask few very basic questions regarding the products ( Glucose monitors or Pumps) you are using or know about? Plus I’ll email them to you at ( me@hannaboethius.com ) If you have some little time to answer them . Thank you and Wishing you very good luck with your diabetes management. Stay Strong and Blessed
Hey Safdar! Thanks so much for your message! Ok, I’ll look forward to your email and will do my best to help you. Have a fantastic day!
You really don’t have to be thankful fro anything Dear Respected Hanna!! Let us be thankful to you for your precious time and courage to contribute for the betterment of diabetic people . You all deserve much more attention, care and respect – Stay Strong and I’ll message you the questionnaire and will wait for your response. Have a nice day
Dear Respected Hanna!! Kindly let me know if you have received my email – thank you
Hi Hanna!
I’m currently writing a report and the idea is to ‘get into the mind’ of a diabetic. Reading your interview was fascinating, and I couldn’t help but wonder a few things. How has diabetes changed you emotionally or personality wise? Do you follow a specific meal plan, and, if so, what is typically found on it? Do you have any doctors you would recommend to a person who recently found out they have diabetes?
Thank you!
-Emily
Hey Emily! Thanks so, so much for your comment. I truly appreciate it!
I’m not sure diabetes has changed me as a person, as I was two years old when I was diagnosed. However, my mentality and personality around diabetes has certainly changed throughout the years. It takes a lot of work, but it’s worth it.
I do follow a very low carbohydrate diet, max 20-30 carbs/day, which is what I’ve found has helped me the most to get healthier and better blood sugars.
My top tip to every diabetic out there is to read Dr Richard Bernstein’s “Diabetes Solution”. As a T1D himself for many, many years, he’s really figured out how to stabilize blood sugars to normal ranges.
I hope this reply finds you well and that you have a day full of smooth blood sugars,
Hanna
A well detailed and helpful article. Thanks for
sharing, it’s definitely going to help lots
of people out there. You always publish useful info, some of which I share on Facebook.
Hey Alica, thanks so much for your kind words! Please let me know if you have any questions I could answer. Hanna
hello there! can u help me about my assignment, I’m a high school student and I have a few question for u, I hope you could answer that for me?
Hey Cherry, sure, let me know how I can help! Email me at me@hannaboehtius.com Thanks!