March 2014

Welcome Dragon Tamers! Thank you for subscribing to the monthly e-newsletter from WaltzingTheDragon.ca, THE trusted online resource for families living with type 1 diabetes in Canada. Our goal is to provide you with practical tips and highlight relevant information for your dragon-taming journey.





Brighter Days Ahead!

As the days lengthen and the ice melts, as hockey and skiing give way to soccer and swimming... do you feel the change ahead?


Adjusting to Change: It’s a Process 

Things change when the diabetes dragon moves in... Eating habits may differ... Family Interactions may shift... Emotions swing. But did you know that healthy adjustment to a major life change (such as a diabetes diagnosis) follows predictable stages? Read more about where you fit now in these stages – and whether your child with diabetes is in the same place – in this research-grounded article by Michael Watts, Medical Social Worker at the Diabetes and Endocrine Clinics, Alberta Children’s Hospital.

 

Insulin Adjustment 

In the January edition of Dragon News we touched on how different insulin programs  meet different physical, emotional and lifestyle needs. This month we look a little closer at one insulin program, a Conventional Insulin Program (in which the individual typically takes three injections per day, including N or NPH). We also show how to make insulin adjustments within that framework. We start with an explanation of how an intermediate-acting insulin impacts blood glucose... from there, feel free to explore Pattern Adjustment, Adjusting Insulin-To-Carb Ratios, and Adjusting Correction Insulin for High Blood Glucose.

New Season, New Activities
 

If your family is new to diabetes and looking ahead to the physical activities your child will be involved in this spring, check out our introductory exercise article for the theory and practice behind managing blood glucose during physical activity.

Diabetes Camp 

With warmer days ahead, thoughts turn to... camp! “At D-Camps, children are empowered to self-manage diabetes in a supportive, nurturing environment. At D-Camps, children make connections with other kids who “get” diabetes. At D-Camps, children develop a sense of independence through active outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, campfires and canoeing.”

Check out dcamps.ca for information about overnight camps, family camps, and diabetes camp reunions in your area.


Join the Conversation

With type 1 diabetes, a season change usually means a change in blood sugars. Be prepared for those changes by reading The Curve Ball and then make a comment as we would love to hear your perspective. 

Questions? Comments?

Send us a note: admin@WaltzingTheDragon.ca.

Recipe of the Month

Pineapple Cream Cake

Makes a light and easy dessert, sort of like trifle in a pan.
43*g carbs/piece (when cut into 18 even pieces)


1 White Cake Mix, GF (Kinninnick-425g) or regular  (407)
1-19 oz can of Crushed Pineapple  (82g)
1/2 cup Icing Sugar (96g) 
1 Tbsp Cornstarch (7g) 
1-4 serving size Instant Vanilla Pudding (120g with milk)
1 cup whipping cream (24g)
2 Tbsp sugar (30g)
1 Tbsp Dry Milk Powder (3g)-will allow longer storage of whipping cream in fridge without it becoming watery.
1/4 cup Sliced Almonds or Toasted Coconut (optional)

Prepare and bake cake mix as directed on package in a 9x13" pan.

In saucepan stir pineapple, icing sugar and cornstarch together. Heat and stir until it boils and thickens. Spread on warm cake.

Prepare instant pudding as directed on package. Spoon over top of pineapple then refrigerate until firm.

Whip cream with sugar and milk powder until stiff. Spoon over pudding. Smooth.

Sprinkle with almonds or coconut if desired (don't forget to add up these few extra carbs if using).


*Actual carb count will vary according to the brand and amount of ingredients used. For guidance on calculating carbs for mixed recipes, check out: How Do I Figure Out the Carb Content for Mixed Recipes? at WaltzingTheDragon.ca 

 A Personal Tale: Growing Up with the Dragon

Heart and Stroke Found logo

Dan Poole, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of eleven, shares his perspective on what it was like to grow up with diabetes and how its impact (both positive and negative) followed him into adulthood. His journey from diagnosis to advocate (as a member of Team Diabetes and as the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Volunteer of the Year 2013) is one that may be familiar to young people with T1D today. Take a peek into the emotional life of someone who has been where our kids are.

All the best to you and your family as you tame the diabetes dragon...
-Michelle & Danielle

Michelle MacPhee & Danielle Krause
Co-Creators, WaltzingTheDragon.ca


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What is Waltzing the Dragon?

WaltzingTheDragon.ca is a Canadian website for families dealing with type 1 diabetes, created by two parents of children with diabetes: Danielle, a former Registered Nurse, is a mother of three teens (one of her sons has had type 1 diabetes since 2001); Michelle holds a Masters degree in Psychology and is mom to two young children, including a 6-year-old son (who has had type 1 diabetes since 2008).

The articles on Waltzing the Dragon have been reviewed for content accuracy by the clinical staff at the Diabetes Clinic at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, ensuring the material is grounded in science and best practices. Then, as parents, we provide the practical, experiential layer, sharing “tips from the trenches”, sharing what has worked well in our families. At WaltzingTheDragon.ca, we strive to make the dance a little easier by sharing with you the science of effective diabetes care, as well as the art that makes one truly successful. We hope that, as a result, all of us can focus less on the dragon and more on life.

admin@WaltzingTheDragon.ca
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