Strategies for Managing Food & Physical Activity
and their effects on type 1 diabetes
One of the most challenging things about managing diabetes is dealing with the effects of food and physical activity on blood sugar. If we can manage these effects well, we can reduce blood glucose swings. If we can reduce blood glucose extremes (highs and lows) then everyone feels better: D-Moms and D-dads worry less, symptoms of high and low blood sugar are reduced, physical safety is increased, and the risk of long term diabetes-related complications is minimized. Sounds great! But how do we manage well the effects of food and exercise?
Articles on Nutrition & Exercise
This Food & Exercise section of Waltzing the Dragon provides the background theory and practical tips needed to manage the effects of food and physical activity, and to put the diabetes dragon in its place.
Articles are categorized in terms of your Readiness Level:
Recipe Bank over 30 carb-counted, family-friendly recipes
Christmas / Holidays Treat Carb List
Valentine’s Day Treat Carb Guide
Beginning articles act as an introduction to the basics of managing type 1 diabetes, written for families with a child who has been recently diagnosed (within the last 6 months or so), and for those who feel there may be gaps in what they remember from the early days. Beginning content represents the basic building blocks for what follows in Intermediate and Advanced levels.
Intermediate articles add another layer of information, expanding upon basic skills. They are designed for families who experienced a type 1 diabetes diagnosis several months (or years) ago, have the Beginning concepts mastered, and who are feeling that they want to do more than just “get by”. Intermediate topics will provide you with the skills to better manage blood glucose.
Advanced articles are designed for those type A’s in the crowd (you know who you are!) who feel that, after all the regular information out there, there must still be more to learn. You can live well with the diabetes dragon without exploring these Advanced topics, but if you are in the pursuit of excellence, and want to further refine and tweak things, the topics in this level are for you.
I sincerely hope the information on these pages helps you focus less on the dragon and more on life… Let’s dance!
Other Resources for T1D, Food & Exercise
These are a few of the resources that have been valuable to our family in terms of dealing with the effects food and exercise - plus they each offer some great recipes and nutrition ideas. We hope this information helps you on your family’s journey!
The information below contains external links. Clicking on those links will take you to a different website outside of WaltzingTheDragon.ca. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained on those websites.
Health Coaching
LIFE FULL OF VITALITY IS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE… IT’S JUST HARD GETTING THERE ON YOUR OWN.
DANIELLE KRAUSE, CERTIFIED AND LICENSED HEALTH COACH
How many of us as parents of kids with type one diabetes do a fantastic job of caring for our kids but have a very hard time caring for ourselves? I know I did…until I was forced to change. The change came when I found myself not wanting or even being able to care for my then-teenage son anymore because my own health had crashed. I was ironically forced to care for myself after I experienced what I now know was caregiver burnout. See Danielle’s story for the details.
It’s taken some time for me to heal -5 years to be exact- and I’ve taken away a lot from that experience. One of the big takeaways was that as a parent of a child with a chronic condition, you can do a fantastic job of caring for your child AND you can care for yourself. In fact I realized that by caring for yourself, you are much more able to care for your child with diabetes.
That’s the main reason why I became a certified health coach. I want to help people care for themselves, in every area of their life, so that they can live their best life- no matter what life circumstance they find themselves in.
If you’re feeling like you need help and support with building resilience… I can help you! I would love to invite you to join me on an adventure of discovering life-giving possibilities through coaching. Visit me at Vitality Health Coaching for details.
Nutrition and Fitness Coaching
Nutrition and Fitness Coaching Fit Nutrition
JULIA MACPHEE
C.H.N.C., PN1
ONE BITE. ONE STEP. ONE THOUGHT.
Julia is a Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant and a graduate of the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition with a Diploma in Holistic Nutrition (certificate of merit). She is also a certified Pn1 Coach specializing in habits-based coaching; helping people take simple, sustainable actions towards their wellness goals.
Julia is a recreational exercise enthusiast with a strong desire to share her passion with others. She is a certified yoga instructor and a fitness coach. Her qualifications in nutrition and fitness sparked the desire to focus on overall wellness and to help people on their journey to healthier and stronger lives.
Julia is a founder of FitNutrition Consulting (www.fitnutrition.ca) and is passionate to inspire people to take steps towards their wellness goals through nutrition, physical activity and mindfulness. Prior to discovering her true passion, she graduated with a Diploma in Biotechnological Engineering (BTech.) and pursued a professional career in areas of the environment and oil and gas industry.
When she is not busy helping clients, she is a proud mom of two teenage boys and committed to keeping them happy, active, and healthy. Being a nutrition expert, she is often asked if chocolate and junk foods have a place in their home. She replies, with a smile, that she believes in the 80/20 rule when it comes to a happy balanced life. Because when you nourish your body with high quality foods 80% of the time and treat yourself the other 20% of the time, a beautiful balance emerges. This is the foundation and mission of FitNutrition, to seamlessly help fit nutrition and wellness into your life.
Recipes & Carb Counting
If you’re looking for tasty, carb-counted, family-style recipes that use fresh, REAL FOOD ingredients… Check out the recipe bank at RCrazyIncredibleLife.com. Follow the step-by-step instructions, or use the ideas as inspiration for your own creations. R Crazy Incredible Life focuses on balanced and healthy nutrition, including low carb and not-so-low carb items, family favorites, and a sprinkling of treats… Meat, fish and poultry mains, appetizers, baking, gluten-free, soups, salads, sides… Each recipe has been tested, measured and weighed at least 3 times, by a Canadian D-Mom who gets the challenges of food and type 1 diabetes.