I had the good fortune to attend the DiabetesSisters Conference for Women, held in San Diego, California, in early October 2011. What a great weekend it was! I roomed with Natalie, who I “met” here online on TuDiabetes. I always liked Natalie on TuD, appreciating her great support and compassion, but in person she is so much more, a Renaissance woman with great intellect and insatiable curiosity (plus the kindness so evident online). I also met Amanda, Crystalyn, and Fabiana, all TuD friends.
I chose to attend because I found some of my motivation lagging after 16 years with Type 1 diabetes. By seeking support, and updating and refreshing my knowledge, I intend to stay motivated for the long haul. I was also very interested to learn more about the Behavioral Diabetes Institute, based in San Diego, which was the pioneer in addressing the (typically overlooked) emotional needs of people with diabetes (PWDs). Although day-to-day management of diabetes is a challenging juggling act that involves lots of math and technology, I have always found the emotional aspect to be the most difficult. I really appreciated the talks by Behavioral Diabetes Institute personnel, which were filled with perspective on mindfulness and diabetes, humor, finding balance, and inspiration. Weekend for Women topics included food and exercise, avoiding hypos, arresting the diabetes police, sex and diabetes, weight challenges and eating issues, technological advances, and maintaining motivation for the long haul. Ann Albright, PhD, who is the Director of the Division of Diabetes Translation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) was an inspirational keynote speaker.
The greatest thing for me was meeting all these fabulous, supportive and wonderful women, living with diabetes from 2 to 67 years, who inspired me beyond belief. Kudos to Brandy Barnes, the founder of DiabetesSisters, for pioneering a way for all women with diabetes, no matter what type, to travel this path with support, and to end isolation. We even started off the weekend with a “pajama party” and chick flick (Mamma Mia, which really makes me laugh)!
I met some amazing women who are making a profound difference. Erin Akers is a young woman who, in recovery from diabulimia, started Diabulimia Helpline. Diabulimia is purposefully manipulating or withholding insulin in order to lose weight, and tragically it is all too common, particularly in young women with diabetes (although I have met women who are 40+ with diabulimia). What a gift Erin provides, and what a service to shine the light on this problem for so many women with Type 1 diabetes.
The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction talk, by Steve Hickman, PsyD, was one of my favorites. Dr. Hickman founded the University of California San Diego Center for Mindfulness (mindfulness.ucsd.edu). I have practiced yoga and meditation for many years, slightly more than my years with diabetes, and mindfulness and yoga are key ways that I have been able to cope with the daily grind of diabetes management, and lived a mostly good life in spite of diabetes.
The key message of the conference was summed up so eloquently by Bill Polonsky, PhD, founder and CEO of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute. Bill says that good care is a compromise: you want the best blood sugar control possible, with no severe hypos, and to have a life. Most important, find the balance and have a life.
Did the conference provide me with the jolt of motivation I was seeking? Absolutely yes!
