Diabetes Expert Kelsey Bonilla shares Diabetes management news and commentary at MyDiabetesCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868 http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868 http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/34032/understanding Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:11:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla It sounds so cliché, but it's true, you don't truly appreciate your parents until you become a parent yourself. In the last six months my understanding of what parenthood entails has grown tremendously.   While chatting with my mom the other day, I started thinking about how she must have felt when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of thirteen. Looking at little Sienna, I now have an appreciation for how... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/34032/understanding http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32594/pump Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:04:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla I've been thinking about my insulin pump lately.  In September I will mark my two year pumping anniversary.   It's amazing that I feel intimately connected to this little machine that tethers to my body and helps me to live a healthy and active life.   In a typical day, I interact with my pump several times and for many different reasons.   For instance, in the early hours of the morning, I recently heard Sienna... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32594/pump http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32592/motherhood-lows Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:50:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla In my nearly six months of motherhood, I have discovered that this new phase of life is full of many wonderful highs and frustrating lows.  Mostly, having a child has been the most rewarding, fun, inspiring, and joyous thing I have ever done.  But, diabetes does threaten to ruin the party sometimes... especially when my blood sugar gets low.   I've repeatedly encountered three situations that often lead to low blood... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32592/motherhood-lows http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32539/spouse-perspective Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:24:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla My wife Kelsey and I were friends for several months before we started dating.  Kelsey has always been very open about her diabetes, so I learned about her disease early in our friendship.  Initially, she had to explain to me the difference between type 1 and type 2.  I didn't know there were different types of diabetes!  My brother had recently been diagnosed with type 2 and did a minimal amount of work to manage... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32539/spouse-perspective http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/31236/perspective Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:24:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla A question posted at HealthCentral's diabetes site got me thinking today.  A woman with type 1 diabetes for over 20 years asked about the severity of her condition and how best to communicate with her spouse regarding the importance of good diabetes management.    Type 1 diabetes demands so much from us that have the disease.  However, we're not an island; our condition affects our loved ones too.  Having a... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/31236/perspective http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32538/sienna-growing Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:52:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla In the last week or so, Sienna has reached some baby milestones.  She's rolling over, sitting facing forward in her stroller, sitting in her high chair, and generally interacting with us in a more purposeful way.  In short, she's moving from the infant stage to the regular baby stage.   Dennis and I keep exclaiming to one another, "She's growing up too fast!"  But we're enjoying every second of... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/32538/sienna-growing http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/30456/admitting-mistakes Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:22:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla While recently reviewing past blog posts I'd written, I noticed that I often project the image of a perfectly controlled diabetic.  This couldn't be farther from the truth!  First of all, perfection is an unrealistic expectation with this disease.  Furthermore, I tend to write about goals and ambitions for my diabetes management and health care efforts.  Focusing on goals has a dual purpose, it motivates me to stay... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/30456/admitting-mistakes http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/29802/constitutes-good Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:52:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla Are you the type of person who recognizes a need, say for new casual shoes, and then spend hours upon hours shopping for just the right pair? Do you obsess over finding the best shoes at a great price that fit perfectly and look stylish?  Then, after making a choice do you worry that you could have gotten a better pair or a cheaper price and thus don't ever truly enjoy the shoes.  Or, do you run into the store and... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/29802/constitutes-good http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/31482/diabetic-mom Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:56:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla At a very young age, Sienna is already being affected by having a mom with diabetes: Frequently her little ankle or hand becomes tangled in my pump tubing.  Most often this occurs when I'm wearing something that doesn't provide a good place to stash my pump.  Particularly at night I'll temporarily put my pump in the top of my bra which leaves the tubing draped down the front of me.  The other night, as... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/31482/diabetic-mom http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/29440/square-meals-meals Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:15:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla I've been thinking lately about the advantages and drawbacks to eating three "square" meals per day versus six "mini" meals for my diabetes management.    As a diabetic, and particularly during my pregnancy, I cemented an eating pattern of several mini meals each day.  I found that it kept the morning sickness at bay, plus helped me achieve the blood glucose control I desired.  Also, it kept me from getting overly... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/29440/square-meals-meals