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/5868/72469/starting-pregnancy Wed, 27 May 2009 13:18:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla There's nothing typical about having a baby with you have diabetes, and the abnormalities start right at the beginning.  When I casually mentioned to friends and co-workers that I had my "preconception consultation" appointment last week, I saw many blank faces.    "A what?" they'd ask.    "An appointment with my doctor to see if I'm ready to start trying to conceive," I responded, all the while thinking it's so odd... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/72469/starting-pregnancy http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/69793/exercise-pregnancy Tue, 05 May 2009 11:28:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla The other day I overheard one of my coworkers describing a kickboxing instructor at her gym.  Apparently, this woman was nine months pregnant and due to give birth in less than two weeks and still teaching and participating in kickboxing.  Wow, that's impressive!   Luckily, exercise during pregnancy does not need to be - and probably for safety reasons shouldn't be - that strenuous.   However, moderate exercise is an... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/69793/exercise-pregnancy http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/69330/diabetes-dilemma Fri, 01 May 2009 11:00:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla When I first learned about the discontinuation of my current pump, the Deltec Cosmo, I was in the middle of tax busy season and too overwhelmed with work to pay much attention to the news or what it meant for my diabetes management.  Shortly after the 15th, I started researching my options.   Since I started pumping in September 2006, my Cosmo pump is covered under warranty until September 2010.  However, upon calling my medical... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/69330/diabetes-dilemma http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/67914/diabetes-pregnancy Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:12:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla When I read Gina's post regarding planning for a diabetic pregnancy, it was a trip down memory lane for me.  Very timely as well, since I'm starting to think about my next pregnancy!  Obviously, having already traversed the challenges of a pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes, I'm feeling confident that I can do it again.   There were several practices that I had to master during my preconception and pregnancy phases, which... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/67914/diabetes-pregnancy http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/65280/acknowledging Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:31:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla In the fast paced world we live in, people are always trying to juggle several things at once.  Many people feel burnt out and stressed a lot of the time.  So many things demand our attention all throughout the day.  Finding time for solace and serenity is precious and rare.  Then, there are those of us that manage chronic conditions on top of everything else.  Don't we deserve a pat on the back?!   Oddly, as I've... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/65280/acknowledging http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/63927/diabetes-priority Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:34:00 -0400 Kelsey Bonilla My life is very full right now.  That's putting a positive spin on the fact that recently I've been struggling to find balance in my life.  The basic issue is that I'm in the middle of busy season at work (I'm the administrator for a tax department) and putting in 50-55 hour weeks.    When I'm not at work or trying to get work done from home, I spend as much time as possible with Sienna.  Then, there are meals to... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/63927/diabetes-priority http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/58008/diabetes-driving Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:06:00 -0500 Kelsey Bonilla Today I had to renew my driver license.  What a terrible way for the state of California to wish me a happy birthday, right?   Since I didn't think to make an appointment until last week and my license expires on Saturday, I spent the afternoon waiting in line at the DMV.  Overall, the wait wasn't too bad and I took work along, so at least it was productive.  What actually bothered me the most was when I got to the part of... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/58008/diabetes-driving http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/57166/daily-diabetes Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:51:00 -0500 Kelsey Bonilla   Diabetes weaves itself into our daily lives in the most odd and interesting ways.  People with diabetes and their loved ones recognize that this disease requires regimented maintenance, all of the time. It's always with us.  Because of this consistent presence, diabetes and the little habits and activities that accompany it, beyond basic boluses, blood glucose tests, and carbohydrate counting, because ingrained in our... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/57166/daily-diabetes http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/54902/daughter-year Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:03:00 -0500 Kelsey Bonilla Sienna celebrated her first birthday on January 2, 2009.  I've realized how neat it is to have her birthday right at the beginning of the year.  For Christmas I gave our family calendars with pictures of Sienna that correspond to each month in 2008.  They can watch her grow from a newborn to a toddler throughout 2009!    But, the novelty of that idea isn't the coolest part of having her birthday right after New... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/54902/daughter-year http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/51976/sweet-spot Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0500 Kelsey Bonilla One of my on-going diabetes management struggles is remembering to change my infusion set on a regular basis.  Many people who've lived with diabetes for any length of time will likely admit to changing their lancet in their finger-pricking device about as often as we change the battery in our smoke detectors!  There are some aspects of diabetes care that can be neglected without a serious affect on blood sugar control.  However... http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/5868/51976/sweet-spot