May 2015 enewsletter

May 2015 enewsletter


 
  

Novo

MAY 2015 NEWSLETTER, ISSUE 79                                       
Sponsored by
 

 

Dear Anna,   
 


 

Over the last seven and a half years, I have been on the roller coaster ride of a lifetime!  Serving as the CEO of DiabetesSisters has allowed me the opportunity to get to know many inspirational women with diabetes. This experience has blessed me beyond measure! Although it is a little bittersweet to be leaving the organization that has dominated my every waking thought for the last few years, I know that the organization is safe in the hands of Anna (Norton) as Interim CEO and our Board of Directors.  So it is with peace and happiness that I bid you a final farewell (not farewell for good, just farewell as CEO!).  I look forward to experiencing the "other side" of DiabetesSisters-- with you!

Brandy Barnes 14 
 

In Sisterhood, 
 
Brandy Barnes

Founder & CEO Emeritus

 

By now, we are deep into Spring and I, for one, am happy for the longer evenings, the sunshine, and the flowers. Spring always brings me a sense of rebirth and this year is no different.

 

We just finished hosting our first Leadership Institute for PODS Leaders in Raleigh, NC.  The weekend brought together 18 women leaders, who shared their best practices in hosting these special support group meetings in so many cities throughout the country. If you have never attended a PODS Meetup, I encourage you to seek out a local meeting in your area. And if there isn't one, join us at our Virtual Meetup. Or even better, reach out to us to start your own. These meetups are full of education and support, and most importantly, led by another woman traveling the same journey as you.

 

We have just been re-named a top diabetes blog by Healthline for 2015 joining some of our partners and friend in the diabetes world. This is due to our great bloggers and expert contributors who share their stories and knowledge with us each month. Thank you!

 

This month, we are hosting our next webinar installment, led by Ginger Vieira, on Diabetes and Exercise. If you have not heard Ginger speak, please take 30 minutes on May 20th to participate in this program. You can register by clicking on the link in the section below.

 

Until next month, enjoy the wonderful Spring weather!

 

In sisterhood, 

 
 
Anna Norton
Interim CEO
22+ Triumphant (NOT Perfect!) Years with Diabetes
 
P.S. In looking through some of our archived videos, I (re)watched this one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I.
 
The Impact of DiabetesSisters
The Impact of DiabetesSisters
 


SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR LIFE CLASS WEBINAR: DIABETES AND PHYSICAL FITNESS
May 20th: from 4:00-4:30 pm
Presented by Ginger Vieira: Personal Trainer, Record-Setting Power-lifter, and author of "Dealing with Diabetes Burnout," "Emotional Eating with Diabetes," and "Your Diabetes Science Experiment"
 Ginger will cover the need-to-know details of balancing your blood sugar during exercise! 

All registered will be entered to win your choice of any oneof Ginger Vieira's inspirational and informative books!

 

Did you miss the March webinar on Eye Disease? Find the link to the recording here!
 


MAY SPOTLIGHTPHYSICAL FITNESS
This month, we were lucky enough to interview the amazing Ginger Vieira: Diabetes Coach and Certified Personal Trainer. Ginger shares with us her experience in living with diabetes and exercise.
 
As a former record-setting powerlifter, and as a woman living with diabetes, Ginger has a ton of great advice about staying fit and healthy while managing your diabetes!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your life?

Ginger: I live with my husband Roger who is an amazing Type 3 when it comes to support my diabetes. We just welcomed our first child, Lucy, who is almost 3 months old! 

 

Q: How did your life change after your diabetes diagnosis?

Ginger: I was 13 when I was diagnosed -- I diagnosed myself during a school health fair! I had all the symptoms on the poster! To be honest, I really don't remember what it was like to go through the day without constantly tending to my blood sugar. I can only imagine it's changed everything about my life, especially when you consider that my work and income really revolves around writing about my diabetes. 

 

Q: Have you experienced any challenges to weight lifting or exercise as a woman living with diabetes?

G: You bet. During my first power-lifting meet, my blood sugar was 300 mg/dL the whole time! Purely from adrenaline. For my body, increasing my Lantus dose of insulin the night before by almost 25% was necessary to combat that adrenaline on competition day.

 

Weight-lifting is actually easier to balance my blood sugars during than something like marathon-training. Running burns glucose primarily for fuel, but strength-training tends to spike your blood sugar a bit because, in a nut shell, your body is breaking down the glucose in your muscles and then actually trying to cycle glucose back to those cells to repair and perform again. Without enough insulin on board, this will make your blood sugar high. 

 
Q: What advice would you give to a woman with diabetes who is just beginning to lift weights or exercise?
G: First, don't be afraid of weights. There's no way you're going to "bulk up" by accident because what it truly takes to put on large amounts of muscle is not something you're going to do unless your whole life is focused on building muscle, your diet, your workout, your social life--everything. 

Secondly, be patient, enjoy the process of strengthening your body and don't stress about the visible benefits right away.

Q: What benefits do strength training offer to women living with diabetes?

G: Power, baby! I think, honestly aside from all the health benefits, one of the biggest benefits to strength training for a woman is what it does to your self-esteem. There's just this intangible feeling you carry around all day because somewhere in your head you know that you busted your buns at the gym moving weight with your muscles. You'll stand taller, feel more confident in who you are and what your body can accomplish (not just what it looks like)...what your body can do! 

 

 

Thanks, Ginger! Want more tips about staying healthy as a woman living with diabetes? Take a look at these great resources:

 

Five Ways to Move More, an article by Ginger Vieira

Five Tips for Balancing Blood Sugars during Exercise, an article by Ginger Vieira 

 

Or take a look at Ginger's book: "Your Diabetes Science Experiment"HERE!  

 


2015 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE:
A WEEKEND FOR OUR PODS LEADERS
 

This innovative weekend provided additional training, in-depth diabetes education and leadership skills to the selected PODS Leaders! 

 

Attendees included: 

Barbara Hunt, Cele Flanary, Cindy Campaniello, Connie Hanham-Cain, Daphene Kimball, Diane Bajalia, Erika Armani, Gail Nurnberg, Gayle McKenna, Jane Dyson, Jo-Nette Boyd, Julie Wilson, Karen Rose Tank, Libby Brown, Lori Renee, Robin Wright, Sarah MacLeod, and Sondra Bennett 
 

 

These women, in addition to the remaining 30+ plus leaders that did not attend, have been instrumental in the growing the PODS Meetup program exponentially since 2010. From starting PODS Meetups in brand new cities to expanding existing meetups to various locations to reaching women living with diabetes in rural areas, these leaders have shown an unwavering commitment to serving other women living with diabetes.

 
Leaders had the opportunity to share their best practices, participate in group discussions, and provide stakeholder input on the future direction of DiabetesSisters. 

     

 Speaker Diana Naranjo, PhD, led the session titled "Best Practices for Moderating and Facilitating a Successful PODS Meetup" 

 

Quotes from the weekend: 


 

On DiabetesSisters:

"I don't know that there's ever going to be a cure, but we can heal every day. That's what DiabetesSisters is -- it's a body. It's a web. It's a healing force." - Connie Hanham-Cain

 

On change:

"For me, it was life-saving. Some of you will remember that I was 65 pounds heavier two years ago. I wasn't following my diabetes plan. And I said, I need to get serious about this." - Cindy Campaniello 
  

Are YOU interested in attending a PODS Meetup in your town? How about leading one? Email us atinfo@diabetessisters.org for more information! 
 
Check out the full gallery of weekend photos here!
 

DIABETESHEALTH MAGAZINE
 
 
    
Once again, DiabetesSisters was featured in the March/April issue of Diabetes Health Magazine. 
 
Check it out now here
 


Bringing Together Women with T1 & T2 Diabetes!

 
This new and interesting report is a great tool to learn about "Bridging the Gap," and the value of bringing together women with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. 
We strive to support and educate women regardless of their diabetes diagnosis!
 
Click to check it out here
 


 sisterTALK Blogs

Explore tips from our experts and stories from women like you who live with diabetes. Get connected, then join the discussion.

 

emotional well-being
 
 
nutrition
 
type 1
 
type 2
 
SisterSTAFF
 
 


 

 

Buffalo, NY

May 6, 7 p.m.
 

Chattanooga, TN

May 7, 6:30 p.m.

 

Clifton Park, NY

May 12, 6:30 p.m.

 

Oradell, NJ

May 12, 7 p.m.

 

Colonie, NY

May 13, 6:30 p.m.

 

Princeton, NJ

May 13, 7 p.m.

 

Kern County, CA

May 14, 6 p.m.

 

Rochester, NY

May 14, 6 p.m.

 

Ashland, MA

May 14, 6 p.m.

 UNC, Durham, NC

May 14, 6:30 p.m. 

 Greater Philadelphia, PA

May 14, 7 p.m.

 

Lafayette, IN

May 19, 6 p.m.

 

Greensboro, NC

May 19, 6 p.m.

 

East Greenbush, NY

May 21, 6:30 p.m.

 

VIRTUAL PODS

May 21, 8 p.m.

 

Keysville, GA

May 24, 2:30 p.m.

 

 

Would you like to participate in our Virtual PODS Meetup?
Please email us atinfo@diabetessisters.org, subject line: VIRTUAL PODS 
 


DiabetesSisters helps to connect women living with diabetes through peer support, education, and advocacy that improves their health and quality of life.  We invite you to be part of expanding that network of sisterhood and strength by joining our new Sister Strength Monthly Giving program.

  Diabetic Living PODS  
Set up your monthly gift today: Together we will build a stronger future for women with diabetes!
  
 
 


 

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DiabetesSisters | 6015 Fayetteville Road, Suite 213 | Durham | NC | 27713