| 1. Just how does someone "bury" diabetes? | | | | diabetes, with the right, healthy lifestyle |
| Diabetes is waiting on your doorstep. Will | | | | plan. Feeling fabulous to me, is what it's |
| you welcome it in your home...for that matter | | | | all about! Diabetes is dead....I'm alive! |
| your body? Diabetes was not welcome in my | | | | |
| home! It's a deadly disease that needs to be | | | | 11. How can people educate themselves about |
| buried. How do you bury diabetes? You must | | | | diabetes? It depends on what type of |
| mentally determine you will overcome the | | | | "diabetes education" you want. What I teach |
| disease and not be defined by it. First, get | | | | my clients is very unique and individualized. |
| yourself a big shovel. Dig a hole in the | | | | We have a lot of fun at the same time. I |
| ground and put diabetes and everything | | | | never use a fear-based education. Instead, we |
| mentally toxic with it in the ground. Start | | | | focus on you...not the disease! I use what |
| burying it with the dirt and keep going until | | | | works and it's been highly effective for over |
| you feel it's totally buried for good. After | | | | 25 years! Is your "diabetes education" |
| all, we don't want it coming out of the | | | | working for you? |
| grave! Otherwise, it would be spooky!! | | | | |
| | | | 12. It seems like doctors and nutritionists |
| 2. What happened after you buried your | | | | frustrated you - why? Because they did not |
| diabetes? I placed my shovel down on the | | | | want to hear what a 13 year old had to say |
| ground and started jumping up and down. I | | | | about diabetes. They only wanted to believe |
| felt great afterwards and never looked back | | | | what they were taught in college...even if it |
| again. However, I almost tripped on the | | | | didn't work and I felt sick. They didn't live |
| shovel, so be careful! I don't celebrate | | | | in my body, so how would they know how I'm |
| diabetes, nor do I ever think about it. I | | | | feeling? Since their system did not work for |
| just celebrate my birthday and living a | | | | me, I had to create a plan that worked really |
| "sweet life!" I won't ever forget the feeling | | | | well for myself. I'm glad I did...I'm healthy |
| of burying it.....unforgettable and amazing! | | | | and here today! |
| Yes, you can too! | | | | |
| | | | 13. According to your book, Diabetes Can Be |
| 3. What advice would you give to someone who | | | | Sweet...Once You Bury It, faith played a big |
| was just diagnosed with diabetes? Most | | | | role in your recovery. What else could serve |
| importantly, refuse and never use the | | | | as inspiration and strength for those |
| "diabetic" label. Don't let anyone ever | | | | confronting their disease? A positive role |
| disrespect you. The next time you hear | | | | model, in regards to diabetes would have made |
| someone use the word "diabetic," correct | | | | a big difference in my life. At the time, |
| them. Sometimes, people don't even realize | | | | there wasn't one. My passion in life is to be |
| what they are saying when they ask if you are | | | | the best role model for children and adults |
| a "diabetic." Educate them! Explain to them | | | | globally. Once they have hope and believe it |
| that if they had cancer, you would not call | | | | can be done, it's only a matter of time |
| them a "canceretic." Why then do you suppose | | | | before all of their dreams come true! |
| the word "diabetic" is used? Ask them to call | | | | |
| you by your first name. | | | | 14. You write in your book: "Diabetes did not |
| | | | define who I was, I defined what diabetes was |
| 4. How would you help someone who feels like | | | | to me." How so? Diabetes is a serious disease |
| no one knows what they are going through? | | | | and is not part of my life and never will be. |
| There are many people out there that know | | | | However, I'm an individual with my own |
| what you are going through. In fact, more | | | | personality and characteristics, just like |
| than 230 million children and adults | | | | you. Everyone is special in my eyes. We all |
| worldwide have diabetes, according to the | | | | have hopes and dreams and whether we have a |
| International Diabetes Federation. I | | | | blood sugar or broken foot challenge, it's no |
| personally know, how you are feeling, since I | | | | big deal. Life goes on. Living life to the |
| felt the same before I buried it. Believe me, | | | | fullest is what's valuable to me! |
| life will get better and those feelings will | | | | |
| not stay. | | | | 15. Even someone who doesn't have diabetes |
| | | | would find your personal story very |
| 5. Dealing with diabetes can wear you out | | | | interesting and motivating. Were you born |
| mentally. How do you maintain a positive, | | | | with a positive attitude, or did you develop |
| energized focus? I believe it is vital to | | | | it? I guess you could say, I have always had |
| focus on what you want in life. To me, it | | | | a positive attitude. You just never realize |
| includes excellent health. I never focus on | | | | it, until it's put to the test. And, yes this |
| what I don't want. What a waste of precious | | | | was quite the test! No matter how bad things |
| time that would be. Once you know what you | | | | seemed to get, I always knew I would come out |
| want, you can get started right away. Today | | | | stronger. I have learned a lot on my journey, |
| is the day, to make your fresh start! I know | | | | and it has been surreal at times. |
| you can do it! The choice is yours, you just | | | | |
| have to believe and have faith as you step | | | | 16. How should a diabetic come to see |
| forward, taking one step at a time. | | | | themselves? Ouch! You just used the "D" word. |
| | | | Certainly, not as a disease. The "diabetic |
| 6. You came to diagnose your own diabetes as | | | | label" should be banned. It is emotionally |
| a child. How did that happen? I was always | | | | and mentally damaging to people. Labels |
| into good health as a kid, but yet I couldn't | | | | belong on packaged foods, not on us. They |
| figure out why all of a sudden I was getting | | | | should see themselves like a normal, healthy |
| more and more fatigued while I was running. | | | | person. People are unique and extraordinary |
| Instead of getting more fit, I was now | | | | and there is no one else like them on the |
| running behind the unfit kids in my physical | | | | planet. You decide who you want to be...and |
| education class. It just so happened during | | | | it will definitely set you free! |
| this same time we were studying diabetes in | | | | |
| our health education class. | | | | 17. If someone is on insulin, how can they |
| | | | label, monitor or dictate their dosage? Since |
| 7. What are the symptoms of diabetes? | | | | I'm not a doctor, I cannot prescribe nor can |
| | | | I change someone's insulin dosage or |
| * Increased thirst | | | | medication. The individual will need to learn |
| | | | how to operate their own pancreas (an organ |
| * Frequent urination | | | | behind your stomach, where your body makes |
| | | | insulin). Insulin is a hormone secreted by |
| * Blurry vision | | | | the beta cells of the pancreas, which |
| | | | everyone needs in order to transport sugar |
| * Feeling fatigued | | | | from the bloodstream. Since insulin dosages |
| | | | are measured in units, you have to know all |
| * Weight loss | | | | of the necessary factors, in order to obtain |
| | | | the right dosage(s) (answers) to the |
| * Dry skin | | | | equation. |
| | | | |
| * Sores that don't heal | | | | 18. How does one get to know their own body? |
| | | | Primarily, by listening to what our body is |
| * Frequent infections | | | | trying to tell us. It's always giving us |
| | | | feedback. The question is, are we paying any |
| * Numbness or tingling in the feet | | | | attention to it or the "warning signs" which |
| | | | continue to keep flashing? One good way to |
| * Vomiting | | | | keep track of everything is to write it down |
| | | | in your journal. Also, by writing it down you |
| It's important to remember that you may | | | | will easily remember it as well. |
| experience only a few of these symptoms, not | | | | |
| all of them. | | | | 19. What type of health goals should one set? |
| | | | They should make healthy choices in all |
| 8. Why do you believe vaccines are the | | | | aspects of their life. This not only includes |
| largest cause of insulin-dependent diabetes | | | | consuming certain foods and nutrients, but |
| in children? For me personally, I never | | | | incorporating the most beneficial exercise |
| missed a day of school from any sickness. I | | | | for you as an individual. Most importantly, |
| was healthy all of the time. I even received | | | | are these goals actually reachable? Are you |
| perfect attendance certificates! However, | | | | seeing results? The actual results can be |
| after I received vaccinations, I started not | | | | measured by your lab reports, such as the |
| feeling like myself. Today there are many | | | | breakdown of your lipid panel. What is your |
| reliable sources that are in agreement with | | | | HDL? What is your Hemoglobin A1c? This test |
| me. I believe the pieces of the puzzle will | | | | reveals what your average blood sugars have |
| all fit together, once you have done your own | | | | been the past 2-3 months. Again, these lab |
| research into vaccinations. | | | | results don't define you as a person. They |
| | | | just let you know where you need to make |
| 9. How did your family and friends support | | | | adjustments. |
| you or react to your diabetes? My family was | | | | |
| in shock, since there was no history of | | | | 20. How can one relieve stress? We have all |
| diabetes in our family, nor did I eat a lot | | | | heard that exercise relieves stress. On the |
| of sugar. Back then they thought, you got | | | | other hand, if we follow a one-size that fits |
| Type 1 diabetes from eating too much sugar. | | | | all exercise program, we will have even more |
| Most of my friends were very supportive once | | | | stress. That's why individualized physical |
| I educated them on diabetes. If someone had a | | | | exercise not only reduces stress, but |
| problem with diabetes, that was their | | | | increases your overall fun and fitness level. |
| problem, not mine! | | | | Be sure and get plenty of rest. Keep moving |
| | | | and grooving. Don't just listen to music, |
| 10. Why do so many people feel overwhelmed by | | | | have fun and dance the night away! Staying |
| getting their diabetes in control? Because | | | | stress-free, is the best way to be!! |
| you can't control diabetes, you can only bury | | | | |
| it. I would be exhausted too, if I had to | | | | Note: Any information provided in response to |
| chase diabetes around. This disease doesn't | | | | questions 1-20 is not medical advice and |
| care who you are, its main goal is to destroy | | | | should not be substituted for consulting with |
| lives. You can live like you don't have | | | | your own physician. |