Summer Reading Club is done at my library, but this month has ended up becoming quite busy and I feel more than a little behind in almost all areas of my life. Writing here is definitely one of them!

my July

I’ve been so worn out for most of this month that, to be honest, when I tried to look back at what happened and how I felt, it was all just a blur. In fact, I was so tired recently that I accidentally removed a brand new cgm instead of the old one…and then instantly went into an emotional tailspin about it. Fun!

Partially, all of this is because I’ve been going to physical therapy twice a week to deal with a lingering shoulder issue. It’s been getting a lot better but that does mean another thing to do/fit into my schedule. On the other hand, it’s been interesting to find different ways to move my body, beyond peddling on our little standing bike (my default). Maybe I’ll actually figure out how to join an indoor pool for the winter!

traveling while diabetic

R and I are going on a trip soon, so I’ve been thinking about traveling while managing diabetes. It’s not a very fun topic, because it’s still the source of a lot of resentment, frustration, and pain for me.

Before my diagnosis, one of the things I enjoyed a lot about visiting other places was trying food that I normally wouldn’t get to experience. I still think about the amazing Filipino barbecue we had in San Francisco in 2018, for example.

Now, the whole thing is much more fraught. Not only is trying new food often stress-inducing, I have to be the awkward person who needs to see the menu beforehand. I can’t go with the flow, and that’s led to some difficult conversations over the last few years! And, in a weird way, I find a kind of grief around the idea of getting to experience new things and new food.

I’ve seen some commentary on this subject that basically boils down to let yourself live a little. And there’s an element of truth to that. I know I can get too focused on keeping steady numbers even when traveling. But on the other hand, if I can keep my baseline numbers steady, then I’m more able to enjoy other aspects of a trip. There’s always a tradeoff, and I don’t love the just get over it implication that sometimes accompanies those comments.

All of that to say, I’m hoping for balance and trying to set myself up as best I can. I’m bringing snacks and the chia puddings I’ve been eating for breakfast almost every day, so I can be sure I have something to fall back on. R is great about advocating for me too, so I’m less concerned about eating meals with friends than I used to be. It’s still challenging, but it feels more doable now.

August

August is typically a sticky month around here, weather wise, so I’m hoping that we can enjoy some tomatoes from the garden and maybe not entirely melt!