Inflammation / Physical Wellbeing / Taking Control of My Health

Type 1 Diabetes and The Menstrual Cycle

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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I was shocked to find out today (thanks to this journal article) that the rate of Type 1 Diabetes is 1.8 times higher in those that are biologically male than it is in those that are biologically female.  I guess, having grown up in a family with Type 1 Diabetes just in the female line, I had a bit of a gender bias with my assumption here.  I thought that the split would be at least even between the genders.  I have been corrected!  So, this article may not apply to a fair percentage of people reading this blog but, for those that it does, I feel it’s really important to write.

Today, I am talking about Type 1 Diabetes and the menstrual cycle.  I haven’t exactly had an easy time of things in this area during my lifetime.  My periods arrived late (something that is not uncommon in those with Type 1 Diabetes **ARTICLE**).  This led to several visits to a gynaecologist, who diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (again, not uncommon in Type 1 Diabetes **ARTICLE**).  Then, the fun really started.  The periods that I had became almost unbearable.  The highlights included:

  • bleeding that lasted two weeks straight
  • so much blood that I once had to stay on the toilet for fives days straight
  • irregular bleeds (something else that is much more common in people with Type 1 Diabetes)
  • years without periods
  • and such out of control emotions that, whilst in a premenstrual period, I screamed so badly at one of my school friends that she never spoke to me again.  

Not fun.  Looking back on that time now, I believe that a fair amount of the dramatic symptoms I had could be linked to, or directly attributed to, my Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).  

Healing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

At the time of diagnosis, it was explained to me that PCOS is an incurable condition.  So I battled on with the symptoms, took birth control to regulate myself and shrugged my shoulders about my lot in life.  Well, now I don’t have PCOS.  I had a scan a couple of years ago for an unrelated issue and was told that I did not have it.  There are no cysts on my ovaries at all and my ovaries are a normal size.  Of course, at that time, I was told that I must have been misdiagnosed the first time around.  (I didn’t ask the consultant at this time if I had also been misdiagnosed at the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh scans and also during all of my pre-pregnancy planning with my medical team!).

I still have some excess facial hair but, beyond that, I have nothing to report.  My periods are regular (I mostly have a 28 to 30 day cycle each month).  The only exception to this is when I am particularly stressed out, which results in higher insulin levels and more insulin for my system.  I have no excessive symptoms throughout my cycle – no pain, no cramping, no excessive bleeding, no other disruptions or inconveniences.  

What do I believe healed my Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

I think it was two things.  Firstly, I believe that getting pregnant really helped. I remember once hearing Victoria Beckham (yep, the Spice Girl) once say that her PCOS healed when she had her first baby, Brooklyn.  I think there’s something about pregnancy that presses the reset button on the female reproductive system.  So there’s that.  But that’s not exactly convenient for those that would like to get rid of their PCOS without the long-term commitment of raising a human to adulthood!  So…  

Secondly, I think that a reduction in my insulin levels also helped heal my PCOS.  During my teenage years, and into my twenties, my insulin levels were usually around 16-18 units of Novorapid for each meal and 22 units of Lantus at night.  Today, I have 2 to 4 units per meal and 12 to 16 units at night time.  And I am a heavier weight now than I was then so it is purely due to decreased resistance in my body, rather than weight loss.  What do I think helped me increase my insulin sensitivity?  In short… everything I do to lead a healthier and happier lifestyle.  Practices that improve my wellbeing (wellbeing in the true sense of the word) and, a lot of which, I have already written about on my blog.  Not sure where to start?  Pick one that appeals to you.  If you don’t want to do it, don’t because adding something to your plate that you don’t want to do will just cause more stress (and therefore more insulin resistance).

Type 1 Diabetes with a Regular(ish) Menstrual Cycle

Now that I am on a regular 28- to 30-day cycle, I still have challenges with varying insulin resistance at times.  This has become even more clear to me since I have eliminated the gluten and dairy.  Both gluten and dairy were triggering inflammation in my system and, as I have been banging on about for ages, inflammation causes insulin resistance…  Just think of how much more insulin you have when you have the flu or tonsillitis or any other such lovely.  After all, that’s what the sick day rules of diabetes were created for!

Now that I have eliminated the gluten and dairy, it has become more obvious to me that there are more predictable fluctuations in my insulin needs over the course of each menstrual cycle.  Even with insulin resistance in the mix, I was already aware of the need for extra insulin during the week before my period (when I say more, I mean DOUBLE!).  However, more subtle variations are now becoming more evident.  To understand this in context, I’m going first need to divert for a moment to talk about the various phases of the menstrual cycle.

The Four Phases of the Menstrual Cycle

A healthy menstrual cycle consists of four main phases.  Whilst every woman is different and one woman’s periods can fluctuate in duration from one month to the next, the following is a guide of what the phases of the menstrual cycle may look like:

Days 1-5: Menstruation Phase

This is the ‘time of the month’ when the uterus lets go of its lining and a blood flow is observed.  This bleed usually lasts for between three and seven days each month.  Levels of oestrogen and progesterone are at their lowest levels during this phase of the menstrual cycle.

Days 6-14: Follicular Phase

During this phase, the uterus builds a thick lining in preparation for receiving the ovum (or egg) that will be released from the ovary in the coming days.  In this phase, oestrogen typically rises whilst progesterone levels stay low.

Days 15-19: Ovulatory Phase

It is during this phase that an ovum is developed and then released into the uterus, ready to be fertilised by an sperm that are present.  Both oestrogen and progesterone rise during this phase, peaking at the time just before ovulation.

Days 20-28: Luteal Phase

Assuming the ovum is not fertilised by a sperm, at this point the lining of the uterus is shed and the levels of oestrogen and progesterone fall back down to their lowest levels, preparing the body for menstruation.

Varying Insulin Resistance Caused by Oestrogen and Progesterone

In terms of blood sugar levels during the menstrual cycle, there are two key players that affect insulin resistance.  These are oestrogen and progesterone.  oestrogen is understood to decrease insulin resistance (increase insulin sensitivity).  Progesterone is understood to increase insulin resistance (decrease insulin sensitivity).  So, with fluctuating levels of BOTH of these hormones during the entirety of the menstrual cycle, less predictable blood sugar readings are to be expected.  Here is what I have found:

Day 1 of my period: My insulin resistance dramatically switches off sometime during this day.  My insulin requirement halves.  It’s hard not to end up with an unexpected hypo (or elevated blood sugars for a large part of the day) with this unpredictable switch.

Days 2 – 4: my insulin sensitivity is high.  I need half to two-thirds of my ‘usual’ Novorapid doses.  Hypos are not unexpected territory here.

Days 5-8: usual insulin sensitivity (and therefore blood sugar control) is resumed.

Days 11-14: somewhere in this mix, my insulin requirements increase.  This is in-line with the release of the ovum.  This release increases two hormones LH and FSH, which are known to cause brief periods of insulin resistance.

Days 15-23: my blood sugars are stable here and my insulin requirements are in the normal range.  

Days 24-28: my insulin resistance is THROUGH THE ROOF!  I need more bolus (double!) and basal insulin.  I also appear to be more sensitive to carbohydrates…   My body reacts sharply and dramatically to any carbohydrates I eat.  The progesterone is by far the biggest player in this blood sugar pattern, with the lowering effect of the oestrogen appearing to be insignificant or absent in my case.  I also have strong carbohydrate cravings at this time.  I believe these cravings are due to my body not being able to access the glucose already in my bloodstream because my insulin levels are not sufficient as a result of the dramatic insulin resistance.  Nice Catch-22 there!

I have learnt that my period pattern is substantiated in the medical literature.  As an example, Barata et al. (2013) clearly demonstrated that blood sugar control is markedly different between the follicular and luteal phases, with more insulin being required in the latter half of the menstrual cycle.

I haven’t, as yet, got to the point where I can predict with any degree of certainty what insulin requirements I might have on each day of my cycle.  It’s still a bit hit-and-miss.  But, now having a clearer picture of what my cycle is doing and how my insulin requirements change over each few days of my cycle, I have more hope than I did.  I will report back with what I learn!

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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April 24, 2023
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Gluten Sensitivity

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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The next step on my healing journey has become about food again.  Having identified my problem with dairy two years ago, I have now discovered that gluten is also a problem for me.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein (a long-chain amino acid) that is found in cereals like wheat, rye and barley.  These cereals are found in a wide range of processed foods today, including bread, rolls, croissants, pasta, breakfast cereals and beer.  Because gluten is a core component of flour, it is also commonly added to soups, sauces and salad dressings, as well as a whole host of recipes served in restaurants.

What is the Difference between Gluten Sensitivity and Coeliac’s Disease?

Gluten sensitivity is a label given to people who struggle to process gluten.  There are three main kinds of gluten sensitivity: coeliac disease, non-coeliac gluten sensitivity and wheat allergy.  This article will briefly discuss coeliac disease but its main focus will be non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

Coeliac disease is a condition that results from a person’s immune system reacting to digested gluten.  It triggers an autoimmune response that produces antibodies to the gluten.  These antibodies end up damaging the lining of the small intestine.  This damage results in the small intestine being unable to process food and can lead to malnutrition.  Whilst coeliac disease is a genetically-inherited condition, symptoms may not present themselves until adulthood.  There is a higher incidence of coeliac disease in the Type 1 Diabetes population, with approximately 8% of the population also having coeliac.  

Interestingly, this article on coeliac disease highlights a correlation between gut microbiome presentations and the development of coeliac disease.  I firmly believe that Type 1 Diabetes is, at heart, the result of a gut issue so it would therefore not be a long stretch to have coeliac disease also present in the diabetes population.

By comparison, non-coelic gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is not an autoimmune condition.  Whilst the body is still reacting to gluten, there is no antibody reaction and damage to the small intestine does not occur.  However, NCGS does cause the body to release more of a protein called zonulin, which can break down the gut lining anyway and cause leaky gut syndrome (see an excellent explanation here).  This is particularly important for Type 1 Diabetes because it has been found in recent years that this increased gut permeability allows gluten to cross the intestinal barrier.  These gluten peptides then may induce stress in the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas and therefore put more pressure on these cells.  More pressure then leads to faster burnout of the beta cells and thus faster inducement of Type 1 Diabetes.  Indeed, research has shown that following a gluten-free diet during pregnancy reduces the risk of Type 1 Diabetes in offspring.

What are the Symptoms of Gluten Sensitivity?

The most commonly noted symptoms for non-coelic gluten sensitivity (NCGS) are diarrhoea, bloating and gas.  I did not have any of these (well, it turns out that I had a lot of internal gas but none of it ever made its presence known!).  Therefore, I believe that a more comprehensive list of symptoms of NCGS should read as follows:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Stomach aches
  • Stabbing headaches behind the eyes
  • Exhaustion
  • Nausea
  • Feeling low in mood, particularly feeling defeated and devastated without environmental reasons
  • Retching
  • Runny nose (I thought it was a hayfever reaction)
  • Cough (always comes on within 20 minutes of eating gluten)
  • Brain fog (I just can’t really think too well!)

How can Gluten Sensitivity be Diagnosed?

NCGS is harder to diagnose than coeliac disease because there is no recommended methods to diagnose and test for this condition. Today, diagnosis results from a process of eliminating other possible diagnoses.  Firstly, a reaction to gluten must be noted.  Usually, this is done via a food log.  Each time gluten is eaten, any reactions need to be noted down, along with the timing of these symptoms.

If a pattern emerges in symptoms following digestion of gluten, investigations for wheat allergies and coeliac’s disease must be conducted first to eliminate these as explanations for the symptoms.  This will be undertaken via a surgical procedure.  For two weeks prior to the procedure, gluten needs to be consumed in adequate quantities to provoke any potential reactions.  I underwent a full and thorough upper and lower gastroscopy, with multiple samples being taken.  The results came back as negative for all tests undertaken.  My digestive tract appeared generally healthy and no sign of coeliac’s disease was present.  Therefore, the only cause left to explain my symptoms was non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

My Gluten Story

Looking back on my life, I suspect that my non-coeliac gluten sensitivity may have always been present.  As a child, every Wednesday, my parents would cook me Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner and then send me off to Brownies for an hour.  The problem was, I mostly hypo’d my way through Brownies.  My father would inject my insulin when I ate but it would always hit in before the carbohydrates from the spaghetti got into my bloodstream.  In the end, he solved this problem by waiting until I got back from Brownies before giving me my injection.  But why did I digest the spaghetti so slowly?  I suspect that what was happening there was my gluten intolerance.  Spaghetti is high in gluten and my stomach (or complete digestive tract) struggled to process this protein, thus causing it not to be available in the bloodstream when the insulin arrived.  But this was not the only clue I had.

I had a test for coeliac disease some twenty years ago.  I can’t quite remember why I asked for this but I guess, on some subconscious level, I knew something wasn’t quite right.  I had a full colonoscopy and was found to not have coeliac’s disease (there was no destruction of my small intestine).  I was, however, found to have a lot of food still left in my stomach at the time of the procedure, despite following the required starving period beforehand.  My doctor at the time suggested that I had gastroparesis (delayed stomach-emptying) and left it at that.  No further investigations were conducted at that time.  But a suggested diagnosis of gastroparesis didn’t make sense.  My blood sugar would usually react within ten to fifteen minutes of eating some food.  That isn’t slow digestion.  But these carbohydrates could have been coming from sugar or from rice or from vegetables – sources of carbohydrates that do not contain gluten.  I think that that gastroparesis was actually a demonstration of my body’s inability to process gluten (and perhaps also the dairy) that I was eating at that time.  It was all just backlogged in my stomach.

What About You?

Could you also be someone with Type 1 Diabetes who has a food intolerance (or two!).  Do you have any of these symptoms?  They can be subtle or easily dismissed but they may be extremely important to your healing.  I believe that healing asks us to lean in closer to our bodies and really listen and understand what it is asking for.  Is your body asking for release from gluten toxicity too?

Watch out for subtle signs.  Watch out for mood swings (or anxiety or depression) that are sporadic and/or unexplained by life circumstances.  Watch out for that runny nose or that cough that just doesn’t make sense in the context of your life.  Please don’t become paranoid, just become curious.  Your healing could be in those subtle signs.

Life Post-Gluten

Having now (mostly) removed gluten from my diet, I have witnessed something extraordinary.  My insulin sensitivity for meal times has increased dramatically!  I now take 50-75% less insulin per meal, for the same amount of carbohydrates (from 4-5 units of Novorapid to 1-2 units per meal).  I also have reduced my basal by 25% (from 16 units to 12 units).  My body mass has not changed and neither have any of my habits or activity levels.  Just the removal of gluten.  I am also less tired.  I have more energy.  No more headaches.  No more bloating or farting (so far!).  Not a lot of low mood (apart from at the full moon – more on that later!).

I’m wondering whether this reduction in insulin levels is because I now have less inflammation (see previous article) in my system.  I liken it to when you’re ill.  When sickness sets in, blood sugar levels rise.  Hence the ‘sick day rules’ that are handed out at hospital check-ups.  This is due to increased inflammation in the system during the illness.  Gluten causes the same effect in me.  So, by removing that inflammation, less insulin is needed to maintain blood sugar levels.

Grieving The Loss of Gluten

Don’t misunderstand me.  I am not finding giving up gluten easily.  I really feel like I’m grieving its loss.  I have already (mostly) given up dairy and am reaping the benefits from that.  But I feel like, with each elimination, I’m walking towards a future that is just going to have vegetables in it.  I love cake (the occasional piece!).  And bread.  And good pasta (preferably in Italy!!).  And gluten-free bread just doesn’t cut it when compared to a soft fluffy roll or a beautiful freshly-baked baguette.  (If you’re struggling too, I have found the Warburton’s Gluten-Free range to be some of the best out there so far.)

Healing is a process.  I know that I felt a similar grief when I stopped dairy.  I have found a balance with that now where, when I really miss it, I pay the price and have a piece of dairy-laden cake (instead of the not bad dairy-free equivalent!).  It takes time.  Healing takes time.  It’s a process, not a destination.  Every day I don’t eat gluten and dairy, I feel better, I feel alive, I feel energised.  So it’s actually a choice towards health and vitality, rather than a move away from foods  love.  It’s a move towards bringing myself towards alignment and being who I am truly meant to be.  And that’s worth it.

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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April 10, 2023
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Embracing Social Support / Emotional Wellbeing / Fight-or-Flight Response / Increasing Positive Emotions / Mind-Body Medicine / Relaxation

Self-Compassion

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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Self-compassion.  Urgh.  A topic like this is one that I steered away from for many years.  I had the attitude that self-compassion was the route to self-destruction because, after all, if I’m being kind to myself, I’ll just likely slack off (even more!) from whatever I’m doing and get less and less achieved with this short life of mine.  I spent my twenties running at full pelt and feeling continually frustrated that I just wasn’t getting enough done.  Whatever ‘enough’ meant!!

I think part of that was a kind of survivor’s guilt.  Every time I survived a hypo, I felt it was a message to me that I had survived this and therefore had something important to do in my life.  I also felt that I had an I.O.U. for whomever was standing around me at the time I passed out.  Their stress was owed something in return.

As you can probably tell, self-compassion has probably been the bottom item on my to-do list for a very long time.  So why am I writing this blog post now?  I guess those times are a-changing!

I have just read Kristin Neff’s book ‘Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself’.  It was recommended to me a while back by a coach I was working with.  As is usual for when I read a book, I picked it up and flicked through it, then chose another book to flick through instead!  But something kept calling me back to it.  I guess my inner workings (for those with a spiritual outlook, I would use the term ‘soul’) called me back to it.  My soul knew there was a message in there for me.  And there was.

When I sat down to read this book, my interest was immediately sparked by this quote:

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“MSC [Mindful Self-Compassion] increases…  physical health (one study with diabetes patients found it reduced glucose levels).” (p. viii in Neff, 2021)

Wow!  So practising self-compassion gives me a tool to reduce my glucose levels and therefore reduces the amount of insulin I’ll need to take on a daily basis…?  This seemed like a worthwhile tool to add to my armoury, my way of life, for getting off of insulin.

What Is Self-Compassion?

Kristin Neff (2021. p. 41) has found from her research that self-compassion comprises three elements:

1. Self-kindness

2. Common humanity

3. Mindfulness

To be self-compassionate, is to live a life that engages these qualities most of the time.  I will therefore discuss each of these qualities now.

Self-Kindness

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“Self-kindness… means that we stop the constant self-judgment and disparaging internal commentary that most of us have come to see as normal…  It [also] involves actively comforting ourselves, responding just as we would to a dear friend in need.” (Neff, 2021, p. 42).

I don’t know about you, but this has always been pretty tough for me to do.  I have been very critical of myself in all areas of my life, never feeling I measured up to whatever ludicrously high standard I set for myself.  But I have got better at this over time.  I don’t criticise and judge myself like I used to.  I give myself grace.  I am learning to love myself properly.

I do not, however, yet actively comfort myself when in need.  Kristin Neff (pp. 49-50) highlights how self-hugging is a really effective tool for soothing ourselves.  It releases oxytocin, which calms cardiovascular stress and increases feelings of love and bonding (see my post here on hugging).  On top of this, self-soothing (and therefore self-hugging) also switches off the fight-or-flight response, which is responsible for increasing blood pressure, adrenaline and cortisol in our system (Neff, 2021. p. 48) (see my post here for more information on the fight-flight response).

We already know that cortisol and adrenaline cause body tissues to be less sensitive to insulin so insulin resistance increases, plus a spike in these neurotransmitters also causes a release of more glucose from the liver.  A double hit to our blood sugars!  So a self-hug is the protective measure against these.

Common Humanity

“The second fundamental element of self-compassion is recognition of the common human experience.” (Neff, 2021, p. 61).  When we ponder this for a while, we can see that we can’t blame ourselves for our failures.  The person we are today has been created by a million previous experiences.  How we react to today is constructed from the inputs of ourselves and other people in previous times.  So how can blame ourselves for our reactions, our outlook, our fears, even the people we love.  We are so entwined with the rest of the world that this portioning out of blame is nonsense.  Saying that, that does not mean we are free from personal responsibility and accountability.  We can still play our part, and should play our part, in our lives.  We still have an impact on others that should be considered.  But, where that impact is less than desirable, self-compassion is necessary. As Kristin Neff (2021. p. 65): 

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“If we can compassionately remind ourselves in moments of falling down that failure is part of the shared human experience, then that moment becomes one of togetherness rather than isolation.”

Interestingly. this idea immediately reminded me of Dr Kelly Turner’s work on healing.  During her research, she found that both spirituality and social support were key components in healing.  I believe that this concept of self-compassion picks up on these two qualities of the healing field.

Mindfulness

The last component of self-compassion that Kristin Neff (2021) has identified through her research is mindfulness.  She defines this as:

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“the clear seeing and nonjudgmental acceptance of what’s occurring in the present moment”.  (p. 80)

In those moments of rage, despair, anger, fatigue, when maybe our behaviour does not reflect the soul we truly are, we need to first see that we are suffering.  Our pain comes from suffering.  Kristin Neff (2021, p. 81) highlights the crucial difference: that of needing to focus on our pain caused by the failure, not the failure itself.  I know personally that, in the heat of the moment, when tempers are high, this is so hard to do.  But I guess that this is where the first two components come in…  If I can be kind to myself in those moments, rather than judgemental, and if I can see that this happens to all humans, not just me, then I suspect that it will then be easier to be mindful of the pain that I am suffering in that moment.  It is then that I can reach for self-love, rather than self-hate.  As Kristin Neff (2021, p. 113) puts it:

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“We balance the dark energy of negative emotions with the bright energy of love and social connection”.

Practices that Promote Self-Compassion

Kristin Neff’s (2021) book is full of examples of ways to practice self-compassion in our lives.  It also contains a series of specific exercises that enable us to access this state.  For these alone, I highly recommend buying this book.  Some of my favourites (noted here as a memory prompt for me!) are:

  1. Practising Metta (loving-kindness) meditation (Neff, 2021, pp. 211-212)
  2. Silent prayer
  3. Solitary walks in the woods
  4. Becoming aware of the physical sensations in the body during times of stress or distress (Neff, 2021, p. 112)
  5. The Pleasure Walk exercise (Neff, 2021, p. 253)

Type 1 Diabetes and Self-Compassion

I believe that having self-compassion is particularly challenging when you have Type 1 Diabetes.  There are many overt and covert judgements that are made throughout your life with this condition.  These include judgements about:

  1. How well or not well you are deemed to be controlling your diabetes
  2. Any additional health issues that arise out of this condition
  3. What you are or are not eating at any point in time
  4. How much you weigh
  5. At doctors appointments, where you are told how you can do better or what you have done ‘wrong.
  6. Developing T1D in the first place.

To stand in the face of these criticisms and be okay with yourself is a true act of self-love and self-compassion.  It is a choice for peace and happiness in your life and acceptance of what is.  That self-compassion then enables you to choose health and wellbeing for yourself and choose the proactive behaviours that support that desire (Neff, 2021, p. 12).  And that can lead to healing.

Metta

Kristin Neff (2021) offers several versions of Metta, a kind of loving-meditation practice, in her book.  However, I choose to end this article with a version I was given by a yoga teacher many years ago.  I offer this to you with love and compassion:

Simply recite this to yourself, preferably on a daily basis but whenever you can, to give more compassion to yourself and others in the world.   Try to really feel that love and compassion as you recite each verse:

For yourself, recite:

May I be happy and peaceful.

May I be healthy and at ease.

May I be able to take care of myself joyfully.

May I possess the wisdom, courage, and determination to meet and overcome problems and obstacles in my life.

Then, for someone you really respect who is not a partner or family member:

May they be happy and peaceful

May they be healthy and at ease

May they be able to take care of themselves joyfully

May they possess the wisdom, courage, and determination to meet and overcome problems and obstacles in life.

Next, a beloved family member:

May this family member (name) be happy and peaceful

May they be healthy and at ease

May they be able to take care of themselves joyfully

May they possess the wisdom, courage, and determination to meet and overcome problems and obstacles in life.

Next, a neutral person:

May this neutral person (name) be happy and peaceful

May they be healthy and at ease

May they be able to take care of themselves joyfully

May they possess the wisdom, courage, and determination to meet and overcome problems and obstacles in life.

Next, all beings:

May all beings be happy and peaceful

May all beings be healthy and at ease

May all beings be able to take care of themselves joyfully

May all beings possess the wisdom, courage, and determination to meet and overcome problems and obstacles in life.

Lastly, return again to the self:

May I be happy and peaceful.

May I be healthy and at ease.

May I be able to take care of myself joyfully.

May I possess the wisdom, courage, and determination to meet and overcome problems and obstacles in my life.

Metta. xx

Bibliography:

Neff, K. (2021).  Self-Compassion: the proven power of being kind to yourself.  Great Britain: Yellow Kite.

Picture of Natalie Leader
Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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April 3, 2023
Read more about the article Self-Compassion
Mind-Body Medicine / Physical Wellbeing / Taking Control of My Health

Béchamp and Pasteur – The Origins of Our Current Formulation of the Human Body

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

healing curing type 1 diabetes naturally
Image by Konstantin Kolosov from Pixabay

I have just finished reading the book ‘Béchamp or Pasteur? A Lost Chapter in the History of Biology’ by Ethel D. Hume.  This book has challenges the way we think about our own bodies and the ‘illness’ of Type 1 Diabetes that our doctors tell us we have.

About The Book: Hume’s Attitude

Hume’s book is an exposé about the very beginnings of the germ theory of modern medicine.  At the root of this issue, Hume argues, is the conflicting views and theories of two groups of scientists.  The first group was led by the French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur (after whom ‘pasteurisation’ –  a preservation technique used up to the present day that uses heat to eliminate bacteria and thus extend the shelf-life of products – is named). The second was led by his contemporaneous counterpart, and eventual adversary, Antoine Béchamp.  Hume argues that medicine of today has been led astray by the erroneous, and sometimes fabricated, experimental results of Louis Pasteur.  Hume believed that Pasteur’s conclusions have been accepted into the mainstream largely because Pasteur, unlike Béchamp, was a fabulous self-promoter who yearned for fame and glory in the scientific, and worldwide, community.  He therefore promoted his findings as widely as he could (including to Napoleon III at Tuileries Palace in 1863!) and thus became sanctified in medical knowledge.  By contrast, Béchamp was a very unassuming man who did excellent scientific work but who was more retiring when it came to promoting his works widely.  Unfortunately, he felt that his works would speak for themselves and that this was be sufficient.  This turned out to not be the case.

On top of blaming Pasteur’s arrogance and self-promotion, Ethel Hume also believes the lack of appreciation of Béchamp’s works can also be blamed on mankind as a whole for not being clever enough to not be led astray…

“the majority of mankind, ignorant of the cytological elements, have been delighted with a crude theory of disease which they could understand, and have ignored the profound teaching of Professor Béchamp.” (Hume, 1923/2017, p. 219)

This book was not a happy book to read.  I didn’t come away feeling fulfilled in any way.  Not just because the content is complicated and, at times, hard to grasp.  But also because Ethel Hume writes with such detest for Pasteur that I felt her argument at times descended into a bit of a moan fest about all that Pasteur had done wrong and how the wonderous, honourable Béchamp had been side-swiped.  Indeed, she goes as far as to conclude her book with a final sentence that calls Pasteur a ‘fraud and charlatan’ (Hume, 1923/2017, p. 343)!  I wish she had had a bit more of the discernment that her hero Béchamp demonstrated!

The Pasteur/Béchamp Balance: The Need for Béchamp’s Work Today

I understand Ethel Hume’s desire to redress the balance that she feels has been left out-of-balance by Pasteur’s wrongdoings but I feel that Béchamp’s work could have stood on its own in the debate, without such emphatic declarations of fraud and wrongdoing on Hume’s part.  However, this book was published over 100 years ago, in 1923.  I am aware that scientific writings in that time, such as those written by Freud, were as much personal writings as they were scientific proofs, a fine blend of friend-to-friend analogies and stories combined with excerpts of scientific rigour and experimental findings.  Therefore, perhaps I am being unfair in expecting something more scientifically robust and emotionally neutral of a writer from this  time period. 

My view on the validity of the contributions to medical knowledge of Pasteur and Bechamp are also not as one-sided as Hume.  I believe that modern medicine needs both the germ theory of Pasteur and the environmental and corporeal contribution to health that Béchamp argued for.  After all, without Pasteur’s germ theory, there would be no antibiotics to treat viral infections and infected wounds.  The bubonic plague that killed 50 million people in the 14th century would not have had such a devastating impact if antibiotics were available then! 

However, I am equally aware that the plague of the today’s world is chronic illness, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimating that noncommunicable diseases (otherwise known as chronic illnesses) ‘kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally’.    Of these, WHO states that 2 million are killed by diabetes (please note, though, that there is no delineation between the different types of diabetes in this figure).  Perhaps a medical science based on Béchamp’s understandings would have taken us to a different point today, where more answers would have been found for chronic diseases, but maybe fewer for bacterial infections. 

Progress Between Then and Now

What is particularly interesting about this piece of writing, considering the timeframe within which it was written, is how little progress we have really made between then and now in terms of developing a more holistic view of the human body.  We’re still dominated today by a medical viewpoint that is looking for the germ or the piece of DNA or the bodily cell that has ‘gone wrong’ and needs ‘fixing’.  We still believe that the illness is caused by something in the body (unless it something more obvious like, say, an allergy, but even then it is the body’s reaction to the stimulus that is ‘wrong’ rather than the presence of the allergen in the first place!).  The medical community mostly does not consider the environment (both internally and externally) of a patient and how that may be contributing to the illness or disease.  For this reason, I feel it was worth leaning more closely towards this book’s contents and considering what may be gleaned for us today, searching to understand the highly medicalised version of Type 1 Diabetes in a new way.

With this attitude in place, I am going to try to outline the scientific theories of Pasteur and Béchamp, as outlined in this book, and then draw them into perspective for the relevance for Type 1 Diabetes today.

Pasteur’s Argument: All Illnesses Are Caused by Germs

Both Pasteur and Béchamp were involved in the discovery and theorisation of what has become known as ‘germ theory’ today.  Pasteur’s views and conclusions are the ones that have become a central tenet of the ethics of modern, mainstream medicine.  Pasteur argued that the all illnesses are caused by germs that infiltrate the body:

“For Pasteur… there is no spontaneous disease; without microbes there would be no sickness, no matter what we do, despite our imprudence, miseries and vices!” (Hume, 1923/2017, p. 218)

In Pasteur’s view, we are not responsible for our diseases, they ‘happen’ to us through the arrival of germs into our lives.  By contrast, Béchamp provided multiple paths to consider in the development of disease (or dis-ease, perhaps!).  I shall look at each of these in turn now.

Béchamp’s Alternative: Illnesses Are a Result of the Bodily Environment

Béchamp took the polar opposite view to Pasteur.  His rigorous scientific research gave rise to the conclusion that it is the environment itself, that which the cell is surrounded by, which will determine whether or not the cell develops a disease.  Béchamp postulated that multiple factors could influence this environment.  The first contributing factor that Hume highlights Béchamp considered as important in the development of illness was the place where the disease started:

“Diseased microzymas should be differentiated by the particular group of cells and tissues to which they belong, rather than the particular disease condition with which they are associated.” (Hume, 1923/2017, p. 243)

This belief is in alignment with the ancient practice of Tantra.  Tantra outlines seven chakras of the body, which are understood to be centres in the body that are of physiological and psychical importance.  In diabetes, it is believed that the third chakra, known as the Solar Plexus, is blocked.  Thus, the energy of the cells and tissues surrounding the pancreas is disrupted and it is this disruption in the energy of the cells that is believed to contribute to the illness of diabetes that prevails.

I believe that this postulation of Béchamp’s (that environment matters) is key.  We are so focussed on trying to ‘fix the disease’ of diabetes, to find ways to get the beta cells doing what they should be doing.  But what about providing the right environment so that the beta cells decide of their own accord to switch back to producing insulin?  How do we create the environment so that they do that?  Ethel Hume hints at an answer:

“In place of the modern system of treating the phantom of a disease-causing entity, and trying to quell it by every form of injection, scientific procedure on Béchamp’s lines would be to treat the patient taking into account his personal situation and characteristics; for those depend upon his anatomical elements, the microzymas, which, according to Béchamp, build up his bodily frame, preserve it in health [and] disrupt it in disease” (Hume, 1923/2017, p. 247).

Bechamp’s Role for Nutrition

As well as the environment that the diseased cells exist in, Hume highlighted how Bechamp’s work has led his collaborators to also question the role that nutrition plays in the health of the body:

“Is the supply of these little living bodies in the food essential to the continued vitality of human beings, or is it not?…  He [Lord Geddes] thought there was the possibility – many think the extreme probability – that the presence of these little living bodies in the food is essential to health.” (Hume, 1923/2017, p. 259)

Whilst I am yet to hear that food is rich in these ‘little bodies’ (microzymas), I do not think it is a stretch too far to consider the role of food in our health, in order to create the ideal bodily system within which our beta cells can prosper and produce insulin again. 

Béchamp’s Belief That Cells Can Revert to Their Primary Function

Indeed, my previous discussion about how delta cells can turn back into insulin-producing beta cells (see here) aligns perfectly with Béchamp’s early theories about the reversal of disease within microzymas:

“Similar observations had already been made by Professor Béchamp, who, with his collaborators, had demonstrated the connection between a disturbed state of body and the disturbed state of its indwelling particles, which, upon an unfavourable alteration in their surroundings, are hampered in their normal multiplication as healthy microzymas and are consequently prone to develop into organisms of varied shape, known as bacteria.  Upon an improvement in their environment, the bacteria, according to Béchamp’s view, may through a process of devolution return to their microzymian state, but much smaller and more numerous than they were originally.” (Hume, 1923/2017, pp. 275-276)

Whilst Béchamp’s work obviously focussed on bacteria and diseases that result from them, I do not feel it is particularly far-fetched to wonder if the same process may not be at work in ‘non-diseased’ cells, such as the beta cells that are so infamously “broken” in Type 1 Diabetes.  As such, could these ‘smaller and more nuemours’ cells that Hume speaks of be the ‘abnormal gene’ that Daniel Darkes (link) was found to possess after his Type 1 Diabetes was healed…?

Béchamp’s Role for Beliefs In Health

Although slightly unrelated to the work of Béchamp that so far been discussed in this book, Hume continues her discussions on the implications of Béchamp’s work by outlining a case study of two men exposed to a disease called hydrophobia (known today as ‘rabies’):

“Two young Frenchmen were bitten at Havre by the same dog in January 1853.  One died from the effects within a month, but before this the other young man had sailed for America, where he lived for fifteen years in total ignorance of the death of his former companion.  In September 1868, he returned to France and learned of the tragedy, and then himself developed symptoms; within three weeks he was dead of hydrophobia! (Hume, 1923/2017,p. 291)

Even though I wasn’t particularly sure how this case study fitted in with Béchamp’s work, I found it fascinating in its own right.  This example beautifully illustrates the importance of our beliefs in the trajectory of illnesses.  As people with Type 1 Diabetes, we are led to believe by our medical practitioners that we have an incurable and potentially life-limiting disease and that this disease has only one outcome: a horrible decline towards death.  For us, therefore, our beliefs around Type 1 Diabetes need to be tackled.  Hume argues that ‘the avoidance of fear is… of fundamental importance after a dog bite’.  I would argue that the avoidance of fear is fundamental for any illness, whether bacteria-driven or ‘autoimmune’.

My Thoughts Going Forward

I think what has been re-emphasised to me as I read my way through this book was how divided medicine has become and how much that might affect those of us with chronic illnesses, like Type One Diabetes.  This divide reminds me of the ancient yet ongoing debate in psychology about the extent to which genes and environment contribute to psychological development and psychological distress.  I suspect that this ‘nature versus nurture’ debate is exactly mirrored in the ‘Béchamp versus Pasteur’ debate.  If so, I believe that psychology may be given us a sneak preview of where this debate might lead to.  Psychology has now got to the point of admitting that the answer to the question ‘Is it nature or nurture?’ is ‘Yes’!  The field of epigenetics has really helped here.  It has demonstrated that genes are adaptable to environmental inputs.  So whilst you may have a particular genetic predisposition to a certain condition, the environment within which you find yourself (or create for yourself) is likely to impact, or even over-rule, the genetics.  Why should this be any different for physical illnesses?  In that scenario, you may develop an illness that is provoked by your environment but then why could the illness not be ‘switched off’ by changing these provoking environmental factors?  Perhaps medical science of today just hasn’t been sufficiently considering the environment within which a patient gets sick so they have not been looking for the environmental triggers that need to be removed.

In this book, Hume cited quotes by Florence Nightingale and Pidoux, both of which I want to leave you with now as I believe they so fantastically summarise my views in this post.

“Disease is born of us and in us” (Pidoux, cited in Hume, 1923/2017, p. 218)

“For disease, as all experience shows, are adjectives, not noun substantives” (Florence Nightingale, as cited in Hume, 1923/2017, p. 245)

So let us change our states, our current adjectives to describe our current selves, and find a new health in our lives today.

Bibliography:

Hume, E. D. (2017). Bechamp or Pasteur?  A Lost Chapter in the History of Biology.  [First published in 1923.]  London: Distant Mirror.

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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March 27, 2023
Read more about the article Béchamp and Pasteur – The Origins of Our Current Formulation of the Human Body
Emotional Wellbeing / Increasing Positive Emotions / Inflammation / Physical Wellbeing

Why Are We ‘Fighting’ Type 1 Diabetes?

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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I was raised in a family of linguists.  Both of my parents studied languages at university, as did myself, my brother and my sister after them.  We’ve always played with and thought about language in our family.  Recently, the language of Type 1 Diabetes has been playing in my mind.  

The 'Battle' of Type 1 Diabetes

I have noticed that, when I speak to fellow Type 1 diabetics, they often talk about their daily fight, their battle, the war that they’re waging.  They talk about winning and losing with their Type 1 Diabetes.  They talk about their thirst for victory, their desire to win (or just not lose!).  

This battle is equally named in healthcare settings.  At diagnosis, we hear about how our immune system has ‘attacked’ our beta cells.  We learn about the ongoing fight we will have with our blood sugars from that time.  We learn we need to be brave and strong to take on this fight.  And we’re most certainly told we won’t always win.

One quote I found that wonderfully highlights this fight dynamic that is so intrinsic to our view of diabetes in the modern world.  Bret Michaels, the lead singer of Poison and star of VH1’s ‘Rock of Love’, has Type 1 Diabetes.  He was once quoted as saying:

“Every day is an absolute battle. I don’t care what anyone says. You have to wake up and say to yourself, ‘I accept that I have diabetes, and I’m not going to let it run my entire life.’ 

You can hear the conflict in his words.  The fight, the ‘me versus my body’ that exists here.  I know I had it too.  I used to cry to my parents as a child that I didn’t want to do this fight anymore, that my diabetes would always win.  I definitely saw my diabetes as something other than me.  It was an alien force in my body that needed exterminating or at least suppressing.  

Put Down Your Sword, Dear Comrade

I’ve noticed, as my life has progressed, this battle doesn’t seem to exist anymore.  I no longer see my body as faulty.  I don’t feel I’m at war with it anymore.  Sure, I don’t always like it.  I do still look in the mirror and not always like what I see.  But I have developed a respect for my body now.  And I think that respect is key in returning to holistic health – the kind of health that I feel is required for healing to take place.  Everyday now, I reach for health in all areas of my life – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  I no longer want to change the body I have.  I’ve come to a place of peace and welcomed diabetes into my state of being.  

I feel the battle with our bodies needs to be stopped if healing is ever going to occur.  If we believe that we are fighting our bodies, then peace cannot exist in our cells.  Our body will replicate the fight-or-flight response that mirrors our language and belief systems.  So healing will take place in a body that is at peace.

Reduce The Fight, Reduce Inflammation

There is some support in the medical literature for the idea of needing peace in the body for healing to occur.  This, after all, is what ‘inflammation’ is – the body telling its immune system to respond to a foreign object, germ, bacteria or other irritant.  One cause of inflammation is stress in all its forms.  So reducing stress, including the  emotional stress of the pain, anger and frustration caused my diabetes, will reduce inflammation in the body.

So next time you talk to your body, make it words of love and peace.  Show it gratitude and appreciation for all that it does do right.  And forgive it for the diabetes it currently has.  I honestly believe it’s the best option the body had to choose from at the time that it developed.

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Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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March 20, 2023
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Emotional Wellbeing / Increasing Positive Emotions / Physical Wellbeing / Relaxation / Spirituality / Taking Control of My Health

Reflection and Gratitude

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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I’m taking a moment just now to be reflective, be still and at peace.  I am pausing to take notice of where I am now.  To notice just how far I’ve come.  I think it becomes really easy on a healing journey to spend so much time looking at the end goal – that panacea of health, whatever that may be for you or me – that we forget to be thankful for everything that has already happened and that we have already achieved.  I guess this post is one of gratitude for all the ways that I have served my own higher good and my own blossoming health.

Looking Back To Where I Was

I am thinking back to the teenager I was.  I was angry.  I got dressed in black everyday.  I didn’t want to mix with the majority of people in the world.  I didn’t care about my diabetes.  I didn’t care about my health.  From here, things only got worse.  By my twenties, my mental health had descended into a very deep, dark pit.  I was so depressed that I couldn’t get out of bed for weeks at a time.  I was so anxious that just walking down to the corner of my street, about 50 metres, was too much for me.  I was trapped both in my mind and in my house.  

As well as Type 1 Diabetes, clinical depression and clinical anxiety, I had polycystic ovarian syndrome, temporomandibular jaw dysfunction and recurrent infections.  I spent a lot of my time seeing doctors.  None of them seemed to be able to offer me anything more than temporary relief from symptoms.

I carried my victim status in all my interactions.  I felt the world was out to get me.  I felt the medical profession was my enemy.  I felt God had abandoned me.

I wasn’t really aware at that time just how much I had come undone.  I carried on until I couldn’t carry on anymore.  I then got help.  I started with psychotherapy.  I saw multiple therapists over a ten-year period.  Some helped some.  Some didn’t help at all.  One changed my life.  Actually, he enabled me to change my life.  That was the start of a thousand steps on my road of healing.

Gratitude for the Now

I am sitting here today, free of mental health issues.  I have safely weaned myself off antidepressants.  No anxiety, no depression remain.  I no longer have temporomandibular jaw dysfunction.  I rarely see any doctors or need to (apart from my usual diabetes check-ups).  I eat well.  I move well.   I am optimistic about life. 

I suspect that my inability to just sit down is rooted in my nervous system too.  My twitchiness, my desire to always move and ‘do’ seems indicative of a fight-or-flight reaction.  If you’re being stalked through the trees by a predator (or your body thinks that’s the case), you’re not just going to kick back and stargaze, are you?!

I have put down my victim mentality and picked up grace instead.  I am grateful for all that life has given me.  I am grateful for the woman it has enabled me to become.  I am grateful for all the opportunities that life presents.  I am grateful for the peace in my heart and the love that surrounds me.  I’ve gone from continually reassuring myself, pleading with myself, that I’m ‘not a bad egg’ to telling myself that life is good.  And really feeling that in my heart.  I am healing.  I am well.  Life is good.

healing curing type 1 diabetes naturally
Picture of Natalie Leader
Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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September 11, 2022
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Fight-or-Flight Response / Meditation / Physical Wellbeing / Relaxation / Spirituality / Yoga

The Beauty of Rest

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

healing curing type 1 diabetes naturally
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I’m calling myself out!  You see, when I wrote my post on ‘High Blood Pressure’, I said that I was going to start resting properly.  I promise I did start doing that.  I was doing my good solid 30 minutes of re-lax-ation.  But I then found out my blood pressure was back to normal so the rest stopped too.  But shouldn’t I still be doing this?  Don’t my mind and body deserve this?  Don’t we all deserve this, sick or not?!

Relaxation In Ancient Times

In Ancient Greece, an important part of a healing journey was the act of leaving your normal environment in order to seek out a sanctuary for rest and recuperation.  Similarly, in Victorian times, it was considered standard practice to spend time by the sea or in a spa or bath house to restore oneself.  What has happened to this today?  Life today is too focused on being rushed and hurried, being productive and conquering to-do lists.

I am choosing to take a quarter-turn (perhaps more!) away from my to-do list.  I’m starting to choose to sit in the sun (topping up my Vitamin D as I do so) or read a few more pages of that novel.

The Need For Rest

In today’s particularly hurried and harried world, rest needs more prioritisation.  Adequate rest enables your body to switch from a state of fight-and-flight to rest and repair.  It signals to your body that it is safe and satiated, that nothing externally needs to be done so work on maintaining and healing your internal systems can take place.  Thus, for healing any kind of illness, including Type 1 Diabetes, rest is compulsory.  It’s a non-negotiable.

When you rest, your parasympathetic nervous system is activated.  The parasympathetic nervous system is the branch  of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the rest and repair of your body.  We want this one in action as much of the time as possible.  Our resting facilitates this branch.

The Discomfort of Rest

The thing is…  I feel guilty every time I rest.  As a wife, mother, homemaker, blogger, friend…  I always feel like there is more I need to be doing.  I can’t seem to give myself permission to rest until everything else is done.  Sitting down on the sofa surrounded by the mess of an unfinished tidy-up is just not something I can do with ease.

I suspect that my inability to just sit down is rooted in my nervous system too.  My twitchiness, my desire to always move and ‘do’ seems indicative of a fight-or-flight reaction.  If you’re being stalked through the trees by a predator (or your body thinks that’s the case), you’re not just going to kick back and stargaze, are you?!

healing curing type 1 diabetes naturally
For a long time, my self-esteem and my self-worth, even feeling that I existed at all, came from what I did in my day.  I guess you could say my raison d’être was ‘I do therefore I am’.  If I had ticked jobs off my to-do list, accomplished a lot, I felt I had earned the rest.  This old trauma response is ingrained.  I need to learn to honour my need for rest.  I need to learn to sit with myself in that moment, just as I am.  I think trauma takes you away from an ability to sit with yourself in any form – mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  Sitting down and just being, rather than doing, is necessary for my healing now.

This may sound counterproductive but, for now at least, I’ve put relaxation on my to-do list!  It’s now one of my daily tasks.  I’m going to have to condition my body back into the idea of relaxation.  It feels a bit like the starting stages of meditation.  You know how it is…  That first time you meditate, you try so, so hard to stop thinking that you spend all your time thinking about how you shouldn’t be thinking…!!

Returning Home

I have now started to rest.  But it’s painful.  Yes, that’s right.  I struggle to rest.  But it’s getting easier.  I am saying no to that extra task (or ten extra tasks).  I am ensuring I have a whole day each week with no agenda items.  I am also taking naps in the sun.  I am taking time to read a rubbish book.  I have dug out old jigsaws that I haven’t done for years.  Most importantly, I am taking the time out to show my body that I am not fighting anymore and it doesn’t need to either.

Now that I live in the Middle East, I am finding myself in a country with a slower  pace of life.  People don’t rush here.  Things happen, things may not happen.  Someone may drop by, they may not.  And all is good.  As I reflect back on how fast-paced my life used to be, it reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend not long after moving out here.  He kindly provided some feedback to my driving style.  He explained that I was switching lanes too fast when on the motorway (a pace that would be considered perfectly normal in the UK!).  He said that local drivers wouldn’t anticipate my ‘quick’ lane changes and that I was therefore more at-risk for an accident.  I had to train myself to indicate for longer and transition over the white line at a much slower pace.  It has taken time, but I move more slowly now.  I hover and pause as I cross the line.  I have allowed my car to flow at pace with the cars around me.  And now I am encouraging my body and mind to do the same.

Sleep

I am still having some struggles with sleep.  Don’t get me wrong…  When I’m in bed, I’m usually out like a light.  But it takes me a long time to get up those stairs to my bedroom.  I procrastinate or, as my husband would say, Dilly and Dally come out to play!  I think there are a few reasons for this.  Firstly, the godforsaken Netflix.  It still sucks me in, despite my best efforts.  The combination of the blue light it produces plus the never-ending jump to the next episode makes it hard to switch off.  Secondly, there is also a desire to “just get one more thing done” before I get to bed.  That is the trauma response.  The need to justify rest.  The need to persuade myself it’s safe enough, everything is safe enough in my world, for me to go to sleep.

Andrew Weil, in his book ‘Spontaneous Healing’, argues for the importance of rest in healing.  I completely agree with him.  However, his discussion of rest focuses solely on sleep.  Whilst I agree that sleep is important (see my post on sleep here!), I think rest needs to extend beyond that, into the waking hours of life too.  

I have two dogs.  I believe that they are incredible role models in the way that I should live my life.  Being creatures of the wild (their grandmother was a wild-born dog), they have not been influenced by the modern world, by Netflix and to-do lists.  And they sleep.  They rest.  Their meals and exercise are provided as required.  So, the rest of their time, they sleep and rest.  They play.  They enjoy belly rubs.  They don’t feel the slightest need to do anything more than that.  And they’re happy.  

Extending Rest

I recently discovered Matthew Edlund’s book on ‘The Power of Rest’.  He outlines a 30-day plan for effecting rest in your life.  Whilst the plan itself did not call to me (why rest for 30 days only?!), what did stay with me was the five different types of rest that he stated are needed in our lives.  These are: sleep, physical rest, mental rest, social rest and spiritual rest.  Matthew Edlund outlines various activities that fall under each of these headings, including meditation, power naps, walking with a friend and so on.  For this content alone, I think this book is wholly worthwhile.

Going forward from here, I feel that I need to dedicate some time to considering how to percolate rest, in all its forms, throughout my days.  Activities such as gratitude, breathing, yoga, meditation and laughter as forms of relaxation are likely to be content in future posts! 
Picture of Natalie Leader
Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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March 21, 2022
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Fight-or-Flight Response / Relaxation

Exhaustion

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

healing curing type 1 diabetes naturally
Photo by Cris Saur on Unsplash

When I pictured healing from Type 1 Diabetes, I saw this wonderful image of me gorgeously improving in all areas of my life and flowing towards this wholeness that was natural and at peace.  I thought the steps I took would make sense and that each step would build on the one before.  Yep, that is not at all what I’m finding!  Instead, I feel pretty exhausted.  I feel unhealthy.  I feel like I’m taking steps backwards on my journey.  My life force, my chi, seems to have deserted me!

My exhaustion comes in waves but spends more time present in my body than absent.  My body aches with fatigue for long periods each day.  I asked my GP about this and his theory is that me, and a large swathe of the population, are suffering a post-viral reaction to an undetected level of COVID-19.  I got sick without symptoms and am now suffering the consequences of that.  He says that he is seeing a massive swathe of people each day in his clinic that are complaining of exhaustion.  A post-viral reaction makes sense to him.

A post-viral reaction doesn’t make sense to me.  I have been super careful about catching – not catching – COVID-19.  I also don’t believe that I would have absolutely zero symptoms apart from the post-effects.  Surely, if my body is reacting to something, it would react to the illness at every stage with both symptoms and a post-symptom effect??

For me, what makes much more sense is the explanation that Caroline Dooner provides in her book ‘The F*ck It Diet’.  (I wrote here about this book and my experience of it.)  Caroline explains that, when you start re-feeding your body, you are likely to encounter a period of fatigue, which could last for a period of months.  She explains how this re-feeding enables the body to transition from a fight-flight response to a rest-repair response.  It makes sense to me.  My osteopath also has said (see my blog post here) how I am moving from a freeze response to a flight response.  In my mind, I see that a body transitions from freeze to fight/flight to rest/repair.  (I hope to get into this later using the work of Peter Levine to illustrate this.)  So my body is transitioning towards a rest-repair phase and is consuming my physical and mental energy reserves to do it.

I have to say that my healing journey has really not been anything like I anticipated it to be.  Rather than being a smooth build-up of healing experiences, it feels more like driving on a bumpy road along a mountain range, with the road switching back on itself frequently and sometimes not being able to see the summit at all.  I do hold great optimism and I do feel my health, both physical and mental, improving with each month.  It is that feeling that I hold onto when my drive along the road doesn’t seem to be tallying at all with my road map.

Picture of Natalie Leader
Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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January 10, 2022
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Fight-or-Flight Response / Physical Wellbeing / Relaxation / Removal of Toxins

Dry Skin Brushing

Exfoliate, Drain Lymph, Increase Circulation and Reduce Stress

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

healing curing type 1 diabetes naturally

This article explores the profound role of skin in personal and medical contexts, particularly regarding Type 1 Diabetes. Exploring its symbolic significance and potential healing properties, this article introduces dry skin brushing as a therapeutic practice, emphasising its benefits and proper application for holistic well-being.

I have been fascinated by skin for a long time. My skin has been the main battleground for my Type 1 Diabetes, receiving probably in excess of 50,000 injections over the years.  It has carried the bruises, it has always willingly received the syringes, the needles, the blood test prickers, healing after every single one.  But that’s not what fascinates me about it.

What fascinates me about the concept of skin is more symbolic than actual.  It fascinates me how the skin acts as a boundary between me and the external world, between my internal thoughts and outer reality.  It delineates what makes up me and everything that exists outside that sphere.  It clearly shows what is ‘me’ and what is ‘not-me’.

However, the skin’s role of protector is also balanced by a role of mediator or translator.  It feeds sensory information about the outside world to inform my internal perceptions and also acts as a way to connect with others through touch.  So, perhaps rather than delineating the ‘me’ from the ‘not-me’, does it not in fact balance on the line between the two?

Paul Langerhans: Islets of Langerhans and Langerhans cells

I suspect that there is something about the skin that entices me in, which remains as yet undefined in my mind.  I believe that it plays a role in healing Type 1 Diabetes in a way that I cannot yet clearly understand.  It is purely an intuition right now.

I have discovered some information that also hints at this connection.  Paul Langerhans was a German biologist who was interested in defining and understand the roles of cells in the human body.  In 1868, whilst still studying at Berlin University, he published a paper entitled “On the nerves of the human skin”.  In it, he investigates in detail the role of a particular kind of skin cell.
One year later, in 1869, Langerhans then published a paper on cells in the pancreas.  These pancreatic cells eventually came to be known as the ‘Islets of Langerhans’.  These cells, as discussed in my article here, are the cells responsible for producing insulin in the human body.

So the man that discovered insulin cells also discovered a type of skin cell.  A connection, although yet undefined, is apparent between the skin and the pancreas.

The Role Of My Skin

However I come to understand the role of my skin in my life, I know without doubt that it needs looking after.  My skin is the largest organ of my body (yep, it’s an organ!).  In adults, skin can have a surface area of around two metres squared and can account for approximately 16 percent of total body weight.

Skin performs many functions in the body, including:

  • Protecting the body from hot and cold so as to maintain a constant body temperature
  • Protecting us from microbes, irritants and allergens that can cause diseases or disequilibrium i the human body
  • Eliminating toxins through sweating and shedding dead skin cells
  • Reducing fluid loss through acting as a container for all bodily fluids

Main Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing

Dry body brushing is really beneficial for the skin and supports many of its main functions.  The following benefits are of particular note for me in my healing journey:

Exfoliation

Dry skin brushing enables the body to shed dead skin cells more effectively.  This unclogs the pores of debris and also enables the body to sweat more effectively, which enables the body to eliminate more toxins naturally.  Therefore, it is important to bath or shower immediately after dry body brushing to ensure that the loosened skin cells do not remain on the skin surface.

Lymphatic System Drainage

Brushing in the direction of the flow of the lymphatic system further increases the drainage of the system.  As I discussed in my blog post on ‘Rebounding’, the lymphatic system does not have its own pump and relies on the body’s movement to work effectively.  Dry body brushing is another form of such movement, which promotes the flow of lymph in the body.

Increased Circulation

A side effect of Type 1 Diabetes can be cold hands and feet.  This is often caused by poor circulation.  Poor circulation can lead to a host of complications, including cardiovascular disease and neuropathy.  Dry skin brushing (gentle enough to not harm the skin surface) can improve circulation.

Stress Relief

Like massage therapy, dry skin brushing can reduce stress in the body through the therapeutic effects of touch.  High stress levels are found in, amongst others, those who are experiencing a fight-or-flight response, which I have argued may be what Type 1 Diabetes actually is.

Optimising Vitamin D Levels

Our skin is our most effective organ for creating vitamin D in our bodies.  I have already discussed at length the need to have optimum vitamin D to heal Type 1 Diabetes.  Removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin enables more of the skin to be exposed to sunlight for vitamin D to be produced.

How To Dry Skin Brush

I have spent some time trying to find the best description of how to body brush.  After all, if I’m going to do it, I want it to be effective!! 

I spent a great deal of time looking at different resources.  The one I liked the most was a YouTube video by Kelly from ‘Cancer Rehab PT’.  Not only is she an expert in physical therapy but she is also focussed on healing the body (of cancer).  Her video is also easy to understand:  

A lot of people recommend that you should dry body brush towards your heart.  However, Kelly suggests in this video that you should brush in alignment with the flow of the lymphatic system in order to enable the system to drain more effectively.  That makes much more sense to me!

Choosing My Body Brush

I tried several different body brushes before landing on the one I now use.  The first two I tried were handheld with a strap across the back of the brush.  Whilst they were effective, I struggled to reach across the whole of my back area.  I then bought a third, which had a long handle.  But that had synthetic fibres and felt harsh on my skin.  The handle was also detachable but that just caused the bristle brush to fall off when I used it! 

Eventually, I found the Cactus Long Handle Body Brush by The Body Shop.  It has natural bristles (made of cactus!) and feels very ergonomically designed.  I felt it was good value and is serving me well.

Remembering to Body Brush

Okay, so I think the most challenging part of this new behaviour for me was finding a way to make it a habit!  In the end, I ended up hanging a hook in my bathroom, right by my shower and put my body brush on it.  So, every time I go to the shower, I see it.  So far, it seems to be working!

Caring For My Body Brush

My body brush is likely to be a receptacle for a lot of the dead cells that it brushes off my skin.  Over time, these cells are likely to build up and result in me purely brushing more dead skin back onto my body!  To avoid this, I wash my brush in filtered water after every brushing session.  Then, once a week, I wash it out with my (toxin-free, natural) shampoo and leave it to dry.

I suspect that, even with these clean9ing practices, I am likely to need to replace my brush fairly frequently to avoid brushing any remaining debris onto my skin.

Can I Body Brush In The Shower?

I did wonder if it was possible to just whizz around with my body brush whilst in the shower.  Whilst it is physically possible to body brush with wet skin, it is not advisable.  When the skin is wet, dead skin cells congeal on its surface.  Brushing then does not remove these cells so detoxifying benefits on the skin’s surface are greatly diminished.  Of course, it would still have an impact on the lymphatic system beneath the skin.

Picture of Natalie Leader
Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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January 3, 2022
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Exercise / Fight-or-Flight Response / Physical Wellbeing / Removal of Toxins

Rebounding

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

healing curing type 1 diabetes naturally
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

What Is Rebounding?

Rebounding is a type of aerobic exercise.  It is performed by jumping up and down, either on the floor or preferably on a trampoline. Most people choose to use a mini-trampoline (as shown in the picture above).

What Are The Benefits of Rebounding?

Rebounding has been found to have a host of benefits, which include:

  • Increased core and leg strength
  • Increased cardio fitness and endurance
  • Increased balance and stability
  • Increased pelvic floor health
  • Improved drainage of the lymphatic system

What Is The Lymphatic System?

Rebounding has been found to improve functioning of the lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system consists of a series of tissues, vessels and organs, including the spleen, small intestine and appendix.  These are all connected in a body-wide network.  A colourless, water-like fluid, called lymph, flows through this system. 

The lymphatic system can be thought of as the sewer system of our bodies.  It removes toxins and cell debris whilst also bringing nutrients to each cell.  So getting this system to work effectively has huge benefits for healing and health.

How To Unblock The Lymphatic System

Unlike the circulatory system that is powered by the heart, the lymph system has no such engine.  To move lymph around the body, the body needs to move.  Unfortunately, in today’s world where movement has become more sporadic for the majority of people, human bodies are building up a toxin backlog.  The sewage system is getting blocked.

Unblocking the lymph system can be facilitated in multiple ways but movement is the key to all methods.  One of the best methods is exercise.  Walking, running, swimming, biking and yoga, along with any other form of exercise that requires your muscles to work against gravity, all help the lymph to move around the system.  Rebounding also does this very effectively and, unlike other forms of exercise, it puts much less strain and impact on the human body.

How Can Rebounding Help Heal Type 1 Diabetes?

As I have argued elsewhere, I believe that Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic stress response in the body.  I believe it is a response to a system that is overloaded by toxins – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.  The body reacts by putting itself into a fight-flight response (see my article here on that).  To provide an effective fight-flight response, the body restricts insulin to ensure that the system has enough glucose to power it through. Rebounding helps undo this toxic overload.

I first heard about rebounding as a tool for detoxification when I attended the Tony Robbins’ event, Unleash The Power Within. Whilst it piqued my interest then, I wasn’t completely taken by the idea.  Then, I read ‘Radical Hope‘ by Dr Kelly Turner.  This book contains stories of people who have healed themselves from various types and stages of cancer.  One of the case studies in the book references a woman who was very fit and athletic throughout her life, regularly engaging in various forms of high-level exercise.  However, when she got sick with cancer, she chose to focus on rebounding as her main form of exercise.  Okay, now I was interested!

The Positive Effects Of Rebounding

I chose to invest in a rebounder (I got the Darchen 450 off Amazon and have found it to be fit for my purposes).  When I started, I found it surprisingly challenging.  Right from the start, I chose to do 20 minutes per day but I could only sustain that by letting myself bounce up and down without even getting my feet off the trampoline mesh.  Over time, I have built that up and now bounce around like a kid at a party (safely, of course!) for my twenty minutes.  My fitness has definitely improved!

I have also found another positive side effect of rebounding…  I have improved my pelvic floor!  Since having my daughter seven years ago, my pelvic floor has not been totally reliable.  Anything to active or bouncy has left me running for the toilet on more than one occasion!  I tried pelvic floor exercises for years with no improvement.  I suspected that I might need to get something more serious done (surgery, perhaps) if this deteriorated further. 

When I started rebounding, I found that I could only go for about five minutes at a time before needing a bathroom pit stop.  As time has gone on, this has decreased and I can now do my full twenty minutes with no need for the toilet and no discomfort or concern.  Another positive side effect of rebounding!

Sustaining The Habit of Rebounding

I have found certain tweaks have made it easier for me to sustain the habit of rebounding.  Firstly, I make sure that I do it straight after my walk, first thing in the morning, whenever possible.  When I’ve left it for later in the day, my motivation for it seems to evaporate.  I have also found that have something to occupy me, such as someone to talk to or a good bit of music, keep me having fun so that the time passes quickly.

I am hoping that, over time, my rebounding may also aid my exhaustion.  I have been having more and more periods of exhaustion over the last few months.  I have heard that one cause of exhaustion is toxicity in the body – the body has to work harder in such less-than-optimal conditions.  So I will wait to see if rebounding also improves my fatigue.  It can’t make it worse!

Picture of Natalie Leader
Natalie Leader

Natalie is a blogger with Type 1 Diabetes. Natalie's special gifts are questioning the status quo and being a rebel. She is using these gifts to question medical 'knowledge' and find a true cure for Type 1 Diabetes.

The content of the HealingT1D website is for educational and information purposes only.  It does not contain medical advice. The contents of this website are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please always consult with your doctor, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional before making any adjustments to your routine or healthcare regime.  HealingT1D and all associated with it will not be held liable for any risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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December 27, 2021
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