The following story tells the individual experience of someone using insulin pump therapy and frequent blood sugar monitoring to manage his/her diabetes. As you read, please remember that the experience is specific to the individual. While clinical studies support pump therapy and frequent testing as effective tools for controlling blood sugars, results may vary, and not every response will be the same.
Midsummer's feast
Gathering fellow pumpers for a summer picnic is a great way to celebrate food and friendship
By Judith Jones Ambrosini
For Medtronic Diabetes
We started out as ADA (American Diabetes Association) volunteers and advocates, and as people living with diabetes, trying to lead healthier lifestyles. We worked together producing "Fitness Afoot" walks in New York's Central Park in the late 1980s and early 1990s. We were a gang of five who became friends through our circumstance. We all took multiple injections, tested our BGs and visited diabetologists. Some of us exercised. Some of us experienced complications. And all of us, one by one, relying on each others' pressure, crossed the chasm from shots to pump therapy.
For the past five summers, we have been celebrating our friendship, our comradery and our health with what has become known as "pumpers picnic" on the Jersey Shore. Along the way, we have met others and our gang of five has multiplied to a fearless group of pumpers and type 3s (as we affectionately call our spouses and families), who arrive in the tiny hamlet of Sea Girt , N.J. each summer to exchange laughter, stories, information, as well as great food, walks (and cartwheels) on the beach - and even a little kite flying.
This year, festivities began at noon, and the last big farewell-until-next-picnic-hug, took place at midnight. It is always magical. The memories of the day leave us with a glowing aura that lift our spirits for days afterward. We are so privileged and lucky to have each other to lean on and learn from.
Food is naturally a big part of our day. Since I am a chef, I take care of the menu and assign "what to bring" to embellish it. This year, since it was such a hot, hot, hot summer, I made up a big batch of cold gazpacho soup from farm stand veggies, and I smoked a turkey breast on the grill for turkey. The spread also included brie, mango chutney and sliced pear wraps.
One of the newcomers from last year walked in and none of us recognized him. Last year, he was in real trouble healthwise and his diabetes was out of control. Even his posture was tired and fatigued. Then, he went on pump therapy, cleared up all the ailments, gained weight and showed up this year with a smiling face, healthy glow and new girlfriend on his arm. Cheers for Tom!
A nice walk up to the beach and splash in the ocean took care of the exercise component after lunch. We talked about the status of technology and Bill showed off his new meter. Diane mentioned her training for Team Diabetes in the November Bermuda Marathon Walk, and everyone was anxious to see my new Paradigm pump. Soon, it was time for us to partake in our favorite pastime, enjoying good food.. Here is a selected menu from our annual picnic feast that you may want to adapt for your own gathering. . . .
The sun began to set as we sat out in my garden enjoying each other's company and our tasty meal. As we cleaned up and made coffee and tea, I sliced up a few of my simple homemade desserts, including a lemon pistachio pound cake and raspberry yogurt cake . . . when all of a sudden, I heard gasps of shock and surprise mixed with squeals of great joy.
" What was going on out there?" I wondered from the kitchen. And then I saw it with my own eyes, Bill, Betsy, Megan and Billy's gigantic chocolate mousse cake sitting in the middle of the dining room table! Who would ever think a person with diabetes could even set eyes on something so rich and sumptuous? And then, Bill announced that this is for all us healthy diabetics who take such great care of ourselves everyday, year after year. Now we're all pumpers, and we can allow ourselves the freedom to indulge in a treat like this . . . every once in awhile. Quickly word spread outside . . . test and bolus everybody, because you're in for a rare treat!
Most recipes can be found at Judith's Cyber Kitchen (www.diabetesnet.com/cyber_kitchen/index.php).
I love this combination of tastes and textures . . . sweet, salty, meaty and herbaceous. Serve it hot or room temp. Easy to make big batches for parties . . . or picnics.
2 8-oz. boneless, skinless fresh chicken breasts, cut into large, bite-sized pieces
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
handful fresh oregano leaves
2 oranges
16 Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- Grate zest and squeeze juice from 1 orange
- Whisk together olive oil, oregano, orange zest and juice.
- Place chicken pieces in large, sealable plastic bag, add oil mixture and refrigerate for 15 minutes, or up to an hour.
- Peel and cut orange into segments.
- Grill or oven-roast chicken on baking sheet for about 20 minutes at 350° until cooked through.
- Toss chicken with oranges, olives, salt and pepper. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh oregano leaves.
APPROXIMATE NUTRITIONAL VALUE: 1 serving = 330 CAL, 28 GRAMS PROTEIN, 10 GRAMS MONOUNSATURATED FAT, 30 CARB GRAMS.
Information on this site should not be used as a subsitute for talking to your doctor.
To find out if intensive diabetes management using insulin pump therapy and frequent blood sugar monitoring is right for you, call 800-MINIMED (800-646-4633) or 818-362-5958 for a referral to a diabetes specialist.
