Table Of Content

The Smart Woman’s Guide to DIABETES T h Authentic Advice On Everything e Amy Stockwell Mercer S From Eating To Dating And Motherhood m “No matter what stage of life you are in, if you are a woman with diabetes, this book will a help you navigate each stage with sound, practical advice from your peers with diabetes. If r t The you are like me and you spent many years dreaming of having a friend with diabetes to talk W to or relate to, this book will be your ‘ultimate girlfriend with diabetes.’” Smart Woman’s o —Brandy Barnes, Founder/CEO, DiabetesSisters m From the Foreword a “We women are by nature empathetic beings who tend to focus on caring for others. And n Guide to ’ our bodies are so complicated to begin with. All of this makes taking care of ourselves with s diabetes a particular challenge. I am so delighted that Amy Mercer has made the effort to G help us share our stories in this unique book!” u DI A BETES i —Amy Tenderich, Author, patient advocate, editor of d www.DiabetesMine.com and community manager of DiabeticConnect.com e t “Amy’s book covers every aspect of being female and living with diabetes, beginning with o a diagnosis at any age. She covers schooling, relationships, exercising, eating, traveling, D pregnancy, parenting, menopause, and more. This great guide is packed with solid wisdom, Amy Stockwell Mercer advice, and guidance that will help any woman with this condition live a happier and I healthier life.” —Cheryl Alkon, Author, Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-Existing A Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby “Having had type 1 diabetes for more than 25 years and having written two books on the B subject, I enjoyed reading Amy Mercer’s book very much. It is well written and covers every aspect of living with diabetes across the life span from a woman’s perspective. I especially E liked the chapters on diagnosis, pregnancy, travel, and aging gracefully. It is worth reading for women living with diabetes at whatever stage in life they are and for the family and T friends who love them.” —Rita G. Mertig, MS, RNC, CNS, DE, Author, What Nurses Know... E Diabetes and The Nurse’s Guide to Teaching Diabetes Self-Management S Amy Stockwell Mercer is a freelance writer in Charleston, SC. She graduated with her MFA in creative writing from Queens University in M Charlotte, NC. Her writing has appeared in Charleston Magazine, the City Paper, Art Papers, skirt! Magazine, Literary Mama, A Cup of Comfort For Writers, Chicken e Soup for the Soul: Power Moms, Charleston Art Magazine, Charleston Style and r Design, Diabetes Health, and A Sweet Life. Amy has lived with type 1 diabetes for 25 years and is the proud mother to three young boys. You can read more of her c writing at www.amystockwellmercer.com. e ISBN 978-1936303137 -7 r 51695 11 West 42nd Street, 15th floor New York, NY 10036 www.demoshealth.com 9 781936 303137 $16.95 Distributed in North America by Publishers Group West Cover Design by Steven Pisano The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes Authentic Advice on Everything From Eating to Dating and Motherhood The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes Authentic Advice on Everything From Eating to Dating and Motherhood Amy Stockwell Mercer New York Visit our website at www.demoshealth.com ISBN: 978-1-936303-13-7 E-book ISBN: 9781617050701 Acquisitions Editor: Noreen Henson Compositor: Absolute Service, Inc. Printer: Bang Printing © 2012 by Amy Stockwell Mercer. All rights reserved. This book is protected by copy- right. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Medical information provided by Demos Health, in the absence of a visit with a healthcare professional, must be considered as an educational service only. This book is not designed to replace a physician’s independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure of therapy for a given patient. Our purpose is to provide you with information that will help you make your own healthcare decisions. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, editors, and publisher, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. The editors and publisher welcome any reader to report to the publisher any discrepancies or inaccuracies noticed. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data CIP data is available from the Library of Congress. Special discounts on bulk quantities of Demos Health books are available to corpora- tions, professional associations, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare organizations, and other qualifying groups. For details, please contact: Special Sales Department Demos Medical Publishing 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor New York, NY 10036 Phone: 800–532–8663 or 212–683–0072 Fax: 212–941–7842 E-mail: [email protected] Made in the United States of America 11 12 13 14 / 5 4 3 2 1 This book is dedicated to the four men in my life: my husband Dale, and my three amazing sons, Will, Miles, and Reid. v Contents Foreword by Brandy Barnes ix Acknowledgments xiii Introduction xv 1. Diagnosis 1 2. Managing Adolescence 31 3. Diet 55 4. Eating Disorders and Body Image 75 5. Exercise 101 6. Dating, Sex, and Marriage 123 7. Working Girl: Diabetes at Work and School 141 8. Travel 151 9. Pregnancy 165 10. Motherhood 195 11. Aging Gracefully 215 Resources 225 References 227 Index 231 vii Foreword As a woman who has lived with diabetes for more than two decades, I have performed my fair share of literary searches for books that would guide me through various life stages: puberty, college life, dating, marriage, pregnancy, and parenting. There were the typical difficulties of the college years that included sitting in my dorm room tearfully try- ing to figure out how and where to wear my new insulin pump under my form-fitting party dress. There was also the question that goes though the mind of every single woman with diabetes, “When should I tell a love interest about my diabetes? On the first date? After he (or she) meets my family? What is proper protocol and what do other women with diabetes do?” Eventually there was the very lonely expe- rience of pregnancy with diabetes. I had no idea what was normal or what to expect. “Did that blood sugar of 242 mg/dL hurt my baby? What will my blood sugar do during delivery? Should I wear my insulin pump when I’m in labor or not?” Unfortunately, my literary searches on these topics were usually disappointing. In fact, The Diabetic Woman by Lois Jovanovic served as my only resource on such gender-specific diabetes topics for as long as I can recall. Although Jovanovic’s book will always serve as a classic in many women’s home libraries (including my own), I was overjoyed to learn about, and honored to be a part of, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes. To say this book is long overdue is an understatement. For far too long, the unique needs and experiences of women with diabetes have been overlooked. I am excited to see inspiring women like Amy Mercer step up to shine a spotlight on the these issues that not only help women with diabetes, but also raise the public’s awareness. As women with diabetes, we have gained incredible strength through the trials and tribulations that are unique to us. We have learned important lessons that are invaluable to other women with diabetes. That kind of real life, practical advice from peers is priceless. I thank Amy for ix