Try to become motivated again

 Hello again, 

Already the beginning of September and  after four months of traveling and almost three months of adjusting to a "new" life in the Netherlands, it is time to, kind of, start all over again with managing my diabetes.   In saying this, luckily,  my average BGL's are not bad.  The upload of the blood sugar meter shows 7.5.   

On the 18th of February, the movers packed the scales and since than I did not weigh myself.  I know/feel that I have gained some weight.  To be honest, I am a bit scared to see what the scales will say.  But as I will start maintaining this blog again,  I promise you all, that next time I will tell you, so a motivation for me, to put some batteries in the scales and step on it.  

                                               

I gained weight because I just enjoy all the good stuff in the Netherlands.  I am amazed by the enormous choice in the supermarkets.  The abundance of everything.  For example, when I left the Netherlands (16 years ago) there was just one kind of "stroopwafels".  Now there are all kind of luxurious filled and decorated "stroopies".  And that is just one example.  A stroopwafel is of course not diabetic friendly,  but a mini one, does not seem to be too bad,  (average carbs 5 gram).   This is true, if you only take one,  but the temptation to eat more is always huge.  So for the future, I have to stick to one again.   (A good tip, not to keep eating things is to take a sip of water, so the lovely taste is gone and you are not tempted to eat more) 

                                             

Another new thing for the near future, will be me, getting acquainted with the Dutch diabetic healthcare.  I have made an appointment with a diabetes specialist for the beginning of October, so in one of my next blogs I will tell you about this.  I hope he/she will be familiar with my pump and sensor combination.  And hopefully, he will support this, so I will be able to get the sensor funded by the health insurance.  To be continued. 

I have contacted the support team for the Tandem pump and I am able to get 24/7 support in the Netherlands.  The same counts  for the Dexcom G6 sensor.  Both items are available in the Netherlands,  but not as commonly used as in New Zealand.  

As my life is still very busy at the moment, it will be difficult to maintain a good diet and to exercise as much as I would want.  But I will start with the basics again, like a healthy breakfast instead of my favorite sandwich peanut butter with chocolate sprinkles.  I will aim to walk at least 10.000 steps per day.   Another simple goal is to drink enough water again.  And if I like something nice with my coffee, I will just take on cookie.  But most important is to be "happy". 

One thing I will definitely keep on doing is having a coffee at a nice outside café.  I found already  a nice new place where they make very good barista coffee.  It is also at a lovely spot in my new home town. 

                                  

Right, this is it for now.  I "talk" to you all in a couple of weeks time.  I hope I really got motivated again.  I will let you know. 

                             

                                                              In my happy space