Andrew Burgess

Hello! Who are you? And tell us a little bit more about your diabetes.

Hey everyone! My name is Andrew Burgess. I’m 29 years old and currently living in Tasmania, Australia. I have Type 1 diabetes for a total of 23 years.I’ve faced a lot of hurdles through my time. The biggest thing is to stay less stressed, don’t give a care to anyone else’s drama’s, be yourself, be a diabetic and you will live a great diabetic life. Don’t be in denial when you have time to over come things. Get on top of it, and don’t blame anyone or anything. Just get it done!!

The people I’ve met and the people I’m going to meet all because of diabetes is insane and I wouldn’t take anything back. Diabetes is me and I just work with it and face whatever it is that it brings when it comes, and go from there. Anyways, happy diabetes my friends, stay safe and remember, keep on keeping on! ✌🏻

I grew up with my diabetes and didn’t hide it!

The hardest part in the since the beginning of my diagnosis with type one diabetes is that my family are not the healthiest eaters.

“Keep on keeping on!”

Your treatment

How do you treat your diabetes, did a lot change over the past years and are you able to manage it well?

I receive the most support from my educator.

To treat my diabetes I use CGM and a Medtronic 670g insulin pump with Novorapid insulin. Before I used Protophane and Levemir insulin.

A lot has changed over the years that I’be been a diabetic. I do think that I managed my diabetes well enough.

Can you recognize the symptoms of a low/high blood sugar? Do you test often and can you tell a bit more about your experiences with low blood sugar?

Yes, I can recognize them. I often get headaches, the shakes, sore eyes, sweats, thirsty and have many toilet trips.

I check my blood sugar about 5 times a day.

To treat my low blood sugars I do check my sugar in 1 hour and after that again in another hour.

Food and diet

How does your diabetes affect your eating and do you find being on a diet restrictive?

I eat fruits and vegetables mainly, with a bit of dairy in the mornings.

My favorite food is chicken Cesar salad. I do sometimes skip meals. For snacks I like to eat carrots, grapes, bars, oats, fruits and more.

Whenever I eat something I vary my insulin dose.

I try to drink more water but I feel that it’s not enough now.

Being on a diet feels restrictive. The choices and recipes suck cooking them.

I don’t feel irritated when somebody asks me about my diet or diabetes. Really, my ears are painted on.

Do you believe that a plant based diet can improve diabetes? Did you ever experiment with this?

Yeah of course it does. But maybe it’s good to have some meat I believe so.

Do you have a hard time eating out in a restaurant? And what are you thoughts on making this easier?

No, I ask the chef to cook me something up that’s carb free.

“We hate stupid jokes.”

Exercise and work

Does your diabetes restrict you from exercise or your daily job?

I go for a run every night.

I work on my diabetes application, which means a bit of sitting down but I do make sure I run nightly to control my sugar levels and stay healthy.

Final

Do you have any positive or negative effects because of your diabetes?

The hardest part, for me, of being a diabetic is feeling different most days.

But the best part is the application I created to connect diabetics closer in the community.

Diabetes is causing a few problems to my eyes and teeth.

What is the best advice that you can give to non-diabetics, new diagnosed diabetics and diabetics?

We hate stupid jokes.

To be a good diabetic you have to act like a diabetic . Don’t go drinking 18th and 21st birthdays 🙄

Keep on keeping on!

What would you ask the other diabetics?

Who wants to go grab a beer and have a chat?Feel free to answer in the comments below.

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Hey! I'm Ely Fornoville, the founder of Diabetic & Me.
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