During Diabetes awareness month Elliott Yamin, International
Celebrity Advocate Co-Chair for the Promise Campaign, took your questions relating to his life with diabetes. Below are the five most popular questions he received along with his answers.
Thanks for participating!
1. How do you maintain your blood sugars with the stress of touring and
having a hectic schedule?
Well, before I had diabetes I never really gave a lot of thought to what I was eating or when and how I was exercising. I ate what I liked and played the sports I liked. After diabetes came along, it took me a while to realize I had to really think over even the simplest of days. So you can imagine how complicated planning days on tour can be. (I am kind of laughing now because planning is not a word you can use easily on tour). The pump has been a big help, since it gives me more flexibility. But even with a pump, I need to make sure I eat the right amounts and at the right time and I know what is going on in my body. That means trying to plan meals, always carrying snacks and checking, checking, checking. I’ll give you an example. Let’s say I know I’ll be doing a public appearance at around noon. It should take a half hour. So I check just before it and figure I’ll be done in time for lunch. But then things get behind. All of a sudden I need food (and anyone with diabetes knows that feeling!) and I’m surrounded by fans, who are not expecting me to run off and eat lunch. So a better choice is to think ahead. Eat before, know I have some “room to spare” with my numbers and then check again when I’m done. Stress and excitement can be an interesting challenge too.
2. When you were growing up was it difficult to always have tight control
of your blood sugar?
It was, especially socially when I was younger. I would forget about
it and I made some diabetes choices that were not the best. I’m sure part of it was growing, but another part was just not wanting to be a part of it. But I finally came to a time when I realized that so long as I did what I had to: check, bolus and recheck (and I’m not saying that is easy), I’d be okay. I try to remember that every day.
3. Were you ever embarrassed about having diabetes?
Yes, I was mainly concerned about people treating me differently or
like a charity
case. I did not want to burden people with my problems either.
It wasn’t about people thinking “Oh he ate wrong and now he has diabetes,” although I know a lot of people with diabetes hear that. It was more about: I want to just be the same as everyone else, and not have everyone worrying about me or thinking about what I should or should not be eating or doing. Eventually, you realize most people think those things simply because they care about you. Once I realized that, I relaxed about it more.
4. Do you ever get low during a performance and if so how do you treat
it?
Yes. I did get extremely low once recently at a show. I was performing in
Vancouver and got very light headed. I flagged my manager to grab me a
regular Pepsi to boost me. It was the first time that had ever happened so it
was a bit scary.
I am always sure to have something – any kind of fast acting and easy to gulp or swallow carb – nearby on stage at all times. That way, I can take action the moment I feel the low coming on and most times, without even stopping the show. Everyone with diabetes should do the same thing really: if you are playing a sport or in a class or just out hanging around. But I will say this: if you ever don’t feel better right away, you MUST stop what you are doing. It would be more important for me to take a quick break and stay safe than to end up in an emergency situation. I know my fans would understand, and so would your friends.
5. How has diabetes changed your life?
It has made me a stronger person, more responsible, and it has made me
healthier in a sense that my life depends on me taking better care of
myself. It has made me more active in the world as well. If you told me 10 years ago I’d be meeting with Senators and Congressmen in Washington or helping out at the United Nations I would have said you were crazy. But I am doing that now. My career allows me to be heard, and I have been lucky enough to learn that I can use that to help not just me, but so many. I think everyone with diabetes should realize that: you have a story to be told and a voice that needs to be heard. And you can help others. I want a cure, but I have to say, learning that has kind of been a gift.