Mila Clarke Buckleylived with atype 2 diabetes diagnosisfor four years before learning in August 2020 that she actually had another type of diabetes: latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). She wants people to know that adiabetes-friendly dietdoesnt have to be boring or leave one feeling hangry(a state of irritability that can result from a dip in blood glucose).
Thats why she shares such delectable images with her 37,000Instagramfollowers and visitors to her Hangry Woman blog. Her recipe posts forgrilled fish tacosandJamaican jerk chicken wingsare accompanied by mouthwatering photos.
Type 2 diabetes results when the body cannot properly processinsulin, causingblood sugar (glucose) to rise too high. LADA, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that is similar totype 1 diabetes, in which the bodys immune system attacks and destroys the cells that make insulin which is why its also known astype 1.5 diabetes. LADA tends to happen later in life and much more gradually than type 1 diabetes.
People with any form of diabetes can experience blood sugar dips that produce that hangry feeling, also known ashypoglycemia. But rather than coming off as irritable, Buckley, a Houston resident, has a gregarious persona to match her blogs mission, which she says is to help people with diabetes feel less alone in their managementbut to alsoshow them that you can live a happy,healthy life with diabetes and enjoyyour favorite foods.
She says her new diagnosis wont change that mission. I lived with a type 2diabetes diagnosisfor four years that includes the feeling of shame, stigma, and being judged for what other people deemed my fault, and lack of access to the tools that would help me manage diabetes best. Although my [diagnosis] changed, it doesnt take away any of those experiences, and it doesnt mean that I experience them less. To me, it means having the opportunity to bridge the gap a bit more, and help all people with diabetes understand each other.
Buckley includes recipes for those who follow aketogenic or keto diet, but before you try them, check with your doctor to make sure the regimen is right for you. If you takeoral diabetes medication, the diet may increase yourrisk of hypoglycemia, andthis high-fat, low-carb diet can pose other health risksto some. Plus, more studies are needed before keto can be recommended for everyone with type 2 diabetes.
Buckleys personal favorite blog post is titled, Diabetes Is Not a Joke, and it takes aim at the stigma that can be attached to the disease because of its link to diet. People often think diabetes deserves to be a punch line, but its more serious than the jokes it often sets off, she says.
RELATED:What People With Type 2 Diabetes Must Know About the Keto Diet
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