Mel Stephenson

International athlete with diabetes - Lifestyle/ Fashion/ Health/ Food Blogger

[melaniestephenson]

Today marks the start of #NationalBreastFeedingWeek - which is another topic that I really don’t feel gets talked about enough in relation to diabetes. . So this week I’ll be doing just that. You might be wondering what it’s also all got to do with sport, as that’s a lot of what I talk about on this page and the answer is that I had to approach breastfeeding like sport because it uses THAT much energy 😳 . But where possible (as it’s not always), it’s a wonderful way to support baby’s growth and development! . . . . #diabetes #breastfeeding #type1diabetes #t1d #diabetestype1 #t1dlookslikeme #newmum #mummy #mummyblogger #mondaymotivation #pregnancy #type2diabetes #gestationaldiabetes #4thtrimester #movingthroughmotherhood #insulin #hypoglycaemia #food https://www.instagram.com/p/CSFZ8gKC4hY/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

This was one of my favourite comments from the lovely @t1dawnie last night, when I asked her about how to broach the subject of having diabetes with your children 😍 . Thanks so much again to everyone who sent in questions for last night and took the time to attend, we really enjoyed it and thank you to Dawn for so kindly giving her time, insight and expertise 🙌🏾 . In case you missed our insta live, it’s available on my IgTV channel now! . . . . #wednesday #wednesdaywisdom #diabetes #instalive #pregnancy #t1d #type1diabetes #gestationaldiabetes #midwife #type2diabetes #diabetestype1 #qotd #dietitian #trustadietitian #food #carbohydrates #lowcarb #mummyblogger #newmum #mum #gbdoc https://www.instagram.com/p/CRmSIi2C8hN/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Today’s reading material/ wedding anniversary gift from the little lady 😍 I’d have loved something like this when I was younger! . When she’s older I think I might have one made explaining about type 1 diabetes. I’d love to hear how other parents have introduced the idea of having a medical condition to their children… . . . . #friday #friyay #books #book #baby #reading #newmum #parenting #parentingadvice #type1diabetes #t1d #diabetestype1 #t1dlookslikeme #mummy #mummyblogger #love #learning #supportsmallbusiness #chroniccondition #health https://www.instagram.com/p/CRYihVJBqHR/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Save the Date!! Next Tuesday evening at 7pm UK time I’ll be hosting an Insta live chat with the awesome @t1dawnie that you won’t want to miss! . Not only is Dawn a fellow T1D who is managing her diabetes with a looping system, but she’s also a midwife and mum to 4 boys and studying for her PhD! Basically, she’s somebody that I really wish I’d known prior to my pregnancy, to get a real understanding of what goes on! . So come and join us and feel free to comment below/ DM/ add your questions to the Stories option, whether you’re thinking about, planning, curious about or already have children, everyone is welcome and we’d love to hear from you! . . . . #diabetes #thingsiwishiknew #t1d #diabetestype1 #parenting #type1diabetes #midwife #information #thursday #pregnancy #fertility #midwifery #pregnancyplanning #trustadietitian #newmum #mum #mummy #mummyblogger #instalive #t1dlookslikeme #type2diabetes #gestationaldiabetes #parenting #dad #daddy https://www.instagram.com/p/CRWwfiqiSGB/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Little toes and a yoga pose, we love mum and baby yoga Mondays 💓 🧘🏾‍♀️ . . . . #Monday #mondaymotivation #diabetes #mumandbaby #yoga #postpartum #coreworkout #core #onemillionstepchallenge #t1d #type1diabetes #diabetestype1 #t1dlookslikeme #automatedpump #happydiabeticchallenge #chillies #baby #780g #medtronic #insulinpump #enlite https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ9HHzzh7xd/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Yesterday’s sprint session was a bit of a test for the automated pump, as I’ve been a bit dubious/ curious as to how it would manage with exercise. . I knew that the process would be to set a ‘temp target’, meaning that for a period of time the insulin pump would aim to get my blood sugars to 8.3mmol/l instead of 6.7mmol/l. . I started this 1 hr before the session. But as my BG was 5.3mmol/l when I did it, then I also took ~35g fast-acting carb on board without a bolus. . I didn’t hypo, but it wasn’t perfect as the graph still looked a bit ⛰ (or maybe more 🌋) instead of 🗻. What did work well though was temp target overnight 👌🏾 . . . . #diabetes #t1d #diabetestype1 #onemillionstepchallenge #weekend #sunday #sundayfunday #run #running #newmum #postpartum #postpartumexercise #realmumsarerolemodels #nike #insulinpump #medtech #health #technology #medtronic #780g #cgm #dexcom #dexcomwarrior #enlite #freestylelibre https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ5bbzJBnuS/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

‘Lift those knees Mummy’ - Alana Rose Gray (aged 18 weeks) 😅 . Today was my first sprint session post pregnancy and birth 🙌🏾 and I had THE best cheerleading squad to encourage me to keep pushing! . I want my daughter to see and know that she can do anything she puts her mind to! 📸 @iamwillgray . . . . #onemillionstepchallenge #diabetes #t1d #diabetestype1 #t1dlookslikeme #newmum #postpartumexercise #baby #coach #athlete #instarunners #running #run #runningmum #saturday #weekend #diabetesuk #nike #asics #mumanddaughter #postpartum #insulinpump #automatedpump #health #fitspo #realmumsarerolemodels https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ4CL4ch9xR/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Hooray! 🥳 @diabetesuk One Million Step Challenge starts today! I love doing this challenge every year as it’s a brilliant way to get outdoors, challenge yourself, explore the local area and raise money and awareness for an important cause. . This year I’m going to do things a little differently with having just had the baby and building things back up. So we’re going to try and make the million as a family! Which will mean that we get to do plenty of lovely outdoors walks and adventures together! . Are you giving it a go too? . . . . #onemillionstepchallenge #onemillionstepchallenge2021 #walking #running #diabetesuk #diabetes #outdoors #nature #familytime #adventure #active #activefamily #thursday #type1diabetes #t1d #type2diabetes #t2d #newmum #postpartum #mentalhealth https://www.instagram.com/p/CQx7HathZQ4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Searching for where my core stability has gone 😅 but joking aside this session was a real game changer. It might seem small, but it was 25 mins continuous running at a good pace, with an actual up hill sprint at the end and no pain 🙌🏾 which means that I’m ready to move onto a little sprint session next time 🥳 literal baby steps but I’m getting there! 📸 @derrick.stephenson . . . . #wednesday #wednesdaywisdom #newmum #postpartum #postpartumexercise #core #corestability #pelvicfloor #mum #mummybloggeruk #diabetes #t1dlookslikeme #t1d #1millionstepchallenge #training #roadtorecovery #diabetestype1 #instarunners #running #run #onwednesdayswewearpink https://www.instagram.com/p/CQwW71Rh2JN/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

We’re in trouble now 😅 we’ve been so excited for her to learn to reach our and grab things… forgot that this would also mean the tubing on my pump 😄 . . . . #ifyouknowyouknow #diabetes #t1d #diabetestype1 #type1diabetes #insulinpump #newmum #medtech #health #wednesday #wednesdaywisdom #baby #parenting #t1dlookslikeme https://www.instagram.com/p/CQeZXVdHHA4/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Diabetes Week 2021 - It wouldn’t be right to talk about my journey with T1D and pregnancy without giving a mega shout out to the people who helped me, because honestly, I couldn’t have done it without their care and support. . People told me having a baby with T1D was going to be hard, but it was hard in ways I couldn’t even have imagined (as I’ll share more on tomorrow), that’s why my support network was so essential. . This guy (husband @iamwillgray) was an absolute wonder throughout and continues to be. He learned to carb count, cook, he came on every single walk with me to get my blood sugars down no matter the time of day or night, he did the hypo treatment runs downstairs, waited outside at every appointment, as I had to attend all bar two alone and I had them almost fortnightly or more during my pregnancy. He also managed my blood sugar management during theatre and during an emergency incident afterwards without even flinching, I’m in complete awe of him. . Aswell as awesome healthcare professionals (diabetes nurses, obstetrics and diabetes consultants, midwives, anaesthetists…) I also had an incredible tribe of women who I learned so much about type 1 and pregnancy from (see my stories) 🙌🏾 . . . . #Appreciationpost #thankyou #diabetesweek #diabetesstories #followfriday #friday #pregnancy #newmum #mum #pregnancy #diabetesandpregnancy #type1diabetes #t1d #t1dlookslikeme #supportnetwork #mummyblogger https://www.instagram.com/p/CQRKxb0hvuG/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Can’t wait for this on Saturday with @anitab_rd! We’ll be doing an insta live together @11am this weekend. . Anita is an awesome dietitian specialising in diabetes and fertility and having just had a baby myself, I’m looking forward to sharing my #diabetesstories and experiences of managing type 1 and pregnancy/ postpartum. . So whether you’re thinking about pregnancy, just curious or interested, if you’re a fellow parent/ partner with the condition or a healthcare professional we’d love for you to join us, as pregnancy and type 1 diabetes often aren’t discussed enough! . Comment below if you have questions or if there’s something you’d like to see discussed👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 . . . #instalive #event #diabetes #type1diabetes #diabetestype1 #pregnancy #t1d #fertility #postpartum #diabetesstories #trustadietitian #whatdietitiansdo #women #womensupportingwomen #malementalhealth #health #parenting #mum #newmum #gbdoc #mummyblogger #blackmaternalhealth #diabetesweek #happydiabeticchallenge #diabetic #pcos #birthstory #csection #birth https://www.instagram.com/p/CQPARFSB8Td/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Diabetes Week 2021 - #DiabetesStories (📸 at 6 months🤰🏾) . The specifics on exercising when pregnant were quite hard to come by. I knew that exercise would be important to do, but I was quite nervous about doing the ‘wrong thing’ and hurting the baby. I also didn’t want to overdo it by doing my usual sprints and weights training. . But on the flip side, exercising in the first two trimesters especially was incredibly helpful for reducing insulin resistance after meals, speeding up the effects of the insulin for Breyer BG and maintaining a healthy weight. . So what I chose to do was combination training; hill and speed walking, pregnancy yoga, adapted circuits and spinning. I always worked to time rather than intensity and tended to do it after my evening meal as I found that this was the hardest blood glucose level peak to bring down. . . . . #diabetesweek #diabetes #diabetesandpregnancy #pregnancy #pregnancyandexercise #t1d #t1dlookslikeme #diabetestype1 #type1diabetes #diabetesawareness #wednesday #wednesdaywisdom #exercise #spinning #mum #mummy #dexcom #dexcomwarrior #medtronic #freestylelibre #thisgirlcan #happydiabeticchallenge #diabetesuk #cgm #insulinresistance #insulinpump (at Home Gym) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQLe256BsHx/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Day 1 of Diabetes Awareness Week - Diabetes, Exercise and Pregnancy Edition 🤰🏾🏃🏾‍♀️ . This was my first and last sprints session before finding out I was pregnant. I was about 5 weeks along and found the session so so hard, but thought that it was just a tough endurance session on a warm day 😂 . People have frequently asked if the baby was planned and in a way I feel like she’s been on her way for years. By which I mean my diabetes team used to ask me every 3 months when I was of ‘childbearing age’, whether I was planning pregnancy. . Having been through it, I get it, as research and guidance suggests that outcomes are better if the hba1c is 6.5% (48mmol/mol) or less (NICE, 2015). And honestly, with insulin resistance it would be so tough to get down to that level when I’d gotten pregnant as opposed to before. . So prior to becoming pregnant I focused on general health, nutrition and exercise, using CGM to get and maintain my HbA1c. . . . . #diabetesweek #diabetesweek2021 #diabetes #diabetesuk #pregnancy #preconception #firsttrimester #monday #t1dlookslikeme #diabetes #type1diabetes #instarunners #run #running #diabetesstories #sprinter #athlete #happydiabeticchallenge #diabetesawareness #cgm https://www.instagram.com/p/CQHRkGXho3i/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Diabetes Week 2021 has arrived and this year’s theme is #DiabetesStory, an opportunity to share and highlight what it’s like for each of us to live with diabetes. . This year I’ll be sharing a bit about my journey around pregnancy and type 1 diabetes- one of the hardest journeys I’ve been on with the condition so far, from preconception blood sugar management, exercise and pregnancy, how I dealt with some serious insulin resistance, giving birth and breastfeeding. . Then on Saturday I’m really looking forward to joining @anitab_rd for an instalive chat. Don’t miss it if you’re thinking about/ curious/ interested in diabetes and pregnancy as Anita is a specialist fertility/ diabetes/ PCOS dietitian! . I’ve decided to share this journey because the advice and most importantly the support that other mums, type 1 or not have given me throughout has been nothing short of incredible and I’d have been lost without their encouragement and advice, not to mention that of course of my diabetes and obstetrics healthcare professionals- many of which were parents themselves and got the magnitude of the journey we were on. . . . . #diabetesweek #diabetesweek2021 #diabetesstory #pregnancy #type1diabetes #diabetes #t1d #t1lookslikeme #diabetestype1 #diabetesandsport #diabetesawareness #monday #mondaymotivation #mum #mummy #mummyblogger #gbdoc #pregnancy #postpartum #pregnancyandexercise #fertility #insulinresistance #trustadietitian #food #dexcom #dexcomwarrior #medtronic #enlite #freestylelibre https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGlz0UBuoQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Yesterday we decided to go for a walk and so we went for a walk… and I just enjoyed the walk- diabetes did not get in the way once! . It might not sound like a big deal, but ‘unplanned walking’ in my opinion is one of the hardest things to master with type 1 diabetes, especially when you don’t know how long and how far you’re walking for, so this was quite a test for the new insulin pump. . I didn’t set a temporary basal reduction (reduce my insulin on board) before I set off, as I wanted to see how the pump managed it with my regular target glucose (level you as the pump to keep you around) of 6.7mmol/l. . As you can see if you swipe, I walked over 12,000 steps over a time frame of about 3 hours, we did stop for coffee and a cake that I didn’t bolus for, but there was no hypo during or after the exercise! Throw into the mix that I’m breastfeeding aswell and this is pretty exciting stuff 🙌🏾 . . . . #diabetes #type1diabetes #t1d #sunday #sundayfunday #diabetestype1 #walking #exercise #1millionsteps #curlyhair #blackhair #medtronic #enlite #780g #automatedpump #insulin #medtronic780g #newmum #mummy #mummyblogger #baby #love #technology #health #nike #apple #applewatch https://www.instagram.com/p/CQDigy1BZTC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[melaniestephenson]

Today I completed my second session of pump training 🙌🏾 which in a nutshell means that the insulin pump can now do the automated bit. . What could I do before? So this picture is from the ‘before’ bit, also often known as manual mode with this pump. It uses CGM to see what’s going on glucose level wise (in interstitial fluid not blood, hence the terminology). In this mode the pump was able to ‘suspend before low’, so if it predicted my sugars were dropping rapidly towards a hypo, it could switch off the insulin for a time until sugars went back up. . What can I do now? Using CGM and the data that’s been gathered over the last week, the pump can now take over managing my basal insulin, giving me small doses based on the CGM glucose level, with the aim of bringing me back towards a target glucose level. . Why would I want this? The aim is to reduce the variability in glucose levels (peaks and troughs) from looking like a mountain range to rolling hills for better health outcomes and time in range. Also I’d like it if it could give me back more time otherwise used to manage diabetes. . . . . #diabetes #diabetestechnology #medtech #dtech #gbdoc #insulinpump #medtronic #cgm #780g #automatedpump #t1d #t1dlookslikeme #type1diabetes #diabetestype1 #wednesdaywisdom #sport #newmum #breastfeeding #closedloop #wednesday #health #happydiabeticchallenge #mummy #runner https://www.instagram.com/p/CP6cZHPhQyt/?utm_medium=tumblr