Not Your TYPE1cal Adventurer

Extra instruments (AAPS) on the dash taking the stress out of a day on the water.

🚤 Growing tired of being the ‘passenger princess’ on board, i’d been wanting to spend more time learning to drive our boat and got to tick that box last weekend when I was official ‘boatman’ for hubby and his mate at the NorthIsland Spearfishing Champs at Kapiti last weekend.

There was some reminiscing of the last time I was ‘boatman’ all of five years back when we were in our early days (first week knowing each other 😮) and up in Taupo!!!

☀️ I couldn’t have asked for better conditions, sunshine and minimal wind! Kapiti put it on!! The sea was kind.

🩸⚕️Being out on the water brings some anxiety around being so far from help but with ALL the prep, ALL the juice boxes and carbs, and ALL the tech, I was able to put diabetes aside and enjoy the day.

⛴❤️

Heavy legs and a light heart ❤️
Hubby and I took an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of life for a long overdue adventure.
🏕️We camped up at Waiohine Gorge - entrance to the Tararua Forest Park, in the improvised ‘Adventure Wagon’ as our usual adventure mode transport is off the road - not in the fun way.
🥾We set off early the next day headed to Totara Flats Hut for a one day in and out mission (around 20km), hoping to come out the other end with some venison. Spoiler alert, the track was not ‘flat’ 🤣 but was absolutely stunning, rugged, a little bit technical - and a sh*t ton of fun! The swing bridge is an absolute MUST DO!
🦌Despite being a popular public track, there was plenty of sign, and there were deer…just none that were keen to hang around for long!
⚕️🩸My blood glucose levels were as up and down as the elevation profile. Massive shout out to diabetes tech for keeping me comfortable, safe and enabling me to be in the moment….

Where to next Tom Burroughs-Moody?! 📍🧭
📸 Tom Burroughs-Moody

Just the team nailing the Christmas cards!🤩🎅🏻🎄 Merry Christmas to you all and a massive shout out for all of your support throughout my time on the nano. It’s going to be a tough choice on pump change day!

Last year’s adventure involved mental endurance and growth and today I got to walk the stage and claim the prize 🎓. Taking on Postgraduate study as my first ever foray into academia was ambitious, on top of a full time job, family, and working hard to take control of my diabetes management it was FULL ON! Hugest thank you to all those who supported me and helped me see this through ❤️ Big events like this sure bring out the diabetes anxiety, what you can’t see here is my concealed artificial pancreas, my stash of jellybeans, and me internally hoping my blood sugars remain stable.

Somehow I turned 38 this past weekend 😮🎂🎈. Super spoilt with a new mountain bike and shoes 🚴🏻‍♀️❤️. The best gift of all though was the experience of riding the Remutaka Incline with my family. We were even blessed with the most beautiful uncharacteristic Wellington day. Big shout out to my family and friends for making my birthday so special x

11 November 2023 - today I ran the 16km Taniwha trail run, raising over $900 for Diabetes NZ and promoting awareness.

😑 I was SO invested in proving WHAT I COULD achieve DESPITE living with T1D.

11 November 2024 - today I had my first HbA1c test since starting on the AAPS system with Medtrum nano pump and Libre 2 sensor. 50…FIFTY.. there is no other way to say it 🤯. In less than three months I am in control of T1D and out of harms reach.

🤯 Today I am invested in proving THAT I CAN successfully manage T1D.

If there was ever any question as to how life changing the decision to fund diabetes technology is, let my story be an example. I feel hope for the first time since being diagnosed 💫

Super cool Friday night out in South Wairarapa watching the massive Aurora storm. An amazing experience to be able to share with our kids.

📷 Tom Burroughs-Moody

I stumbled across who have the coolest selection of pump and CGM accessories right here in NZ. After browsing the site FOREVER I managed to pick out a few favourites. There are different types of tape to choose from so I got a few of each to test out. My pump feels SUPER secure! Service was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ they arrived super fast! Looking forward to having some fun with my robot parts!

Why TECH and why NOW?

Four years of denial, reliance on distraction techniques and a never ending cycle of ‘betes burnout. That’s the crux of it.

Reflection is a powerful tool….which led me to a relisation 💡 This seems embarrassingly simple, like duh - why not just do that from the start?!

Truth is, I never accepted my diagnoses, I was still mad. I desperately tried too…then I slipped into a pattern of distraction. Constantly setting and achieving goals to spite it. Then I felt like a fraud.

While I was sharing my achievements and adventures, inside I was sick. I was disassociating with diabetes and focussing on everything else.

But, it never went away, no matter what I achieved, I still have a chronic disease that is a very REAL threat to my health, to my LIFE.

Now I’m ready, and I’m invested. The most important achievement in my LIFE will be how I manage my T1D.