Crohn’s, Celiac, Colitis, Diabetes, Stoicism and Journaling
This book covers a lot of territory. Crohn’s, Celiac, and Colitis are lifelong conditions. There are genetic links between them and Diabetes.
And, yet a 2013 study found there were no standard practices for screening Type 1 Diabetes patients for Celiac Disease. Of the facilities in the study that did screen for Celiac Disease, 60% only did so if there were symptoms present. The authors of the study suggested a uniform screening protocol be put in place. Additionally, dieticians should acquire further education on the gluten-free diet for patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease. [1]
Like Diabetes, the lifelong nature of Crohn’s, Celiac, and Colitis can create emotional, mental and physical stress just as with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Some patients with Crohn’s, Celiac, Colitis suffer periodically when their condition flares up.
The challenges and stress of these conditions is similar to the stress all Diabetics know only too well, Diabetes Burnout.
Stoicism is a philosophy founded in Ancient Greece in the 4th century BC and yet it has so much to teach us today. I didn’t come to Stoicism at the time I took ownership of my response to my Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis.
No. I came to it when I was taking ownership of my diagnosis on July 2, 2024. Today, I receive a daily email from the Daily Stoic. I watch and listen to podcasts and audio books on Stoicism as I immerse myself in the philosophy. There are plenty of YouTube videos on the subject and podcasts to listen to. So much to learn, and it has helped me with Diabetes Burn out and my Diabetes condition in general.
Journaling is a conversation with myself through what I write in my journal. I write at the start and end of every day. It is a very therapeutic exercise that started at the beginning of July and has become an integral part of my daily routine. Most recently this dialogue has helped me through the emotional ups and downs of the longest episode of Diabetes Burnout I have encountered so far.
I hope you enjoy and find this book useful.
[1] Celiac Disease Foundation, “Diabetes and Celiac Disease,” (2024).