With positivity towards diabetes

Who this story is about?

She is Maria Ruano, 28 years old. Maria lives in Alicante, Spain, and studied Medicine in Barcelona. Nowadays she is finishing her medical degree in Allergy while working at the hospital. Maria loves music, traveling, sports, and hanging out with friends and family.

First Diabetes Experience

Dianurse: For how long do you suffer from diabetes? Maria: Since 2008, it means for 11 years. Wow, time passes too fast.

Dianurse: How did you realize it? How did you start your diabetes journey? Maria: Like everyone, with the three “p”: Polydipsia, Polyuria, and Polyphagia. I realized that these symptoms could not be normal, so I asked my mother, which doctor should I pay a visit, and she told me. Then we discovered about diabetes.

Dianurse: Did you know what diabetes was and how to act with it? Maria: Definitely not.

About biggest fears …

Dianurse: What were your biggest fears at that time? Maria: I was really afraid of needles. That was my biggest fear, which I had to overcome.

How To Manage Diabetes

Dianurse: What’s the best way to manage diabetes, based on your experience? Maria: Positivity and your attitude towards life problems and diabetes problems.

Dianurse: Tell us more about your lifestyle, diet, and fitness/sport activities? Maria: I try to do a low-carb diet, however sometimes it is very difficult and I cannot resist the temptations of a high carbohydrate meal :(, then I feel bad because my blood sugar gets very rebellious. I try to do sports regularly but what I do the most is walking.

Dianurse: What is your favorite dish and why? Maria: I love a good salad and the traditional Spanish “gazpacho” because I love its freshness.

Dianurse: What would be the best/most effective way to keep your blood sugar in the healthy range, again based on your experience? Maria: Cardiovascular exercise and an equilibrated diet, based on your needs.

About diabetes and technology

Dianurse: Technology is rapidly penetrating healthcare. There are literally thousands of apps capable to track vital signs of humans, or simply data loggers ( carbs, blood glucose, etc.). What would be the added value of these technological advances for diabetics? How technology can help diabetics to effectively control their diabetes? Maria: To have an app that puts boluses of insulin based on your blood glucose (artificial pancreas), so that we could disconnect with that annoying issue.

Dianurse: What do you think about the constant connectivity that tele-health app brings to both diabetics and healthcare providers? Maria: I think it’s an improvement.

About inspiration

Dianurse: How can you inspire others to take better care of themselves and their diabetes? Maria: To think of how you would like to be now and in 20 years.