Emma O'Toole on Type 1 Diabetes Control, Disease v Condition, and Yoga for the Mind & Body! EP054

Hi all,Welcome to the show.  It’s was my pleasure to talk with Emma O’Toole for this episode.Emma runs her own successful Yoga studio/business in Dublin, cunningly titled Yoga with Emma (www.yogawithemma.ie), and I was introduced to her through Samantha Kelly, who I interviewed near the end of Season 1. During my conversation with Samantha, the subject of Type 1 Diabetes came up as Samantha’s daughter has the condition. As I also am a Type1 Diabetic, I was interested to focus more on it in a future episode. Thanks to Samantha, Emma and I were able to make it happen.Why did I want to share this story?Since my own diagnosis, I have been learning so much about it over the last 5 years. In general, I feel it’s not a well understood condition and also can be a stigma attached to it. Education around it and the signs that it might be developing can help with an early diagnosis. Also, making others aware that someone has the condition is key too.I would guess that someone you know has type 1 Diabetes. And more are getting diagnosed with it now than ever. I was 35 before the condition kicked in. It was an adjustment for sure. It might be something you’re aware of but don’t know a lot about. So, I was keen to talk with someone that has been not only living with it but thriving. Emma fits that description. She has been successfully managing Type 1 for over 28 years.During the conversation, we cover a lot of topics that provide a great insight into management of the Type1 Diabetes condition and how wellness, fitness and yoga can help. Of course, Yoga is not just a treatment to help with Diabetes but with every aspect of your life – mind & body!It’s definitely worth having a listen to Emma’s story and our exchanges on how we manage it, identify triggers, always have jellies or sweets nearby and all other aspects of living a life with Diabetes.Some of the topics covered:The weeks leading up to her diagnosis in 1990Getting wrongly diagnosed initiallyFailing into a Diabetic Coma for 3 days due to record high blood sugar levelsBeing very lucky that there was no organ damage after coming out of the comaHow her whole life changed once she was diagnosed as a Type1Going into denial in the weeks and months after the diagnosisLearning how to deal with the condition as a teenagerHow far technology has come in the management of diabetes in the last 28 yearsDeveloping systems for managing diabetes over the yearsNever trying to hide the fact she was a diabetic and incorporate it into her lifestyleBeing discrete with administering insulin in publicThe stigma around injections in her early years with the conditionAlways calling Diabetes a Condition not a Disease!The Mindset that Emma has – She controls it, not the other way aroundHow Diabetes has lead Emma towards a career in fitness and dietShe found Yoga as an outlet for her to really get a full workout.Yoga made Emma very aware of her skeleton, muscles and organs and how she needed to manage every part of her body!Finding out the cause and effect and how the mind can affect the body and, in her case, the diabetes controlStarting to teach Yoga and then, in 2012, setting up her own BusinessDiscussion on different types of Yoga and the benefits including:Bikram YogaYin YogaHot YogaAsthanga YogaThe battle of the Ego during Yoga practicesMeditation and YogaSleep and Hypos and how the body and mind can wake you up!The difference between Hypoglycaemic aware and unawareThe use of two types of insulin – short acting and long actingNever be complacent with the condition – always be on the watch!It’s not about winning against it, it’s about controlling it.1% Better tips around managing Diabetes & Yoga practice:Using meditation triggers like the red/stop light in traffic to bring you to the now!Meditation as a tool to help with anxietyUsing Apps like ‘calm’ to help with meditationMoving Meditation as the best form that work with EmmaYoga postures that are good for back pain issues and disc challengesRecommended frequency for Yoga sessions for runnersYoga poses that can help runners stride and paceConnect with Emma on the following:Emma teaches Yoga to a broad spectrum and it’s clear she’s very passionate about itFor Emma, it’s about making it fun and enjoyableHer approach is about finding out what her clients want to work on – being flexible to including these moves into the practicesConnect with Emma via:Website: YogawithEmma.ieTwitter: @Yoga_with_EmmaInstagram: YogawithemmaFacebook: YogawithemmaLinkedIn: Emma O'TooleJust a quick note to say thanks for listening. There are a lot of podcasts to choose from and you picking this one means a lot to me. I know that sounds like a cheese-ball thing to say, but it's true! I'm enjoying creating these shows, learning from them and I'm hoping that you are too.To help me make the show even better, I wand & need your help. Your feedback is essential. So, please take a few minutes to get in touch (links below, or subscribe on iTunes and leave a rating or review).If you liked this episode, share out the link via one of the socials. It will help me reach a bigger audience. If One Person gets something from the Episode that makes them 1% Better, I'll be a happy man.Finally, if you really love the show, and really want me to take it to the next level, I've set up a Patreon site where you pledge some financial support. That would be awesome. 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