Surviving Insulin

By Rachel Zinman

Rachel Zinman was diagnosed with diabetes in 2008 at the age of 42.

She started yoga when she was 17 and by the age of 19, was hooked. 30 years later she still practices passionately and has been teaching nationally (in Australia) and internationally since 1992. 

In Surviving Insulin she shares short essays about her feelings and thoughts about yoga and diabetes during her first year on Insulin. She never realized how much Insulin would change her life and how much yoga has continued to be a lifeline as she navigates the rollercoaster of this disease.

The day she started Insulin was the day her life changed for the better. She found herself reaching out, finding out more about what it means to have type 1 and recognizing that there were people just like her not only surviving but thriving. She was so inspired by the blogs and various communities online that  she decided to start her own blog on how yoga helped her manage diabetes on a daily basis. She expected that she would be sharing practices, tips and tricks but as she wrote she expressed her frustrations and triumphs while delving deeper into the philosophical side of yoga.

Her aim in sharing these essays is to offer inspirational bytes to take the edge off it all. She's found comfort in reading other people’s stories and truly hopes that what she has to share brings inspiration, support and more peace to your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Zinman
• Release date: Aug 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536599176

Book preview

Introduction

I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2008 at the age of 42. At first the doctors weren’t sure whether it was type 1 or 2 as I didn’t seem to be a candidate for either type of diabetes. But now I know I have type 1 LADA diabetes.

I started yoga when I was 17 and by the age of 19, I was hooked. When I started yoga it was to help my dance career but eventually as my practice progressed I became passionate about the deeper aspects of yoga and its ability to heal and inspire. 30 years later I still practice passionately and have been teaching nationally (in Australia) and internationally since 1992. I am also a mother, musician, writer and amateur film maker.

In this book I share short essays on my feelings and thoughts about yoga and diabetes during my first year on Insulin. I never realized how much Insulin would change my life and how much yoga has continued to be my lifeline as I navigate the rollercoaster of this disease.

At diagnosis I was in such a state that I refused to believe that the cause of my diabetes was autoimmune. I kept insisting it was type 2 or some mistake. I searched for answers in alternative healing modalities and although I had some success for some time I always ended up back at square one with higher blood sugars, feeling like a failure.

The day I started Insulin was the day my life changed for the better. I found myself reaching out, finding out more about what it means to have type 1 and recognizing that there were people just like me not only surviving but thriving. I was so inspired by the blogs and various communities I found online that I decided to start my own blog on how yoga helped me manage my diabetes on a daily basis. I expected that I would be sharing practices, tips and tricks but as