Dim Sum and 5K Races: Meet @ihatediabetes

Mar 22, 2019 | Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Comments (19)

Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.

2019.3.12 @ihatediabetes.Connect spotlight

ROSEMARY: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?

@ihatediabetes: I started coming to Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, Minnesota, to seek answers for my son when he was three years old. That was in 1994, and he was developing very slowly. Many Mayo Clinic doctors examined him and ordered various tests. Finally, the doctors diagnosed my son with Williams Syndrome. They told me that he was their first Asian patient to be diagnosed with this condition. Afterward, I continued to bring him to Mayo Clinic for medical care. During that time I was both mom and caregiver: my son was the patient.

I eventually developed chronic conditions like sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. That's when I became a Mayo Clinic patient, too. I came to Mayo Clinic Connect shortly after reading a story about Connect on social media.

ROSEMARY: What motivates you to take part in the community?

@ihatediabetes: I really love interacting with other patients and caregivers about our experiences and issues. I think I have a unique perspective, because I am both a patient and caregiver. I am also participating in the programs at The Mayo Clinic Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center. I have been eating better and exercising. For the past several months, I have been running one 5K race per month. I have been sharing about my 5K training and races on Mayo Clinic Connect. I like to encourage other people to get out there and run, because it's made such a big difference in my life. I am trying to be a source of support, encouragement and information to others.

ROSEMARY: What about Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?

@ihatediabetes: I believe that we are all trying to help each other. I also have confidence that the community director and moderators are watching over our online community. So, that makes me feel safe. Safety is very important for people to feel so they can share with the online community.

ROSEMARY: What groups do you participate in?

@ihatediabetes: I participate mostly in the Healthy Living group and the Caregivers group.

ROSEMARY: Who has been a special connection for you on Connect?

@ihatediabetes: I have a special connection with caregivers. These are the people that take patients to doctor appointments, among many other things. The patients may have cancer, dementia, mental illness, developmental disability or other medical conditions. The caregivers are parents, spouses, adult children, relatives and friends. I feel that caregivers are unsung heroes. I also know what it's like to be caregiver to my son. That's probably why I feel so connected to other caregivers.

ROSEMARY: What surprised you the most about Connect?

@ihatediabetes: I was most surprised when I when I noted that a member might be in life-threatening distress, which I reported to the community director to ensure this member's safety.

ROSEMARY: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?

@ihatediabetes: I enjoy going to the coffee shop and finding a Bible passage to post on my Facebook page. I also love cooking supper for my family. I am energized by trying to finish 5K races, even when it's cold outside. The picture accompanying this interview shows me right before I left home for the Reindeer Run in Minneapolis last December. I had to really bundle up.

ROSEMARY: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.

@ihatediabetes: I enjoy hiking and snowshoeing in Minnesota State Parks. I am a Minnesota Master Naturalist.

ROSEMARY: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?

@ihatediabetes: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

ROSEMARY: What food can you simply not resist?

@ihatediabetes: I love going for dim sum with my family on weekends. Dim sum is a traditional Chinese food. In a dim sum restaurant, the guests sit at round tables. Food servers push carts containing various types of dumplings around the restaurant. The dumplings can have pork, shrimp, crab, taro or other ingredients, and be steamed or fried. The guests point to dumplings on the carts and the servers put those dumplings on the table for sampling. Guests can choose from a selection of teas to have with the meal. It's fun to have dim sum with a large group of relatives and friends.

ROSEMARY: What do you love about where you live or vacation?

@ihatediabetes: I really love living in Minnesota. I live in a quiet, friendly suburban city with good shopping options. It is outside of St. Paul and a convenient  drive to either Minneapolis or Rochester. It takes me about 1 1/2 hours to drive to Rochester for medical appointments.

See more Member Spotlights.

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the About Connect: Who, What & Why blog.

@merpreb

@ihatediabetes - yes I like the nustep. I'm moving faster. Thank you for asking
I'm so glad that your son is doing better!

Jump to this post

I use the Nustep as well. It works well in spite of heart, knee and back problems! Nice equipment.

REPLY
@ihatediabetes

Hi everyone, I finished my hot dash 5k this morning and got my serving of Minnesota hot dish. I did my race a little under one hour. That's not fast at all. But my goal is to get outside and stay active. I got another medal to add to my collection. I've gotten six 5k medals since I started jogging last year.

Jump to this post

@iihatediabetes- Yippee! Congratulations!

REPLY

Really enjoyed your Spotlight, @ihatediabetes Rosemary! Congrats on the 5Ks too! Cheers!

REPLY
@ihatediabetes

Hi everyone, I finished my hot dash 5k this morning and got my serving of Minnesota hot dish. I did my race a little under one hour. That's not fast at all. But my goal is to get outside and stay active. I got another medal to add to my collection. I've gotten six 5k medals since I started jogging last year.

Jump to this post

@ihatediabetes - Congratulations!!
You are a real winnner - a medal, a serving of Minnesota hot dish, and improved health. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for the outdoors and staying active.
As a Southerner, I have to ask - What is Minnesota hot dish?

REPLY
@rosemarya

@ihatediabetes - Congratulations!!
You are a real winnner - a medal, a serving of Minnesota hot dish, and improved health. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for the outdoors and staying active.
As a Southerner, I have to ask - What is Minnesota hot dish?

Jump to this post

Minnesota hot dish is basically a casserole. Often there's browned ground beef, peas and carrots with rows of tater tots are placed on top of the mixture. There are many variations of Minnesota hot dish. Often a can of cream of mushroom soup is part of the mixture.

REPLY

@rosemarya you really need to make some Minnesota hot dish ☺

How to Make Hotdish Like a Minnesotan
-- https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-make-hotdish/

REPLY

I need to find best cure for toenail fungus. Tried many drops, creams etc... nothing works. Help before it spreads to other foot.

REPLY
@keva74

I need to find best cure for toenail fungus. Tried many drops, creams etc... nothing works. Help before it spreads to other foot.

Jump to this post

@keva74
Here is what I found in Mayo Clinic Patient Care & Health Information >Diseases & Conditions
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nail-fungus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353294

REPLY
@keva74

I need to find best cure for toenail fungus. Tried many drops, creams etc... nothing works. Help before it spreads to other foot.

Jump to this post

@keva74 In responding to your other post I came across this. Have you treated the fungus and is it getting better? It takes a long time. I had that last year too. There is an oral medication that is supposed to be the best treatment for it since the topicals really cannot get through the thick nail. I was not able to take the oral treatment because it conflicts with the immunosuppressants I have to take from having had a liver transplant.
I went to two different podiatrists. I went to the first podiatrist for the laser treatments. I had fungus on a few toenails and that helped all but my big toe. I really did not care for that practice so then I switched to a different podiatrist and he treated it with a topical. It is gone now.
When I googled this, back when I had the problem, I came across a home remedy of soaking your foot in water with some bleach added to it. I also saw suggestions to use tea tree oil. I did not do either of those but I am in a chlorinated pool for about 5 hours a week and I can't help but wonder if the chlorine in the water may have helped too. It's very difficult to get rid of fungus with topicals.
I am curious to hear if you did get rid of the fungus, and if so how you did. Being on immunosuppressants makes me more susceptible to anything of that nature. When I go to my health club my bare feet NEVER touch the floor, I am scrupulously careful about that. My PCP said you can get it from your feet being damp when you put on your shoes but I am skeptical of that. Wouldn't the fungus have to be there somehow for it to then develop?
JK

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.