Intervju s Lea Raak @insulea.de 

Na putovanju u Južnu Koreju povodom održavanja Young Leader kampa za mlade, pripala mi je čast upoznati mnoštvo mladih osoba s dijabetesom, a među njima inspirativnu Leu Raak. Ovu mladu Njemicu, influencericu prvo sam upoznala preko njezinog Instagram @insluea.de. Za vrijeme trajanja Kampa Lea i ja smo se intenzivno družile i sprijateljile. Po završetku Kampa putujući avionom natrag u Hrvatsku kroz glavu mi je prostrujala ova ideja – “idem raditi intervju s influencerima koje toliko često pratimo na društvenim mrežama.”

Kažu da čisti zrak ima dobrotvorne učinke na naš mozak, a ja bih nadodala da iznad oblaka sijevaju brilijante ideje! :) Tako je ovaj prvi intervju dopao baš nju, upravo one zbog koje mi je došla na pamet ova ideja. Pročitajte što smo sve pričale i saznajte za što se Lea zalaže u životu, kako joj je dijagnosticiran dijabetes, te kada je započela s pisanjem bloga.

Bok Lea, evo za početak nam reci nam nešto o sebi.

Bok! Moje ime je Lea, imam 25 godina i živim u sjevernoj Njemačkoj! Politički sam aktivna i strastvena za ljudska i životinjska prava te mentalno zdravlje. Volim biti kreativna i fotografirati, ali volim i pisati. Kad mi je dijagnosticiran dijabetes tip 1 pokrenula sam svoj blog nazvan Insulea, gdje pišem o svom svakodnevnom životu s dijabetesom. Zanimaju me različite kulture i jezici i zato studiram na diplomskom studiju iz migracija i različitosti.

Kako su ti dijagnosticirali dijabetes tipa 1?

Dijabetes mi je dijagnosticiran 2011. godine dok sam bila na studentskoj razmjeni u SAD-u. Osjećala sam se vrlo slabo i izgubila svijest nekoliko puta. Liječnik mi je isprva rekao da mi samo nedostaje dom i da ću dobiti gripu, te će uskoro postati bolje. Naravno, nije, i nakon dva mjeseca mučenja napokon sam dobila dijagnozu. Nisam dobila nikakve upute o liječenju niti kako da vodim život s dijabetesom. Dobila sam samo inzulinski pen za bazalnu dozu inzulina. Bila sam još slabija i nisam više mogla stajati čak niti pod tušem. Na kraju sam se odlučila vratiti u Njemačku. Koliko sam slaba bila, govori činjenica da su mi bila potrebna invalidska kolica da bih stigla iz aviona u avion. U Njemačkoj sam odmah otišla u bolnicu.

Kako izgleda tvoj uobičajeni dan, ako uopće imaš neke rutine?

Nemam puno rutina, jer sam još uvijek studentica i radim studentski posao, tako da svaki dan izgleda drugačije! Nastojim ustati rano svako jutro kako bih malo vježbala. Inače, uobičajeno idem na fakultet ili radim do 15:00. Zatim se malo opustim i napravim domaću zadaću ili radim na svom blogu. Kasnije se sastajem s prijateljima, skuham nešto ukusno ili se nađem sa svojom lokalnom političkom skupinom!

Kako si postala influencerica i govornik na raznim konferencijama te skupovima?

Pa… Kada sam 2014. godine pokrenula svoj blog o dijabetesu, nije bilo toliko (njemačkih) blogova o dijabetesu kao što ih ima sada. Volim pomagati ljudima i osjećam se korisno kada pišem o svom životu. Ponekad su moje borbe s dijabetesom zaista neka vrsta samo-terapije. Jednostavno se volim povezivati s drugim ljudima koji također imaju dijabetes. Mislim da je moj empatičan način pisanja i dijeljenja nešto što mnogi vole, ja sam samo iskrena i autentična osoba kada je riječ o mom kroničnom stanju. Pretpostavljam da me zbog toga tvrtke vole pozivati i cijene moje riječi. Divno je biti glas za zajednicu. Zahvalna sam na tome i iskreno nikad nisam mislila da će se takve stvari dogoditi kada sam započela blog!

Koju tehnologiju koja pomaže pri kontroli dijabetesa koristiš?

Koristim ‘patch’ Omnipod pumpu (pumpa bez katetera) od proizvođača Insuleta i Dexcom G6 senzor. Koristim i DIY loop sustav.

Tko ti je najveća podrška u životu dijabetesa?

Moja najveća podrška su moja obitelj i prijatelji, ali i dijabetička internetska zajednica čiji sam dio, posebno na Instagramu!

Znamo da si studentica. Hoćeš li nam reći nešto o tvom studentskom životu? Kako balansiraš studentskim životom i dijabetesom?

Nije lako jer je svaki dan drugačiji! Svaki dan imam različite satnice predavanja i pauze za ručak. Mislim da je najteži dio jesti u menzi, pokušavajući izračunati udio ugljikohidrata u obroku! Za mene je uvijek najbolje davati bolus 10 min prije jela, ali kad sam na sveučilištu, to nije lako održavati! Kad osjetim da mi šećer raste, nastojim prošetati kampusom. Uz to pokušavam ‘upravljati’ šećerom u krvi najbolje što mogu.

Je li teško održavati vegansku prehranu uz dijabetes? Možeš li nam dati jedan primjer dnevnog jelovnika i neke savjete veganskog životnog stila uz dijabetes?

Vegan sam više od 5 godina i mislim da je to prilično jednostavno. Na početku se morate naviknuti, ali sada je to ‘novo’ normalno za mene. Ujutro najčešće jedem kruh, razne namaze i neku vrstu voća, u međuobroku volim prigristi voće ili orašaste plodove. Za ručak i večeru volim pojesti nešto toplo. Često jedem tjesteninu, rižu, kvinoju ili krumpir s raznolikim povrćem i umakom. Obožavam napraviti umak od ‘sira’ s pahuljicama od kvasca ili umakom od rajčice sa sojinim mesom u njemu. Za mesne zamjene volim protein soje ili seitana ili graška. Njemačka ima bogatu ponudu veganskih proizvoda, koje možete kupiti posvuda. Moj savjet bio bi ne bojati se bilo kakvih nedostataka hranjivih sastojaka, jer je bogata i raznolika veganska prehrana zapravo puno zdravija. Ne uzimam dodatke prehrani, osim povremeno B12 i D3 zimi. Definitivno mi treba manje inzulina uz moju vegansku prehranu.

Koliki su troškovi života s dijabetesom u Njemačkoj?

U Njemačkoj zdravstvena osiguranja pokrivaju gotovo sve. Moram platiti 10€ (cca 75 kuna) za svako pakiranje inzulina (obično 5 bočica). Osim toga, sve je besplatno. Morate popuniti upitnik za inzulinsku pumpu ili senzor, ali posljednjih godina nisam ni od koga čula da je njihov zahtjev odbijen.

Što bi željela savjetovati mladim ljudima s dijabetesom u Hrvatskoj?

Nastavite čitati sve o dijabetesu i skupljajte informacije putem interneta, posebno na blogovima i društvenim mrežama. Osobne priče i iskustva toliko su mi pomogli u prihvaćanju dijabetesa i proživljavanju najboljeg života s njim! Pronađite sebi prijatelja ili grupu prijatelja s dijabetesom – u redu je i ako je to prijateljstvo samo ‘na mreži’.

Kada te možemo očekivati u Hrvatskoj?

Voljela bih ponovno doći u Hrvatsku i upoznati vas sve! Pozovite me i tu sam! ;-)

Zahvaljujem Lei koja je odvojila svoje vrijeme za Blog ZDD i sigurna sam da ćemo uspjeti nešto dogovoriti da nam se vratiš u Hrvatsku, upoznaš ljepotu naše zemlje, ali i upoznaš naše borce koji također žive s dijabetesom!

Zapratite Leu @insulea.de na Instagram, Facebook i naravno, čitajte njen blog!

Advocating for Diabetes is her passion

An interview with Lea Raak @insulea.de

On a trip to South Korea where I was for the Young Leader Youth Camp, it was an honour to meet many young people with diabetes, including the inspirational Lea Raak. I first met this young German influencer via her Instagram @insluea.de. During the Camp Lea and I had been intensively huning out and befriending each other. After completing the Camp, traveling by plane back to Croatia, one idea came to my mind – “I’m going to do an interview with the influencers that we so often follow on social networks.”

They say that fresh air has beneficial effects on our brains, and I would add that brilliant ideas come to mind above the clouds! :) So this first interview in dedecated to the one you is the reason this idea came to my mind. Read what we talked about and find out what Lea is up to in her life, how she was diagnosed with diabetes, and when she started writing her blog.

First of all hi Lea, tell us something about you – something to get to know you better.

Hi! My name is Lea, I’m 25 years old and I live in Northern Germany! I’m political active and passionate for human and animal rights and mental health. I love being creative and taking pictures, but I also love writing. When I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes I started my Blog called Insulea, where I write about my daily life with Diabetes. I’m interested in different cultures and languages as well, that’s why I’m studying my Master’s in Migration & Diversity.

How were you diagnosed with diabetes type 1?

I was diagnosed in 2011 while I was an exchange student in the USA. I felt very weak and passed out a couple of times. The doctor’s at first told me I was just homesick and that I would have the flu and it would get better soon. Of course, it didn’t and after 2 months of torture I finally got my diagnosis. Whatsoever I didn’t get any treatment nor instructions on how to handle life with Diabetes. I only got a basal insulin pen. I grew even weaker and couldn’t even stand up in the shower anymore. Eventually I decided to fly back home to Germany and I needed wheelchair service to get from plane to plane. That’s how weak I was! In Germany I got into hospital immediately.

How does your regular day look, do you have some routines?

I don’t have a lot of routine, because I’m still a student and working a student job as well, so every day looks different! I try to get up early every morning to get a little routine and I will do a home workout if there is time. Otherwise I usually have Uni or work until 3 or 4pm. Then I relax a little and do my homework or work on my blog. Later I meet up with friends, cook something delicious or meet up with my local political group!

How did you become an influencer and invited speaker?

Well… When I started my Diabetes blog back in 2014 there weren’t as many (german) Diabetes Blogs online as there are now. I’m just passionate about helping people and I also feel like that writing about my life and sometimes my struggles with Diabetes is some sort of self-therapy for me really. I just love connecting with other people with Diabetes. I think my vulnerable way of writing and sharing is something a lot of people like, I’m just a honest and authentic person when it comes to my chronic condition. I guess that’s why companies like to invite me and value my words. It’s wonderful to be a voice for the community, I’m super grateful and honestly I never thought that things like that would happen when I started the blog!

What tech devices for diabetes are you using?

I’m using the Omnipod patch pump from Insulet and the Dexcom G6 sensor. I also use the DIY loop system.

Who is your biggest support in a life with diabetes?

My biggest support would be my family and friends but also the Diabetes (online) community I’m part of, especially on Instagram!

I know you are a student. Could you tell us something about your student life? How do you manage student life and diabetes?

It’s not easy because every day is different! I have different classes and lunch breaks every day. I think the hardest part is eating in the caféteria, trying to figure out the carbs in a meal! For me it’s always best to give a bolus 10min before a meal, but when I’m in University that’s not easy to maintain! When I feel that I’m getting high I will take a little walk around campus. Other than that I just try to manage my blood sugar the best way I can.

Is it difficult to maintain a vegan diet with diabetes? Can you give us some example of a daily menu and some advices in a Vegan Diabetes Life?

I have been vegan for more than 5 years now and I think it’s actually pretty easy. You have to get used to it at first but now it’s just the new normal for me. In the mornings I usually eat bread and various spreads and some kind of fruits, in between I snack on fruits or nuts as well. For lunch and dinner I like to eat something warm. I often eat pasta, rice, quinoa or potatoes with various veggies and make a sauce. I love to make a „cheese“ sauce with yeast flakes or tomato sauce with soy meat in it. For meat substitutes I love soy or seitan or pea protein. Germany has a huge market for vegan products and you can buy vegan food basically everywhere. My advice would be to not be afraid of any nutrient deficiencies, a rich and various vegan diet is in fact much more healthy. I don’t take supplements apart from occasionally B12 and D3 in winter and my nutrients do very well haha. I definitely need less insulin with my vegan diet.

What is the cost of living with diabetes in Germany?

In Germany the health insurances cover nearly everything. I have to co-pay 10€ for every pack of insulin (usually 5 vials). Other than that everything is free. You have to fill in an application for an insulin pump or a sensor, but in recent years I haven’t heard from anyone that their application got denied.

What would you advise to young people with diabetes in Croatia?

Keep on reading everything about Diabetes and gather information online, especially on blogs and social media. Personal stories and experiences helped me so much in accepting my diabetes and living my best life with it! Find yourself a friend or friend group with Diabetes. It’s okay if it’s an online friendship too.

When can we expect you in Croatia?

I’d love to come to Croatia again and get to know all of you! Invite me and I’m in ;-)

Thank you Lea so much for giving some of your time for the ZDD Blog and I’m sure we will be able to arrange something for you to return to Croatia, to get to know the beauty of our country, but also to meet our fighters who also live with diabetes! See you (hopefully) soon and just keep doing what you do!

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