Pickleball & Partnership

From Burnout to Pickleball: How One Mother's Health Revolution Changed Everything

• Charlotte Jukes • Season 1 • Episode 11

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Episode Summary

GET YOUR FREE TOP 10 TIPS HERE... https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1278466/sites/143545577841362359/Top-10-Tips-Partner-Pickleball

In this heartfelt episode, Charlotte welcomes Lana, a registered nurse and mother of two children with Type 1 diabetes. Lana shares her personal journey from caregiver burnout to prioritising her own health, which led her to pickleball. She discusses how the sport has become a way to reconnect with her husband and bring fun back into her life. Lana also talks about her initiative "Doing Diabetes Different" and the "T1D Mum Makeover," an eight-week course designed to support mothers of children with diabetes.


Show Highlights

  • Lana's journey through her children's Type 1 diabetes diagnoses and the impact on her physical and mental health
  • How stress and caregiving responsibilities affected her marriage and overall wellbeing
  • The importance of finding community support through diabetes family camps
  • Creating "Doing Diabetes Different" and the "T1D Mum Makeover" to help other parents
  • Key strategies for stress reduction and building healthier habits
  • Taking the first step toward pickleball with her husband despite initial hesitation
  • How pickleball has become a fun way to exercise and connect with others


Guest Profile

Lana is a registered nurse, mother of two children with Type 1 diabetes, and founder of "Doing Diabetes Different." After experiencing burnout from caregiving responsibilities, she embarked on a personal health journey to prevent Type 2 diabetes and prioritize self-care. Her community initiatives help other parents navigate similar challenges while developing healthier habits.


Keywords

  • Diabetes management
  • Type 1 diabetes parenting
  • Caregiver burnout
  • Stress management for parents
  • Pickleball for beginners
  • HeartMath breathing technique
  • Couples activities
  • Self-care for mothers
  • Diabetes support community
  • Family health journey
  • Diabetes family camps
  • Pickleball and health benefits
  • Relationship reconnection
  • Trying new sports
  • Women's health and fitness
  • Diabetes prevention strategies
  • Beginner pickleball lessons
  • Community sports for adults
  • Fitness for stress reduction
  • T1D Mum Makeover


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Music: Purple Planet Music
Thanks to Purple Planet Music for Pickleball & Partnership Intro and Outro music Purple Planet Music is a collection of music written and performed by Chris Martyn and Geoff Harvey.


Charlotte Jukes:

This the pickleball and partnership podcast, the place to talk. Talk about building better connections with your partner. Learning how to communicate with each other and how to inject fun. Into your relationship all through the game of pickleball. If that sounds like your cup of tea. Pull up a chair grab your paddle and join me. Your host, Charlotte Jukes. For pickleball and partnership.

Welcome to the Pickleball and Partnership podcast. I'm your host, Charlotte, and today I'm thrilled to welcome Lana, a registered nurse and mother of two children with Type one diabetes. Lana shares her powerful journey from caregiver burnout to rediscovering joy through pickleball. After years of putting everyone else first, she's now creating space for her own health. And helping others to do the same through her program doing diabetes different. Join us as we explore how pickleball became more than just a sport. For Lana. It's become a path to reconnection with her husband and herself. This conversation is perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by life's demands and looking for that first step toward positive change. Let's dive in.

Charlotte J:

I am so excited for this episode. I am joined today by Lana. Lana is a registered nurse. She's a mum to two children, both of whom live with type one diabetes, and she is on a personal health journey to prevent type two diabetes and is passionate about helping others to prioritize their self care. Lana has created a support group called Doing Diabetes Different, and of course the T 1D Mum Makeover sounds intriguing, where she's building a community for mums and individuals to support each other, reduce stress, and develop healthier habits together. Lana, you and I have known each other actually for quite a long time. I was trying to think back, but I think it's probably over 20 years and we've worked together in the past. So recently we reconnected and started chatting, of course, about pickleball. And Lana let me know that she and her husband were going to start learning to play pickleball. So obviously I said, yes, you must come on the podcast and let us all know what inspired you. So welcome Lana. Hi Charlotte. Thank you. I'm happy to be on the podcast. It's exciting. Yes. I'm so glad that you are here. I'm, I'm really excited and happy to talk to you. So, as a registered nurse and a mum to two children with Type one diabetes and someone yourself, who you are on your own health journey. You've spent years putting other people first. I think, as nurses, as mums, as women, we know this totally. We always put other people first and we come last. But now it seems, you are stepping onto the pickleball court for you, which is huge. That's so exciting. But if we may, will you take us back to that point in your life where things perhaps really changed for you?

Lana:

Sure. Yeah. So, you know, as you mentioned, being a nurse, um, being a mum, always kind of putting others first. Um, that's just kind of always what I've done. Things kind of change, like when my kids were both diagnosed. Um, so my son was diagnosed back in, um, 2018, and then my daughter was the year after 2019. So super stressful, hard time of my life, kind of those few years afterwards, you know, it was just for sure all about them and, it was hard for me to work. Um, so I had kind of done different things, changed my job around so that I could always kind of be there for them. And, um, then it was like 2022. It was like quite bad. Ended up on a stress leave from work and just. Made that decision of like, if I don't start taking care of myself, I'm not going to be around like it was, you know, I'd gained a lot of weight. I was anxious all the time having panic attacks and. Chronic pain, like I was just in a really, really low, low spot in my life. And, um, kind of just started my journey of first just, you know, physically, mentally getting myself healthier. yeah, pickleball has been more recent, but, um, yeah, that was back a couple years ago, just like needing to get myself healthy.

Charlotte J:

Oh my gosh, I, I can only imagine what that was like. having that, that diagnosis for both your children, one after the other, must have had a huge emotional impact on you, which then led on to, like you just described, physical health concerns.

Lana:

Yeah. And then I think also just like a relationship. So that's, you know, we'll get into that later of like why I went through the pickleball, but with my husband and I, you know, I was, we were sleep deprived, we were devoted to the kids. It definitely kind of took a toll on our relationship as well. I think, yeah, like even the statistics show, like families with kids with chronic disease, there's more divorces. It's, um, hard on the marriage. So. yeah. Once I kind of started getting myself better, then we all started doing better. You know, that was kind of a domino effect of our relationship got a bit better, me and the kids. The kids were less anxious because I was less anxious. and yeah, just trying to grow and kind of as we learned, we would try to do better to take care of ourselves.

Charlotte J:

Kudos to you because I just, I can't even imagine, you must have just been. Overwhelmed with trying to find out information obviously as nurses we have some knowledge of diabetes and we are looking after clients with diabetes, but now all of a sudden that's changed. now you are, you must have. One being craving information, but also realizing that, was there a lot of information out there? Was there a lot of support out there, or were you completely overwhelmed or searching for answers constantly?

Lana:

kind of a bit of both. Like there is support groups, like right away joining a certain Facebook group for mums or parents of kids with diabetes, you know? There'd be times in the middle of the night. You'd have like a low blood sugar, just like something would happen and you'd have a question and there'd often be someone on throughout Canada that, um, could answer your question or just give support when you needed to vent. Um, it was a few years in that we first went to a diabetes family camp, um, and that was while I was on my stress leave. And that was a kind of a big turning point that. Being in a group of families all doing their diabetes things, it was kind of the first time I didn't feel super alone. Where before, you know, you have friends giving support, but kind of unless you're going through it, no one kind of actually understood. But having that, um, family camp was definitely pivotal in like feeling supported and knowing I wasn't alone. And then also kind of wanting to pay that forward to, to start to help others as well.

Charlotte J:

It sounds like that community at the family camp was huge for all of you. That must have had, the impact on you and your husband, but your children as well. Yeah, definitely. I love that sense of community and support. Right? Because I, I really believe that's where, that's where we thrive. So you talk about paying that forward and you've created a group called Doing Diabetes Different, and I think it's an eight week course, which is called the, t 1D mum makeover, if you want to talk about those two. Yeah,

Lana:

I think my first thought was the doing diabetes different, and that was like, if something's not working, do something different. You know, don't stay stuck doing the same thing over and over again. if life, you know, if your health just, if something's not going well to try something different. that was kind of my first idea of a name. Um, and then kind of as my journey evolved, I feel like I'm kind of like on a makeover journey that I'm making over my physical health. My mental health. I. And so it's an eight week course for, um, mums with kids with diabetes. And it's kind of a combination of like learning about diabetes and working on that for our kids, but also realizing that we need to also take care of ourselves and, filling up our own cup first so that we are healthy and, and able to take care of them.

Charlotte J:

That's amazing. I am sure people just love the idea of having that, that support and that not only the information, but you know, somebody who's been through it like yourself, you're passionate about it, you understand what they're going through. You can hold their hand and help them through that journey. Have you seen. transformations with people that have taken your course.

Lana:

like so far, I've, I've gotten lots of great feedback and the mums that have done it, this will be, I'm currently in my third round of the eight weeks and, um, yeah, lots of great feedback. Some people that were in like the first round or the second round are back with me doing it this third round, so I thought that was a good sign that they felt it was. Yeah. Worth, you know, their time and money to, uh, to repeat it. So,

Charlotte J:

so it sounds like it's something that, people come back to. It's not just a course that you take once, it's that ongoing support.

I

Lana:

hoping to actually even change it so that, you know, it doesn't end after the eight weeks. Like I want it to be a little bit more ongoing. So I'm kind of trying to figure out how, We can stay connected more and have that kind of ongoing community for support.

Charlotte J:

Yes. That sounds super beneficial. I mean, just to have that,'cause I would imagine it's not something that you all of a sudden one day wake up and think, oh, I got this. I know everything. I know what I'm doing. Right. Yeah. That's great.

So.

Charlotte J:

Not having had it in the family myself. But I can imagine that, any diagnosis is overwhelming. You talked about stress. You talked about the physical and the emotional impact that that had on you. What do you think some of the key strategies that you've found has helped you to reduce stress and just build those healthier habits for yourself and within your community?

Lana:

Key strategies, I think, heartMath was one. That was one strategy that I taught in my first, the first week of the mums together, and just being able to breathe properly where in the past I'd always like hold my breath and then end up being panicked. Um, so yeah, doing kind of heart-focused breathing and then exercising, like that was definitely a key factor of just mental health, physical health. I'm trying to move my body every day. Yeah, the support and community and I think just like personal development, you know, where back when I was feeling depressed, I would kind of just like lay in bed and. Poor me and you know, crying and the personal development of just continuing to learn and grow and just trying to do better. Once I kind of can know better, then it's made a lot of difference.

Charlotte J:

Thank you for being vulnerable and thank you for sharing that, because I think, we've all had those muments, we've been sitting on the couch, or we've been in bed, we've been crying and felt absolutely at our wits end, not knowing what to do. I can think back to a time in my life when my husband worked away. he was, gone for 10 years. Not 10 years straight. He was back and forth, but I played single mum. I was bringing the children up on my own. I. And it was hard to get outta bed sometimes. It was challenging. It was overwhelming. I think, you know, there was this desire to change, but actually taking that action to, to get up, to do something different, like you were saying, it is hard. It is difficult to know where to start. Sometimes. So for anyone listening perhaps who's stuck in that place right now and they're unsure of the first step to take, what would you say to them to help them move forward? What's the one thing that could spark that shift?

Lana:

That's a good question. I think just kind of having them be aware, are you where you want to be? Yes or no? And what is like the one small thing that you can do? Like you don't need to do everything all at once, but what is one thing that you can do to move in the direction that you want to go?

Charlotte J:

Mm-hmm. That's great advice.'cause I think you're right. Sometimes we think, oh my gosh, it's overwhelming because I have to do A, B, C, D. There's this great long list of things and you're right. Sometimes it's just about picking that one smallest thing. What one little thing can I do that? That's great advice. I love that Lana.'cause I think then when. We are able to do that. And maybe that's just swinging your legs over the edge of the bed and putting your feet on the floor. Maybe that's all it is. Or sitting up and taking a deeper breath than we normally do. Maybe that's all it is. Or even like

Lana:

making a phone call to maybe, maybe you'd need some help, you know? So reaching out to someone for help. just some sort of first step.

Charlotte J:

Absolutely. That resonates with me for sure. I think, as women, we feel like we have to do it all and we have to do it all today and we don't. Just taking that one small step. So, you've spent so much time helping others. You continue to help others to help them manage their diabetes. Obviously, your children, your husband, navigating your health, their health, so. How has that then led you to pickleball? What was it about pickleball that, caught your attention?

Lana:

it was actually probably a year ago that I first signed my husband and I up, and it was just that wanting us to do something together, like we don't. Go on many date nights. You know, with the diabetes, we've often just felt like someone needs to be at home in case of something. So we, we just haven't left them. Now they're a little bit older. Um, we are starting to feel more comfortable, but I. Yeah, just I think wanting that connection, what can we do together? And I'm not sure where I heard it from exactly, like maybe it could have been you, I don't know. Or someone else that had played pickleball. Um, but yeah, about a year ago I signed us up and then when it came to the first class, something happened that we didn't go. And then the second class we're like, well, we missed the first class. We don't know what to do. Like, I don't wanna look dumb, so let's just not do it. So we wasted our whole money. We didn't go to one single class. And then, yeah, then just recently, again, it's like just still in my mind, probably from you now that I wanted to give it a try. it, uh, was just like wanting to have time together with me and my husband was kind of what sparked me to sign us up.

Charlotte J:

So now, how did he feel about that? Because I'm assuming you brought the idea to him initially. What were his thoughts?

Lana:

He was okay with it. It wasn't like he was like, super, super excited, but he was willing to give it a try. he knew it was a good idea, but both of us were just a little bit nervous because we didn't completely know what to expect. Yeah, just trying something new is sometimes hard,

Charlotte J:

trying something new is often hard, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, I know that. And I remember back I've talked about it on previous episodes as well, I had to know what I was doing, so I totally get what you're saying about, you miss that first lesson and then you don't want to be behind and you don't want to look like you don't know what you're doing, even though. Really, nobody knows what they're doing when they first take lessons. That's amazing. Good for you for then going back, a year later. what advice would you give to somebody who wants to make fitness fun, but feels intimidated? So, they're in that place where I was a couple of years ago. They're in that place where you were a year ago. Not wanting to look stupid or that we don't know what we are doing. What would you tell them right now?

Lana:

I think, you know, just like really encouraging them just to try it, you know, like you don't know what it's going to be like until you've done it and. Trying something new, you know? Yeah. It's scary, but once you kind of make it a habit, it's just such a life changing thing. Like for me, just like right now, fitness is like my main thing. But I can just see the benefits of also doing pickleball as a sport with my husband and just having that fun aspect to exercising.

Charlotte J:

Bring more fun back into our lives, be childlike again. That's what I love about it. So take us to the first lesson, you've signed up again, you and your husband are now going to go, you both apprehensive. He's not sure, but you both want that connection. You want to do something together, and here you are now going to your first lesson. Tell us what were your first impressions? What was going through your mind as you stepped on the court?

Lana:

it was actually kind of funny the first time was, you know, sometimes I'm a bit scatterbrained and I write things down wrong. And so it was supposed to be eight o'clock. We showed up there at seven o'clock and I'm like, oh, okay. No one's here yet. Got the time wrong. Ended up that, my husband had to work early the next day, so that first time, like we went back home and then he wasn't coming back with me. So I went to the first lesson by myself and, I was just kind of nervous, you know, looking around of like everyone else is just kind of playing. And so there was another girl that was kind of similar to me that didn't have a partner, so we just kind of joined up and started playing, um, before the instructor started the, the class. And yeah, it was just kind of fun to, uh, it wasn't like super hard of what I was thinking it was going to be, and right away it was like, oh, okay, this is fun. And then the second class is when my husband, did join me, so

Charlotte J:

and then the next week he came with you. Did he? Yeah. So you, yes. And what did he think of it the first time? Because now, okay. Your experienced, you've already had one lesson. He's the newbie. How

Lana:

was that? it was good. Like, yeah, he just had a couple questions of just, you know, the lines on the court and just kind of explained a couple quick things to him, but he caught on really quickly and, sometimes he's probably more competitive and I'm like, this is just for fun. You don't need to like whip the ball at me. let's just practice. Getting it over the net. I love that.

Charlotte J:

Yes. Been there, done that. Isn't it funny how that competitiveness really comes out in people? Definitely. Husbands seem to have it a little bit more, although I, I did feel it a bit too, it sounds like you both enjoyed it. You've taken the two lessons now, right? Yes. Okay, so is this a series? Is it a, a six week learn to play program? What did you sign up for? Four weeks. Oh, okay. Nice. Yeah. And where is that local community center or where did you find it?

Lana:

It's quite close to our house and it's just, community center where there's a pool and gym, they have skating. It's kind of a little bit of everything there.

Charlotte J:

Sounds like, you've met some new people, perhaps some new friends in this group.

Lana:

Currently I've been working from home, so that was another thing of just like getting out and meeting more people, was one of my goals. And it was just fun to see, you know, a variety of different people. Some were couples, some came on their own. Um, there was kind of different people that had signed up for the lessons.

Charlotte J:

And I think isn't that one thing I found, that I really enjoyed about that was like you mentioned, working from home and I think, obviously since Covid, a lot of us have felt more isolated and there have been more opportunities for people to work from home and perhaps not. Network or be face to face with other people, having those genuine, authentic conversations that we used to when we used to be out and about a lot more. And the thing I loved about going to play pickleball was that it was a completely new community, so nobody knew me or where I was from, or, you know, I came without these labels. So I wonder if perhaps, did you feel a certain amount of that as well? Like I can go as Lana, I don't have to go as mum to two children who have diabetes.

Lana:

Yeah, I think that was, part of it and moving forward too. It's just nice to have my own little thing and, I didn't have a lot of that before. So, looking forward to, I might sign up for another round of classes. And then after that I think I would just go to do like the drop in and, start playing more.

Charlotte J:

And I think this is an ideal time in the year too because, like you say, do another set of, of classes just to develop and strengthen those connections with other people. Get a hang of the scoring and the rules. How did you find

Lana:

that, by the way? They haven't actually done the scoring yet, so that will be the next.

Charlotte J:

Okay. You'll have to come back on then and tell us what you thought of the scoring because yeah, that was one thing I found challenging and, um, I don't know why I was so confused for weeks about how to, it didn't make sense to me and Neil kept saying to me. I don't get why you don't get it. He said, it's very simple. You do this at the beginning, but then after the first point, then it's this. And I'm like, but I don't get it. It doesn't make sense. And then it suddenly clicked and yeah, so what I was saying was, do the next set of lessons and then we are coming into outdoor and then a whole lot more opportunities. Certainly here, in Calgary, in Canada, more opportunities come up then because there are outdoor courts and we seem to take over a lot of the tennis courts as well. So there's a lot more opportunities then to play outdoor, which is another ball game completely, because then you're dealing with the wind and what have you, right. But I love that you decided to take lessons first and get some knowledge about how to play the game.

Lana:

Yeah. My husband was looking already at like, yeah, just picking up some of our own so that we can do it outside the summer.

Charlotte J:

Do you think this might be something you involve the kids in as well?

Lana:

I hope so. I think, you know, it would be great for them. We used to do badminton together, but lately just teenagers, they're not like super excited about going to play badminton with their parents. Um, but yeah, we'll definitely give it a try to see if we could do it as a family. I think that would also be fun.

Charlotte J:

It's a great family activity. Although I say that my children will not come and play with us, they think that, that they would be too good. They would beat us and we keep saying, well, come prove it. You know, we're up for the challenge. Is there anything else about pickleball specifically that you love or you're drawn to, or, you say you've played badminton before. Anything specific about pickleball that makes you think, yes, this is the sport to get into?

Lana:

It felt easier than say, tennis. You know, I've tried to play tennis with my husband and it's just like, just the, the lightness of it, it just felt a little bit easier to do pickle ball. That's probably the main thing that I like the competition. Like once I get a little bit better, you know, I would want to be a bit more competitive. Um, but it'll just kinda take some time before I'm. At that level.

Charlotte J:

Mm-hmm. Well, yes, and actually it, it really doesn't take that long. And I think that's one thing that surprised me about pickleball as well. Like you say, I mean the lightness, like the paddles are not hard to maneuver. They're very light. The ball is a wiffle ball. It's very easy to hit across the net. Mm-hmm. It's easy to hit it gently. With your dinking it's easy to, to do a drive, a harder shot. So yes, it's definitely easier on the body, um, as well, and I've, I know I've said this before, if people are perhaps. A little less mobile. It's not a game that you have to race around the court if you don't want to. Mm-hmm. I mean, there are definitely people who do, jump from side to side. We were watching a singles game yesterday and oh my goodness, they're all over the place. I don't think I would have this. Stamina for that. Yeah. But you literally can, you know, stand at the net and just hit the ball back and forth and you can get some really good exercise doing that. So it's definitely, a sport, like you say, it's easier to play, it's easier than tennis. You have that badminton background too, so you have some prior knowledge there that will help you. That's great. I always ask everybody that comes on as a guest, what topic or what kind of episode would you like to hear? A future episode of Pickleball and Partnership podcast.

Lana:

Yeah, I think just like maybe like a comeback story, you know, like that's kind of what I feel like my makeover of just my transformation. So yeah, maybe if there's someone that's like started out, really not doing that great, but ended up, being an amazing pickleball player, that would be cool to hear.

Charlotte J:

That would. I agree. Okay. Listeners, if you are out there and somebody has had a huge comeback story, a huge transformation, or even a little one, it doesn't have to be huge, does it really, like you say, we make these small changes and they can have a huge impact on the way we feel about things on, jumping outta bed in the morning instead of. Dreading what the day is going to look like. So I want to hear your stories. Lana and I are tuning in, waiting to hear from you. And Lana, I want you back on as well. Take this set of lessons and maybe your next set of lessons and then will you come back and let us know how you get on and how you're finding pickleball with your husband.

Lana:

I would love to, yeah, that would be fun to, to see, uh, how much progress I've made.

Charlotte J:

Absolutely. And Lana, where can people find you if they're interested, if they're curious and they want more information about doing diabetes different or about your eight week course, where can they find you?

Lana:

So my website is. www.doingdiabetesdifferent.com. And then I have a Facebook group that's um, called Doing Diabetes Different. That's gonna kinda be my main spot for people. And it's a little bit of a combination of, you know, there's some people with Type one diabetes, there's some mums with kids with Type one diabetes. And then also I've kind of been just promoting health and fitness. So it's some people that want to prevent type two diabetes. So a little bit of everything, but that's where the group is.

Charlotte J:

Great. And we'll put those links in the show notes so that people can find you there as well. So thank you Lana. It was amazing talking to you. I love that you shared your pickleball journey and you shared some of your diabetes journey with us. Thank you very much.

Lana:

Yeah, thank you for having me on Charlotte. It was great.

Thank you so much, Lana, for sharing your inspiring journey with us today from navigating the challenges of diabetes management to finding joy on the pickleball court. Your story reminds us. That small steps can lead to profound changes, whether it's picking up a paddle or simply making that first phone call for help, prioritizing our wellbeing impacts everyone around us. I can't wait to hear about your continued progress with pickleball and the amazing work you're doing with. Doing diabetes different. And to our listeners, remember that transformation begins with just one small action.

Speaker 2:

Don't forget to join us next week when Neil and I will be back, sitting down and having a real heart-to-heart chat.

Speaker:

Thanks so much for listening today. I hope you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did. Anything mentioned, including links, notes, and a full episode list, will be over on our website at pickleballandpartnership. buzzsprout. com. Com. If you got something outta this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe to Pickleball and Partnership on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so that you are notified of new and upcoming episodes. And if you're finding value in this podcast, a free way to support us is to leave a five. It truly means the world to us. This will help more people access these real conversations. And if you haven't connected with myself or Neil personally, we would love to meet you and say hi over on our Facebook page. Thanks again for listening. Please tune in next week for another exciting episode of Pickleball and partnership. Remember, we're all learning, growing, and showing up in our own ways. And that's what matters most.

People on this episode

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Charlotte Jukes

Host
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Neil Jukes

Co-host