“What is one thing you would tell someone that does not have diabetes? Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes. Have more than one thing you wish people knew? Go ahead and tell useverything.”
I have written about this before, but I wish people knew that I can eat what they eat. Within reason, but I just have to do some math and punch in some numbers into my pump. So to the D-Popo.. back off, please and thank you.
I want them to know that yes, they could give themselves shots if they had to, and if their life depended on it. Which mine does.
That Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Therefore people do not get it from eating too many sweets as a child.
That it is not necessary to make a “special dessert” just for me. You are likely going to be doing more harm than good, although I do appreciate the sincerity behind your offer.
That yes, I am very well aware that my diagnosis at age 17 was “a little old for Type 1″. But it is the hand I was dealt. Would it have been better if I had been a young child? No. I was at least able to have a healthy, normal childhood.
That I notice and hear the “Bless your hearts” I’ve been given the last
19+ years. (Hmm… I wonder if that is why my heart has been so healthy– being from/in the south, it has received many blessings!!)
That when I tell you “It’s not so bad” … I’m sort of lying. I tend to put up a front to make it appear that life as a diabetic isn’t hard.. but it IS. (See my friend, Karen’s post about this – it’s greatness and fits most of us to a T.)
And on the flip side I want them to know that diabetes is a pain in the rear. It is a 24/7 job that I never get to take a break from. It is always there. Taunting me. It affects my mood, my meals/drinks, my sleep. It complicated my ability to have children (notice I said complicated, not prevented.) It takes up a lot of room– literally and figuratively.
But you know what? Diabetes has made me who I am today. It has taught me how to be grateful. And to love with all my heart. And to appreciate every single breath that I have the ability of taking. It has brought friends into my life that I would not have known otherwise. And for that, I am grateful.
But at the end of the day … it’s still a pain in the rear. But I’ll get up tomorrow and do it all over again. Rinse and repeat.
“Not so bad”/”pain in the rear”… perfect way to summarize it. Its a pain and we deal with it, but I don’t want/need the sympathy.