I’m stoked to take part
in Diabetes Blog Week for the first time this year! Thank you Karen (@KarenBittrSweet) of the
Bitter Sweet Diabetes blog for doing all the work to make this a wonderful week
to learn from each other and discover new D voices! Read them here.
I set up this blog in 2014 because I had known for a long
time that going it alone wasn’t working anymore. I’ve lived with diabetes for 16 years—most of
them poorly controlled, the last few well managed, and all of them alone. I could count the people who knew about my diabetes
with two hands and the people I’d personally told on one.
When I emerged from my “dark ages” of diabetes and got back on
track I realized my numbers were fine, but mentally the disease was still
wreaking havoc. My A1Cs were the best
they’d ever been, but I still couldn’t talk about it. I had neglected a key part of diabetes
management: the psychological need for support.
So I went where the experts, my diabetes peers, were:
online.
Finding the online community was invaluable. I found people I immensely respected who were
following their dreams, having families, and advocating to make things better
for people with diabetes.
Why online? For one,
you get to connect with, learn from, laugh and cry with people. Two, you don’t have to wear pants or makeup
while doing it.
When I moved to a smaller town from the metro area I sadly had
to say goodbye to my local diabetes support group and hadn’t been able (read:
hadn’t tried) to round up people to start a group in my new area, so I went
online. Like in the support group I sat
back, listened to some stories, and slowly joined in, ever appreciating the courage
and resiliency of the people who made me proud instead of ashamed what made us
different.
I also hoped to add my voice, because so many times while
reading a book or a blog by an author with diabetes I got that feeling that
screamed, “ME TOO!” I wanted to share
the hard-won lessons I’d learned from my mistakes, the facts that changed
everything I felt about diabetes and still rely on daily, in hopes they are of
any use to others. They are:
- You Can Do It
People living with diabetes are
incredibly strong. We practice many
skills throughout the day: constant math for carb calculations and insulin
doses, medical equipment troubleshooting, coping skills to deal with constant
strain and unpredictability, and on and on.
We’re awesome, and we need to acknowledge that.
We’re often reminded by well-intended
people, organizations, and media that dangers and dire side effects are
possible with diabetes, but only in the diabetes community is it made clear that
your life is more full of possibilities than it is of limitations. When I diagnosed I thought I had to give up
my dreams for the future. Now I realize
that that misconception, not diabetes, was what stood in my way.
You can do it!
- It’s Easier with Gratitude
Everyone with diabetes knows it’s
no cake walk. While the numbers go up
and down they sometimes take your moods with them, and either one can go off the
rails without provocation. Diabetes is a
party that never ends, even when you get tired.
It’s expensive too. I’ve left the pharmacy a number of times with
tears in my eyes. After indulging in self-pity
for a while I try to remember that I’m incredibly blessed to have access to
life-saving medicine, even if it costs me dearly.
On days when I’m mentally stuck in
muck, when I’m ready I remind myself I’m lucky to have made it this far and to
have today. I’ve found blessings are way
more fun to count than carbs.
- ...And People
It’s also easier with people in
your lives who support and accept you. I
used to fervently defend the belief that you could do it by yourself and didn’t
need anyone to be successful at diabetes management. I suppose in some ways that’s true, but it’s
lonely, and for me at least, emotionally damaging. I still love me some independence, but engaging
with people about diabetes is empowering, educational, and inspiring. I’m encouraged to challenge myself and do
better. It’s gotten easier to talk about
it with other people in my life and support those I know who live with
diabetes, which is a wonderful feeling.
Thank you for that.
Great post...the people really are amazing :)
ReplyDeleteThe fact that pants aren't required to participate in the DOC is a major plus.
ReplyDelete