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Today let’s borrow a topic from a #dsma chat held last September. The tweet asked “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with 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 us everything.
DIABETES IS HARD!!!!! Diabetes is a constant balancing act and I fall off my tightrope just as often as I stay on, if not more. So far I’ve been lucky and have always landed on a safety net, but I live in fear that my luck is running out.I really try not to use diabetes as an excuse. I try not to ask for special treatment because of diabetes. I try to handle it gracefully and somewhat invisibly. Most people with diabetes that I know are the same way. We don’t want diabetes to stand in the way of our lives. We refuse to let diabetes hold us back. But maybe there is a downside to that. All those times I don’t let you see me struggle. All those times I smile and put on a brave face. All those times I say I’m fine when I’m anything but. All those times I lead you to believe diabetes is easy. Maybe those are the times I’m doing the most damage. Maybe I’m making the outside world really believe diabetes IS easy. Why would they think any different? Why would they think I bust my ass every single day just to live with diabetes? Why would they think I need a cure?
Diabetes is a big part of the life I’ve been given. I’m not going to wallow, I’m not going to complain. My life is good. But despite what I may lead you to believe, it’s very important for you to know . . . .
DIABETES IS HARD!!!
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Karen,
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post. I struggle with the same thing all the time. It is a lot of work to manage diabetes, we need attention to get a cure, yet I never want to draw attention. I am so thankful for the people who do it for me (lobby, raise funds, etc.)!!
so true, great post. diabetes is so hard and so all-consuming. Even when I'm doing other things, I really am always thinking about something d-related in the back of my mind. "when did i last eat?" "do I need to test?" "am i going low?" "why is my pump beeping at me NOW?" all that good stuff. we get good at constantly multitasking - keeping this running commentary going in the back of our minds while we live our lives and look graceful and carefree on the outside.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I'm trying to say is I totally get ya, girl!
Well said Karen! We all make it look so easy. I feel like if there were an army full of diabetics agains an army of non-diabetics, the diabetics would all win because we have an inner strength that is unmatchable! (well, except for others living with a serious chronic disease, they rock too).
ReplyDeleteI am LOVING my first D-blog week, and it has opened my eyes to a swarm of amazing people in the DOC! THank you so much for coordinating all of this, it is really just plain awesome!!
People are always tell me I make it look easy and they I am doing great. If they only knew.
ReplyDeleteexcellent post. i am seeing this common thread among many posts on this topic today.
ReplyDeleteDiabetes is hard, and you are strong. I, however, will wallow without restraint. Perhaps enough for the both of us.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, it is as if you read my mind.
ReplyDeleteThis is the second post I've read today that is on this subject. Very well said, Karen! I would only add one word: Freakin! Diabetes is Freakin' hard!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Karen! I'm so humbled by everything that I have read today. This subject really hit home for me and I feel so less alone!
ReplyDeleteYes. Diabetes is hard. That's truth. I have tears in my eyes from your post because I tend to put on a brave face, too. Maybe I need to stop being so strong and focus on being real. Diabetes is hard. Thanks for letting the world know.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't GET it..why do MOST diabetics try to protect NON-diabetics by trying to appear as if this Disease is EASY!!?? What-ever happened to TRUTH!? Let's be honest, folks...Diabetes is a Big Fat DRAG & extremely difficult to manage & live with! I've had Type I for 48 years & am SOOOoooo BURNT-OUT! And I feel, if anything, non-diabetics should get some REAL education from us, not a Brave Face hiding Pain & Suffering! Sure, I used to try & hide it too, when I was a kid...like it was something we should be ASHAMED of, or GUILTY about like doctors always tried to make me feel...like it was all MY fault cuz I MUST be doing something WRONG!Finally I know that's NOT true & I'm not going to PRETEND I'm not angry with this disease...it's NOT FUN!!
DeleteCouldn't agree more! One of my first ever blogposts was about this - I always put on a happy face so now, whenever I make a comment about a low/high it's almost 'not a big deal' and I don't think anyone quite appreciates just how awful it can make you feel. Really brilliant post - you hit the nail on the head! Thank-you for sharing, and organising all this - people like you really are an inspiration for me, as I'm just making the transition as 17 to managing the whole condition on my own/living away from home etc... It's nice to finally have some 'D' role models, as I knew no one with diabetes until about a month ago! (And i've had it 10 years nearly!)
ReplyDeleteSophs
Thank you for putting my feelings into words! Wonderful post, Karen! Thanks.
ReplyDelete~ Hilary
Well said! Thanks for posting this honest testimony!
ReplyDeleteLove the post, Karen. Like you, I try so hard not to use diabetes as an excuse or crutch - even when I legitimately could. It's that feeling that even if I can't do something, I don't want to be looked at differently and thought to not be able to do whatever it is down the road. Tough, fighting those internal mental games. Thanks for writing this.
ReplyDeleteVery well said Karen!
ReplyDelete