During our first breakfast my fabulous Grassroots Team Leader, Mary, came over to say hi. As we chatted, she told me something that resonated with me and that I’ve often thought about over the past year. She said that at these events, she keeps a careful eye each morning to make sure all of the adult Type 1s on her team make it to breakfast and are accounted for. In short, she watches over us to make sure nothing happened while we were sleeping alone in our hotel rooms.After living with diabetes for more than 33 years, or 3/4s of my life, one would think I have this down, right? But guess what? I don’t. I work hard and I do my best, but the truth is that diabetes can still throw a dangerous curve. It has happened to me. It has happened to those I love - off the top of my head Scott, Scully, Martin, Stephen and Kerri.
I try my hardest to live a confident and empowered diabetes life. I try not to focus too hard on the negative things about diabetes, and to instead celebrate the positives when I can find them. I try not to let too much fear creep in. But the truth is that even if I do every single thing right, there is always a chance diabetes will suddenly strike and there is a chance I won’t survive. That is the reality. That is a huge part of why I’ll be in D.C. this weekend meeting with our government representative to tell my story and yours. That is why we all need to do all we can to keep sharing the whole truth about life with diabetes.
I’m so thankful to know I have Pete watching over me when I’m at home. And I’m so thankful to know Mary will be watching over me this weekend.
I think about it fleetingly with every 2:30am low...because I think it would freak me out otherwise :-/
ReplyDeletePete's a keeper :-)
Well said, Karen.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for us to acknowledge our vulnerability, and it's terrifying when we fall down and need help.
Thank you for volunteering and putting yourself out there to help everyone living with diabetes.
Had a bad one last night, was coherent enough to tell Astrid I just needed glucose tabs, by the time I went through 20 tabs, she challenged that. Too late, 400 2 hours later, fought that one down till 10 am. stay safe as you can.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard not to give into those thoughts every now and again. I think I take for granted that my lows seem to wake me up, or can keep me awake. I inevitably forget about that low when I was a kid that scared my parents half to death. The one where they couldn't wake me, they finally got me conscience enough to get me to swallow juice. I remembered nothing, except I was served juice in bed and was pretty excited about that. My parents, not so much. So happy that you are being watched over and hope the weekend went well!!
ReplyDelete