What I'd Like You to Know (#dblogweek)

Today's D-Blog prompt: 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.

There is so much I'd like to tell people about diabetes. Not the physiology of the disease - the ins and outs of insulin resistance for a person with Type 2 diabetes. That's only a minor part of the disease. For me there are blood checks throughout the day as well as lab work a couple times a year.  Yearly check-ups with my doctor, more if necessary. Watching carbs. Watching activity level (insulin resistance can suddenly backfire, causing sudden lows). The mood swings. Fear. Wondering if I'm going to need to use the bathroom at an inopportune time.

What is the number one thing I'd like people to know? Don't judge. Shortly after my diagnosis, I was talking to an older gentleman. Not realizing it, I had actually started off in my advocacy calling right away. I started talking to him about my new diagnosis, to which he replied, "We're watching our weight so we don't get diabetes." Did he just call me fat? To set the record straight, I am slightly overweight but not in the obese category that society would consider "at risk." I was also in my late-30s. Also not an "at risk" category.

Was he judging me? I feel he was. My diabetes was not caused by lifestyle, rather genetics. Do I blame my mother and her blood line? Not any more than I blame my father for my mousey brown hair that gets a little color treatment now and then. It is what it is. I love both of my parents dearly and thank God for all they have given me - including my hair color and my diabetes.

Those who have read my blog before know that I see my diabetes as part of a calling to reach out to others. I've had the opportunity to reach out to children with Type 1 diabetes locally. Even though I have Type 2 (and they know it), we still have a bond of sorts. Whenever we see each other, they know that there's an adult that gets it, even if just a little. And of course I ask them if they've been behaving. They know I don't just mean behaviorally.

Living with a chronic disease, especially an invisible one, is extremely difficult and often lonely. Thankfully I have an awesome support system at home that tries to understand, plus the DOC that totally gets it.

Before you judge or blame, remember that first and foremost, I am a person. Yes, I am a person with diabetes, but that doesn't make your judgements alright. Blaming my lifestyle means you haven't gotten to know me, only society's misconception of what causes Type 2 diabetes. I don't sit around all day eating bon bons. (I'd like to see you keep up with my five kids while working two jobs! What's a couch?)



Photo credit: Image found here.

Fantasy Diabetes Device (#dblogweek)

Today's D-Blog prompt: Tell us what your Fantasy Diabetes Device would be?  Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc etc etc.  The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?

Hmm...  Like Rachel at Tales of Rachel, it's really hard for me to think of something. I'm a diet and exercise controlled Type 2. Maybe something to get me to exercise. Or a device that will play pre-recorded answers to all the common diabetes questions. Honestly, one currently used device I would like to have would be a CGM (continuous glucose monitor). But how to convince insurance to pay for a CGM for a diet and exercise controlled Type 2. HA!

One Not So Great Thing (#dblogweek)

Today's D-Blog prompt: Yesterday we gave ourselves and our loved ones a big pat on the back for one thing we are great at.  Today let’s look at the flip-side.  We probably all have one thing we could try to do better.  Why not make today the day we start working on it.  No judgments, no scolding, just sharing one small thing we can improve so the DOC can cheer us on!

In my last blog post, I basically mentioned a few things. "I'm not on top of checking my blood sugar or exercising all the time like I should. I try to watch my carb intake, but every once in a while my plate looks like the diabetic denial meal. Thankfully I don't need to take meds. I try to carry a small snack with me at all times in case of a low, but sometimes I forget to replenish said snack."


Probably the biggest thing I need to work on is exercise. I used to be on top of it, going to the gym once (or even twice) just about every day. Then my schedule changed and I just haven't adapted my exercise schedule. This is what I need encouragement about the most.

One Great Thing (#dblogweek)

Today's D-Blog prompt: Tell us about just one diabetes thing you (or your loved one) does spectacularly!  Fasting blood sugar checks, oral meds sorted and ready, something always on hand to treat a low, or anything that you do for diabetes.  Nothing is too big or too small to celebrate doing well! 

This prompt is challenging. Honestly I'm not always the "good diabetic." Quite often I feel the opposite. I'm not on top of checking my blood sugar or exercising all the time like I should. I try to watch my carb intake, but every once in a while my plate looks like the diabetic denial meal. Thankfully I don't need to take meds. I try to carry a small snack with me at all times in case of a low, but sometimes I forget to replenish said snack.

However there is one diabetes-related thing that I am proud of - setting people straight! There are so many misconceptions about Type 2 diabetes. Sometimes it gets me so frustrated that I could scream or even cry. I have decided instead of just getting upset, it is now my mission to educate others. If I can dispel diabetes myths for just one person a week - Imagine how many people I could reach! Not just those 52 people I talk to, but others that they talk to as well. I can just imagine someone with whom I have spoken then sharing that information with others they come in contact. "I heard that eating too much candy causes diabetes," will then get a reply of, "Oh, that's not true. I've talked to someone with diabetes, and this is what she said..."

Imagine if we just educate one person a week what we could accomplish!

Find A Friend (#dblog week)

This week I am participating in Diabetes Blog Week, aka D-Blog week. I will be joining tons of other diabetes bloggers this week, blogging about... well diabetes, of course!

Today's D-Blog Week prompt: It seems the most popular thing about Diabetes Blog Week is that it helps us find blogs we weren’t reading yet and connect with some new blog friends.  With that in mind, let’s kick off Diabetes Blog Week by making some new connections.  Think about the d-blogs you read that you think we may not know about and introduce us to one that you love!!  Let’s all find a new friend today!

Well, as I'm sure others have said, there are just so many awesome diabetes blogs out there. Some are well known, while others may not be. When I started my diabetes blog, I found several Type 1 blogs written by PWDs and parents of CWDs. However, it was hard to find blogs written by PWDs with Type 2. Luckily this didn't discourage me from writing a blog. On the contrary! It actually encouraged me. If I was looking for other Type 2s, maybe there were others with the same pursuit. By writing my own blog, I was actually hoping to connect with other Type 2s.

One blog I have found is Kate's Sweet Success. Now I have to admit that I don't read her blog as often as I'd like, but I do find it comforting read from the blog of another person with similar issues. She doesn't fall into society's stereotype of what a Type 2 should look like. To me, Kate looks young and physically fit. Yes, I realize that I don't know her all that well, but just her profile picture is comforting to me - knowing that someone else out there gets it.

I'm looking forward to reading some of the blogs participating in D-Blog week. I know I'll discover many more treasures like Kate!

So Good! So Yummy!

At church this morning, while we were holding our little square of bread waiting for the cue to eat together, I overheard a young girl around eight or nine years old. She was looking at her piece of bread and said, "So good! So yummy!"

This got me thinking. While preparing to serve, our pastor says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Did that child know how her words related to those of our pastor? We know the Lord is "so good." But is He also "so yummy"?

 Think about your favorite comfort food. The food that makes you feel all good inside. Full of great memories or just so satisfying to the taste buds. Got that? Now multiply it times the biggest number you can imagine.

Can you even start to understand how yummy that would be?

Me neither, but that's how Jesus is. So good! So yummy!


Picture credit: Communion clip art found here.

WEGO's Health Activist Writer's Month is Over (#HAWMC)

Thank you all for following along during WEGO's Health Activist Writer's Month challenge. It's been a lot of fun. I've been able to think about diabetes in a new way, stretch myself as a blogger, and discover some really amazing blogs.

I hope to keep up on the writing and expanding on the creativity.

Diabetes isn't going away any time soon....

and neither am I!