I just returned from a whirl-wind trip to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I was asked to accompany a friend who needed a diagnosis (not diabetic related). So, I thought I would get a 100,000 mile check up and touch bases with my docs.
Once again I was given a thumbs up on diabetes management (I am sure they take into account the 47 or so years of insulin dependance) and my doc sternly suggested that I get back on the blog bicycle and share my gift of mostly happy diabetic-ness. My main diabetic doc is very interested to know how I have managed, through the years, to live life as a diabetic while still participating in a apparently non-diabetic, fun-filled, extreme diabetic awareness and ignorant bliss. Now, keep in mind that I am paraphrasing the good doctor. However, he may be onto something.
I am still working out the messy details in my head as to how I have been able to go in and out of intense diabetic scrutiny. So stay with me as I write out loud.
Before I was diagnosed with T-1, I was slowly starving to death and very uncomfortable. I believe this experience has aided in handling discomfort and pain. By pain I mean physical, not emotional. Not good when you are 5 or 6 years old, but great when you are an adult. As a result, anything short of a slow and painful physical death becomes less important and basically, small potatoes. (Boy, even I think that sounds too simplistic!) Moving through life has found me busy in that I have broken 19 bones, acquired pins and staples in my body, endured countless surgeries and recoveries and been in numerous situations that were less than pleasant regarding personal safety. Now, I would not recommend this path for everyone but it is working for me.
I spent the first 20 years of diabetic-dom (perhaps spelling it, diabetic-dumb would be more acurrate) ignoring the disease and keeping people out of the loop. After a near fatal car wreck while on a blind date (I was about 21 years old), one of my visitors who I have known since the 5th grade, was shocked to find out that I was a insulin dependent diabetic. Then I was shocked he was shocked and I guess I decided that I had not tried for the 1st 20 years, so why not try the next 20 years and see what that would get me.
That accident was 31 years ago and I am onto my 2nd set of 20 years and hoping for a least a 3rd set. I am not sure what the future holds for this diabetic body with a non-diabetic mind, but I am sure whatever comes my way I will handle.
I hope to continue to sort out the way I manage my disease and perhaps someone else will also look at how they live their complete life while riding the T-1 or T-2 roller coaster. Caio-Bye for now.
it is a blessing to have that, because so many stop living and there mind is wrapped around Fear of Diabetes… and they forget to live life:)