I have never felt so diabetic until this moment…

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So this weekend my husband and I are getting the house cleaned up and organized as my sister is coming in from Italy to visit soon. I have learned a valuable lesson here, I can almost hear my mom’s voice telling me “if you do a quick clean once a week, you will always have a tidy house.” Three years of grad school, a full time job, a rebirth in diabetes care, and life in general kept me from the weekly task of cleaning the apartment. What a disaster of a house we are now trying to clean up! As usual, I am spinning off topic here (I am prone to that).

So in cleaning and organizing the house, we decided that we wanted some prime real estate back in our hall closet. The top shelf held piles of infusion sets, reservoirs, and DexCom sensors, just scattered about. My other supplies such as strips, lancets, syringes, and other medicines were scattered in the bedroom and living room. So I get this idea that I should buy a cabinet and put all my diabetic stuff in it. Then things would be easy to find and to get to, as well as allowing me to see what I am running low on in a quick look.

So I go to my local Target (as if I need an excuse to go to this store) and pick up a small cabinet. I get it home and my husband goes to put it together and what do you know? One of the pieces of wood is broken inside the box. So we hop in the car, go back to Target, and exchange it for another one. My dear husband spends the next couple of hours trying to follow the world’s worst and most conflicting directions to put the darn thing together. Success! We have a cabinet now!

I start gathering all my supplies and stacking them neatly in this new cabinet. As I finish and take a step back, I realize I have never felt so diabetic in my whole life until this moment. The millions of shots, finger sticks, doctor’s appointments, measuring of food, etc never made me feel as diabetic as looking into this new, shiny cabinet that is now completely full. Seeing all the medical equipment and supplies I use to stay healthy shook me a bit. Is this what my life has turned into?

Stacks and stacks of prescription items? Maybe living in diabetic denial wasn’t so bad. After all, back then all I kept in the house were syringes and insulin, that was it. Then my rational side kicks in and reminds me, “you are healthier now, you feel good now, you have this diabetes thing under control! You will live a healthier, happier life this way.” I turn to my husband and share how I am feeling at this moment. He just smiles and says “well shut the doors then and don’t look anymore. Go play on the PC.” So I do as he suggests and I enjoy the feeling of being in control of my life and health. I bask in being thankful that I have such an understanding and caring partner in life.

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I agree with your husband. Shut the doors, walk away and bask in the pride that you are takig good care of yourself.
I get really freaked every time a new med is added. In addition to insulin, I take meds for blood pressure, sleep, depression, thyroid and cholesterol. I cried each tme they gave me a new one. But, My bp and eholesterol are now fantastic, as are my thyroid levels and my mood is stable and I sleep well. How cool is that?

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I love it! how much was the cabinet? I need to get one! Mine is in a big rubbermaid container.

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Kathy-I get the medicine thing. Only recently have I come to terms with the whole pill thing.

Danny-Thanks for the support and I will not be showing my sister the diabetic wing. Although she does want to see how an infusion set works and how to put it in. I told her I would let her watch me change sets, how dorky is that, hahaha

Cynthia,

$29.99 at Target. It is called the Closetmaid 2 Door Organizer. Here is a link to it on Target’s site

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I love your cabinet!! I should take a pic of my supplies “cabinet”… You would laugh. :slight_smile:

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Diabetic but organized. My virgo soul gets chills just looking at it!!!

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I go the rubbermaid route. Under the bed.

Out of sight, out of mind. Not.

Terry

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I keep mine in a briefcase and the rest on top of the closet. All my pills and I do have a lot, stays in the med cabinet. I have a little one so I have to keep stuff of high. But maybe I should get a cabinet and put a lock on it. I do have a ton of stuff. Yep looking at all my stuff makes me feel like a sickly person. But I am just taking care of myself.

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See what happens when you clean your house! No good can come from this:)

I’ve got stuff scattered between a kitchen cabinet, under the bathroom sink & shoved in the back of a closet. You’ve inspired me to get organized. Very nice cabinet!

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so awesome my desk cabinet is totally devoted to my supplies :slight_smile:

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Oh my goodness Suzanne - you’ve got a very organised “store” in your house of medical supplies (all my stuff fits in a drawer in my chest of drawers). I wish I could afford to buy as many supplies as you do - but I go from month to month - or try to make things like reservoirs last as long as they can. I know who to come to if I ever need supplies that’s for sure!

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all my stuff is un a box under my bed. the insets and stuff and one box of syringes that i got like the week before i got my pump.

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I can totally relate to your post, from your mother’s “quick clean” housekeeping voice in your head, to the trips to Target, and the stacks and piles in the diabetes supply closet! I just cleaned out the supply closet a few weeks ago and the prodding of DH, and I felt like I was swimming in infusion sets and test strips. A new shipment just arrived a few days ago and is sitting in a box…the closet is calling me!

Your post brought me a much needed smile to my face today! :slight_smile:

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AH! Before I saw the pic of your cabinet, I was totally thinking it was going to be a small little thing that could fit in a small bathroom. Guess again! Girl, it must feel SO good to have everything straightent out. Talk about instant gratification. I felt that way last night when I finally cleaned out my freezer after 5 years (ick!)

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I am thinking of starting the pump- and thought to myself- hmmm I wonder how much space all my new supplies will take up? Wow- I had no idea! Organization is a big part of keeping myself on track- being able to visually know when I need to restock-your post and pics IS A HUGE HELP in preparing for this new step in my care. I get it- the visual reminder of our reality can be a bit overwhelming. Thanks for taking the time to post- 2 years later your post is still helping! Thank you!