This is for those who hate diabetes and thinks it changed you completly, Ya diabetes changes us but it doesnt change us in a bad way. Its changes us in a good way. Diabetes makes us a stronger person. It also makes us even more unique. People who dont like us just because we are diffrent its there loss. The people who tease us and call us names or the people who say things that hurt us or even the ones who think they know more then we do about it: those people make us a stronger person.
Before diabetes I was reckless with my health. Diabetes woke me up. I think you are right.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Friedrich Nietzsche
Strong people are harder to kill than weak people and more useful in general. Mark Rippetoe
I too was "reckless with my health". So my diagnosis has been positive in many ways.
I wasn't reckless with my health by any means, but I enjoyed the freedom of being able to live without care. I do miss that. I was only 25 when diagnosed. Now, at twice that age, I'm probably in better shape than some of my contemporaries. I do have some long-term complications from the disease, but I watch what eat and don't drink or smoke. I'm not an exercise demon, but I to like to walk my dog. If I can keep the complications from getting worse, then things will be fine and I'll be fine. I'm sorry that you have been teased or called names. There's no excuse for that. Diabetes is not something to joke about and it's certainly not something that we bring on ourselves. I have run into plenty of people who thought they were helping me by telling me horror stories of what happened to someone they used to know, etc. For that reason, I don't volunteer the information to anyone that doesn't need to know. Sometimes it's better to be a little more selective about who we tell our personal business to, not just health matters but anything.
It sure does. I believe that people with diabetes are among the smartest people out there. Our math skills are better and we are better at analyzing data. Because we have to be,
It makes us more compassionate, and more understanding of others with special needs (even though I don't consider myself to be a "special needs" person. I take care of myself quite well, thank you).
It makes us more courageous. How many people do you know that could stick themselves with a needle or make their fingers bleed, multiple times per day, without flinching?
My problem is that I don't don't know what its like NOT having diabetes. I have very few memories of my life without this wretched disease. I honestly feel that it has affected my life in a much more negatively. I was never allowed to partisipate in sports when I was younger. My parents feared I would pass out at any moment from a low. Because of this, I went through elementary school thinking that I was weaker than the other kids. I would even agree with the bullies when they said I was weak! When I finally started sports in 6th grade, I had no skills at all. I only made 2 baskets in my only season of basketball. At least, after that, my parents felt I was "safe" to join sports. However, I could never make the cut for ANY team. No coach wants a kid who never learned how to catch or throw. I eventually did join track, only to realize that I sucked that that also. As a junior, I was getting out-vaulted by freshmen only vaulting for 2 weeks. The only sport I would have been good at was wrestling, I know that because I've managed to out wrestle some of my school's best wrestlers (and a fair-share of bullies). But I couldn't join that team because I couldn't cut the weight the coach wanted me to. Why? because of DIABETES. I don't know how much different it would have been without D, but I would have at least had a chance.
Because of D, I will never be spontaneous. Just the other day, one of my professors randomly decided to have a christmas party with pizza, doughnuts, icecream, etc. Of course, I didn't know about it, so I didn't bother to bring my kit or my insulin. I run home real quick and grab my stuff. 20 minutes later, I walk into the class and there is NOTHING in there, no people, no food, nothing. Without diabetes, I would have been able to enjoy myself just like everyone else.
Basically, I've lived my entire life being told that I'm more fragile than everyone else. When I decide to change that, Diabetes rears its ugly head again, and puts me back to square 1.
Sure, I might be good at guessing the carbs in stuff, but thats because I NEED that skill. If I didn't have D, this would be useless. Anyone would know how to make an educated guess about food if they had to watch everything they ate for 14 years...
ah...thanks but diabetes has not changed me in a good way, it's a nightmare. i have always been extremely healthy...no other issues but type 1 diabetes...there was nothing about my lifestyle i needed to change. no one, of course, calls me names or anything close, most people are ignorant (no fault of their own) but also sympathetic too, if I discuss it. NOPE, not one good thing diabetes has done for me or my life, i've always been strong, competitive athlete, fit, thin, etc...sorry...!
i don't feel smarter, it's not rocket science, i don't feel more compassionate, I always have been (would give the shirt off my back and my last dollar and meal to someone if they truly needed it). I don't feel it courageous at all to stick myself with needles all day long. it is what it is.
at this point, the shots are no big deal, they don't hurt unless i hit something. so, just do it, the weighing - counting, just do it...for me, it's the disease itself, the fact that I (we) have to basically manually control our blood sugars, it's crazy! and what this disease does and can do. the rollercoaster ride of correcting - over correcting and feeling absolutely like crap, the fact that this disease is a beast and wants to win and destroy. but stronger, no!
Hiya Timmy, I think you and Anna are really brave to have fought this disease so diligently at your age. I want you both to know that young people like you guys have been my inspiration to take care of myself since my diagnosis. See I was 28 when I was diagnosed almost 25 years ago so I've always told myself that if kids and young people can do this, I have to be as strong as they are and keep going.
The best advice that I can give you is not to think too much about what you've missed out on so far but to focus on what else there is out there in this big world that you want to do as you get older....and then take really good care of yourself and get out there and do it! Take care and have a wonderful holiday.
Is it the diabetes or your parents protecting you? I wasn't naturally that sporty but played a lot of tennis and kept playing after dx ok. I was ok at middle aged guy football, whiffle ball, etc. and never really tried anything seriously until martial arts. I liked that a lot as it was very incremental, "do this until you are good at it". There may have been situations where progress would be slow and the teachers would get concerned that you weren't progressing but I had very good teachers who would solve the problem by, of course, making me practice more. Once I "did" that, I learned that I could do things I was sure I would ***never*** do and that I could help other people do them better using what I'd learned. A lot of it can be simple if you practice it 10,000 times but many times people who haven't tried or been given the chance to do something will give up before they start. There are academies where competitions and trophies and that sort of thing are "the big deal" but the place I went was into a different approach that didn't involve "winning" and "losing" as much as learning goals and how to achieve them. I was sad when I had to move and leave but the practiced and exercise helped me push myself into running, a sport that can also be sort of non-competitive. Although I will admit that when the finish line is in sight, I am putting the hammer down and catch people in front of me, using theme as "carrots" to help my Garmin!
Maybe I'm not as spontaneous as I could be without diabetes but going tor a 20 mile run isn't something that anyone should do without spending some time getting some compact and portable carbs, fluids, etc. together. I've seen people puking at just about every race I've run and, while I didn't check their BG, I suspect a lot of them didn't know as much about how *not* to overload on carbs as I have. Same thing about the lady who fell on her face at the Chicago Marathon. She went down hard, didn't have anything to have been carrying a meter, so I figured she wasn't on the D team and had bystanders to help but, as crappy as I felt then (cramps, my BG was fine most of the way...), I was glad I wasn't falling down.
Timmy, from reading some of your other posts on here, I know that you've got it tough. Not only is diabetes presenting itself as a huge obstacle in your life, but your parents seem to put up obstacles as well -- my perception is they aren't as supportive as they should be or could be.
The good news is that you're a smart kid. You know what you need to do and what tools you need to help you do it, you just don't have the support. As you make your way into the world on your own, that will change. As I said in my earlier comment, as a person with diabetes you are smart and courageous. When you're in your 20s, you'll try things that you never would have done in your teens with someone else second-guessing all of your decisions.
I was never the athletic kid growing up, but when I was about 25 I decided to try my hand at ice hockey. Me. The scrawny, geeky, high-school kid was about to get involved in one of the roughest, most difficult sports out there -- how on earth did that happen? And you know what? I loved it. I joined a beginner adult league (Hockey North America) with others who'd never even laced up a pair of ice skates before (I'd skated once on a pair of rentals prior to signing up). By the second season, I was team captain. Yes, I found myself chugging a teammates Gatorade on the bench because my sugar was getting low at times. It happens. I may not have had 100% control over my diabetes, but I did have 100% control over my decisions, and that is awesome.
Don't worry Timmy, you'll get there. I wish you didn't have the restraints you do living at home, but when you're out on your own, I'm sure you'll thrive. I can't wait to see how your life turns out!
Type1Gal. No one is saying that diabetes is good. Given the choice, 99 out of 100 people surveyed would rather not have it (and that other one must not be thinking straight!). But we need to find a little bit of good that comes out of it. Maybe it's how you treat others. Maybe it's that you watch your diet so you won't have a massive heart attack. Maybe it's that you won't be drafted into the Army. It helps to find something, no matter however small or intangible. It's what keeps us sane.
Very well said Scott.
Well said Anna!!! u got the right attitude!
Oh Anna you nailed it! ...I feel stronger already!!
I was diagnosed a little after i turned 4. Ever since then i have been called emo and teased. I have gotton yelled at by teachers cause im diabetic. Im not saying i like haveing diabetes but for those who dont think your strong you need to think harder. There are people out there who could never do what we do. Ya we didnt have a choice but we need to accept the fact that until a cure is found we will be living with this. Those with negative attitudes need to have positive ones. Positive people will be the ones who end up living a healthy life. If you have a negative attitude then you wont want to take care of your self and then who knows will you will be. " A Little Bit Longer And I'll Be Fine " Thats lyrics to the song A Little Bit Longer by nick jonas. We have to prove that diabetes isnt stronger then us. We have to show the people that tease us that so what if we are diffrent we are stronger then diabetes and will end up beating it.
haha danny i liked that last part that made me laugh
Wow, that's a really powerful statement!
i hope thats a good thing! lol