I’m grateful for having the tools to control my diabetes – insulin, meter, pump, and now, CGM. I’ve made friends because of this – there’s a pump support group at one of our local hospitals, and I’ve been on a diabetes e-mail list for ages and have met some of the people there in person, and become good friends with several of them. I’ll take all the friends I can get!!
Another part of being on the list so long is that I have learned a lot about Type 1 AND Type 2, and learned different tips for control by various people.
I can’t say I like diabetes, but it has been a learning experience – and there’s still more to learn. I like to learn!
I actually “celebrate” my diabetes anniversary date. Prior to 1922 and the synthesis of insulin, I would simply have died. So I am alive today, and I am grateful for it. It is not always easy, and sometimes I have “diabetes days from hell,” but I am truly grateful to be alive. I also am able to share with other people, and hopefully help along the way. One of my closest friends was diagnosed several years ago, and I was the only one that he felt he could turn to to talk about the emotional side of diabetes, and the depression he was going through. We help each other.
I used to be the go-go-go person, and I have learned to slow down. And I am also grateful for this excellent site.
I agree Jen, thanks for the idea. I started visiting TuDiabetes a couple of years ago and got so fed up with all the problems I figured it was better to avoid it. I came back about 3-4 months ago and have posted a few times but am again feeling like it may not be good to listen to some of the posters.
I think many times, as someone wiser than me once said, “Life is 10% what you get dealt and 90% how you deal with it.” It sounds as though so don’t always deal well.
So, after 52 years of the big “D” (if I make it to 03/15/2011) I will say a couple of things.
It kept me alive when some of my healthy friends died in Vietnam.
It has let me live a pretty normal life with a few adventures from time-to-time that I don’t necessarily want to have again but will deal with if I get the chance.
I have met some interesting people along the way, including doctors.
I decided years ago, since I don’t like being low a lot, that I would not do hard manual labor for a living. So I work in an office environment and not outdoors which I really appreciate in the rainy freezing cold or 100 degree weather.
I have been able to encourage others new to diabetes and let them know that they can have an extremely productive and fulfilling life too.
I have been able to participate in Diabetic Research studies to help others of us for the future, starting another for the Artificial Pancreas in 01/11.
That’s all for now and I hope all of you have a great day!
I love your attitude, Seagator – taking everything in stride but always moving forward. I think that this site has been a life saver to so many people. It’s such a great place to share! I am glad that we’re getting a chance to think about and share all of the things that diabetes has push us to be… to become. Thanks
Jen ,
EZRock http://salmonarm.myezrock.com/ …not certain if this will work for you . Usually Patrick sends the video to me ( is that correct name ??) .
I try to look at BG numbers as kind of a ‘win-win’, either they are ok, which is a win or, if they are off, you have to do your best job fixing it and, if you want to be really ambitious, you can figure out the cause. I didn’t do that much of it until maybe 3 years ago, when I first got interested in the pump, and sort of ‘chased the dragon’ w/ A LOT of correction boluses, IV R shots, running up and down the stairs to make R work faster, all sorts of goofy stuff. Even when that stuff produced goofy results, I would still feel like I was doing something productive?
