I have not read the other replies - but for me I would say... (i found out from my mom who got the call from the doc so telling family was easy)..I would say it as it comes up- like oh I have started looking at some new ways to eat becuz i found out... or next holiday state - well when we come over not ice cream cake for me becuz the doc says with T1 i gotta limit my carbs...
this is how I tell friends now days - I dont sit them down and have the I got T1 talk - its just a part of me - it does not define me
Looking at your headshot you appear to be reasonably close to a good weight. Therefor I say you must be doing a lot of things right. A personal history of good health choices will make it way easier to deal with this disease. Keep it up. And lets all keep fighting to get this disease cured.
For me, grief is a lake, and if it gets damned too tight, it can spill out in odd ways in odd times. Anger isn't about a reason -- it just is. Under the anger is the grief. For me, trying to talk myself out of the anger (I had the "tiger" for about 15 months) didn't work, although it was an odd anger. I just had to feel my way through it..
I think there is a legitimate reason to feel sad if you are sad. Like all emotions -- anger, sadness -- come and go. The best way through them is, well, through them. Going under or over or around doesn't work for me (and I have skirted, pole vaulted and tunneled under them.
After a year of doing very well indeed with management, I am realizing another layer is rising, and that is just another bit of water that needs to run.
Hope I don't sound preachy, but just like there are no "bad" foods, there are no bad emotions. Give yourself time to cycle in when its up, and be present ot the feelings. And then they'll move through.
It's a huge change and a huge responsibility. And the word "chronic" truly sucks. Like a lot of things.
I believe there is a ton of shame and judgement in the word "diabetic." I have never thought about it, but I have never said "I'm diabetic." But I do tell everyone who I know, and no judgement -- only compassion. I do my best to hold myself that way, and of course, don't always succeed.
I know have this illness. And that's part of me I would like to change. Like thick thighs. But I can either accept me and I am or not. One offers creativity, tenderness and trust. The other causes suffering.
I truly hope this helps -- even a little. Little counts -- a lot.
Great story Starry Night!! I try to be sort of oblivious and have hobbies to distract me from the tedium and monotony of diabetes.
FWIW, "The Chronic" was a bit raw for our PG website however there's a "clean" version of Xxplosive: