My First Few Months as a T1D
When I went back to work, after being released from the hospital, I felt like people looked at me differently. I remember talking to a co-worker about my experience, and I remember her asking, "What caused it? Eating too much sugar?".
I wish I could say that was the first and last time I realized how unaware people
are about diabetes, but unfortunately, one of the unofficial responsibilities of diabetics is to educate others. The truth is, unless it directly affects you, learning about it isn't a priority.
Where I live, there are various organizations that help diabetics. I was considered high risk and was offered the support of the Centre for Complex Diabetes Care (CCDC). This place, and the people were amazing! They did bloodwork, had a pharmacist, registered nurse, registered dietician, nurse practitioner, social worker, and an internal medicine doctor. I'm sure there are more services available, but those were the ones assigned to me. It's a one-stop shop for everything diabetes.
I met with members of that team regularly and I really loved having their dedicated support. I can't give them all the credit, because I worked hard too. I tracked all of my carbs, meals, blood glucose levels, insulin units, water intake, exercise, etc. for a six month period. Learned about diabetes on my own through reading books, journals, medical journals and reached out to a friend who was also a type 1.
I had so many ups and downs in those first few months. Mostly struggling with my identity. Diabetes had me, I did not have diabetes. I called myself a "bad diabetic". I was struggling. I started looking at type 1 diabetics on Instagram and wished I could be as confident as they were in their diabetes management.
Social Media is a double edged sword. We tend to post all the good, and hide the bad. It is not realistic. Even the healthiest diabetics have bad days (and I love seeing those Diabetic Influencers show the bad days, with the good), as Lauren Bongiorno mentions often, sometimes diabetes is just going to diabetes (something along those lines).
My 34th birthday was coming up, and I began reflecting on my life. Oh my god, I almost didn't make it to my 34th birthday. But I did! I decided that I needed to celebrate the good and let go of the bad that I had no control over. I booked a photo shoot for my family on my birthday to celebrate that I was alive, and that I made it to another birthday. It was worth celebrating. I felt so grateful that I made it to another birthday and vowed not to take life for granted anymore.
Diabetes is a non-stop 24/7, 365 job. Everything we do, has either a positive or negative affect on our blood sugar levels.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their diabetes management, reach out to me! I'd love to help you live your best diabetic life!