Sweetnd Truth: There's more to me than what you see...

Today's Prompt:  Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere…. your or your loved one’s diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share. "You need to get to the hospital right now.  Don't make any stops.  Go from here to there immediately. Which hospital would you like to go to?  I will call them and tell them you are on your way."   Panic set in when I heard the doctor at Emergency One tell me those five lines.  I knew my life was going to change forever from the seriousness in his voice.  Luckily, I had my boyfriend, soon to be fiancé/husband, by my side.  I couldn't have handled it alone. The next couple of days were a blur to me.  I cannot describe in words the amount of confusion and stress that I felt.  The lack of empathy from the doctors in the hospital was discouraging.  They said my life was going to change drastically (which it was)...and that "this is your life n

Today’s prompt:  Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let's pretend to write our own.   Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) – get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change?   My Petition: As a person with a chronic illness, I believe the following: We should not have to spend extra money on diabetic needs.  Is it our fault that we have this disease? Don't we spend enough?   Insurance companies should cover at least some (or all!) of the cost of the supplies we use on a daily basis.   Why should we have to spend our own money on supplies like batteries (for an insulin pump, sensor, test meter)?  Why should we have to spend money on glucose tabs or fruit snacks to help us when we are having a low? What about the alcohol swabs...there's no insurance coverage on those either!  Or h

Today’s prompt:   Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one’s daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don’t see?   I have to say, I can't complain about my doctors.  My endocrinologists and PCP are amazing! Here's the reasons why: *They fight for my diabetic needs and they are incredible advocates.   *When I get down on myself, they are there to reassure me that I'm doing great with managing my diabetes.   *They know me on a personal level, which is very comforting.   *They are there any time of the day and night.   *I don't get the whole "Well, this is your life now." (Like I use to get from other doctors) *I hear "You CAN eat ANYTHING you want." (I have heard from other doctors, &

It's unbelievable to me that five years ago today...I was in the hospital and my life changed forever.  I heard the words, "You have Type 1 Diabetes."  I didn't know what that meant or how much different my life would be today.  These past five years, I've learned something new every single day about myself and diabetes.  I have found ways to cope, stay healthy, and stay happy.  These are five of the most important things I have learned in my five years with diabetes: 1. You're stronger than you think .  I put on an act in front of people...I think sometimes I make this disease look easier than it really is.  But my strength has really kept me going and helped me stay focused.  After all, it takes a lot of strength to have self-control when it comes to sugar, testing 10+ times/day, and sticking needles in my body. 2. You can always start over tomorrow .  I am learning everyday not to be so hard on myself.  If I mess up, that's ok...there's alwa

"Diabetes management is so crucial because if you fail at it, your health will fail.  The problem with health failing is everything else in your life will undoubtedly be affected." -Sysy Morales The past few months have been a roller coaster for me--including diabetes & life in general.  Once you're off the track...damn! It's hard to get back on. It's crazy how everything in life affects my diabetes. It's my responsibility to take care of myself...get back on track, and forget the excuses.  Diabetes management has to be on the top of my priority list. If it isn't, then it will ultimately affect not only myself--but the people I love in my life.  I do love myself enough to put in that sensor even if it drives me nuts, or say no to the extra unnecessary carbs. Or choose an apple over an Oreo (darn, that's tough!), or go to the gym and get on that treadmill! The time is now. So when is enough..enough? What do you do to get yourself b

Prompt: "Let’s end our week on a high note and blog about our “Diabetes Hero”.  It can be anyone you’d like to recognize or admire, someone you know personally or not, someone with diabetes or maybe a Type 3.  It might be a fabulous endo or CDE.  It could be a d-celebrity or role-model.  It could be another DOC member.  It’s up to you – who is your Diabetes Hero??"  I didn't even hesitate after reading this prompt.  My diabetic hero is my husband, Kris.   Kris is my biggest supporter. He is there cheering me on when I just want to give up on this disease.  When I say, "I can't do this," he's the one reassuring me and saying, "You're not alone; we're in this together." His love gives me the strength to do my best everyday, because that's how much I deal with this disease, everyday. Kris is my lifeline during the night.  The simple light touch of his hand or arm, just to see if I'm ok--if I'm breathing, because he worries