Admiring our differences: Pens, pumps and perseverance

And off we go!  Day 1 of Diabetic Blogging week - exciting stuff, huh? :)  Here goes...

I'm new to blogging and have only really had chance to read a few posts on a few blogs, so when I first read the topic to write about for today I was a bit unsure of where to start.  However after I'd spent a little bit of time contemplating some different ideas, I decided that although I admire an extremely wide range of diabetics, there are a couple of particular groups that really take the biscuit (low-sugar ones, of course!)...

First of all, on my list of the most respect-worthy, are those of you that use a pump to manage your diabetes.  I am still using an insulin NovoPen and even though I have spoken to my doctors about switching to the pump, I have not yet had the guts nor determination to do so.  It is for this reason that it is you who I admire greatly.  From what I have read and what my diabetic nurse has told me, it seems that insulin-pumping takes a real dose of diabetic dedication!  I must admit, I have always steered away from the idea out of a fear of what I may look like, how to use a pump properly, carbohydrate counting sufficiently etc.  However, thanks to all of you pumping-bloggers out there (such as Alissa at Juvenile Diabetes) over the last few weeks I have begun to feel much more content and positive about the prospect of a pump.  I have realised that if it allows me to have better control over my bg levels, then it really isn't so bad and that maybe it is an opportunity that I should consider taking.  Thank you!

Secondly, and I'm sure many other diabetics would agree with me, I wouldn't be even half as well controlled or optimistic about my diabetes without the help of my loved ones.  Whether they're my parents, boyfriend, friends or teachers, they all contribute in one way or another to keeping my head above water and my blood sugar levels above the point of hypoglycemic attack.   Sometimes I think that so much focus is put on the patient of diabetes that those people who support and care for them are overlooked.  I suppose I was guilty of this, until someone said to me that "a person has to be the equivalent of a superhero to live with a diabetic".  And it's true...when I go low I become like a zombie; despondent and lifeless, and when I'm hi I'm snappy and moody.  That's not even taking into consideration the worry that I know diabetes can cause and the life-style changes that people have to make to accommodate the needs of a diabetic.  Indeed diabetes changes the life of the person with it, but it also affects everyone else close to them.  So thank you loved ones, for testing our blood sugars when we're too low to do it ourselves, for replacing the sugar in your cupboard with sweetener and for the overall support that you give to us.

Lastly, on the topic description for today's blog at Bitter Sweet Diabetes was the question: 'Do T1s who’ve lived well with diabetes since childhood give you hope?'  From this I realised that, for me, it is the opposite case entirely.  I have had Type 1 diabetes since I was 3 years old and so I have had it almost for as long as I can remember.  Because of this it means that I don't really recall having to adjust to a new, diabetic lifestyle whereby I had to start sticking needles in myself and change my diet.  Some of the people that I really admire are those that were diagnosed with diabetes (T1 or 2) later on, where they were fully aware of the difference to their routines and day-to-day lives.  Honestly and truly, I think you guys are amazing to have worked so hard and accepted your diabetes as you have.  You have my up-most respect and you should all get a medal.

The truth is that I admire you all. Diabetes can be difficult and I think that anyone who lives with it, lives with someone who has it, accepts it and tries their hardest with it deserves a massive pat on the back. So here I am, on day one of the Diabetic blogging week, and I applaud you x