Advice
I've learned a lot in the five years since my diabetes diagnosis, and lately I've been thinking about what advice I would give myself if I could go back. Here are a few things I've learned that might help you, too.
People are going to look at you while you check your blood sugar and/or do injections in public.
I didn't notice this so much until I began working retail. In the medium-sized break room, there really isn't a ton of privacy. I don't mind doing this stuff in public, but it's odd to hear a woman I've never met whisper to another woman I've never met that I do things differently than her own diabetic daughter. She could at least work on her whispering skills.
You don't have to tell your story to everyone who asks.
It's fine to just say, “We didn't know I was diabetic, I got really sick” and be done with it. Don't feel pressured to say all the personal stuff, they don't need to know every detail.
You don't have to be positive all the time.
It's okay to be honest with yourself and the people around you. It sucks! You're allowed to say so, even if it makes other people uncomfortable. They can join you in the discomfort club.
There doesn't have to be a “bright side”
This goes along with the last one, and it's something I still struggle with. My diabetes diagnosis also led to me meeting my first therapist and being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, which changed my life for the better. Does that mean it was a good thing and I'm grateful it happened? I don't know, and that's okay.
It's okay to admit that you're having a hard time
This is something I've struggled with for most of my life. Just like with trying to find a bright side to everything, I was always convinced that other people had it worse and I had to be just fine. We can unpack that in another post, though. The point is, you are allowed to admit that something is hard, even if it is true that other people are going through harder things. Someone else's struggle doesn't negate yours.
You only have so much control over your blood sugar
You can count carbs and take what you believe to be the exact amount of insulin you need and your blood sugar can still be high. You can eat more carbs than you took insulin for and your blood sugar can still drop. As hard as you might try, you cannot be perfect at having diabetes. Beating yourself up over those numbers isn't going to change them.
Burnout happens, and it's normal
You are in the odd position of being directly responsible for keeping yourself alive. That's a huge responsibility that you have to deal with 24/7. It's okay to be tired. It's okay to be frustrated. It's okay.
These are just a few things that have helped me over the last few years, and I hope there's something in here that helps you, too.
Stay safe!
–Abbie
