Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Usually, when someone finds out I have diabetes, the conversation goes like this:
Them: Oh, so you have diabetes?
Me: Yeah, Type I. (I always try to make tha...
Can You Get Used to Diabetes?
Different Exercise, Different Energy System, Different Blood Sugars
7/15/09 10:23pm
the same happens to me when people find out i have diabetes, and i usually just try to blow by that part of the convo, cause i hear it so many times. and yea, managing blood sugar is hard, and frustrating, but don't look at it as a nuesance or anything, look at it as a chellenge, that you were going to be too great, so life threw a wrench at you to slow you down, dont let it slow you down! diabetes helped me in so many way's taught me to take better care of myself, and notice more about my friends and family. Well keep your head up, and get back to me when you can, i dont know many other diabetics and i'd love to chat, have a good one!
7/15/09 11:14pm
hi Anna
I'm one of the tennis pros at the gym where Ginger works. I have had type 1 diabetes for 27 years now.
In a sense, I would say that I have become very "used to" being a diabetic. In many ways it is just so second nature to who I am that I often don't even notice that I have it. Doing shots, having food with me, checking my blood sugar, are all just everyday aspects of my life.
But I think you are very right that you can not "get used" to the sometimes unexplainable swings in blood sugar levels. despite your best efforts to keep things under control, you can see blood sugars go way high or way low. And even though I am maybe "used to" the condition, there are times when it simply can get annoying because there is no break from it. It does not go away. You can't say, oh, "I think I'll just take a day off on Wednesday," because it just does not work that way.
And sometimes amid the simple choas of a busy life, it can be hard to deal properly with it. for instance, this weekend, I was running and playing in a tennis tournament. I was spending so much of my energy and time concentrating on running the tournament and playing tennis that by the time I got to Sunday morning, I got myself into a situation where my sugar level was extremely low because I really had not eaten enough. then as I tried to compensate and get my sugar levels back up, I started getting sick of eating.
And so I would definitely agree that I can never get "used to" those moments of frustration that can come with swings in blood sugar. and sometimes those swings in blood sugar can put us into dangerous situations.
So in closing, while it is true diabetes is an ever present part of my life that I am very comfortable with, because it is ever present, I must be ever-vigiliant and on my toes. and with a very busy life, that is not always easy, but every day is a new day -- and so I press on to the best of my ability and try to enjoy everyday to its fullest.
Damon
By Anna, Health Guide— Last Modified: 09/30/10, First Published: 07/15/09
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Hey Anna
Interesting topic...I'd say I've absolutely gotten used to the fact that diabetes is a large part of my life and I'm used to having to take care of it every day...but getting "used to diabetes" is much different than diabetes being "easy."
Maybe "used to" is another way of saying we've accepted it as part of life? And sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard.
Gin