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Thursday, August 11, 2011

Something I found..

I found this on someone else's blog, and I just had to do it myself. I love surveys and talking about myself!

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know:

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes, AKA T1D or as I call it, 'the beets'.

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2000. Summer before entering grade 7.

3. But I had symptoms since: I had symptoms starting in July I would say, and I was diagnosed around August 27th-28th (can't remember the exact date)... I suspected I had diabetes because my cousin has diabetes as well, and I noticed that I was peeing every 5 minutes and that my thirst was unquenchable. My Mom took me for a blood test because I almost blacked out one day, and because I peed 2 times in a 20 minute mall trip, which was not like me at all!

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Honestly, I can't really say that I've 'adjusted' because diabetes is all I know now. I've been diabetic since I was 12, I didn't really have anything going on in my life of too much importance before then other than just being a normal kid. I barely even remember life without it actually.

5. Most people assume: Ahh, there are a lot of assumptions. I would say the most common things people assume are: That I can't eat sugar, That I used to be fat, and that if I just 'change my diet, it will grow away'. I just love the fact all these stupid commercials about type 2 diabetes make people assume that they are one and the same. Not the case!

6. The hardest part about mornings are: I don't have too much of a problem with mornings actually. I used to be on Levemir and had a period where I would be severely low in the morning fairly often. I have the occasional low or high now, but overall it's pretty straightforward.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don't think I really watch many 'medical' TV shows. I used to like House though, if that counts!

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: Diabetes wise, a blood checker. Other than that, probably my phone. It does everything!!

9. The hardest part about nights are: Nothing really. Occasionally Jamie wakes me up because I'm low and clammy, but overall it's pretty good. I mostly just kinda get debbie downer if I wake up above 8 or 9, because then I wonder what was really going on all night long. Times like that I like the idea of a CGM!

10. Each day I take __ pills and vitamins.: Related to my diabetes... Nothing. I take good ol' insulin!

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: haven't thought twice about them, because that doesn't apply to me at all. No magical herb will make it go away, and I'm fine with that.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Well, I'm looking at this a different way, but I have to say invisible, because if I had to choose a disease I would want diabetes. No one knows I have it unless I tell them, or if they see my insulin pump/ see me giving a shot/ see me testing my blood. I think everyone I know is aware of the fact that I have the beets though, because I do NOT try to hide it at all.

13. Regarding working and career: I am lucky to have a job where I am able to control my diabetes well at work. I always have all of my stuff spread out on my desk, and it's pretty nice to have. My only problem is that I'm sometimes late for lunch, that's about it!

14. People would be surprised to know: That nothing makes me prouder than when my diabetes control is great... I just LOVE throwing my logbook at Jamie and yelling at him to 'LOOK AT THE NUMBERS!! THEY'RE PERFECT!!!'

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Looking at starting a pregnancy has made me have some days where I WISH I didn't have diabetes. As much as I try to never let diabetes get me down, I am secretly (well not anymore) terrified of making it through a pregnancy without having to be induced early, or having a 15lb kid, or any other weird things. I am also scared of passing along my diabetes to my child.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I want to go cliche and say that I never thought I could climb Mount Kilimanjaro, hike to Everest Base Camp, or trek to Machu Picchu, but as soon as I heard about the trips, I was never worried about 'not being able to do it'. I can't really think of much that I thought I would never be able to do. Maybe drive, I was stupid when I was 16 and I wasn't testing my blood often so I lied about all my numbers and submitted those to my Dr. Luckily she believed me and gave the okay for me to get my DL, but I was worried for a little while!

17. The commercials about my illness: There are very few commercials about MY illness. But tons of them about T2D. And those anger me.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Haha, well this is completely unrelated to my diabetes but I miss being a kid at times! I never really went on sugar binges or anything before though.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: having a life without needles and testing. But you gotta do what you gotta do!

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: haha pretty much every hobby I have. I was just a kid.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: This is my 'normal'.

22. My illness has taught me: everything there is to know about diabetes!

23. Want to know a secret? I am obsessed with old episodes of full house right now. I love them!

24. I love it when people: Ask me questions about diabetes and actually LISTEN to my answers!! Or just take interest in what I'm doing. I love talking about all of my stuff!

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Don't have one.. Maybe I need one!

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You will live a PERFECTLY FULL LIFE!!! And you will not just waste away because of diabetes. You'll be fine. :)

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How much of a community the diabetes world is. Between camp, the trips I've gone on, and online I know sooo many diabetics and I love that. I was not expecting that at all when I got diagnosed. I kind of always thought I'd be the odd one out.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: I am sure there have been many of them! Jamie takes good care of me when I'm low most of the time though, I know he hates running to the kitchen at 3AM to get me a juice box!

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Ahhh, this doesn't really apply to my post!

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like you must be very patient! WELL DONE!

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