Someone contacted me recently after being diagnosed with diabetes. They were very concerned about taking injections, and blood sugars levels. They even asked what my blood sugar levels were. I really felt I understood what they were going through. My family and I had gone through that when I was younger. So many of us have gone through this, that is why I want to share my response with you:
You know, everything in life is silly. I use to take insulin everyday, and get really scared when I get into a doctor's office and he's giving me an injection. The thing about giving yourself an injection is that because you are doing it yourself it's easier, at least for me. When I used to take shots I was doing it 4 and 5 times a day, and no it didn't hurt. I started doing that when I was seven years old. The doctor said, " You either take this or you die." So much for bedside manner, huh? But I didn't think about it at the time, I just did it. And just accomplishing that made me feel like a SUPERSTAR!!!! So I never had an issue doing it myself. It made me feel better. I was doing something to help myself.
But before that, before diabetes, I was afraid of taking needles, and even doctor's offices would make me cry. I think about that now and I laugh at myself. But I can't laugh at anyone else because I've been there, and I understand. I don't take injections anymore. I'm on an insulin pump which makes taking insulin easier, cause I don't have to stick myself everyday. Ask your Nurse or doctor about it. They can give you more info on the spot. There are a few different types of pumps so you want someone to explain it fully, if it's right for you.
You ask about sugar levels, my sugar levels to be exact. I'm going to answer this question in a looong round about way. And this is all my perspective:
Diabetes is about taking care of your body and loving it, feeding it properly, exercising it, resting it, and giving it what it needs. It makes you accountable for what you put in your body and it's a very personal disease. What affects me or you in one way may affect someone else in a different way. We do have statistics that give you numbers that says this or that is high or low. But I am not a statistic and those things don't always work for me. And that's why it's important to have a good doctor, who will help you, especially when things aren't going like it does for everyone else. A doctor who doesn't just see you as a statistic, but as a patient who deals with the individual issues that come up with diabetes and can hear you when you have a problem, and is also willing to answer you. The two of you together are a team and your doctor will refer you to others expanding your team.
All that to say, my blood sugar has always fluctuated throughout my 42 years with diabetes. Whether it was as a child and, I was sneaking sweets; or doing and eating the proper things; or in denial about it and, actually eating the wrong things, where it would be really high; or when something else other than diabetes is bothering you; or now when I'm actually taking better care of myself than I ever did. Talk with your doctor about that, or your nurse. Your team can and will help you balance things out. You want to get specific about you, not about someone else's blood sugars. If you start to compare my blood sugars with yours at this early stage where you are. It can get very confusing for you. Get to know yourself with diabetes first.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Going to Camp And Diabetes
My camp experience was so brief, maybe a week, and yet it had an amazing affect on me. I was about eight years old at that time. I'd been diagnosed the year before, and didn't want to go to camp. But I wasn't given a choice. My mother felt it would be good for me. It was the first time I was going to have to take care of myself, by myself, and I was scared. But I didn't tell anyone.
Outside of my family and close family friends, I never talked about diabetes or having it with anyone except for my doctors and teachers. Around my friends I pretended everything was fine, and I ate candy and did everything they did. I was very obsessed with being normal. The more everyone talked about diabetes to me, how I can't have sugar, special diets, visiting doctors, and hospital stays ( I spent a good portion of my childhood in the hospital), the more compliant I Acted. While inside I was a mess. There was no one in my life who had ever had or heard of diabetes back then. People would talk about their distant relatives who had it and had had amputations. I worked hard to be what my mind told me normal was. I wouldn't talk about it with people who didn't know, I would sneak and eat candy, as well as pretend to be a model patient and daughter.
So the day came for me to leave for camp and I left on a bus with my family looking on and waving. My mom had given me money and said I was to call if I needed anything. I remember thinking I would call them when the bus stopped. But I didn't. I just cried till we got there.
When we arrived at the camp grounds we were all taken to an area where everyone stopped to check their urines and blood sugar. It seemed like a lot of these kids had been doing this for a long time. This was normal to them. Wow!! I just stood there watching. Then I walked up and down looking at everyone and what they were doing. I don't remember what the other kids thought or said. What I remember is that I was so profoundly affected by that. Someone else besides me with diabetes. Wow!! I also remember one of the counselors asking me if it was my first time at camp Nyda. As she spoke to me she helped me get my urine checked. All I did was stare at the other campers. Some were even talking about and taking insulin, and not embarassed about it. That was a very surprising day for me.
Then I finally had a chance to look at the camp grounds and see how beautiful it was, with a lake, pools, grounds, the woods, etc. I was living up in NYC at the time, so this was new to me. It had been a long time since I had come to America from Haiti (In actuality it was only 3 years). I made a few friends at the camp that year. I was busy discovering and finding so much out about others who had diabetes. I could finally say, I wasn't alone. It felt so good. Without realizing it, camp helped me to see that I was no different than anyone else, I met a few kids who didn't like it at first or I guess felt the way I did in the beginning. Most of us got a lot out of it. It was the beginning of my coming to terms with diabetes and how I felt.
I never went back to Camp Nyda, or saw those people again, but I always remember it. It was such an amazing experience for me. I feel camp is such a great place for kids to interact with each other and learn about life and sharing. I meet a lot of kids today with diabetes who have really found their footing once they've gone to camp. It's something important to experience with your peers when you develop a disease like this. You find out you're not alone, and you don't have to carry it alone. There are others out there who can help.
Outside of my family and close family friends, I never talked about diabetes or having it with anyone except for my doctors and teachers. Around my friends I pretended everything was fine, and I ate candy and did everything they did. I was very obsessed with being normal. The more everyone talked about diabetes to me, how I can't have sugar, special diets, visiting doctors, and hospital stays ( I spent a good portion of my childhood in the hospital), the more compliant I Acted. While inside I was a mess. There was no one in my life who had ever had or heard of diabetes back then. People would talk about their distant relatives who had it and had had amputations. I worked hard to be what my mind told me normal was. I wouldn't talk about it with people who didn't know, I would sneak and eat candy, as well as pretend to be a model patient and daughter.
So the day came for me to leave for camp and I left on a bus with my family looking on and waving. My mom had given me money and said I was to call if I needed anything. I remember thinking I would call them when the bus stopped. But I didn't. I just cried till we got there.
When we arrived at the camp grounds we were all taken to an area where everyone stopped to check their urines and blood sugar. It seemed like a lot of these kids had been doing this for a long time. This was normal to them. Wow!! I just stood there watching. Then I walked up and down looking at everyone and what they were doing. I don't remember what the other kids thought or said. What I remember is that I was so profoundly affected by that. Someone else besides me with diabetes. Wow!! I also remember one of the counselors asking me if it was my first time at camp Nyda. As she spoke to me she helped me get my urine checked. All I did was stare at the other campers. Some were even talking about and taking insulin, and not embarassed about it. That was a very surprising day for me.
Then I finally had a chance to look at the camp grounds and see how beautiful it was, with a lake, pools, grounds, the woods, etc. I was living up in NYC at the time, so this was new to me. It had been a long time since I had come to America from Haiti (In actuality it was only 3 years). I made a few friends at the camp that year. I was busy discovering and finding so much out about others who had diabetes. I could finally say, I wasn't alone. It felt so good. Without realizing it, camp helped me to see that I was no different than anyone else, I met a few kids who didn't like it at first or I guess felt the way I did in the beginning. Most of us got a lot out of it. It was the beginning of my coming to terms with diabetes and how I felt.
I never went back to Camp Nyda, or saw those people again, but I always remember it. It was such an amazing experience for me. I feel camp is such a great place for kids to interact with each other and learn about life and sharing. I meet a lot of kids today with diabetes who have really found their footing once they've gone to camp. It's something important to experience with your peers when you develop a disease like this. You find out you're not alone, and you don't have to carry it alone. There are others out there who can help.
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