My Perspective

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.