30 Things About My Invisible Illness

1. The illness I live with is: type 1 diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1984
3. But I had symptoms since: I just recall the weeks leading up to it...
4. The biggest adjustment I've had to make is: having to plan every footstep so that I'm accommodating the demands of diabetes.
5. Most people assume: that I wouldn't have diabetes if I lost some weight.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: waking up with a blood sugar that is too high or too low.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I used to watch HOUSE, but I saw that episode with the tape worm that was like 30 feet long and I lost my desire to tune in.
8. A gadget I couldn't live without is: my Insulin pump.
9. The hardest part about nights are: having low blood sugars in the middle of them.
10. Each day I take 2 pills & vitamins: I'm not really good about taking pills...but I'm very good at taking insulin.
11. Regarding alternative treatments: I don't think there really are any alternatives to insulin, but I'm open to suggestions and willing to be a guinea pig.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: How do you choose something like this...I'll stick with invisible and my type 1 because at least I know how to deal with it.
13. Regarding working and career: I am thankful that I am able to work because many illnesses leave people unable to.
14. People would be surprised to know: that diabetes affects each person differently and you can't compare one diabetic person to another when discussing food choices and treatment. The same things are just not right for everyone else.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: in 1984, it was not being allowed to eat Strawberry Shortcake cereal, but now, I think it's the harsh reality that I'm not going to live to be 90 because of all the damage I allowed diabetes to do to me while I was younger and ignoring it.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I never thought I would live to graduate high school...uh, hello 30's! LOL
17. The commercials about my illness: they have commercials about my illness?
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: nothing now since I have a pump, but when I was younger there was a lot of issues about food choices and NO SUGAR...now it's about moderation and carb counting.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: hoping for a cure--thanks Kerri
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: I'm really into trying to get my blood sugar within range. I'm a complete failure, but I do get excited!
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: eat cheetos out of the bag and drink several fountain coca-colas from White Castle.
22. My illness has taught me: that no one's perfect and that's OK.
23. One thing people say that gets under my skin is: when they talk about how their grandma couldn't eat that or their uncle had to have both legs amputated...they are not me and I'm trying not to head there...
24. But I love it when people: ask me about my insulin pump and why I'm testing my blood sugar. I'm all about teaching and getting rid of the ignorance.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: it's just knowing that I'm not alone with this...there are other people that deal with the same things I do and that God is always with me.
26. When someone is diagnosed I'd like to tell them: that I'm here if they need me.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: that when you have a support team that gets involved, it makes it a little easier to deal with.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn't feeling well was: when David helped me check my blood sugar.
29. I'm involved with Invisible Illness Week because: well, I'm more involved with this questionnaire than anything...I didn't know it was a whole week thing.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: that you understand me and my invisible illness and little better and will take that knowledge and help someone else.