Human Mixtard 30 G E. That sentence will be in my head for an eternity. That was the old insulin regime I was on. 2 injections a day, accompanied by 2 snacks, one at 10am and the other at 2pm (which was a bit of a bugger when you fancied being unnoticed by the class). I did all injections myself- of course. I think my parents way of thinking, and I thank them for it, was that one day I'm going to have to cope with the diabetes on my own, so if they could instill a lot of independence with it from the start, it would make it so much easier. And it did! I'm 16 now, and with my diabetes at least I am fiercely independent (to such an extent that when it is making me ill and if I am struggling, I find I don't tell anyone until rather too late, not something I would reccomend though guys). But I'd rather be like that, than having to rely on everyone else to count my carbs and do my injections!
Seriously though, when I was young, I had less control over what I ate and when I ate it. There were strict meal times, strict dietry regulations, insulin that came from animals! And look at it now! There are insulin regimes (like the one I'm on Basil Bolus) that give you so much more control over what you eat and when you eat it. Of course that can have it's bad sides if you don't do it sensibly (come on guys admit, we've all messed about with it, because diabetes is tedious, it really really is and sometimes, though it's bad, it's kind of good to rebel, right?) I'll admit, in the past, especially just recently, I haven't been sensible, and I'm not saying it's a good thing, I'm saying it's a normal thing, and those who don't have diabetes or haven't worked with people who have diabetes probably wont understand that! The insulin nowadays, is produced in a lab, it no longer comes from animals- another advancement. I bet one day, they'll find something to do with replacing the pancreas, or what was wrong with it. They'll be a cure for diabetes. Also, it's important to note, when I was diagnosed I was kept in the hospital for a few days, but I know of people now who are being diagnosed and being sent home the same day. There is so much more understanding about it now than there ever was when I was little, and new advancements and theories in how best to deal with diabetes are coming out all the time!
If they brought out a cure, I'm not sure I'd take it. Diabetes doesn't define me, only my actions define me and who I am, but while I am well aware that it doesn't define me, I can't lie that it is a big part of my life and has been since I was very little, I barely remember what it was like before I was diabetic, and I might find it too strange to have to wake up in the morning and not take an insulin injection! Diabetes has become part of me, I'm not saying I'm always happy with it, in fact happy is completly the wrong word because what sort of nutter is happy with diabetes? That would only be a mad persons point of view! But I can deal with it usually, I have my lapses the same as everyone else, bad days when I wish that I could eat whatever or not eat whatever and not have to face the consequences, but generally, it's manageble. My average reading which I checked today, is at 4.9, that is fantastic and I'm really pleased with that, especially as a few weeks back I really let things slip! Just trying to keep it up. And it's boring, but It's a boring necessity.
And technology is now playing it's part in the blood moniters! I don't have to spend my life writing down readings anymore because a lady on a laptop at the hospital can print them off for me when I go! Isn't that amazing? I used to hate writing them down with a passion, it took half of my bloody life up doing that, and then we'd only go forget them when I went to the hospital anyway, and now because of all the advancements they've made things so much easier for us diabetics who have better things to do with their time than writing down 3 months woth of blood sugars for the hospital :p :)
Advancements make it easier. I've had diabetes almost 12 years now, and I'll be the first one to put my hands up and say that this is not in any way shape or form and easy thing to live with, especially in the teenage years it becomes really hard. But just because something isn't easy, does not make it bad, and the world will never throw more than you can take at you, so if you're having a bad day, just remember that. And remember, It's normal to have lapses and spaces of time where you think that you don't care about your blood sugars and taking the right injections, we aren't robots and nobody gives us guidebooks on how to be the perfect diabetic. Just make sure you've got someone to lean on, someone who can help, as long as they don't strip away your independence, It should be fine :D
Keep Smiling :)
Love, Tutti-Frutti
xxx
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