Something to Celebrate

     So… It’s my fourth diaversary…

     After a mindless google search of “how to celebrate your diaversary,” it has come to my attention that while most people think a diaversary is, in fact, something to be celebrated, there are a few who don’t. And that makes me sad.

     Not that you have to celebrate- but I think we should recognize the significance?

     Diabetes may not be something you like… Most of us don’t appreciate the crazy blood sugar swings and endless shots and finger pokes. You honestly don’t even have to be okay with it, because, no, you did not ask for this disease… (Accepting your diabetes is great… but not at all relevant here.) You can absolutely hate diabetes, and I still think that your diaversary is worth celebrating.

     Let me explain.

     I am not saying that you should feel one way or another. You don’t have to throw a party, treat yourself, or even remember the date of your diagnosis. Nope. But when you do think of it, I think you should be proud of yourself. Because you have done so much to get yourself through another year. You have kicked diabetes’s butt a little more than it has kicked yours.

     I am actually glad that I have diabetes… I don’t like the swings in blood sugar and countless shots, but it has changed my life for the better. And so while I celebrate the kicking of diabetes’s butt I’ve done, I’m celebrating the friends and the memories it has led me to.

     You kicked the butt of diabetes for one more year. Congratulations.

Adulting and Other Important Events

I am seventeen years old. 

Seventeen...

In less than three months, I'm going to be an adult in a sort of limited legal way.

     The idea of growing up and everything sort of freaks me out. I mean, growing up sort of snuck up on me, it seems like yesterday I was the shiny and newly diabetic in the eighth grade, and now I'm a senior in high school and applying to colleges and suddenly, my life is more about what I want to do than ever. Not what my parents and teachers want. Not what my friends want. What I want.

     Getting to chose what I want is empowering, definitely. But the freedom, of course comes with more responsibility, responsibility which I'm more than willing to take on, and I feel more than ready to accept.

But how does this affect my diabetes? That's harder to answer.

     I have been blessed with access to great doctors and diabetes educators, and they have taught me indescribable amounts about how to take care of myself. I'm thankful that I'll be able to keep going to the pediatric endocrinologist who knows me for a little while longer, but I know that when I have to find an adult endocrinologist, I'll know how to advocate for myself, and what to look for in a doctor, and I'll be aware that it might be a struggle to find a doctor that deals with a lot of type ones... But I know I'll be fine. 

     But thankfully, for now, I can focus on senior year and applying to colleges.

Advocation and Childhood Nostalgia

     So I guess that this post starts way back, to about when I was in second grade, and decided to save up enough money to buy my own American Girl doll. I really wanted one that I thought looked just like me, which is funny now because:

a) it didn't really, and
b) it seems a little vain.
   
     Anyway, I loved that doll, and admittedly dressed her it up sometimes past when playing dolls was  considered a socially acceptable activity. So today when I stumbled across a site that 3D prints dolls with medical conditions and their medical accessories (With insulin pumps in progress!) I was reminded of my American Girl Doll, and yeah, I did go to the website to see what medical "accessories" were available. They have special dolls without hair, and hearing aids, and wheelchairs for dolls, as well as a kit with various casts and bandages. Very cute, in a somewhat unique way (coming from a girl who always played doctor with her toys).

     I LOVED this stuff at one point, and I know I would have wanted an insulin pump for my doll if I had been diagnosed younger. Because of this (and the image of a tiiiiiny insulin pump), I actually decided to call the company and (somewhat awkwardly) ask about diabetes supplies for dolls.

     I ended up talking to the lady for 10 minutes (LOL but also very cool), and she was very excited the idea, she emailed the suggestion for supplies, telling me the idea gave her the chills, and the rep even entertained the idea of a book, which I thought was great, explaining to her the heaps of misinformation out there, hence the recent crossfit controversy.


     Interesting experience, and I'm glad so many people are so supportive of our little diabetes community family.