Today is the Sixth Annual D-Blog Day, and the DOC is blogging about the Six Things We Want You To Know About Diabetes - so, here is my list.
- I don't expect you to know everything, or even most things, about diabetes. What I do hope for is an open and curious mind, and your ability to patiently listen to me blather on about it. I also hope that you'll retain at least some of what I'm saying, and pass it on to others who need to know.
- "Sugar-Free" foods don't really do me any good. All food (even protein) is eventually converted to glucose by the body, and even sugar-free foods still have carbs. The sugar-free stuff doesn't taste as good, and I rather like to enjoy the food I eat - so hand me the real stuff, please.
- Checking my blood sugar and inserting a new insulin pump or CGM site hurts. It hurts every time, and I can't even tell you how many thousands of times I've stuck some sort of needle in myself during the past quarter century. It's just a sort of hurt you get used to tolerating.
- I am not my A1C.
- But, when I have a "good" A1C, I will totally brag about it.
- As much as diabetes can suck, it can also have an upside. As a side effect of our obstacles and challenges, I think we become stronger, more resilient, more compassionate, and more highly in tune with our bodies than most. Diabetes teaches us some tough lessons, but also makes us appreciate life a little bit more - because we recognize the fraility of it.
I would like to add a little tidbit to #2. Sugar-free foods, if not consumed responsibly, will destroy you in a very disgusting way.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lesson I learned when I was diagnosed and my Mom's coworkers showed up with a huge bag of sugar-free jelly beans. I ate them all -- and I haven't touched one since.
So, yeah: sugar-free foods = useless and terrible.
Great list! I especially liked #1!
ReplyDeleteI prefer # 4 and 5....especially when my senior-citizen mom pesters to know my last A1C value.
ReplyDeleteAnd in a parallel to Jacquie's comment....I went through 3 small frozen italian ice thingies sweetened with sorbitol instead of sugar. The hour spent "aux loo" provided all the education I ever needed, too!