2016 Diabetes Blog Week: The Other Half of Diabetes

Today's Diabetes Blog Week prompt is:

We think a lot about the physical component of diabetes, but the mental component is just as significant.  How does diabetes affect you or your loved one mentally or emotionally?  How have you learned to deal with the mental aspect of the condition?  Any tips, positive phrases, mantras, or idea to share on getting out of a diabetes funk? 


If I were to have answered this question a few years ago, it would have been a different answer than I'm going to give today.

As time has progressed, and I've gotten more in tune with my diabetes, I have a better sense of when a low or high blood sugar is going to effect my mood and attitude.  Not every time do I get grumpy when I'm high.  Sometimes those nasty highs sneak up on me and I don't know a problem until it's time to eat and when I check, my meter says 356.

The emotional impact that I didn't have then, but have now (and should have expected) is the "I just can't do this another day" feeling.  And the "I try and I try and I still fail" thoughts.  Or the "Maybe if I had just been a little more diligent" guilt.

All of these, and more, play out, and quite often when one hits, the others hit at the same time.

So what do I do to pull myself back and keep going?

• I have allowed myself that ugly cry.  It's amazing how cleansing to the soul tears can be.
• I warn my husband that I'm about to go off and it isn't his fault and he can't fix it... then I go off.
• I do something that I KNOW I have more control over.  Weed pulling is one.  Now before you say, "How do you control weeds from growing?" I can't.  But what I CAN do is clear a section of my yard and feel the success of personally making something look better.
• I also get together with others who get it.  I have attended every Diabetes UnConference so far and the emotional renewal I have after each one is incomparable to anything else.

I believe that the mental and emotional aspect of diabetes is way too often overlooked, even by those who have it.  I know I did.

I'm working to fix that now.  

I tell myself that it's okay to be angry, hurt, sad, happy, goofy, and most of all... it's okay to be ME.

2016 Diabetes Blog Week: Message Monday

Hey everyone, remember me?

Ya.. I'm not too sure who I am myself, some days.

Today is the kickoff of the 7th Annual Diabetes Blog Week.  We have to thank Karen for her amazing talent in putting this together and keeping us connected.  I know without her, I would probably forget I had a blog.

Life has been busy and sometimes the longer I put something off, the easier it is to not do it at all.  Have you ever had that problem?  Well, I'm hoping that by participating in this year's Diabetes Blog Week, that I'll get back into a more consistent blogging rhythm.  So without further ado...
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"Lets kick off the week by talking about why we are here, in the diabetes blog space.  What is the most important diabetes awareness message to you?  Why is that message important for you, and what are you trying to accomplish by sharing it on your blog"

So, why am I here?

I'm here so that I can perhaps share my story and someone else will see it and realize that they're not alone.  Yes, I'm sure you will read that quite a bit today, but that, in itself, is the point.  We are NOT alone in this journey we have with diabetes.

I haven't always, and still don't always, feel that way.

There are times when the blood sugars are the most misbehaving thing since a two year old hyped out on Mountain Dew and Chocolate Cake, and I feel that there isn't a soul around that gets my frustration, my anger, my defeat.  That's where the blog-o-sphere is a great place to retreat to.  I can reach how someone else is trying to tame that two year old (my diabetes is actually 11 years old).  It reminds me that I really truly am NOT alone, and others "get it" too.

Or I can read about some one's vacation to the islands and it reminds me that life will go on.  This is just a blip on the radar of life, and there are other... and much better... days ahead.

Not being alone.

Even for those people who don't like to "people" much, knowing you're not alone huge.
Knowing that someone understands, gives you comfort.
Knowing that you're not crazy, gives you peace of mind.

That is what I've tried.. and will pick up and try again.. to accomplish.  Even if it is just one person, I will consider it a success.