I’ve spent a lot of time with fellow ‘betics lately – be it for work or other connections, I seem to have talked to a LOT of folks with Type 1 this past week. And as usual, I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with other people who know what it’s like to deal with this %$*@ing disease all the time – but this week a new thought struck me. At the end of the day, we all still have to manage our diabetes.
Ok, ok, I know what you’re thinking – DUH Lexie – of course we all manage our disease. What I’m really saying though, is that we can share all the anecdotes in the world, exchange horror and success stories galore, and feel the big’ ole diabetes hug by jumping online at any time of day – but the bottom line is that YOU deal with the numbers on the meter, YOU dial up the pump, inject the insulin, decide to go for a run, eat the cookie, whatever. Diabetes is a ship that is sailed by only one captain. You.
Do we have support crew? You betcha – the boyfriends and girlfriends, wives, dads, siblings, best friends, CDEs – you name it – this support system is all part of successful diabetes management, and there have been times when I didn’t think I could do it without these folks. But part of what is so isolating about diabetes is the fact that there’s a war being waged in your body that you’re trying to manage with outside clues – and the pressure falls on you to take action.
I sat across the table from another person with diabetes yesterday- he pulled out his black meter case, and I pulled out mine. The conversation slowed, but didn’t stop, as we tested our respective blood sugars. We pricked, waited, and then rattled through the next steps of action in each of our brains, silently, while still talking back and forth about the non-diabetes conversation at hand. Two human computers on either side of the table, thinking tactically through management choices, calculating carbs, exercise, and correction doses tailored to the individual level, based on one slice of information in our fingerstick tests, and backed up by years of experience of living with this disease.
It’s amazing what we are capable of in our very own minds. And thank goodness we have the support system outside of our heads that are there for us when the wires seem ready to burn out.
0 Responses to “Mind the Management”