D-Blog Week Day 4 - Changes

Today’s topic is Changes.  Today let's talk about changes, in one of two ways.  Either tell us what you'd most like to see change about diabetes, in any way.  This can be management tools, devices, medications, people's perceptions, your own feelings – anything at all that you feel could use changing.  OR reflect back on some changes you or your loved one has seen or been through since being diagnosed with diabetes.  Were they expected or did they surprise you?

The obvious change I would like to see is for Diabetes to disappear overnight, never to return.  That would be my ultimate dream come true.  Since that is unlikely I had to think hard about what bothers me most and how I would like to see it change.  

I would like to change peoples perceptions and attitudes towards the disease.  On that note, here are the top things I would love to never hear again:

• Are you sure you have Type 1 diabetes?  Weren't you a bit old to get that?
• Is it because you ate too much sugar?
• Sorry, I would offer you a piece of this but I know you can't eat it.
• Can you eat that?
• So does that mean you can never eat sugar again?
• So your insulin pump must be great, does everything for you!
• Did you hear that eating lots of cinnamon might cure you?
• My friend's aunt had her leg amputated and went blind because of Type 1 diabetes, you need to be careful.
• Does that mean you can't have kids?
• I read about cleanses you can do that will cure you.
• You make it look easy, it must not be too serious.
• You must have the bad kind if you need to use needles.
• I could never be diabetic, I am scared of needles and hate blood.

As I was typing this list I could feel my blood pressure mounting. The list could actually take up pages upon pages. I know that all of the above sound so cliche and we have all heard them before. It is amazing that people think and say these things.  I do my best to try and educate, but sometimes I want to just drop kick people.  I particularly get mad when people suggest I try certain diets to cure myself, or assume I cannot eat certain things.  

There are so many misconceptions about Type 1 diabetes and it is extremely frustrating.  I think that as people living with the disease, we often try to hide how serious it really is.  It is hard to admit sometimes, but this disease is very serious and we are all responsible 24 hours a day, every day, to keep ourselves alive.  It never gives us a break and is always at the front of our thoughts.  

Change is definitely needed!