30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2000
3. But I had symptoms since: 1996
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Learning to live with a chronic illness.
5. Most people assume: I can live a normal life with just eating right and taking medicine.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Having a low blood sugar as soon as I wake up.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Dr. 90210
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My insulin pump.
9. The hardest part about nights are: The fear of me having a low blood sugar in the middle of the night and not waking up.
10. Each day I take insulin 4+ times a day, synthroid.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: N/A
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Visible
13. Regarding working and career: That I need to check my blood 4-6 during the day so that I will be able to perform my duties properly and not have a low before a meeting.
14. People would be surprised to know: That I am scared to die of complications due to diabetes.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: That this is going to be forever.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Build an online support community, become a huge diabetes advocate, a voice for the diabetes community. Help people get coverage for diabetes medical devices.
17. The commercials about my illness: Are misleading.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Being able to go out without having to worry about how many carbs are in something, and also being able to go on vacations and do exercise activities without needing all of my medical supplies with me in case of an emergency.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: My old life without diabetes.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Blogging, being a community manager of online support groups.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: be the happiest person in the world.
22. My illness has taught me: to be patient.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: What is your blood sugar?
24. But I love it when people: Ask me questions about diabetes.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: You get what you get, and you don’t get upset.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: That they can do this.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: You don’t take life for granted.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Stay with me until I did feel better.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Diabetes is an invisible illness and there is a lot more to type 1 diabetes than people think. Living with diabetes takes up so much time and effort if you want to live healthy. You can do everything right and still end up with long term complications. The only time we will get a break is when there is a cure.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: that you do care to know more about my invisible illness.
Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com
September 17th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I am trying to find out more about diabetes.
My mom and my grandma both developed it when they were in their
30’s.
Does diabetes run in your family also?
Any advice for someone who hasn’t developed diabetes yet… but
that probably will?
September 17th, 2009 at 11:15 am
D-hugs Gina!
September 18th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Th biggest thing I would like people to know about diabetes is that it is not an invisible illness there are over 20 million of us afflicted by this disease who live with it on a daily basis. Get educated and join us in the fight.
my .02 cents For Nicole - there are no known causes for diabetes but risk factors include being overwight, heredity (if your parents had it) and if you are African American or Hispanic.
The only advice, I can give you is eat healthy low carb diet, watch your weight and exercise regularly and it will go a long way.
I am fighting the same issue for me my son has all three risk factors and I am trying to vaccinate him as it may maybe you can check out my blog and see exactly how am going about doing this its…www.diabetic-journey.com thanks gina you are doing the lords work.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Thanks for reminding me that I wanted to read yours too! It’s cool to see how other people answered
November 13th, 2009 at 3:02 am
I got the disease in 1998 when I was twenty years old. At first I thought if I ignored it..it wouldnt be real! After slipping into ketoacidosis for the millionth time I started to finally figure it all out!
Now 11 years later I am pregnant with my first child. I have suffered two miscarriage in the past and this time around everything looks great! My husband and I are over the moon! This is what we need! A family! But I have to admit that I’m worried to death that I will pass this disease on to my unborn child! Do you have any tips?