Invisible Illness Week

Diabetes, it truly is an invisible illness.  I look okay on the outside.  You can’t tell that I’m feeling like hell when my blood sugar is too high or low.  Truthfully, at least one or the other happens frequently.  I try to stay in that “normal” golden range, but it is a seriously small range.   Finding balance is important, but it’s hard to act as one of your internal organs accurately…I often find myself wondering “What would Pancreas do?”  Ah the things he'd say if he were here.

 

For example:  Here Pancreas would say to me “Well played Nitwit!”.  Yes, I see my Pancreas as snarkily sarcastic.

 

Here he would say:  “WTF?” and probably use both my first and middle name.  I would quickly remind him that he left town and that he needs to act up or shut up. 

It’s every moment of every day.  Even preparing to sleep takes a great deal of thought so that I don’t go dangerously low or high while I sleep.  I take five or six shots a day.  Sometimes though, it’s MORE.  It’s never ever LESS of course, because Type 1 diabetics never get a day off from shots and blood sugar tests.  When I get sick I need even more insulin, I need even more blood tests.  When I’m sick, I feel like diabetes is flipping me off…Big time.    

Unless you live with me or go out to eat with me, chances are, you never see me pull out my little glass vial of life saving liquid and my trusty syringe.  You don’t see me pause to test my blood sugars up to eight times a day because it’s very personal and I don’t love an audience when I do it.  To clarify, I’m not ashamed.  I just don’t always feel like sharing.  You may not see what a serious illness I have. 

(Yes, I am re-using some of my previous pics, thought they fit well with this subject.)

I’m thankful to have my blog.  Your comments and support, and the therapy of writing, gives me a huge sense of comfort while I’m dealing with diabetes.  I’m thankful for my shots, my meter, and my patient family that magically knows when I’m high or low based on my mood.  I am thankful to have you all, my dear blog family.  Please know, we are in this together, I feel you.   XOXO