30 Things About My Invisible Illness

Paul Gibbs — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:29:12 +0000

Apparently there’s a bit of a trend amongst medical bloggers as part of Invisible Illness Week to make a list of 30 things to do with their “illness”. So, with some of the answers copied from Kerri’s list (because they are true), here we go:

The illness I live with is: type 1 Diabetes.
I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1997.
But I had symptoms since: I don’t know. I went into hospital on a Saturday with a blood glucose of ~44mmol/l.
The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: every little day-to-day, moment-to-moment change.
Most people assume: that they know everything about Diabetes.
The hardest part about mornings are: when they start out of range.
My favorite medical TV show is: I don’t watch TV.
A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my glucose meter.
The hardest part about nights are: having low blood sugars in the middle of them.
Each day I take 2 pills & vitamins: Only insulin, nothing else (touch wood).
Regarding alternative treatments: Poppycock.
If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Neither, thank you.
Regarding working and career: No problems, prejudice or people problems so far.
People would be surprised to know: that it’s not as easy as we make it look. Sometimes it hurts in every way.
The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: that I have very little memory of the “old” reality.
Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Drive. I now know that I can, but the diabetes still scares me too much to learn.
The commercials about my illness: We don’t have any in the UK.
Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: I really have no idea.
It was really hard to have to give up: snacking!
A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: None.
If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: be footloose and fancy-free.
My illness has taught me: That it’s always darkest just before the dawn.
One thing people say that gets under my skin is: “Are you allowed to eat that?”
But I love it when people: try to understand, be helpful and supportive.
My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: I don’t have one.
When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: that they aren’t alone. And they’ll be okay.
Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: what you take for granted.
The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Help me.
I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I saw this on Six Until Me.
The fact that you read this list makes me feel: that I’m not alone.

Six Little Habits: The Bad Ones.

Paul Gibbs — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:05:48 +0000

Over at sixuntilme, Kerri’s listed six of her diabetes “bad habits.” I thought I’d share mine; I can’t do six, but here’s four:

Not changing finger-stabber needle

I’m not quite leaving these until they are rusty, but not far from it! I have recently switch to using the Accu-Chek Multiclix, which has a drum of stabbers in which you rotate around after use. I’m not changing the drum daily – more like twice a week – but I’m working on it.

Autopilot basal rates

Since starting the pump about a year or so ago, it’s changed my life; it’s wonderful. However, there are times when I know I need to do a period of intensive testing so I can assess and make changes to basal rates. In fact, I need to do that right now, but it feels too much like work so I keep putting it off. Maybe later this week!

Selective memory for glucose trends

It has been known that when I visit my diabetes care team, I get very guilty and start making up all sorts of crazy excuses when they point out the very obvious which I’ve somehow missed. Probably linked to point 2 above. I ought to put some time aside every couple of weeks to adjust the basals.

Bolus-Stacking