It's #DiabetesWeek!
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1999. It shouldn't really have come as a shock, I had lost an enormous amount of weight, I was constantly tired, and was drinking in excess of 20 pints of water a day and was still unbelievably thirsty. I was told by the consultant that there would probably be a cure for type 1 within 10 years, 25 years on and we're still waiting.
Having Type 1 diabetes is like having a full time job, it is always at the back of your mind and it is exhausting. I can't just get in a car and drive, I have to make sure my blood glucose levels are not too low (or high); I have to know what I am going to eat and how many carbohydrates are in it 20 minutes before I eat, so I can calculate how much insulin I have to put in and going on holiday is a military operation with (a lot of medication), kit, back ups, spares and kilos of jelly babies.
Back in 1999, we used to have 1 appointment a year for diabetes. It would take 3 hours and you would go to the hospital have your blood taken to check for long term control of the condition, have a retinopathy appointment, a foot check, time with the Diabetes Consultant, Nurses and the Dieticians. Now, we have all those appointments, but they are all separate, in different locations and some I pay for privately. Whilst it's frustrating to have many different appointments, I think the level of care I receive has generally increased, especially with the Diabetes Nurses at the hospital who are there to help with the day to day management.
In the 25 years I have seen huge leaps in technology which makes managing diabetes that little bit easier. Thanks to technology, I no longer have to do a finger prick blood test and record it in a book to discuss at my next appointment, I have a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which automatically sends data to me and the diabetes team. More recently, I've been given a pump which talks to my CGM and phone. It calculates how much insulin I need and can stop / boost insulin if I am low or high. I don't have to inject 4 times a day now, I just have to remember to add the number of carbs to the app and change the cannula every other day. It's made a huge difference and despite an unexpected day trip to A&E last month due to a cannula failure, it takes a lot of the stress away and frees up mental capacity.
I have type 1 diabetes, it's an autoimmune condition. I don't have diabetes "really bad". It wasn't bought on by a poor diet. I don't want or need a mars bar. I can eat what I like, including carbohydrates. I can have sugar. Under no circumstances should I nor will I eat "diabetic" food. I cannot reverse type 1 diabetes through diet and exercise. There's nothing I can't do, it just needs a bit more planning.
I would love to see a cure for type 1 diabetes in my lifetime, but if that's not possible, then I'm excited to see how technology will make my life even easier.
Tomorrow kicks off this year's #DiabetesWeek 🥳
We’re so excited for a week of your stories, raising awareness & bringing our community together 💙
Are you ready to make some noise this Diabetes Week?
