30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

This week, September 12-18, 2011 is Invisible Illness Week.

check it out  and join in. 

 

 

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:  late 1974
3. But I had symptoms since: early 1974
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:  going from 1 injection to MDI's to a Pump
5. Most people assume:  i have to watch what i eat
6. The hardest part about mornings are:  dealing with a High BG
7. My favorite medical TV show is:  House
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is:  my Pump/Meter
9. The hardest part about nights are:  worrying about a Low BG
10. Each day I take 5 pills & 0 vitamins, as well as a never-ending supply of insulin!  oh ya, and occasionally candies as medicine!!
11. Regarding alternative treatments I:  usually read about them and disregard
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: the invisible one i have.   it can be invisible when i want it to be, or as visible as i choose to make it.
13. Regarding working and career:  i would like to work towards educating newly diagnosed diabetic children~helping them realized the sky is the limit and there's nothing they can't do.
14. People would be surprised to know: that with Diabetes you can do whatever you want to do, there really are no limitations.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:  my "new reality" is 37yrs old!  not sure i remember the "old reality".
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was:  actually live as long as i have.  doom and gloom was the story when i was dx'd  in the 70's
17. The commercials about my illness:  not many commercials regarding Diabetes on Cdn channels.  and the ones on the American channels all seem to pander to type 2's.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is:  eating without thought
19. It was really hard to have to give up:  i guess when i think about it, i never really "gave up" anything.  i have gotten married, had 3 children, worked, travelled, partied, and  generally enjoyed life as much as any of the non-PWD's that i know.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:  being more interested in healthy cooking and eating, oh and blogging!!
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:  relax, enjoy the day, and eat without the math!!
22. My illness has taught me:  many things including patience.  (read waiting for the illusive CURE that is always just "around the corner')
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:  "Are you sure you can eat that?  Can I offer you something else?"  yes i can, and no you can't!!!
24. But I love it when people:  treat me like they would anyone else.  no questions about anything D-related.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:  tomorrow is another day ;)
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them:  YOU CAN DO THIS!!
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:  how much people don't understand about it. 
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was:  bring me popsicles (my 5yo grandson~he said they make him feel better so he thought they would make me better too!)
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because:  the louder we speak out about them the more people will understand the struggles involved, and the things that need to be done to help find a cure.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:  as if my disease and what i have to say is important and in some way may help someone else.