D-Blog Week Day #4 Accomplishments Big and Small

D-Blog Week Day 4

Accomplishments Big and Small
We don't always realize it, but each one of us has come a long way since diabetes first came into our lives. It doesn't matter if it's been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you've done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let's share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one's) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small-think about self acceptance, something you've mastered (pump/exercise/diet/etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group/ choosing to use or not use technology/etc.) (Thanks to Hilary of Rainie and Me for this topic suggestion.)


My accomplishment that I have chosen is overcoming the shame. That may sound weird, but not knowing anyone else with diabetes other than both of my grandpas who were type 2 and I'm type 1, it's not really hard to come up with reasons to feel ashamed or embarrassed. I'ts only been in the past few months that I'm really talking about it more and not trying to hide it. I'm not trying to hide my pump so much anymore, or when I pull out my meter and take my BG I don't care what anyone around me thinks. I don't care that when I go on my walks that under my work out shirt around my waist is a weird bulge where I have my pump. Why should I hide any of this? I wouldn't talk about it because of the looks I see on peoples faces or the comments that were made when I would talk about it. Boredom, annoyance, are common looks, or they had a grandparent or a 5th cousin or an aunt once removed with type 2 and then I get comments about them losing a limb or don't I just have to take pills, or not eat sugar. You know, the common comments that come from people that are uninformed. That's what I have to remind myself of as I talk to people about my "D", that they are just uninformed. And I will talk about it, I'm not going to stop, I'm not going to hide any part of it. So being ashamed is a no, maybe only if I do something off the wall and crazy when I have a low, but even then I can blame the "D" for it. I actually even cracked a joke the other day blaming my diabetes, of course no one else around me got it or found it funny. I just got dumb looks, but that's okay, because if you really want to understand me, you have to understand the diabetes because it explains a lot about me. I'm not ashamed because anyone that truly cares about me will care about the diabetes and that I take care of  myself and listen to what I have to say.  Diabetes is not who I am, it doesn't define me but it's a huge part of my life and it's a part that I'm not ashamed of anymore. So you can take it or leave it, it's up to you.