Diaversary and a New Attitude
What does “diaversary” mean?
Last month I passed a milestone. It was the thirty-fourth anniversary of my diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Those of us living with diabetes call it our “diaversary.”
Diabetes is a way of life for me. I’ve had it more than half of my life and feel like I’ve known no other way to live.
I’ll never forget the circumstances of my diagnosis. When I close my eyes, I can still see the office where I was told my life would never be the same. There were many years after that of doctors hounding me to get my sugars under control, and it felt like I was on a rollercoaster, going from high to low blood sugars.
I didn’t listen because I really didn’t care and spent many years in mismanagement. Diabetes is a silent disability.
When I wasn’t sticking my finger for a blood sample and taking shots, I didn’t think about being diabetic.
When my treatment plan changed to using an insulin pump, control became better for 25 years. It was also easier to cheat and just push buttons to compensate for all the sugar I’d consumed.
Then when an extreme low was noticed by my doctor, I enrolled in the Dogs for Diabetics program and got a new lease on life. My numbers greatly improved, pleasing the doctors.
Living with a service dog makes me want to take care of myself. I love having Aiden by my side 24/7 and everywhere I go.
I credit my change in attitude to the wonderful organization and my furry companion. I used to think of DIE-abetes as sounding like a death sentence. But now with a change of attitude, I think of living with diabetes as LIVE-abetes.
I still don’t love it, but with my new Tandem insulin pump and the technology it has, I only have to prick my finger to calibrate or if the pump malfunctions and I have to be without it.
My blood sugar is under the best control yet with this pump and a dog! If you are looking for a better way to control your diabetes, visit tandemdiabetes.com for more information.
Congratulations on reaching your 34th diaversary! I greatly admire your positive attitude by forging ahead and following your dreams. Maybe a way to look at it is that you are living life to the fullest with your “live-ability” not disability.
I will never forget that day when you told me that you had diabetes. I, too, was in denial. No one in our family had it. The doctors must have made a mistake. I know it has not been easy, but you have been an inspiration to so many others living with diabetes. We never know whose life we will make a difference in because of something we have or are going through, I’m proud of you, sister!