to east to conform

Why is it that sometimes the most important things about ourselves, are the things that we always just happen to forget to mention? In 2006 me and my boyfriend had already been dating for two months before I told him that I was diabetic. I was diagnosed in August and we met in Septemeber and I somehow managed to keep it hidden for quite a while. Not that he would have ever minded, it was just something that I did'nt feel like making "public". I was 15, and as I'm sure we can all agree, at 15 all you want to do is be like everybody else, and even though I wasn't, I tried like hell to pretend I was. I think that so often, especially as young people, you try so hard to fit in, and then you grow up and all you want to do is be different. Why is this? Who knows.

I think that society makes itself all to easy to conform too. Being like everyone else is an entirely reachable goal. For example, I was on shots for a year before I decided to go on pump therapy. The way I saw it was, with shots I could pull out my little insulin pen and glucometer (aka diabetes) and put "diabetes" in my purse when I didn't need it and be back to my old conforment self. Voila!

It's a Blessing, Not a Curse

This is my first blog entry! It is very exciting to have an outlet such as this in which you can tell you own life stories as well as here some of other people. I have only been Diabetic since August of 2006, so I'm kind of a "newb" at this whole game. In a way I was blessed to not get the disease until then, I was old enough to take care of my own health needs, give my own shots and count my own carbs and such. I have heard many stories from other diabetics and moms of children with diabetes that have had terrible experiences brought upon them because this disease is usually breaching the surface so early in children's lives.

So anyways, back to being "blessed", no matter how many times I hear that word associated with the fact that one of my internal organs no longer works properly, i don' t think it will ever be what comes to mind in my own reflection of the whole situation.

I apoligize for making this seem like such a morbid situation, that's an exagerration. It's entirley live-with-able. It's just more responsibilty. Technology nowadays is amazing, and I thank this for my pink Animas 2020 Insulin Pump. It's the bomb, althought not quite as good as a real pancreas but definitely a good substitute. All type 1 diabetics in today's world have it easy, including myself. The first insulin pumps had to be wheeled aroung beside you. Mine fits nicely in my back pocket... with extra space. Also, a long long time ago people used to have to sharpen their own needles. Now virtually everything comes pre-packaged and disposable. It's awesome.

My plans for this blog are to tell my story. I'm sure it isn't as exciting as many others, but it's definitely interesting and comes with a ton of surprises, most of which I'm sure are yet to come. I will also post on new technologies that surface in our economy, and things that I have found work best for me. I hope you enjoy!

Ashley