Diaversary #13!
Feb. 2nd, 2017 12:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
diabetesdiaryToday is my thirteenth diaversary! I didn’t realize this was a real term used by people with Diabetes to mark the anniversary of their diagnosis until a few months ago, but it is. I have had Diabetes for thirteen years. That’s not quite half my life (that milestone comes next year).
Let’s do a little math
Thirteen years with Diabetes
That’s 4,750 days
That’s approximately 28,500 finger sticks to test blood sugar
That’s over 1200 pump site changes
It’s a little overwhelming looking at it like that, so let’s step away from the numbers and talk about why this is worth celebrating. I will be the first to tell you that in the past, February 2nd has always been just another day. I either didn’t think about it being my diaversary, or it was a passing thought, or I thought of it with disdain. I kept dealing with Diabetes like I would any other day. It was probably one of the most difficult days of my life, so why would I want to celebrate that?
Here’s why.
Each year with Diabetes is another year I’ve been able to successfully live with and manage this disease. Each year without complications (knock on wood), each year I can still afford my insulin and supplies, each year I can still manage my Diabetes independently is a reason to celebrate. I’ve only been hospitalized one time outside of diagnosis. My last average blood sugar over a three-month period was 163. I still have all my fingers and toes, and my vision is stable. These are also reasons to celebrate.
Today, I woke up excited, inspired to keep moving forward, and with a blood sugar of 165. I’m taking a moment to pause and reflect on the last thirteen years and take pride in how well it’s gone so far. It’s been, at times, a stressful, maddening, sad, exhausting journey, but Diabetes has made me strong.
Let’s do a little math
Thirteen years with Diabetes
That’s 4,750 days
That’s approximately 28,500 finger sticks to test blood sugar
That’s over 1200 pump site changes
It’s a little overwhelming looking at it like that, so let’s step away from the numbers and talk about why this is worth celebrating. I will be the first to tell you that in the past, February 2nd has always been just another day. I either didn’t think about it being my diaversary, or it was a passing thought, or I thought of it with disdain. I kept dealing with Diabetes like I would any other day. It was probably one of the most difficult days of my life, so why would I want to celebrate that?
Here’s why.
Each year with Diabetes is another year I’ve been able to successfully live with and manage this disease. Each year without complications (knock on wood), each year I can still afford my insulin and supplies, each year I can still manage my Diabetes independently is a reason to celebrate. I’ve only been hospitalized one time outside of diagnosis. My last average blood sugar over a three-month period was 163. I still have all my fingers and toes, and my vision is stable. These are also reasons to celebrate.
Today, I woke up excited, inspired to keep moving forward, and with a blood sugar of 165. I’m taking a moment to pause and reflect on the last thirteen years and take pride in how well it’s gone so far. It’s been, at times, a stressful, maddening, sad, exhausting journey, but Diabetes has made me strong.
