Archive for the ‘Daily Living’ Category

“We Can Do This”: Vol. 3

This is the third episode of “We Can Do This” – a series of group videos where people with diabetes come together around a common topic and share their diagnosis stories, lessons learned, and advice for others. Launched in 2012, the first video showcased five people who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as adults, while the second featured three people who live with diabetes-related anxiety.

Something that many people living with diabetes (of any type) face is the persistence of stereotypes and stigmas. You may have faced some of these inaccurate, and sometimes offensive, comments yourself – that people with diabetes “can’t eat candy”; that all you have to do is just take your medication and it all just works out; that type 1 only happens to kids (and they somehow magically will outgrow it); that type 2 diabetes is somehow “earned” due to obesity or laziness.

The truth is that type 2 diabetes exists on a large spectrum, and there is still much to learn about why and how it occurs, and in whom. Not every person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes fits the stereotypes, and we’d like to introduce you to a few: Phyllisa, Rachel, Joe, and Sue.

Video: Cherise

Contributor: Cherise; @SweeterCherise/@DiabetesSocMed

Connection: Adult with LADA/type 1 diabetes

Quote: “No matter what anyone says; no matter what a number may read: you are better than diabetes. Do not let diabetes steal your joy.”

Video: Emily

Contributor: Emily; http://aimingforaverage-a1c.blogspot.com/

Connection: Adult with type 1 diabetes

Quote: “A lot of people sympathize with me when they hear that I have to inject myself with a huge needle every three days when I change my infusion site. I guess it’s easy for non-diabetics to sympathize with the physical pain, because that’s something they can understand or have experienced themselves, but what they can’t understand is the other kinds of pain that come with this disease: the loneliness of feeling like you’re the only one having to deal with it, the anger and self-pity that comes when you’re wondering, ‘Why me?’, and the frustration and disappointment when your A1C comes back too high.”

“We Can Do This”: Vol. 2

(For those who live with anxiety, even talking or reading about anxiety can be a trigger, so please proceed with caution before watching the video below.)

You may remember the “We Can Do This” video from this past April, in which five people who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as adults shared their diagnosis stories, lessons learned and advice for others who may be going through the same thing.

Keeping in line with that format, Vol. 2 gives a glimpse into the life of people who live with both anxiety and diabetes (or care for someone with diabetes). People already living with diabetes are about 20 percent more likely than those without diabetes to have an anxiety condition at some point in their lifetime, and it’s a topic that many are uncomfortable talking about.

And because the You Can Do This Project centers around the idea of opening up about the tough stuff – that’s exactly what Kate, Alexis, and Hallie did.

To connect with others with diabetes and anxiety, check out the new community “Anxious You Anxious Me” on Facebook and Twitter. You may also email Alexis directly at Anxietyyouanxietyme@gmail.com.

Video: Bill

Contributor: Bill; www.1HappyDiabetic.com

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: ”The real challenge about diabetes is living with it; trying to put diabetes in your front view, not have it in your back view. Who wants to think about their diabetes all day long? Maybe a simple way to do it is to think about it at specific times, so we’re making our management more predictable.”

Blog: Crystal

Contributor: Crystal, http://randomlycapitalized.wordpress.com

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Blog post: http://randomlycapitalized.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/you-can-do-this/

“Mostly what I learned, because it’s in my face way too often, is how Hard it is to receive “assistance” for a single, white female, 30s, educated, employed. Heck, add in the unemployed and it still doesn’t matter. Again, no advice needed, I’ve been there, read it, looked it up, looked into it.

If any Any of you have questions about either unemployment, looking for work or living withOut insurance, never hesitate to ask, comment, tweet or email me. Never. I am an open book. If I can help, I will. That is a promise.

I, a pre-existing chronic of twenty six years, educated and unemployed, uninsured and lacking self confidence, lonely, depressed, scared at times single thirty two year old female, Can Do This because I have. And so can you.”

Video: Haley

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Contributor: Haley; www.naturallysweett.com

Connection: Teen with type 1 diabetes

Quote: “The hardest part is the emotional pain. Other people don’t know how it feels to be different. People make comments all the time. I feel labeled as ‘the diabetic girl’. I just want to be Haley.”

Video: Shannon

Contributor: Shannon; @lifewithtype1

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: “Diabetes doesn’t always pick [the people] with the best support systems [...] if you’ve dealt with the lack of family support, or the job frustration [because you needed health insurance], come talk to me.”

Video: Fernanda

 

Contributor: Fernanda

Connection: Child with type 1 diabetes

Quote: “I’ve had diabetes for ten years, and I just want to say that it doesn’t have to stop you from doing anything. I, myself, play a lot of sports with my brother and cousins.”

Video: Joe Solowiejczyk

Contributor: Joe; Children With Diabetes

Connection: Adult with type 1 diabetes

Quote: “For me, the most difficult thing to come to terms with has been dealing with feelings of anger, rage, and frustration. I used to think that if I had those feelings, I was doing something wrong. It took me a long time and a lot of work to come to the realization and understanding that feelings are just a guide, and not a sign of whether I’m doing well or not.”

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