An Addendum To "What Diabetes Has Given Me."

And addendum to my previous post: Flashback Friday-What Diabetes Has Given Me

After posting on Friday,I received an email from one of the women I had lunch with on Thursday, who was also a Type 1 and had been diagnosed her last year of college. What she wrote has been on my mind for days, and I hesitated writing about it-but I am, for several reasons. It's how I feel, and I think it's how many others might feel regarding their own life with diabetes.

" Kelly - Thanks also for sharing your personal story. When you live with diabetes, it's hard to imagine someone else's life being "more" impacted than your own... But I have to say, you're life hasn't just been impacted, it seems to be created around diabetes... And your approach to it all now is really remarkable!"

A life created around diabetes ? A remarkable approach? I don’t know about that.

I ran away from any and all things having to do with diabetes my whole life. Diagnosed at 8, by the time I was 19, I’d had my fill of it. Living with a family of type 1’s, the last thing I wanted to do was go to college and learn about Diabetes.

When I was in my early 20’s my sister died from Diabetes complications. Part of my heart broke when she died and another portion was filled with guilt (that followed me for years, still does actually) and I continued to run away from the diabetes world.

I’d continually run into people (parents of CWD’s, coworkers, my mailman, etc) who would ask about life with diabetes. I’d be positive and answer their questions, and leave it at that.

When I was 26 my 16-year-old nephew was diagnosed with "the diabetes", and while I was there for him on every level, telling him "that life is what you make of it, regardless of diabetes -You can do anything Brendan, diabetes or not!”

I still stayed far away from the diabetes community as a whole. But damn if Diabetes "didn’t keep pulling me back in!"

In my early 30’s I went on the pump and became consumed with telling any and all who would listen that the pump and glucose testing equaled freedom.

Three years ago I started working with Diabetes Orgs and Diabetes patient groups.

18 months ago I found out about the DOC and I started my blog.

Diabetes has given me something else - MY PASSION.