On the 26th of September, it will be thirty-two years that we have been ‘at this’; this ‘diabetes thing’. It has been one most remarkable ride. Not only have we meet some incredible people on this journey, I have learned a few things over this stretch of time. Many good, but also some painful lessons as well.
No matter what anyone tells you might happen, could happen, will happen know that until it does happen, it hasn’t happened and until it does happen; don’t think it will. It’s better to be surprised than disappointed. I know people say they were told “X” number of years until a cure; two major misleading points in this one statement. That ‘X” amount of time is, and will always, remain an unknown. Take it from someone who was told to his face a statement like this and because of my wanting it so badly, I believed it, and worse yet, I shared it. I will never, and can never, say I am sorry enough for that. But as bad as I feel, it broke forever the trust I had in this person, and that will always hurt. But the take away for you is, keep your nose to the grindstone and keep working at yourself, and/or your child battling this disease every day. What are the best tools, the newest tools, and the real tools. The other, is the word cure. You must come to grips with what that means and make it work for you and your loved ones. These are surely exciting times in the research world for both devices for management as well as biologically reversing the disease itself. But face clearly what all of this means to, and for, you.
When we started, the internet or world wide web, was in its infancy. It’s probably the most powerful tool we have in the battle with diabetes and in a millisecond, you can learn whatever you want about your diabetes journey. But in that beautiful landscape are also dark holes. Lies. People who say they understand, but they don’t. Scam artists ready to prey on your inner fears. Be aware, check everything.
When we started, we waited 90 seconds for a blood glucose result, insulin pumps and CGMs were dreams and not real, insulin was made of pork. The playing field has changed drastically, and mostly, for the better.
People diagnosed in the last 5 years, have no idea the way it ‘used to be’ and my guess is a little bit from now will bring even more changes. A NY Senator was speaking at one of my child’s high school graduations. In his speech he said, when your child graduate’s college, over 40% of them will be in jobs that on this day, are not even created yet. Stop and think about that for a minute.
So, too the diabetes landscape changes all the time. When my first child was diagnosed and the world fell apart and it could never be worse, our youngest would be come the second child diagnosed. I marvel at our kids’ successes. Anyone who is a parent has that inner pride knowing that ANY thing our kids accomplish, ours do it with an asterisk. That asterisk is accomplishing wonderful things while living in the dreaded battles of diabetes. But they did it. They do it. And so do we, as parents. So take a tiny look back and realize just how far you’ve come.
I am a diabetes dad. Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like.’ Tagged diabetes, diabetes dad, diabetes inspiration