30 Diabetes-Things

Found this survey somewhere in the wide-world of Diabetes-Blogging, and decided, hey, I'll give it a shot! (Err, no pun intended.)

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2011.
3. But I had symptoms since: A month before my diagnosis. I was always drinking water, having to use the restroom at least once every hour, getting stomach pains, and losing weight. Finally, I got sick and thought I had the flu. I was throwing up and couldn't keep down and food or liquids. My legs were bruising and I was so week that I passed out on the floor. I remember the world spinning above me and when I woke up, I was in the ER.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Saying goodbye to a care-free life.
5. Most people assume: That I will get used to giving insulin shots everyday and that I cannot eat sugar.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Remembering to take my shower before giving my insulin shot so that I don't get hypoglycemic.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Mystery ER
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my cell phone. (Well, I could live without if I had to, but it definitely makes life better). Communicating keeps me from going crazy!
9. The hardest part about nights are: waking up low, over-treating with carbs, then going high.
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. I take a vitamin once a day, sometimes. However I also treat myself with insulin shots before meals and before bed.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Am not interested in using an insulin pump, at least at this point.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I'm not sure if I could answer that, but either way, whether an illness is visible or invisible; it sucks. It's as simple as that.
13. Regarding working and career: I need to get a good job in order to get Health Insurance someday. And I want that good job to be something that I love doing.
14. People would be surprised to know: that I still like to drink milkshakes as often as I can.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: that Diabetes is forever, and unless there is a cure, I will never get well.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Drink a milkshake and have well-behaved blood sugars afterwards.
17. The commercials about my illness: I never noticed until I actually got Diagnosed with Diabetes.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Eating food, no strings attached.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Sweet tea.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Crocheting cozies for my insulin pens.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Be endlessly thankful and eat a crapload of unhealthy food.
22. My illness has taught me: Years' worth of life in only these two months alone. I'm not perfect, I'm dependent on God, that my friends have my back, to never take things for granted, to appreciate my life.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "5 insulin shots a day? Oh, but you'll get used to it."
24. But I love it when people: Simply treat me like a normal person. No Diabetes Police, no personal medical advice, no pity; just talk to me.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: I have so many of them. One of them is, "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Never stop finding joy in life. And also give them a great big hug.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: All of the support I receive from others just like me, who are living with this illness. And also from the ones who aren't.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Visit me in the hospital and talk to me.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: (I just wanted to do this survey.)
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: That I hope you take away something from it.