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As I Blow Out the Candles
Meagan Esler
As I celebrate my birthday this month, I also recognize the anniversary of my diabetes. If it were a person, it would be legally old enough to move out. Oh, how I wish it would! I was diagnosed at eighteen years old with type 1 diabetes, so this makes eighteen long years that the two of us have been living together. I have so many mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I feel stronger and more certain of my decisions with diabetes than ever before. On the other hand, I feel pretty depressed that it's been so long and that, no matter how I try to push away the thought, complications could be looming around the bend.
I rarely thought about a full life with diabetes during the first few years following my diagnosis. Denial was a beautiful place to bury my head, and bury it I did. But I finally realized that diabetes was here for the long haul and began trying to come to terms with it. It's funny, but it helped my spirit so much just to acknowledge that.
Without my friends in the diabetes online community, I'd probably go hide in my closet and cry. I couldn't bear to face another day alone with diabetes. My first sixteen years were so lonely, and they were unbelievably depressing. Thankfully, I'm a pretty happy person, so I was able to exist without actually falling into a deep depression, but who knows how long that would have remained the case? Diabetes can really wear on you and break you down. Now when I go through something diabetes-related, people who truly care and understand send advice, encouragement, and even prayers. That support is more precious than anything when it comes to staying happy with diabetes.
I'm not ashamed of getting older. I'm proud to be turning 36 on June 13, and I'm thrilled to celebrate another year that I'm still here. Honestly, it's not been easy. Eighteen years of four to six (sometimes even more) shots a day and countless blood sugar checks tally up to a lot! I've earned each and every year, and each year gets me closer to a 50-year Joslin medal for my life with diabetes. That will be a diabetes accomplishment better than any I can think of.
Unless a cure is found, my diabetes will never go away. I'm forever making peace with that. Kicking diabetes out of my life would be like a dream come true. Since that's just not possible, I'll be celebrating both my birth and my triumphs over diabetes this month. Many hard and painful lessons have been learned along the way, but I'm still here and I'm still kicking. This month, I realize how thankful I am to be here and just how thankful I am for each and every one of you. As I blow out the candles on my birthday cake this year, I'll bet you can guess exactly what I'm wishing for.
Categories: Cure, Diabetes, Diabetes Cure, Diabetes Health, Diabetic, Find a Cure, Inspiration, Type 1, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 1 Issues
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Diabetes Health is the essential resource for people living with diabetes- both newly diagnosed and experienced as well as the professionals who care for them. We provide balanced expert news and information on living healthfully with diabetes. Each issue includes cutting-edge editorial coverage of new products, research, treatment options, and meaningful lifestyle issues.
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Comments
Hi Meaghan, I feel the same way as you-next month will mark my 29 years with Diabetes. I was diagnosed at 2.5 years old. It never really bothered me until now, as i'm planning to become pregnant. It is hard work, but I'm very healthy and lucky to be so! Diabetics of the world, unite!
Hi Meaghan, I feel the same way as you-next month will mark my 29 years with Diabetes. I was diagnosed at 2.5 years old. It never really bothered me until now, as i'm planning to become pregnant. It is hard work, but I'm very healthy and lucky to be so! Diabetics of the world, unite!
Happy Birthday!!
Hi Meaghan,
Happy Birthday to you and many, many more!! I love reading your articles. I've had diabetes for nearly 12 years. I really believe there is a cure for diabetes out there, but the pharmaceutical companies are paying someone off. Face it, money talks. I feel the same way about cancer and other diseases. I'm so honored to have the support I get from my fellow diabetics on this website. You're all wonderful people.
Hi Meagan
Firstly Happy Birthday!
I'm based in England and like you - im a June baby (16th). I'm also 36 but have only had Type one for 4.5 years.
I always enjoy your articles as they give me strength and I also know I'm not alone with this daily challenge. As I was diagnosed at 31 I was old enough to acknowledge the severity of the disease and have always tried to manage it. It's hard but I feel I'm winning. Exercise is very important as are regular checks and my DAPHNE way of measuring carbs to then inject. As know one can see I'm type one - know one knows. I like this and hope it always stays this way. Friends, family and exercise buddies obviously do know but the average man of the street - wont!
Please keep up the good work knowing that you have a type one buddy in Newcastle, England who is in the same boat as you , supporting you and learning from you.
Anyway - I'm feeling low so I'm off for that morning test, insulatard injection and breakfast!
Mark
I love to read your blogs that come with my emails. Sometimes they make me feel good and other times they just make me happy to know we aren't alone in our struggles. I feel your pain and I thank you for the blogs. They keep my courage up. Thank you.
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