Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Red lights....or green? Diabetes365 day 30

I was diagnosed with diabetes 35 year ago, at the end of a summer spent on the west coast of Ireland. It's hard to describe just how magical that summer was. I had taken lessons scuba diving and a large group of friends spent almost every day in the water.

In the afternoons we'd head back to my house and devour a huge chocolate pound cake that my Mum made. (We took to calling these tombstones because of their size and shape.)

Back home in Dublin after a week of getting sicker, I was sent to hospital and given the official diagnosis of diabetes. I can't really describe how this felt.

I think it's as if I was sailing along on beautiful country roads with blue skies and no delays. Then I turned a corner and I was on a highway, in a rainstorm, with horrible traffic and nothing but red tail lights stretching ahead of me.

Diabetes365 Day 30 November 6th - Red Lights

Anyone watching wouldn't have seen changes in me, but inside I always expected the inevitable onset of diabetes complications. I sort of expected the worst.

It was almost 20 years before those tail lights went away. Thanks to a wonderful and patient endocrinologist at the Joslin Clinic, a lot of those clouds were lifted.

Now most days are easier. And I've mentioned elsewhere all I've been able to do despite (or because of) diabetes.

It's still a lousy disease, that requires constant work every day of my life. But I've learned about acceptance and endurance and blessings from God.

There is no cure for diabetes.

Yet.

Learn more about what living with diabetes is really like at the diabetes365 project.

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, October 15, 2007

Diabetes365 day 8 Oct. 15th 2007 - Endurance

Today's picture is my entry into the Word In Your Hand project that Manny Hernandez has organized for World Diabetes Day on November 14th.

Diabetes365 day 8 Oct. 15th 2007 - Diabetes is...Endurance

I've had diabetes for over 35 years, and it's really taught me about the value of endurance. Even though my pancreas is broken I'm still remarkably healthy. The insulin that I inject helps my body to absorb and process carbohydrates but it's not a cure for diabetes. Despite the continued high and low blood sugars I'm blessed by God with very few complications.

My hope and prayer for me and others with diabetes is that we all endure until a true cure is found for this expensive and deadly disease.

Are you planning on doing something for World Diabetes Day? If so, you've got about a month. Get your thinking hats on.

See other diabetes365 project photos here.

See my diabetes365 photos here.

Labels: , , ,

   Blog Directory - Blogged