If I could have my life be a movie I envision it on the big screen reading something like "Diabetes - Directed by Michael Bay staring Megan Fox... well, maybe not Megan Fox, she has that wierd thumb and I heard those two sort of had a falling out.   Regardless- Since my brother was diagnosed when he was 12, Diabetes has been a primary word in my vocabulary.  I was later diagnosed at the age of 18 after spending 10 years in a Diabetes test trial testing the effectiveness of low dose insulin on the prevention of type 1 diabetes in people who were genetically predisposed to develop it.  I have experienced so many facets of Diabetes; growing up with it, being diagnosed as an adult, becoming pregnant and delivering my baby, pump therapy, neuropathy, eating disorders, gall stones, severe neuropathy>  Just in that brief synopsis I think I've effectively touched on all three primary types of Diabetes.

I had an eye opening doctor appointment today which inspired me to use my experience for the better treatment of this disease.  It was so easy for me before to have such a jaded opinion against Type 2's or Gestational Diabetics... even Type 1's that were diagnosed as babies because my story is so different I find it hard to connect with any one group.   I realised today that even though it can feel like we're all dealing with entirely different diseases and that it's so easy to play the "mine is worse than yours" game...we're all on the same team and we need eachothers support and voices and experience to live the long, happy, healthy lives we deserve. 

I understand my disease very well.  I understand the process and the verbiage on a very medically proficient level.  That doesnt mean that I always do the right thing though.  Some of my stories of my Diabetes care woudl make anyone, especially my doctors, cringe and cry.  I think of the Mya Angelou quote when she says "those who can't do, teach".   I coudl teach the world about Diabetes all the while hiding behind my own embarrassing A1C's eating Dark Chocolate as I pound away on my Keyboard.... but my numbers don't fool anyone and it dawned on me that if I keep this up, my neuropathy, blindness, kidney failure at a depressingly young age will hurt me and everyone I love one million times more than taking time out of my day to poke my finger and count my carbs will ever ever hurt me.

I owe this blog; this journey to myself, my family, my brother for his sturggles, my Care team, and the medical debt collectors who call faithfully everyday to collect money I will never be able to pay racked upby this disease.