Sweet and Sour- The Type 1 Diabetes Rollercoaster

Once people get to know me and my sense of humour around t1, they often ask me if I’ve ever “played the diabetes card” to get out of something. I’m no saint, so the answer is yes. Only once though, I'm also a cautious person.  To start this story I would like to say I have no gross motor coordination and high school sport was a living hell for me.   During cricket, softball, soccer, whatever, there was always a zone where the ball would never go. I became an expert at occupying this space. I really don’t do sport. I got Cs in the sport part of PE, usually with a comment saying that I tried. No dear teacher, I just got very good at making it look like I was putting in something resembling effort. I mean working out where to stand to avoid any interaction was effortful! I was also quite good at ducking and twisting out of the way- thanks dance lessons. So anyway, I hated sport. One day we were playing softball (which is really dangerous for uncoordinated folk like...

A much cheerier update after yesterday- a few days ago this blog broke 10k views, which is just unbelievable for a little niche blog like this! I had a look at the audience stats over the years, and following my own country (Australia) the next largest viewership is in the US, followed by Russia. How it ended up with so many views in Russia I’ll never know but hello Russian readers! I started this blog in 2013 as a place to talk about my diabetes, mostly because I was starting a major work for my HSC about public perception of t1 and t2 diabetes, and to what extent the media influenced that perception. I saw so much negativity in the media that I decided that I wanted to contribute something positive, even in a little way. I also got to do the most self-absorbed thing ever and cite myself as personal reflection in the work. Don’t judge me, they asked for a personal touch! Over the years my blog garnered a reputation for mostly being a venting space of “what’s pissed Bec ...

Here's a common question... or statement. "Does it get easy over time?" or "It must be easy now you've had it so long".  The answer isn't a simple one. Is it easier than being first diagnosed? Yes. A resounding yes. New diagnosis is scary because you've got no idea what's going on, what's normal for you, what everything feels like and how to manage difficult situations. I didn't know anyone with it so at the same time you're trying to explain this new thing to everyone around you. You're more touchy to other's reactions and comments at the start as well.  Now when I hear these comments I want to educate rather than take offence. I also have a clearer idea of how my body works and what to watch for.  But no, it's not easy. Right now I'm actually having a hard time with my blood sugars. Usually there's a pattern of blood sugars when you need an insulin adjustment. For example, you might have high sug...

For the past (almost) six years I’ve had type 1 diabetes. I’ve been the one experiencing it. With that comes this feeling of control and certainty because I know what my body is doing most of the time and I feel confident that I can manage it. I knew that my diabetes was hard for my parents, but I hadn’t imagined exactly what it was like to be in their shoes. I always thought that loving someone with it was infinitely better than having it yourself. I never knew how much my diabetes impacts those around me, with all the worry and concern they have because they don’t get that control. I have a small taste of it now, because someone I love has been diagnosed too.   Because I’ve had it myself for so long, I’d like nothing more than to take it away from this little girl and her family. I'd have it twice if I could. But I can’t feel her highs and I can’t feel her lows. I can’t take care of it for her. In some ways, not being able to do that is harder than having it myself. I love a...