70 Things Only Diabetics Recognize

Happy Diabetes Awareness Month!

November is here and with that comes Diabetes Awareness Month mentioned above, as well as World Diabetes Day on the 14^th. Don’t forget to put it in your calendar, and let’s raise money for research, party like it’s 1999 and, first and foremost, spread knowledge about diabetes!

To kick this month off, I made a list.

A list of 70 instances or thoughts that any diabetic can easily recognize. This list is by no means exhaustive, nor complete. But it might be a little funny at times.

Let’s go:

GOOD NEWS at the doctors office
Having a low blood sugar in public
The fear of passing out
Forgetting supplies
The feeling of a sinking blood sugar
The feeling of an unexpected blood sugar
New diabetes related gadgets (it can’t be just me?)
The feeling of an unexpected A1c level
The taste of gross glucose tablets
Over eating for a low blood sugar
Being a math genius – every day!
The smell of insulin
Realizing that your life depends on said supplies
“Did I bolus for that?”
Redefining the meaning of a roller coaster
A needle hitting a nerve
Being able to finally itch under an itchy site!
The fountain of blood that can appear after an injection
Insulin induced weight gain…
Carrying an arsenal of medical supplies
The soreness after sleeping on a medical device
Tasting food or drink and feeling just how loaded it is with sugar!
The feeling of having bolused EXACTLY the correct amount
How you feel after a night of wrestling with your diabetes
The feeling of a high blood sugar
Saying: “I’m high, I need to shoot up!”
Not being understood
5.0 mmol/l / 100 mg/dl
Meeting a new doctor, trying to throw out a joke and get crickets back
The Numbers Game
Carbohydrate counting like a boss – instantly knowing how many that pumpkin has
The desert mouth you get from a high blood sugar
Dropping your test strip on the floor. Outside. In the rain.
Being proud of yourself
Balancing an umbrella while checking your blood sugar
“I’ll just finish this and THEN I’ll check my bg” “LOW”
Paying for medical supplies
Painful injections/pump site insertion/finger prick
“Does this dress hide my pump AND cgm?!”
Seeing another diabetic when you’re out and assuming you’re friends
Fear of judgment
Social stigma
Getting stupid comments and remarks
Seeing a diabetes meme and totally being able to relate
A smooth CGM curve
Going low during exercise
Diabetic Jetlag (travelling across multiple time zones with basal changes)
“Did I have too much wine for dinner or am I low?”
The Sweaty Shakes
Feeling strong
“Am I high or just thirsty?”
Not giving up, even when it would be darn nice to
Feeling like a Negative Nancy, although you really don’t mean to
Ugly meter cases
Treating a hypo just right
The Disappointment when you’ve done everything according to the “books” and nothing is like it should be
Feeling insufficient
Getting advice that would help, but you’re just not ready to hear them yet
Having to be a constant worry for the ones closest to you
“Is it hot in here or am I low?”
Assembling your care team
Developing a fighter mentality
The Diabetic Online Community
Keeping blood sugar logs
Not being like everybody else
Constantly making changes
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Theory vs Practice
Letting go of expectations
(+1) The hope of a cure, even if it is distant in the future