6 things I want people to know about Diabetes!!!

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I asked S if she wanted to weigh in on the six things she'd like people to know about diabetes.  Here's her list...

#6.  It sucks.
#5.  It sucks.
#4.  It sucks.
#3.  It sucks.
#2.  It sucks.
and #1...... IT REALLY SUCKS AND I WISH IT WOULD GO AWAY!
(excuse her langauge)


Ok.  We know how she feels!


As for ME....
Six Things, huh?  ONLY 6?  I have a feeling I could go on all day.  But I'll cut it down to the top 6....


The Top 6 Things I Want People to Know about Diabetes:


# 6. You can't just take a pill or change your diet and expect diabetes to go away.  It's not that easy.  But I wish it were...


#5.  There is NO CURE.  "S"  WILL NOT GROW OUT OF IT.  Insulin and pumps and CGM's are great - but they are not a cure.  They are advanced forms of life support.  


#4.  Diabetes is not controlled.  It is managed.  Some days better than others.  You can do everything right and things can still go horribly wrong.
( and they are going horribly wrong)


#3.  Diabetes never sleeps.  It never takes a vacation.  It never takes a day off.  Or an hour.  Or a minute.  And neither do we.  We fight this disease 24/7/365.   


#2.  Diabetes hurts.  It means blood.  Pricking  fingers 6-8 times a day.....around 3,650 times a year.  It means needles and shots and site changes... around 1,825 shots and 183 site changes a year.  It means arm draws and visits to the hospital.  It means more tears than you can count.


#1.  Diabetes can happen to you.  It happened to us on January 3 2005.  Our beautiful, healthy child.... who was 8 years old... was no longer so healthy.  Diabetes snuck in and decimated her immune system.  It left her so sick she could barely walk and sent us to the hospital .  


Diabetes isn't something that happens to other people.  To people with a family history.  To people who are overweight.  It can happen to you.  

Know the warning signs.  Know they can occur suddenly.

Extreme thirst Frequent urination Sudden vision changes Sugar in urine Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath	Increased appetite Sudden weight loss Drowsiness, lethargy Heavy, labored breathing Stupor, unconsciousness

This is the reason I work so hard.  This is the reason I blog, I advocate, I educate, I care. 
Help us find a cure!