Hi
@emily deacon, Welcome to this zany world where life is a continual balancing act.
As another long termer I can think of diabetes as a jail sentence or as an opportunity.
But with either, it is things like
humour, having interests/hobbies, accepting some limits whilst pushing other boundaries which
makes life worthwhile.
And being an Aussie already defines me as being upside down, addled by the sun and speaking a foreign language called Strine.
Before 'graduating' to an insulin pump (this one is called 'Tonto"), I was on injections, "
javelin practice".
I did some crazy things like 7 day canoe trips down wilderness rivers, sailing across a river in a gale planing all the way (but completely outdone by
@helensaramay's stunt)!, going hypo at the swimming baths and found trying to get into the women's change rooms using an imaginary token at the turnstile (I was hypo, honest)!!
When I go shopping (on foot for exercise with my rucksack)
I carry a survivalist kit of pump spares, insulin, syringes, charging pack for pump and phone, and glucose tablets. Be Prepared is not about petrol.
Diabetes becomes integrated into one's life. You cannot put it on 'set and forget' even with a pump but I try to get the routine and work my life around it these days. I have probably made as many mistakes as anyone, more possibly but unlike
@Knikki, cake is not my go-to consolation, it is the insy-winsy dash of low-carb equivalent of Nutella. (it sort of exists), and some feel-good exercise. Each to his or her own.
The variety of consolation amongst people with diabetes is one of the joys. Something in life is predictable for once!!!
And as you read and contribute to this thread and others you will find that the unexplainable things that happens to one's BSLs are due to the weather, what coloured socks were worn today or yesterday, what road you decided to travel and these 'causes' are as good an explanation for our part in this Universe that one is likely to get.
It is how one's reacts to the imponderables that matters.
I learnt that when stressed I hold my breath, then breath shallowly. It is as if I am holding all the angst, worry in and I am stuck, unable to think, or adapt.
Breathe, in and out evenly, not too deep or shallow, not too rapidly. I am freed up,
I can think I can adapt rather than react. If you think about (a rare activity of mine) !!
counting to ten is about getting one's breathing back and letting brain function return (that will be the day. my wife would say)!!
Interests and hobbies allow distraction, a chance to socialise, develop one's skills, involve exercise of some sort - as long as these things do not drain one's coin, or risk one's life. (Well I did do all those dangerous things years ago, does that have to count)???
Along with humour is
self-humour - being able to see the funny side of serious things - not to have to or wanting to repeat them but to overcome the embarrassment, hurt or disappointment. Being a clown at times is better than weeping in one's kombucha.
As always I forget the author of this triad, but left it with you as the essentials of life how ever they happen:
Someone to love; Something to do; Something to look forward to.
Best Wishes and enjoy the pictures and cartoons below. Keep postings, you do not need to lick the stamps !!
...Mistakes........about fingerpricks...as the caption...Sometimes we.......life can have .....above all else
..........................and injections.........says................need to accept help...its challenges........stay cool
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