***Warning, this topic might appear a little morbid to some, but if you follow it through, it shouldn't be***
Having spent a long time in discussion with a buddhist friend, I realised that I have a very philosophical point of view in relation to Diabetes and me. We were discussing, as you do over a beer, life the universe and everything and he asked me this question (all be it in a slightly different way). My answer, in a more rambling fashion was, simply,
"I have learned that I am mortal and I am aware that I will die. I have significantly more power over how and when that happens than many people realise".
Now this might seem a very depressing, morbid thought, but it shouldn't be taken that way. For me, becoming diabetic showed me that my life would have an end, and made it very clear that I was now in control of that life.
The average human condition is one of never, truly believing that you are mortal, and often learning the hard way that you are. Instead, I have a daily reminder that I am, and daily opportunities to make the most of it. Whilst Diabetes isn't curable and is maintainable, having this knowledge is an incredible strength. It allows you to make decisions that enable you to take on what life throws at you and make the most of the opportunities presented to you.
What this realisation also gave to me is the understanding that while, yes, sometimes it may be a struggle to keep your blood sugars exactly where they are supposed to be and make sure you have a good Hba1c, there is far more in life than just these things, and while they need to be looked after and controlled, life is there to be lived. Maintenance of yourself is simply another risk factor to be added in to the mix and be aware of, and it shouldn't be the key thing that drives your behaviour. I have given myself boundaries in which I should operate, but I'm not going to spend my entire life worrying down to the minutiae of it, as complications will happen and I will pass of this mortal coil. Keeping them to a minimum is important, but having a life is more important, so balance is key.
Finally, I think that it has given me a framework within which I can make much more effective risk assessments. As I know what the worst case is for me from here, how do other things affect that, how should I approach risky things and what should I do to mitigate risks? Are risks really as bad as people think... And the answer to this is invariably, probably not (now I'm not talking about going on holiday to Syria here).
So, while it seems like an pessimistic realisation, I think it has opened up my mind to a much more philosophical point of view and has been a much greater enabler to my life. I am limited only be what I choose to be limited by and not by how others choose to limit me.
How do you see it?
Having spent a long time in discussion with a buddhist friend, I realised that I have a very philosophical point of view in relation to Diabetes and me. We were discussing, as you do over a beer, life the universe and everything and he asked me this question (all be it in a slightly different way). My answer, in a more rambling fashion was, simply,
"I have learned that I am mortal and I am aware that I will die. I have significantly more power over how and when that happens than many people realise".
Now this might seem a very depressing, morbid thought, but it shouldn't be taken that way. For me, becoming diabetic showed me that my life would have an end, and made it very clear that I was now in control of that life.
The average human condition is one of never, truly believing that you are mortal, and often learning the hard way that you are. Instead, I have a daily reminder that I am, and daily opportunities to make the most of it. Whilst Diabetes isn't curable and is maintainable, having this knowledge is an incredible strength. It allows you to make decisions that enable you to take on what life throws at you and make the most of the opportunities presented to you.
What this realisation also gave to me is the understanding that while, yes, sometimes it may be a struggle to keep your blood sugars exactly where they are supposed to be and make sure you have a good Hba1c, there is far more in life than just these things, and while they need to be looked after and controlled, life is there to be lived. Maintenance of yourself is simply another risk factor to be added in to the mix and be aware of, and it shouldn't be the key thing that drives your behaviour. I have given myself boundaries in which I should operate, but I'm not going to spend my entire life worrying down to the minutiae of it, as complications will happen and I will pass of this mortal coil. Keeping them to a minimum is important, but having a life is more important, so balance is key.
Finally, I think that it has given me a framework within which I can make much more effective risk assessments. As I know what the worst case is for me from here, how do other things affect that, how should I approach risky things and what should I do to mitigate risks? Are risks really as bad as people think... And the answer to this is invariably, probably not (now I'm not talking about going on holiday to Syria here).
So, while it seems like an pessimistic realisation, I think it has opened up my mind to a much more philosophical point of view and has been a much greater enabler to my life. I am limited only be what I choose to be limited by and not by how others choose to limit me.
How do you see it?