Changes in my world

Today marks the start of the Fifth Annual Diabetes Blog Week, and I’m proud to be participating again as I have from the beginning.  Many thanks to my good friend Karen for hosting this wonderful event and to those who helped her put everything together this year.

Today’s topic:  Change the World
Let’s kick off Diabetes Blog Week by talking about the diabetes causes and issues that really get us fired up. Are you passionate about 504 plans and school safety? Do diabetes misconceptions irk you? Do you fight for CGM coverage for Medicare patients, SDP funding, or test strip accuracy? Do you work hard at creating diabetes connections and bringing support? Whether or not you “formally” advocate for any cause, share the issues that are important to you.

For me, there are a number of diabetes related issues and causes that I care about deeply.  The stereotypes and stigmas surrounding type 2 diabetes, like the bullshit notion that needing insulin means you’re a failure, and the connections between diabetes and heart disease.  Just to name a couple.

Since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure in December 2008, I’ve thrown myself head first into educating myself, connecting with others who are in similar situations, and sharing my experiences via my blog and other venues in hopes of helping others facing the same issues that I am.  I’ve met a lot of amazing people on this journey and have experienced things, good and bad, that I never would have if it weren’t for the diseases with I live.  And the love and support I’ve received from dear friends in the Diabetes Online Community in my darkest hours has been incredible.

One cause that I’ve often neglected over the last five years is that of making time for taking care of myself and my own needs.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I do take care of myself.  But there always seems to be something that gets in the way. Something that takes my focus from my needs.  I put everyone else first, that’s just in my nature.  But I pay for it later.

I’m still dealing with many of the same struggles that I wrote about several months ago in the post, Trying to break the bonds.  And I’ve been dealing with new health issues and constant battles with my insurance company since the beginning of the year.  And to be quite honest, I’ve been feeling defeated and tired of fighting.  My ability and desire to write about everything has been all but non-existent.  My blog has been silent for 3 months and my level of engagement in the DOC has dwindled.  I’m still around, warming the bench a bit, but I’m around.

I turned 30 at the end of March.  I never expected to reach that age.  Five years ago, I was told I probably wouldn’t.  I’ve been thinking a lot about that.  And about the need to take care of some things.

Sometimes a break is needed.  Sometimes you have the focus on your own needs.  Sometimes you have to get your affairs in order, before you try to change the world.

That’s my cause.