7 Years of Living

Today is the 7th anniversary of my diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes and Congestive Heart Failure. Wow, only seven years? It feels like so much longer. Alas, just seven years. Seven years of knowing, caring, surviving, and sharing.

Seven years of knowing that I have a two invisible chronic illnesses for which there are no cures. Seven years of knowing that I’m not alone in my fight. That there are millions of others fighting the same things. Seven years of getting to know some of the most amazing people around. Lots of love to everyone in the Diabetes Online Community.

Seven years of caring more about my well being. Seven years of doing everything I possibly could to beat the odds against me. Seven years of caring for those around me, both online and offline. Seven years of being me.

Seven years of surviving the many challenges before me. Seven years of enduring the daily routines required to stay alive. Seven years of painful medical procedures and tests to monitor changes both good and bad.

Seven years of sharing my story with the world. Sharing both my victories and my defeats, showing what it’s really like to live with these conditions. Sharing the message that it is possible to live well with both. And that there is no shame in being diagnosed with them.

You’ve surely noticed the repetition in this post by now, and you may very well be ready to leave it. And, honestly, I really can’t blame you. I’d love to leave it all behind too. But I can’t. That’s life with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure.

7 Comments

Sue

12/29/2015 at 4:23 pm

Although diabetes sucks, I’m glad it introduced me to a great friend like you! Here’s to many more years of living!

Mike

12/29/2015 at 7:55 pm

Thanks, Sue! Having great friends like you certainly makes this life easier.

Colleen

12/29/2015 at 7:09 pm

Other people really don’t “get” how much support and love and kindness and advice and hugs and – I could go on forever – we all receive from each other.
I’m glad you share the good and the not so good with all of us.
Consider yourself hugged!

Mike

12/29/2015 at 7:55 pm

Thanks, Colleen! (((Hugs)))

Susan C.

12/29/2015 at 8:28 pm

Keep sharing, and we’ll keep on caring (even if you don’t) 🙂 See you at the next DunCon you go to (I’m going to both as a treat).

Phyllisa

12/30/2015 at 6:24 am

So glad you are with us Mike! Cheers to MANY more 7 years

Laddie

12/30/2015 at 9:57 am

Congrats on the last seven years. Wish we didn’t have to talk about things like diaversaries or cardiaversaries or whatever, but that’s our lot in life. So sending hugs for the last seven years and many more sevens of years in the future.

Sue

12/29/2015 at 4:23 pm

Although diabetes sucks, I’m glad it introduced me to a great friend like you! Here’s to many more years of living!
- Mike
  
  12/29/2015 at 7:55 pm
  
  Thanks, Sue! Having great friends like you certainly makes this life easier.
Colleen

12/29/2015 at 7:09 pm

Other people really don’t “get” how much support and love and kindness and advice and hugs and – I could go on forever – we all receive from each other.
I’m glad you share the good and the not so good with all of us.
Consider yourself hugged!
- Mike
  
  12/29/2015 at 7:55 pm
  
  Thanks, Colleen! (((Hugs)))
Susan C.

12/29/2015 at 8:28 pm

Keep sharing, and we’ll keep on caring (even if you don’t) 🙂 See you at the next DunCon you go to (I’m going to both as a treat).
Phyllisa

12/30/2015 at 6:24 am

So glad you are with us Mike! Cheers to MANY more 7 years
Laddie

12/30/2015 at 9:57 am

Congrats on the last seven years. Wish we didn’t have to talk about things like diaversaries or cardiaversaries or whatever, but that’s our lot in life. So sending hugs for the last seven years and many more sevens of years in the future.