Where I'm At. The Story So Far.

As mentioned in the previous post, I'm a pretty normal 29 year old.
I have 2 arms, 2 legs, a little pet, lots of incredible friends, great family etc. I worked hard at school, went to university, went to art college, worked for a few years before heading to the USA. I returned home having decided that I wanted and needed a career change... Into teaching.

So, last June I made the decision to apply for college to qualify as a Specialist Support Teacher. I currently work in a small primary school a few days a week, attend college one day a week and spend the rest of the time on the third floor at the Royal Free Hospital (RFH).

Although I totally stick with my decision to go back to college, the past year has been a drooling one. In some aspects, my life has never been better and I'm the happiest and most settled I've been in a long time- but in other ways, (fucking health ways) it's the worst it's ever been. For the last 5 or so years, as my birthday approaches, my dad and I have a conversation that generally goes...

Dad: 'That was a tough year.'
Me:   'Yeah, you could say that. Glad it's over. On to the next.'
Dad:  'This year year will be better. I just know it.'

Well, guess what? For the last 5 years we've had this conversation and I'm still waiting for it to get better.

While we're on this topic of how shit my life can be at times, I want to clarify that I am not writing this blog for pity, to play the victim or to moan  'why me? poor me...' etc. I just think through all this shit, lets try to make something positive out of it- IF I can. Lets document my journey, my experiences and see where we go/ end up. You never know, I may end up on Lorraine or the This Morning couch next to Holly and Philip! (Dream big)...

I've decided to share my story for a few reasons. Partly because on a serious note, I find writing my thoughts and feelings very therapeutic. I find that I can experience so many emotions relating to my health- everything from gratitude for the fact that my condition isn't life threatening (if well managed) to anger and frustration from the fact that I never get a day off. I can't just think...today I want to be a lazy slob and lie in bed eating pick n'mix with my chopstix left over from last night's take away. I have to get up to test my blood sugars no matter what 4-6 times a day; I need to eat regularly to avoid the highs* and the hypos (too low blood sugars); and I need to eat well. No fries for me. It's all this "posh" grub like quinoa and bulgur wheat with avocado and flax seeds etc etc. And don't get me wrong, I love eating well and eating healthy, but my point is, I have no option of a lazy day. My doting mother taught us the rights and wrongs of nutrition from a young age...I've always known to go for brown toast over white and poached eggs over fried. And when push comes to shove- it's sushi over Chinese any day of the week.

My second reason for writing this blog is as simple as I want people to share and read my story. Unfortunately Diabetes is an increasing issue for more and more people, and unless one is educated about the condition, it's so easy to end up on the wrong side of life and death. They do say that Diabetes is the silent killer disease as the consequences from it (if left unmanaged) can be serious, life shortening and life threatening. Diabetes is a manageable condition IF respected, managed and not feared. However, it can also lead to blindness, amputation and kidney failure if not well looked after.

This blog is not meant to scare you all away either. I've learned so many lessons throughout my 16.5 Diabetic years...but some have come too late and at a price. I'm not saying I could have avoided the mess I'm in now completely, but I definitely could have avoided some of the health disasters I've gotten myself into. Let's just say, as a teenager, Diabetes wasn't my priority...

It amazes me even now when I sit in the hospital waiting room, how many people have no clue about their own condition. A few weeks ago I overheard a woman telling her partner off for drinking a carton of apple juice. She asked why he bought juice and not water. He replied 'I was thirsty'. She said, 'why didn't you get water- you didn't need the sugar.' He answered...

'It's not sugar. It's a drink.'

My point exactly. There still needs to be loads done to educate people about Diabetes. If the people with the condition don't understand it, what hope is there for everyone else?