Six Things: According to Tom Petty & Me

Today is annual D-Blog Day.

The point is to not only unite diabetes bloggers, but to bring us together for the purpose of raising awareness.

So, with a Tuesday marking this now-annual online event, I give you this year's topic: Six Things that I think You Should Know About Diabetes. Please, take note.

1. Type 1 isn't Type 2. Yes, there are different types. We T1s are a smaller percentage, not part of what's sometimes referred to as the epidemic-sized "silent killer." This is a chronic autoimmune condition that I didn't bring on myself, and I won't grow out of. There's no cure-all and insulin is only life support. It takes constant care, ninja-like skills to manage each and every day without any vacation. Just because I don't look "sick" doesn't mean that I'm not living with a chronic condition. Yes, there's a reason we in this crazy community call it an "invisible illness." Do you wonder what Type 1 diabetes looks like? Well, you may look at me and see this:

Me Being Pretending To Be All Kinds of Mr. Normal Guy

Even though, even as you're looking at me, I may feel like this:

The Inner Crazy, Insane Person With Diabetes

2. Diabetes Police (and some in the medical community) say that you can control diabetes, that after a given period of time like 26 years, "you should be doing better." This is a myth. Diabetes often means uncertainty, even when you follow the rules and do everything right. Young Eilish's recent death is proof of this. It's unfair and really does suck, but it is what it is. We do our best. Do I come to you, Mr or Mrs. Non-D, and interrogate and lecture you about how you're failing to stay young when you've got so many years under your belt? No. Please understand that some things are just the way they are despite our best efforts, and leave us be. Oh, and by the way: "Yes, we CAN eat that ______."

3. Hey, Insurance Company: I'm not out to just tag more claims onto my policy with you. No, I don't WANT to test my blood 8-12 times a day. I'd rather not, actually. My calloused-fingertips would like the rest. But it's a life-maintaining tool that will actually help you SAVE money in the long-run, and you should jump at that chance. Same with a Continuous Glucose Monitor. If you want to deny me and later fork over larger amounts for paramedics, ambulances, and hospital fees, then don't come crying to me later on. I gave you the chance to avoid it. Your own stupid fault if you didn't listen.

4. Tom Petty can apparently tap into my soul and sing songs in the voice of my pancreas: Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me (insulin, of course!). You Don't Know How It Feels (to be diabetic). We all know the Waiting Is the Hardest Part when coming down from a High, but we don't want to find ourselves Free Falling way too Low. You Wreck Me, diabetes. When it comes right down to it, we people with diabetes just have to say Damn the Torpedoes and just step out Into the Great Wide Open to start Running Down a Dream.

5. I've been Way Up High and Way Down Low, and sometimes feel lost and uncertain. But not alone. Not anymore. Thanks to the Diabetes Online Community, which transcends the online world and filters into offline advocacy and friendships. Without the DOC, I'd be less accountable to myself and my D would be managed much differently to my own detriment. In my opinion, every person who has or is impacted by diabetes should be a part of this incredible network of support.

6. My Busted Pancreas Can Kick the Islet Cells of Your Lazy Pancreas any day, honor roll or not. Put that on your bumper sticker, bee-atch.

So that's Diabetes Six for Today, courtesy of both Tom "My Pancreas" Petty and I. This isn't the only blog on this blogging bandwagon partaking in the festivities today, though. You can find more entries here over at The Diabetes OC. Please, take a look and let everyone know you came by!