Diabetes Blog – Happy-Medium.net

 
It’s day 5 of Diabetes Blog Week, and today we’re answering the question: “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”.

Kind of a hard topic to put into words, but it’s a good exercise for me. Because occasionally, I’ll get this random, fleeting moment when someone asks about my diabetes, or someone is confronted with my diabetes, and I have a short window of time to say something insightful about it.

I need a diabetes elevator speech.

In business, or in real life (IRL), when you’re on the elevator and an important executive; or a potential client; or an inquisitive member of the general public steps in and asks about your insulin pump, you’ve only got a 20-30 second window to impress. So you go to your elevator speech. Something that briefly says who you are, what you’re about, and where you’re going. Prepared in advance, memorized pretty much word for word, delivered like a champion.

How to begin? Maybe I talk about how I’m a type 1 diabetic, which means my pancreas is messed up and doesn’t work properly anymore. And it won’t work properly again. No need to go into that Islet of Langerhans thing. We’ve only got a short ride, right?

Have to mention the pump. I have to have insulin to survive, and the pump works pretty well in place of the thing that used to serve the purpose.

There are the everyday issues. High BGs, low BGs, eating, exercising, measuring carbs, keeping the weight in check. That’s in addition to work, relationships, family.

And people realllly need to know that insulin isn’t a cure, and not everyone has the same access to care, drugs, and equipment that I do.

Ready? Here’s my diabetes elevator speech:

This? Oh, it’s my insulin pump. I’m a type 1 diabetic, which means my pancreas is permanently broken and I need insulin to survive. This thing costs a fortune, but it really does the trick. I worry all the time about the people who have the same curse that I do, and don’t have access to something like this to help them stay alive. Daily struggles? Sure, I’ve got them. Who doesn’t? But overall, I live a pretty normal life. And I’m not going anywhere for a long time.

That’s What They Should Know, Charlie Brown….

A Disclaimer
I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.