Well, it’s happened again. I’ve managed to check off another year of living with Type 1 Diabetes.
The official milestone occurred on January 30/31 (it’s a long story). I went to work, where things were crazy busy, but I managed to get through it. After work, I went home, had a modest dinner, and wrote a little. Kinda boring, right?
That’s the thing this year. It’s not that announcing that I’m still here after 26 years isn’t wonderful. But I think I may have moved over from the “how many years can I rack up living with diabetes?” phase to the “how much more of my life can I live with diabetes?” phase. So far, I’m a little over a year short of diabetes being with me for half of my life.
Go ahead… do the math… I’ll wait.
I guess it would be natural to wonder, since I’m almost in my mid-fifties, if I should be worried about whether I’ll be around much longer considering my chronic health status. But I don’t really think in those terms.
It’s a normal thing to consider, but I also try to remember that the time spent worrying about what might happen (and when it might happen) takes time away from the time I have left to make the rest of my life meaningful. And fun. And spectacular. Besides… who, other than a teenager, thinks of someone my age as near the end?
26 isn’t a big diaversary, and I didn’t do anything fantastic to celebrate. Not that doing so isn’t okay. To be honest, I’m happy as hell to have made this milestone. But I’m more interested in what year 27, and 37, and 47, and all the years in between have in store. I’m not afraid, and I’m ready for the experience. Let’s go.
Diabetes Blog - Happy-Medium.net 
Comments
I never congratulate anyone for diaversaries, as I find that kind of annoying (who celebrates simply being able to live? Hello?!) but its still an anniversary of sorts, and for that, deserves acknowledgement. I personally marked 40 years with T1D in July 2016. I celebrated by bolusing for a piece of chocolate cake, which I decided I really didn’t want anyway, so I made up for it with Skittles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll congratulate you, Stephen — Happy Diaversary (belatedly), FWIW. I personally never marked it until finding the DOC, and realizing that I was actually flirting with danger more often than not in those days when it came to Lows (and some Highs). That’s when I decided to start marking my Diaversary, because I managed to survive. And it didn’t take me whenever it had the chance. Bleak, probably. But with age, too, I’m starting to get more nervous and wonder how long there’s left — especially with all the other not-directly-diabetes-issues and just life in general. Anyhow, thanks for sharing and here’s to 26 and MANY MORE, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That seems like absolutely the right attitude to me!! But part of me wants to celebrate with you this week because you and your 26 years with diabetes deserve it!!
LikeLike
I say any year you can check off is a double good year. Happy Diaversary.
LikeLike
26 fucking years. 26 FUCKING YEARS is a long time.
Keep on going man.What other choice do we have?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your attitude about a lot of things and this is one of them. I’m 11 years with diabetes and some days I go about my days enjoying all of the big and little moments that happen. Every once in awhile I find myself in a bit of a funk worrying about whether or not I’ll make it to fifty mostly unscathed by this disease. You and countless others have been inspirations and encouraging to people like me. So happy diaversary friend. And here’s to many more.
LikeLiked by 1 person