Life always decided to throw its biggest curve balls when we are least expecting it. I know for my family that curve ball came in January 2015 when my 10-year-old brother was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Now, I know many people don't and won't really understand this article, but all I'm really trying to do is spread a little love.
By no means am I saying that it is hard to love someone with T1D, because that is sooo far from the truth. But once you love them it changes your heart on what really makes life special. Here are the 21 things loving someone with T1D entails.
Loving someone with T1D means...
1. You will love them to the fullest because it could be their last day. This is true for anyone, but a life threatening disease just seems to bump up the odds to a nerve wracking level.
2. They will teach you the true meaning of adjustment and perseverance
3. That you bite your tongue when T2 diabetics try to say they understand what your loved one is going through even though that's typically so far from the truth.
4. But loving them also means that sometimes you just have to tell those people as well as others to shove it where the sun don't shine if they refuse to hear you out
5. You love them and know that this disease doesn't bring them down, they are just as capable of ANYTHING and EVERTHING as anyone else
6. You strive to live a healthy life because if they can do it so can you and at least you get the choice
7. That you won't follow the crowd in some diet craze that has words that were a death wish for them. Because no matter how "safe" the craze is, family comes first.
8. You step up to the plate and learn every single little detail about how their life works and how to save their life
9. You begin to see the bigger picture of both good and awful in not being able to take away the pain
10. That when people stare in public during their finger prick and shot you kindly smile and are glad this isn't a norm for them
11. Being able to just look at their face or hear their voice and know whether they are high or low.
12. Being educated enough to take care of them and not expecting them to shoulder the weight of your ignorance and their life all at once
13. Celebrating a 100 with a picture and hugs
14. Carrying around sugar in your pockets just in case a low decides to hit
15. Constantly reminding them to drink some water when their number decided to climb into the 200s or higher
16. Waking up a 2 a.m. to make sure they haven't dropped too low into the night
17. Answering tons of questions because educating people is the first step in awareness and eventually a cure
18. Letting yourself cry while you wonder why it was them and not you that got stuck in this situation
19. Becoming good at quick math for counting carbs and units of insulin
20. No letting them fight this battle alone, ever
21. And carries so much more to it than anyone who loves them can describe
I may not be the one who's life was drastically changed in the blink of an eye. Or the one who was fighting for my life and continues to on a daily basis. But that doesn't mean that this disease hasn't affected me. Loving someone with T1D has changed my entire world. Not only has my attitude improved, but I strive to have the courage and spirit just as they do. So, Bubba, thank you for being my hero and letting me be lucky enough to have someone as amazing as you, with or without this disease, to love.
