So today I was reminded of an infinitely visited topic, and that is why having diabetes is my fault. I'm not really sure where along the line someone decided that whatever they overheard on a commercial was enough to certify them as an expert on the subject, for any disease or ailment, but pwds seems to suffer the brunt of this syndrome quite frequently.
You know those people who hear you have some disease or sickness and they tell you "oh, but if you have a positive outlook, you can get yourself healthy again!" After about twenty of these encounters, you find yourself playing out a scenario in your head where the next person who says something along those lines witnesses you begin to twitch, still smiling, before babbling "of course it's my fault, what was i thinking? i'm so silly!" and punching them square in the face.
I know I'm not the only one out there. I've run into several of these people lately. I don't mind that you're wrong about everything you think you know about diabetes. I don't mind that you don't have a necessity to know the difference between high and low blood sugar, between types 1 and 2 diabetes, between a syringe and a lancet, between a pump and a glucose monitor, between Novolog/Humalog and Lantus. I don't mind that you don't have to continue learning even more about these things because your life depends on it.
I only mind that for some reason, you think you know how to "fix" me. I'm the one that has to live with the immune system that attacks it's own body. I'm the one that has to deal with this on a daily basis. I'm not pitying myself -- there are very few differences between me and any one other person because of my diabetes (namely, that most other people have fully-functional pancreii*). I don't look down on myself or think that I should be treated differently. I can do anything you can do -- with the exception of producing my own insulin.
I'm just saying that, after a while, the Wilford Brimely "You have DIE-BEE-TUS" jokes aren't funny anymore. (Yes, I get it. I have Die-Bee-Tus. Ha, ha, ha.) After a while, the "oh, wait, you can't have a cookie" statements get old (because, well, YES I CAN. Don't try and take my cookie away. I'll bite you.) After a while, the "I heard on a commercial that they have a cure now" comments have failed to inspire the false-hope/major-letdown feeling (it's not a cure...it's a new meter/pump/test-strip/lancet).
Although I will never get tired of younger girls saying "Oh wait. Isn't that the thing Nick Jonas has?" Because yes, yes it is. And yes, he is a very good looking guy. Don't worry, Nick...if you get too much sugar from these fangirls, I'll be more than willing to share my insulin (; Hey, it's not my fault you coined the phrase "Slow down, Sugar, I'm diabetic." I do take full responsibility for the overuse on my part of that phrase, though.
So yes. Sometimes I will be annoyed that the whole world doesn't know the difference between types 1 and 2, or the causes/effects of either. But I will never blame the world for giving me diabetes, I will never blame the world for not knowing, and I will never look down on myself or anyone else because of a sickness. I do not pretend to know everything about diabetes, let alone other diseases in which people suffer from a tragic unawareness by the masses. I only say that it is not my fault, nor is it anyone else's, that I have what I have.
It doesn't make me a different person, and I'd be ridiculously grateful if you would please stop forwarding me chain e-mails and memes about Wilford Brimley. (I'm kidding. Forward away. But just know...you don't have to watch what I eat and try and limit my cookie intake. I can care for myself. I've had the beetus long enough (: I promise.)
*pancreii -- this isn't the technical plural for pancreas. i believe it's actually "pancreata", but pancreii sounds cooler and this is my blog so stick that in your juicebox and suck it. novolog ninja, OUT! (:
<3 jordan
Sidenote: For all you d-blog readers, dia- and non-dia, check this out. [[ http://t.co/kjNH1Gx ]] My pump faceplate FELL OFF. like, the WHOLE THING. on friday at about four in the afternoon. i was out of cell range and couldn't call in for a new one until about five forty-five, either. scary! fortunately animas pump support is amazing and overnighted me a new one...saturday morning! (:
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