#DBlogWeek Day 1 Diabetes and the Unexpected – A Sweet Life

Ill be responding to the prompts provided over the course of the week. I recommend checking out the topics and posts hereto keep up with all the bloggers participating this week.

Okay, time to respond to prompt #1! Here it is:

The prompt: Diabetes can sometimes seem to play by a rulebook that makes no sense, tossing out unexpected challenges at random. What are your best tips for being prepared when the unexpected happens? Or, take this topic another way and tell us about some good things diabetes has brought into your, or your loved ones, life that you never could have expected?

Expect the unexpected is one of the many taglines of the reality television show, Big Brother (of which I am, unashamedly, a fan). Its a warning to contestants that curveballs could, and will, be lobbed at them when they least anticipate it, and it certainly translates well into the life of a person with diabetes. Over the years, Ive experienced a number of mini emergenciesrunning out of test strips, forgetting my meter at home, dealing with failed insulin pods, coping with burnoutthese are just a few examples of episodes that always seem to happen when its the least convenient timing.

How have I prepared myself for the unexpected? Its become about anticipating all the possible scenarios: Maybe my pod will fail, so Ill need a backup, extra wipes, and insulin. Maybe I will have more than one low blood sugar on the go today, so Ill pack extra snacks. Maybe my PDM will run out of battery, so Ill carry replacements in my purse. Its a matter of being armed at all times with more supplies than its probably necessary to have, but Id rather be safe than sorry. In fact, my T1D mom and I always say to each other that wed rather have something and not need it, than not have it and need it. Its much easier to deal with the unexpected when you do everything you can to prepare for challengesI stress much less and dont panic to the same degree when I have everything I might need on my person.

To address the second part of the prompt, I think that one good thing that diabetes has brought into my life is a little more control over my eating habits than I might have without it. Since I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of four years old, I grew up understanding the importance of portion control because it was detrimental to my carb counting and accurate dosing. As an adult, I can also see how this has been a positive influence on my weight management and knowing when I may be going overboard with portion sizes.

I have moments when Im angry/frustrated/burnt-out from my diabetes, but every so often I like to remind myself that its not the worst thing in the world. Its made me stronger in ways I never expected, and for that, Im grateful.

Molly Johannes was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1997 at the age of four. She controls her diabetes with an OmniPod insulin pump, Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, and daily exercise. Molly graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in December 2014 with a degree in English. Currently, she works fulltime as an associate editor for a financial company. In her spare time, Molly enjoys spending time with her loved ones, reading books, watching movies, and playing games. Shes an avid fan of Disney, dark chocolate, wine, Harry Potter, and fun times. While Molly does not know a life without diabetes, she is determined to defy the daily obstacles the disease presents.

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#DBlogWeek Day 1 Diabetes and the Unexpected - A Sweet Life