Sometimes.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 8:05AM Sometimes, I am thankful I have diabetes. Not that I love it. I don’t. Hate is a better word to describe it but the fact remains that I am thankful for it, sometimes.
When I am feeling down and out and need some support I am thankful that diabetes has brought amazing people into my life that I love like I love my own family. I read their stories, there Tweets, their Facebook updates and I feel like I am with “my people” and never ever feel alone.
When I guess my blood sugar before I test and am almost right I am thankful for diabetes. It forces me to listen to my body and to try to pay attention to how I feel. Sometimes curve balls are thrown but the truth is, I can usually say, “Oh man, I think I’m high,” and sure enough there will be a number confirming that on my One Touch.
I am thankful for diabetes when someone I have never met sends me a letter or a gift in the mail. Not for the gift but for this honest friendship and love that exists online and in the virtual world. These friends I have never met in person but whom I care for deeply. A lot of these people I am closer to then people I come in contact with daily. That is something I cannot deny that diabetes has given me.
At times when I get an email from a reader who thanks me for motivating them or making them think about something. That is a time I am very thankful for diabetes. Helping others is something I always try to do and diabetes has allowed me to have a reason and a voice.
No I would not wish it on my friends and before I had it I would never have wanted it. Heck if you offered me a cure I would take it in a heartbeat but you would not be reading this if it weren’t for diabetes.
And with that, I am thankful I have it.
Sometimes.
Reader Comments (16)
Ditto man! Ditto!!
The relationships, love, and friendship I have found through the online community (because of diabetes) is something I really treasure.
Very well put G-Money.
First! w00t! :-p
Well stated, George. Despite all the Highs and Lows that comes with The D, i echo your thoughts in what it has given me in life. The strength and will, the friendships, etc. Thanks for being such an inspiration in so many lives. None of this would be the same without you.
Finding the good in the bad. I am so glad I've met all of you. You all make my life more wonderful. So if I have to have diabets, I'm thankful that I got at least something good out of it. :)
It's often hard to see a reason to be thankful when dealing with any health condition. With what I've been through over the last year or so with Type 2 and Congestive Heart Failure, I can say that with a great deal of certainty.
However, if there is one thing that I am thankful for, it's the friendships that have been made with You and others in the DOC. The love and support that is shared throughout the DOC is something for which I am always thankful.
Great post, George.
Amen!!! I SO agree!!!
Well said. The George Rocks. (DMD too, just sayin')
:-D
((hugs))
What a beautiful post George. I hope you know what an inspiration and what a shining light you are to me and to Pete and to so many of us out in the D-OC. And even if the day comes that we are handed a real cure for this awful disease, I know we will keep our close bonds. We'll just be the "Formerly Known as D-OC"ers!!
George-
What a wonderful post! You inspire me every single day G -and I am so grateful and proud to call you friend....and Baconator General~
Kelly K
Great post, SuperG. And while I can happily imagine a life without diabetes, I can't imagine a life without my friend. :)
I thought bacon was the common denominator...
Helping others is so rewarding - just this week, two new people in my life because of new T2 diagnoses - from the outer blogosphere.
What a nice post! I've been feeling so much of this very same thing lately, so appreciate hearing your thoughts, too. What a great community I've stumbled upon and into. :)
Hmmmm, I'm not sure I'd use the word thankful to describe diabetes, but I would definitely say thankful when it comes to this great group of people we've assembled amongst us! I probably would never have met or come into contact with you guys otherwise and for that, I am thankful. But thankful for diabetes ... that's a stretch for me!!
I hear you!! It is great that you can find the good even though this disease brings so much bad stuff with it!
I am thankful for you G,
xoxox
g
It was so mice to read this post! My daughter, who is almost 12 and has had diabetes for 8 years, has said virtually the same thing to me many times before. The first time she told me she was "glad" she had it, (yes, she used the word "glad") I questioned her--asked her to explain what she meant. She told me that while diabetes has taken a lot from her and while she truly hates it and longs for life without it, it has also given so much to her that she can't imagine that she would be the same person if she had never had to live with it. I am okay with that. I would much rather her come from that place than sit around resenting her body and feeling bad for herself all the time.
I deal with people with diabeties daily and I have to say they are the nicest people.
I guess haveing diabeties can be humbleing
Steve
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