Diabetes Blog Week: Accomplishments Big and Small

Prompt: We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.).

This one is a no brainer for me. NEEDLES!!!  Those darn needles give me the heebie-jeebies.  They always have.  I was that girl in 9^th grade biology who had to leave the room and visit the nurse on the day when we pricked our fingers for the blood typing lesson.  The very mention of needles pissed me off and made me cry.  My family knew how to push my buttons and loved torturing me about it.  I’m not sure how I made it through five pregnancies and child birth. That’s still a mystery.  But even when my kids got their immunizations, I would have to look away and think of something else….or make daddy do it. It’s bad. I’m seriously needle phobic!!!!

So when I learned that my sweets had diabetes and I would have to give her shots, I don’t know if you can imagine my terror.  This disease is my nemesis!!!  I was crying long before the first prick.  I wonder if they make you go through sleep deprivation in the hospital so by the time you have to give that first shot, you are so exhausted, grouchy and devoid of feeling that you just don’t care.  That helped! 

I’m proud to say that I’ve found my big girl panties and I wear them most everyday.  I can now give a shot without making an “ugly face”.  Of course I’ve had to invent ways to strap sweets down so she can’t move a muscle…cause I’m still not that good at it, but I’m doing it.   And the finger pricks…cake!!!  Yeah me!!!!