Diabetes Can

The Sixth Annual Diabetes Week is here! Thank you to Karen from Bitter-Sweet Diabetes for creating, coordinating and continuing such a great event that keeps us connected and promotes a positive life with diabetes.

And here is my first entry for the week (and also the first in a couple of months! Eeeekk!)

Diabetes has never stopped me doing anything. Full stop. Sure - It has made some things harder, it has made me need to take extra precautions, it has made me more aware of myself and my surroundings, sometimes more apprehensive, even anxious. It definitely made me mature quickly and it definitely forced me to take on a positive attitude. But I've had diabetes since the age of 10, at an age where there was still a whole lotta living to be done! And still is!

I always wanted to be an exchange student. I did that. Within days of graduating high school in Australia, I was boarding my flight to Texas with a year of adventures ahead of me. Diabetes can student exchange.

I always wanted live overseas in a culture whose language was completely foreign to me. I did that, landing in Italy and attending language school during the week, exploring the Tuscan countryside on the weekends. Diabetes can live abroad.

I always wanted to travel,  be adventurous, and try new things. I do that. Every year I make a conscious effort to plan a get away; to get out and explore somewhere new. Just last year I donned a wet-suit, big rubber boots and a headlamp as I leapt backwards off a waterfall into the darkness to go black water rafting in what is the amazing Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. This year we took on iFly, indoor sky diving in Singapore. Next year, or sometime sooner, I will take on something, or somewhere new again. Diabetes can be adventurous. 

I always wanted to be active. I try to do that everyday, and then some. I try to go to the gym four days a week, do HIIT four days a week and some sort of walk/hike 2-3 times a month. We even try to put something active into all our breaks and holidays. Diabetes can be active, energetic and full of zest.

I always wanted to fall in love and get married to some one who really 'got' me. I wed my amazing husband last year and continue falling in love every day. Diabetes can be loved.

I always wanted a passionate life with a happy career and strong social interests. I wanted to connect with people. I can do that, I do do that. Diabetes can have a successful career, contribute to society and be a meaningful part of community. 

I always wanted to be a goal setter, and to shoot for a sense of achievement. Well needless to say, the carb counting, graph watching, number crunching life of Diabetes can most definitely give me that!

While there's more that I could (CAN) add to this list, I'm going to stop here because I can, because I don't have a finite list, because Me with Diabetes can do a whole lot, a whole lot more than I even realise.