How I fit it all in

When I reflect on how I’ve lived my life with diabetes it occurs to me there are two pathways.

I was diagnosed in 1986 and since then I’ve met or read about many people with T1D. Not all of us are the same – we are not a ‘club’, it does not define who we are and it shouldn’t define what we do. There are as many different approaches, passions, hates, tips and tricks to managing diabetes as there are people.  However, looking back on all these encounters it seems to me there are two pathways you can choose to follow.

I think the pathway you take or the mindset you adopt about diabetes [or any hurdle], makes a fundamental difference to quality of life and happiness. The first pathway is one of people who let diabetes control them, these people tend to change their behaviours, interests and activities to suit the condition. I’ve had some days like this. Wanting to put my life and what I do in the too hard, or can’t be arsed with the extra kerfuffle, box. Fortunately for me these days are rare.

Far more of my life, and nearly all of my days, are spent on another pathway. This is the path where I work out what I want to do, what I will enjoy and how diabetes can fit around that. I’ve been fortunate to meet and become friends with people with this mindset like [Seb , Donna, Bec, Roger]; or I’ve become inspired by others [like Gary Mabbutt, Stephen Redgrave and Brett Stewart] and their sporting achievements. I genuinely believe we are all happier and stronger with this fitter for having it mindset.

We probably all would like a holiday from diabetes – we have probably all also wondered what life might be like, or what could have been, if we didn’t have it. But for me that is where the thought stops. Those thoughts waste time. Your energy is much better directed to the here and now. ‘How can I?’ NOT ‘why can’t I? 

Some things we want to do with a chronic condition are inevitably harder, more complex and more risky with extra hurdles - but where there’s a will there’s a way. So, every time you face a choice about doing something you love, or trying something new and adventurous - think about which path you are on.