“We Can Do This”: Vol. 3

This is the third episode of “We Can Do This” – a series of group videos where people with diabetes come together around a common topic and share their diagnosis stories, lessons learned, and advice for others. Launched in 2012, the first video showcased five people who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as adults, while the second featured three people who live with diabetes-related anxiety.

Something that many people living with diabetes (of any type) face is the persistence of stereotypes and stigmas. You may have faced some of these inaccurate, and sometimes offensive, comments yourself – that people with diabetes “can’t eat candy”; that all you have to do is just take your medication and it all just works out; that type 1 only happens to kids (and they somehow magically will outgrow it); that type 2 diabetes is somehow “earned” due to obesity or laziness.

The truth is that type 2 diabetes exists on a large spectrum, and there is still much to learn about why and how it occurs, and in whom. Not every person diagnosed with type 2 diabetes fits the stereotypes, and we’d like to introduce you to a few: Phyllisa, Rachel, Joe, and Sue.

Video: Jess

Contributor: Jess; http://jess-meandd.blogspot.com/

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: “Whatever you’re feeling at any given time – it’s okay. It’s okay to be sad, angry, depressed, happy, furious… all of it’s okay. This disease is so emotional […] which is something people don’t really talk about.”

Video: Jennifer

Contributor: Jennifer; @datangeL82

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: “‎”My grad school education cost less than the four days I spent in the hospital for DKA. […] Diabetes is difficult, but just take it one day at a time… nobody does it perfectly.”

Video: Scott

Contributor: Scott Strange; www.strangelydiabetic.com

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: “I have a story to share – so do you. You won’t find a better audience anywhere, and I guarantee that someone will be impacted by it in a very meaningful way.”

Video: Amber

Contributor: Amber

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes; diagnosed as an adult one year ago

Standout Quote: “I had no idea how tricky this was going to be. When I do everything by the book and my blood sugars didn’t cooperate […] I had all these feelings of failure and guilt, and maybe I can’t do this. Maybe I’m just destined to have all of the complications that come with diabetes. [But] that’s where the diabetes online community came in – I’ve learned that diabetes doesn’t always follow the rules and everyone has bad days, but there are more good days than bad. And on the bad days, there’s always someone who has been there and understands, and can give advice without any kind of judging.”

Video: Melissa

Contributor: Melissa; www.sweetlyvoiced.com

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Standout Quote: “My medical team labeled me as ‘non-compliant’, and I grew more and more resentful at that – I was working so hard, and they made it sound like I was the only diabetic in the world that just didn’t have it together.”

Video: Jennifer

Contributor: Jennifer (@fiberenabler on Twitter)

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes

Standout quote: “It’s taken me twenty years to realize that my blood sugar does not dictate that I am a good person; that I am worthwhile; that I am worth loving; that I am worth caring about. It is not who you are.”

Video: Bob

Contributor: Bob; @rpederse

Connection: Person with type 2 diabetes

Standout Quote: “For me, success does not lie in a number on the scale, or even a number on my blood glucose meter – but on doing the best I can to live a healthy life from day to day. Don’t let discouragement rob you of your piece of mind and your physical health. Forget about the things you can’t do this, and focus instead on the things you can do.”

Video: “Blondie’s Adventure”

Contributor: Tasha

Connection: Person with type 1 diabetes (diagnosed in 1999)

Standout Quote: “I’m not really sure how I’m doing. Some days are great, and I feel like I can do this… and some days I eat too much or I binge drink, and my sugars are everywhere and I think, “Man, I CAN’T do this”. […] I feel like I’m just getting into working over my denial and guilty feelings, and […] really making [diabetes] part of me and my life. […] For a long time I tried to hide it from people, like “Oh, don’t worry about it.” But I DO worry about it. And I try my best every day. I’m not perfect – I have never been perfect!”