Love, Light, and Insulin

Yesterday was International Day of People with Disabilities, but today it’s just as important. You never know who has a disability that you can’t see. This quote is the one I put on my blog 3 years ago, and it’s close to my heart. The idea of that never occurred to me until I was the one on the other end of it. Back before I ever relied on my wheelchair because of Stiff Person Syndrome, I would take the bus, and I’d be so grateful to get a seat because it would be a strug...gle in many ways to be standing upright. Knowing I had a disability, if the bus was full I would take a priority seat, but I’d feel so ashamed doing it. It felt like I could feel the stares of people thinking about my rudeness for taking one of those seats from someone who might really need it. And I would think, If only they knew... As someone who sometimes has an invisible disability, and sometimes has a visible disability, I’ve seen the obvious difference in the way I’m viewed and treated when I’m seen in my chair, over and over again. And I don’t blame people at all. No one’s a mind reader, and it’s called invisible illness for a reason. But that’s why awareness is so important. No one knows to even think about invisible disabilities if they don’t know they exist. Next time you’re around people, take a second to look around keeping an open mind. Know that any of those people that you don’t know well could be living through pain you don’t know about. Any of those people could have a life-altering condition. You never know who is going home to do chemo treatment, or who has a life-sustaining medical device under their clothes. Be kind, and be open to what your eyes can’t see.

From Type 1 Diabetes Memes

Let’s all rally together to support Sierra in her new journey! An amazing person to represent us

Let’s talk about T1D warning signs Every time I hear of a child or adult who is in the hospital fighting for their life, or worse- having lost their life after a Diabetes misdiagnosis, it breaks my heart. These posters should be in every pediatrician’s office and every family doctor's office, because with one simple blood sugar test, lives could be saved. As a parent, please be aware of what doctors often mistake T1D for. I’ve heard far too many stories that go like this:... A kid gets sick, and they think it’s a normal bug. They take their kid to the doctor because it doesn’t seem to be going away. The doctor tells them it’s the flu and to let it run its course. So they listen, but their kid keeps on deteriorating and their *mom/dad alarms* are going off. They take them back to the doctor and the doctor prescribes them some antibiotics. They take their kid home and watch as they seem to fade away. They decide it’s enough, that this can’t be the flu, and it’s time to go to the hospital. By the time they arrive at the hospital, their kid is completely lethargic and practically unconscious. They’re taken back right away and are quickly told that their kid has Type 1 Diabetes and that they’re lucky they brought them in now, because a few more hours and they would have died. Their kid is in severe DKA and needs to go to the ICU. T1D CAN HAPPEN IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE So as an adult, please be aware of the signs yourself. And if you feel concerned at all, ask your doctor to test your blood sugar, or if it could be Type 1. The more these warning signs are shared, the more cases of DKA can be prevented. Look out for: Excessive thirst Weight loss Frequent urination/Bed wetting Blurry vision & headaches Fruity breath odour Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting Extreme fatigue & weakness Thanks to Beyond Type 1 for their ongoing attempts to spread posters like this in doctor’s offices around the world. Ask your doctor’s office if they could put up a poster. #t1d #dkaawarenesscampaign #dka