Instructions Not Included

 Leaving it til late in the game here, I know, but I thought that, since I missed it last year, I really should get around to doing the '30 things you might not know about my Invisible Illness' meme, being as this is the last day of Invisible Illness Awareness Week for 2010. So here we go.

1. The illness I live with is: Mainly? Type 1 Diabetes, but of course you knew that. However, also Asthma and IBS, which you might not have known. But I'm going to be answering this in reference to T1.

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2009

3. But I had symptoms since: The start of 2009, at the latest.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Being much more self disciplined, and analytical.

5. Most people assume: That T1 is either the end of the world, or it isn't a big deal. Neither of those statements are true.

6. The hardest part about mornings are: When I've gone to bed higher than I would like, or I've had an evening hypo. Either way, I always feel like absolute rubbish the morning after.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: Scrubs! Love it to death, and also the fact they have a diabetic character (Turk has Type 2, in case you don't watch it) whose diabetes doesn't just disappear after one episode. Also the bonkers humour is just about bang on.
 

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My Bayer USB. Honestly, I can't imagine a meter I'd rather use. 

9. The hardest part about nights are: When something goes wrong, and I have to make the call on what to do.

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) Well, being as insulin is neither, none, actually.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Have no time for people who are flogging false hope through 'treatments' that have no actual medical application. Insulin is the only treatment option for T1. However, I'm not completely dismissive of 'alternative' therapies when they are appropriate. I'm a big advocate of aromatherapy and massage, for instance, but I would never suggest that these should be used in isolation.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: to instead try and make invisible illnesses 'visible'. It's achievable to think that we can break taboos and educate people about invisible illnesses, whilst science works on cures.

13. Regarding working and career: There's a part of me that's concerned about broaching the subject of diabetes with my next boss, whenever I move on. I think that's part of the reason I'd either like to freelance or run my own company.

14. People would be surprised to know: That sometimes I'll say things are ok, because I don't really want to explain the whole story. But it's not as easy as I'll make out.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: That sometimes diabetes will make demands that you have to pay attention to, and can't push aside. Also sometimes you've got to be a little bit selfish.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I've never really thought that there was anything I couldn't do.
 

17. The commercials about my illness: I've never actually seen one. Although, the leaflets that come with various magazines and letters that always seem to be for hearing aids, walk in baths, and funeral plans do annoy me.
 

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Drinking fruit juice, just because I'm thirsty.
 

19. It was really hard to have to give up: Grazing.
 

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: DanceSport - I love it.
 

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Cherish it. Not having to calculate every bite of food, or think ten steps ahead would be wonderful. Oh, and drink a lot of fruit juice.
 

22. My illness has taught me: That you can't ask for patience without expecting that you'll be given a chance to show how you can be patient.
 

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: It could be worse, it could be a,b or c. Yes, I know I could have any number of other things. But I don't, I have Type 1 Diabetes. Telling me that doesn't help me deal with what I have, it just makes me feel like I should feel bad or guilty when I find things difficult.
 

24. But I love it when people: Genuinely want to know more, or ask questions.
 

I know that You can do all things, and no plan of Yours can be ruined (Job 42:2)
 

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: It's ok to be scared, but there are people just like you out there who just a bit further down the road. They will help you.
 

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: I'm actually probably a more well rounded person with my illness than I was without it.
 

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Just sit with me when I needed it.
 

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I meant to do this last year, but never got around to it!
 

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like you have a lot of patience! And that you might post your own list.

So I've been a little bit on the quiet side recently. As the old cliché goes, it's not you, it's me. It's been a busy and strange month, and unfortunately, writing here had to take a back seat during that time. 

I did miss you all though! I've been quiet all over the place, really - Twitter, Facebook, forums. Not through a matter of choice, but rather necessity. I had certain things that I had to get done. For the most part, it's done, but some things are still yet to be done.

Relating to my last post, about pumping - thank you to those of you who commented, or spoke to me elsewhere - I really appreciate your thoughts. I have decided to go ahead with pumping, at least for the time being. It does make sense to try. So I'll be starting at either the end of October, or the start of November. No news yet on what pump I'll be using, and I've still not decided whether I want to push for the Animas or the Medtronic. Still one more decision to make there!

October's going to be another busy time. Can't believe how quickly it's rolled around, but it's only a few weeks until I start my MA. With that, and Dancesport starting out again, I'm going to be rather stretched for time. Hopefully I won't go 'dark' for as long as I just did - it's all about the routine!

Interesting piece of news for you though. If you're at all nearby, I'm going to be speaking (briefly) at the Diabetes UK Volunteering Conference for the Northern & Yorkshire Office. So I'll be in Darlington on 9th October, if you're in the vicinity and want to say hi!

So, if you're still reading despite me being quiet for this long, hi, again, and let me know what you think of the new layout!