Contented

 

It's been over 3 months since I slapped my fingers around a keyboard and published a blog post. A quarter of a year seems like a long time. 3 months from today, we'll be in 2025 - a quarter of a century already gone! It seems like yesterday when the world was worried about the "Y2K bug." We survived, of course. Later, we survived conflicts, a pandemic, and a lettuce as the UK Prime Minister.

You're probably not here for an overview of the last 25 years, but I am going to talk about the last 3 months and how it's impacted my T1D. Then, a look at what the future holds.

In June, I wrote the post Changes in relation to what was about to begin - a new role in a galaxy far, far away from Diabetes. It's been fantastic. Several friends have asked "why the change?" and they enquired about the work. I did mention some aspects in the Changes post however, the change just landed in my lap. I did pursue the opportunity when it was presented to me, of course. If I didn't I wouldn't have been offered the job. The job? I write content. Some of you are really great writers with positions in the media and journalism. I can't claim to be that talented, although I do feel comfortable with the subjects I work on and the briefs sent to me.

So, how has that affected my T1D? A lot is said about how physical activity impacts blood glucose. That usually makes sense to me. Although, we're all different and I don't believe a "black and white" direction for advice is right in that area. Little is said about how mental exertion can move the line on a CGM graph. I've always been aware of it to some extent from previous roles, education, and just concentrating really hard on something simple like a family quiz. Mental exertion is undoubtedly lowering my blood glucose.

Right now, this recently rediscovered reason for a hypo isn't impacting me at all. Hybrid Closed-Loop is the techie friend that has my diabetic back. In addition, I work from home. Taking a break isn't an issue, allowing me to grab snacks, sweets, coffee, etc before a low becomes serious. Without the tech, the alarms, the suspended insulin, day-to-day work would be much tougher. 

Of course many of you don't have HCL. Maybe you don't want it or you're patiently waiting your turn to have it signed off. It's probably true that many of you have to deal with hypos at work - in an actual workplace, rather than at home. I have huge admiration for you in either or both situations if you're battling frequent hypos while trying to do your bit for society.

Greater tech access is inevitable on these shores. The constant push and advocacy from strong voices will undoubtedly open the doors for all with T1 in the coming year or two. I think that's a massive step in the right direction for diabetes care. It'll reduce instances of complications and offer a much better long term outcome for Type 1 Diabetics.

Do we (as T1Ds) need more? 

Yes, I know, a cure! Wouldn't that be lovely? I really hope for the best in that regard, but hope is all it is. The heart wants it desperately, the brain says to not give much attention to pipe dreams. 

The answer? No.

As tech develops, perhaps even a true "artificial pancreas" hits the market, then the answer will change. Until then, if you have the best care, medicine and tech, then that's as good as it gets. 

I do realise that HCL isn't for everyone for a plethora of reasons. I hope that where you are now feels like as good as it gets, or tech and meds advance soon for you to put you in that place.

Pipe dreams can become reality in time. It might be a cure, or it might be tech so advanced that it's almost the same thing. I have no doubt that one of those things will happen eventually, probably the latter. Hang in there if you're struggling frequently. 

When we get there, diabetes posts, communities, and content will likely drop off the radar in areas that no longer have the need for them. Perhaps if you've been paying attention, you'll have already noticed that decline beginning. In some ways it's a sad thing. 

There are so many great people with big hearts involved in diabetes socials, sites, charities, etc. As the years go by, as tech becomes our crutch, those entities will be less in demand. There will be no need for that type of content.

 From June 30 2024, all coffee donations will be forwarded to Action4Diabetes. 

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38

I find it difficult to avoid reflecting on events when an anniversary approaches. Sometimes, that reflection is very positive!- many great things have happened in my life. Sometimes, it's less positive and it's difficult to avoid wondering "what if..."

What if I wasn't diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on my 8th birthday in 1984? How different might my life have been? Pretty deep questions and I imagine many of you have asked yourself the same. It's a pointless thing to do, of course, because we can't change what has been and each time I allow myself to ponder the impossible that is quickly where my thoughts finish. Acceptance is a massive part of living with diabetes and probably many other conditions and disabilities. With no cure in sight, it's important to play the hand that life gave to you. If you're still in the game then you haven't lost even if life dealt you a hand that looks like a foot. A diabetic foot?  No, let's not go there!

Acceptance is where I am with my T1D. It's given me a kicking, robbed me of various things not least some of my eyesight, yet I don't feel anger or upset towards it. I've been through the grief and it's a very normal thing to experience when you're diagnosed with a chronic illness and any complications from that - if you're going through that then please don't feel that it's wrong or weird. Hopefully, you'll get to the stage of acceptance and playing your foot of a hand as best as you can.

Acceptance is now, of course. I'm 45 (at the time of publishing) for one more day but who knows what 50 will look like? Will complications strike and leave me a bitter, yet young looking, 50 year old? Considering the future is a very middle aged thing to do, I think. Considering the future when you've had T1D for almost 4 decades brings up many different thoughts alongside the sports car, leather trousers and inappropriate relationships with women 20 years your junior. It's easy to slip into thinking the worst but maybe the focus should be on the possible good, if not great, things that the future could hold. Diabetes tech has exploded in the last 5 - 10 years. I write this blog post, today, with the most stable T1D that I've ever had thanks to technology, largely and peer support. There is no reason why that can't continue or even improve further. There is no reason for me to not be here in 30 years, 40 years or more, assuming I don't get hit by a bus or develop a terminal illness. That might be disappointing for some of you on social media but the same applies to you too. Life with T1D is improving all the time and while we might not witness a cure, I think we can still live full, exciting, wonderful lives if we embrace the condition and do what we can to manage it - that will differ from person to person, I know.

Young adult me didn't care about acceptance of T1D, teenage me preferred to ignore it and the 7 year old me who was desperately ill on this day 38 years ago just wanted to stop drinking water and peeing every 5 minutes, to play with his Star Wars toys. 

Perhaps peer support is the key in helping others to find acceptance. I try to offer support to others when I can. I've mentored, created areas for others to talk, promoted community, written articles, spoken on podcasts and radio shows and jumped at the chance of helping my friends and peers when the opportunity has presented itself. That might seem like a lot if you're juggling your family life and a full time job. It is! Sometimes, my day is full of work and diabetes advocacy from waking until I sleep again. I'm not complaining, I have taken far more from talking about diabetes than I have repaid. Talking about your diabetes is what you can do to support your peers. By doing that, you're normalising the condition and all the little annoyances, major traumas, sleep losses and victories which you experience. Talk honestly, use your own words and terminology - there is no wrong way to talk about your diabetes. 

 Thank you so much for reading this blog. I do appreciate your visit and your support. As you might know, I LOVE COFFEE! So I've teamed up with a thing called Buy Me A Coffee. If you enjoy my content and appreciate the time it takes to create such things then you can buy me a coffee! If you leave your Twitter @ name when you buy me a coffee, I will personally thank you. If you'd rather be anonymous then that's totally cool. Thanks for the caffeine!

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The Cure

 

I should publish this blog post on a Friday because, you know?! Friday I'm In Love and all that. Fortunately, this post isn't about 80's bringers of cheer, The Cure. No, we're talking T1D cures because, like all good Diabetes bloggers, I'm a topical content whore.

You've probably noticed some of the chatter following the £50 million donation by The Steve Morgan Foundation jointly to DUK and JDRF (UK). If you missed it then it looked something like this:

Steve & family spoke about the donation on BBC Breakfast alongside charity reps and social media got giddy. Rightly so and, do you know what?! it was lovely to see some positive words and hope from the online community. Not that we're a moody bunch but, in general, we do usually have more to complain about than celebrate.

So, it's £50 mill over 5 years. "5 years" ? Sounds familiar but this time there is a firm sense of hope. I truly hope this is the tipping point, the seed, which sprouts a cure in the years to come. It is a hugely generous gesture and as a Diabetic who is nearing middle-age, I will be delighted for those with less miles on the clock than I, as well as the lifting of burden for myself, should the news break.

£50 million, eh?! You could nearly buy a footballer for that! It does beg the question, has a lump of filthy lucre been the issue since Day 1 of research beginning? I know that charities are always asking for funds but has one big hit been holding everything back? That would seem like a terrible shame for those who have lived with T1 for many years, those who are no longer with us because of the condition and those, like me, who have been touched by complication's frosty grip. Perhaps that's something for a later date. Until then, boffins get boffining! Bring us good news and if it takes 5 years then I'll get Steve Morgan's face tattooed on my back.

Speaking of tattoos! I'm screwed. You've seen the one on my arm, right? I show it off at every opportunity because I think it looks cool and I'm proud of overcoming my hiding of the condition and letting it dictate my life to me. Now it belongs to me, that's what the tattoo shows. And it's kinda useful if I'm unconscious and the medics spot it. What do I do with that? I'd probably add "Former" above it and "See back for details" whereupon you'd find Steve's face. Yes! I think that's a plan.

Back to curing. A cure is a subject which I've avoided for a long time. The trash in newspapers and on the Internet has left a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to that discussion, yet it's a valid subject. You might argue that it should be the primary subject until it's found as it would eliminate everything else we deal with in relation to T1D, complications from living with it aside. As I sit and smash my fingers into the keyboard for this blog, I find myself drifting off for a moment to imagine not having Type 1 Diabetes... it's weird! How do you freaky non-diabetics do it? Eating without bolusing? I mean... WTAF! I don't know if I could do that, man ;-)

I guess that now we wait. I'm closing in on 4 decades of waiting. Some of you far more, some of you very recently began marking time for a cure. I encourage all of you, no matter where you are on your T1 journey, to never give up hope on a cure. Until then, push for what you need! CGMs, pumps, insulin, appointments in the flesh, etc. Keep those HCPs busy because if a cure comes they're going to miss us.

As you might have seen, a conflict has broken out in Ukraine as Russia has invaded that country. The scenes on TV and on social media are horrifying. What can we do? Well, I don't think there is a wrong way to help if you donate to charities who are active in helping the people of Ukraine. I support many charities but one which has always had my heart is MSF. Medecins Sans Frontieres translates as Doctors Without Borders. When it comes to the health of others in disaster areas, war zones and the like then I think we all have a duty to do what we can to help and help those who directly help! such as MSF. With that in mind, all donations to me via Buy Me a Coffee and all the pennies generated through the ads dotted around my pages will be donated to MSF. I will make up the difference for the fees taken by PayPal and Buy Me a Coffee. That will run until further notice, no time frames and possibly until Ukraine is a free country again. Thank you for reading my blog. 

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