Another diabetes awareness month has come and gone. Like many people, pages, and blogs, I made a “post a day” for November. And if you were following my posts, you may have noticed that there were no posts on November 30th.
On November 30th, I take a day off
It wasn’t intentional the first couple of years. I was getting burnt out before I even knew what diabetes burnout was. November made that more difficult to deal with. By November 30th, I was done.
I had no facts to share. I had no energy to think of anything. It wasn’t happening. So, I skipped it.
After a while, taking a break on November 30th became almost symbolic for me.
Many other blogs, websites, and people on social media use the last day of November to wrap up their Diabetes Awareness posts. A little sign-off to acknowledge the end of the month, the end of their “daily facts” posts.
I don’t do that. I’m not signing off. I’m not saying, “great Diabetes Awareness Month guys. See you again next year!”
November is over… but T1D isn’t.
The worry isn’t over
People are still being misdiagnosed and almost dying. DKA still exists and takes the lives of people with T1D. People are still dying from unexpected low blood sugars in the night, or during a shower, or while they’re driving.
Parents still worry about how their children will care for themselves as teens, and as adults.
We are worried about what will happen if they have to choose between life-sustaining insulin and their mortgage payment.
Worries about diabulimia and depression and burnout are still here.
The exhaustion isn’t over
Never getting any sleep. Because we get up several times a night, every night, to check blood sugar levels.
From having to explain the same things over and over, sometimes to complete strangers, about what T1D is and how serious it is.
The exhaustion of having to fight for rights in school and work. Fighting to get legislation put in place, only to have it ignored and not enforced by anyone.
Being exhausted from battling high or low blood sugars, sometimes for hours, and then having to explain why you “look fine” but feel like crap.
Of telling friends, family, and anyone who will listen that no, there isn’t a cure for T1D. Only to receive “cure” articles from those same people in response.
The stigma isn’t over
People still assume you ate too much or didn’t exercise enough when you tell them you have diabetes. Some even think you brought it on yourself and that you deserve to have T1D.
People are told not to inject insulin at the table in a cafe. At a family dinner. In a restaurant. They’re told to go to the bathroom to do that. Because an unsuspecting onlooker might feel uncomfortable if they see you give your life-sustaining insulin.
Doctors, media, and the general public still have a skewed view of people with diabetes.
They’re “non-compliant, we’re “helicopter parents”, and we all complain too much when we just need to get over it.
The word “diabetes” still comes with lots of negative connotations.
So, the need to spread awareness doesn’t end on November 30th
We still need to show people who are years or decades into their own journey that they’re not alone.
To help people who are newly diagnosed. Gently nudge them towards figuring out how to navigate this complex disease.
We have to teach the signs and symptoms to the people in our lives. So that they can recognize the symptoms instead of brushing them off. To give that person a better chance at getting a proper diagnosis instead of a death sentence.
To tell the world how complicated and frustrating and scary diabetes really is. And maybe they’ll start to care. And maybe they’ll want to help.
To fund a cure. To find a cure.
So that we won’t have to share “30 days of T1D facts” in November anymore.
And one day, November can just go back to being November instead of Diabetes Awareness Month.
So, here is my “day 30” post. On December 1st, instead of November 30th. Because while November is over, T1D and the need to spread awareness is not.
~ Leah
What do you do to raise awareness during Diabetes Awareness Month? Do you continue after November is over? Let’s talk about it. Comment below!
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