Sunday, March 18, 2012

Finer Things


The question is always, "Can you eat that?" and the answer is always, "Yes.." (Unless it is something gross and you need an excuse, in that case the answer is, "No way, too many carbs!")   But, for the majority of the time when someone asks you if you can eat this or that, the answer is always yes, and it isn't a simple yes, it is a big YES as if to say, "Duh it's not like it has poison in it... does it?"

When I was first diagnosed, not even that long ago, I was strict with what I ate, then I realized that I had lived almost nineteen carb-a-licious years of my life, how can I just stop?  After all, I had the treatment for diabetes - insulin and I had the right tools to know what to do when my sugar was high or low - meter.  So what was stopping me from continuing to live the life I had lived for so long.

I enjoy carbs, like most people and despite being diagnosed with diabetes, I will indulge in sweet treats and pizza pies!  Of course it is important to eat healthy, and it is just as important for diabetics as it is for non diabetics to watch what they eat, but if you are not that kind of person, then why not eat what you love and love what you eat.   Honestly, as long as you're taking insulin, checking your blood sugar, and making sure you aren't OVER-indulging than you're good.

After being around a few parents of diabetics, I started to realize that something was a little different.  Here I am, almost twenty-two years old, living with diabetes and eating whatever I want and guess what, I feel good, I look healthy and most of all I am happy.   No one has ever told me that I can't eat something and if they have, I have been quick to react.  It's not like I am trying to prove that, "HEY! I can eat a cupcake and I have diabetes.." No, no, not at all, but I am proving that there is a happy life to live while managing diabetes.

I have observed parents tell their children that they cannot have a cookie because it has too many carbs, while the child held the cookie in their tiny hands.   Now, I have no idea what it is like to be the parent, and I can only imagine that it is one of the most exhausting jobs in the world to be a parent of a diabetic, but I can easily put myself in the shoes of their child.

I realize that being on injections is different than being on the insulin pump - and that is one reason why I think the pump is amazing for not only people my age, but also for children.  But, in this particular scene I am describing the child did have an insulin pump. I couldn't help but ask, and when she replied with yes, I told her to eat it!  Of course her father told me he hated me...but I sort of felt good about giving that freedom to a diabetic.

If that child sees food as a bad thing, what will he/she think when she is older.  Will she/he turn to junk food as soon as they are set free only to let their blood sugars go out of control?  I don't really know the answers, but I do think it can affect more than blood sugars to tease diabetic children.  So why not?  We have the tools, the treatment and support - sometimes it is okay to have a little treat and not feel like diabetes is holding you back from enjoying the finer things in life, like cotton candy.

Kayla

4 comments:

  1. Hey Kayla! I came across your blog today and I must say that it's very interesting. Loved your writing and your views. Keep up the spirit and good luck!

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    1. Are you same Preetika who writes BLOGS to??
      Voice of a temperamental?

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  2. SO COMPLETELY AGREE with you Kayla!! It drives me crazy to see other D-parents say things like that to their kids. It's like they are setting them up for food issues later on in life when they are left to their own devices to decide what to eat. Awesome post!!

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  3. I love this!!! Thank you for writing it! I've been looking for a good blog to direct adolescent/teens to so they don't feel so overwhelmed and alone in this, and I think you're it :). So honest and approachable. Great blog!

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