When Life Gets Busy

I feel bad that I didn't finish off the WEGO Health HAWMC.  I got 22 days in a row before life got busy, and I had to put my blog off to the side.  Right now I have three papers and a quiz in the works.  I do plan to finish the posts for the blog challenge from April, but they'll have to wait.

One skill I've had to work on as a mom of five is to prioritize my time.  Right now, school needs to be my writing priority.  Thank you for understanding!

Image source: here

Day to Day (#HAWMC)

Please please please... PRETTY PLEASE...
I still need more guesses for my Misinformation post. Click here to read it and guess!

Today's WEGO prompt: Write about something ordinary that's inspiring to you, something simple, perhaps overlooked, that fuels your activism.

Honestly, this prompt is so easy for me, which is what makes it easily overlooked.  The "ordinary" thing that is "overlooked" that "fuels [my] activism" would be - my family!  More specifically, my children.

My children are my inspiration.  I know that, due to genetics, their chances of developing diabetes is high.  I am not just being an advocate for me and the other PWD (people with diabetes) that I know, but I also feel driven to advocate and educate on behalf of my children.  If I can make a difference now, I hope that I have made a positive impact on their future.

If trends continue as they are, when my children become adults 1 in 3 people will have diabetes.  How much higher are their chances with diabetes on both sides of the family?  I won't play the guilt game with myself. I'm going to concentrate on what I can do.  Advocate and educate.

This fall, I will be attending an ADA Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes.  This is another way I can honor my children, by raising money to help advocate and educate.  Help support those with diabetes.  Help search for a cure!

Please consider making a donation to the walk here.

Adversity (#HAWMC)

Please please please... PRETTY PLEASE...
I still need more guesses for my Misinformation post. Click here to read it and guess!

Today's WEGO prompt: "The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all." -Mulan
True or false?  When do you bloom best?


I feel this statement is very true.  Although I don't like being in such situations, I know that I shine when it's important.

As a college student facing a deadline. As a mother who has 20 minutes available to get groceries to feed her family of seven that evening. As a substitute teacher with a difficult student. As a person with diabetes who is having a hard time coping with the disease or the misinformation of others.

It's during these times that I surprise even myself.  Some of my best papers are written the night before (glad my professors don't know about this blog).  I am actually a more efficient shopper when I have a time limit.  In the three years I've been a substitute teacher, I rarely need to call the office for assistance with a behavioral matter.  During the last five years, I've learned that gestational diabetes was just a warm-up for what I've had to deal with as a person with Type 2 diabetes.

It's through my need for information and support that I found the DOC (diabetes online community).  It's through my need for reading how others with diabetes deal with their own adversity that I started this blog.  It's through this adversity that I've made so many online friends that I hope to someday meet face to face.

I don't enjoy the struggle, but sometimes through the determination I feel to overcome - I bloom!

Diabetes Burnout (#HAWMC)

Please please please... 
I still need more guesses for my Misinformation post. Click here to read it and guess!

Today's WEGO prompt: (There were two prompts)
1- Write about burnout. What does it feel like? What are your burnout triggers?
2- What gets you OUT of the pit of despair when nothing is going your way?

During this month, many of the prompts list two options.  I pick the one that inspires me.  However, for today's prompt, I feel one leads into the other.  I don't feel it's fair to talk about burnout without also talking about what helps me out of it.

I will admit that I fall victim to burnout quite often.  I get tired of watching carbs. I get tired of exercising. I get tired of being "Super Diabetic."  I already play the role of "Super Mom" so wearing two capes weighs me down.

When I experience burnout, I just want to sit around, feeling sorry for myself.  I want to eat as much thick crust pizza as possible without throwing up.  I want an large chocolate shake.  Too often, I pretend like diabetes doesn't exist.  Yes, it scares me when I think what I'm doing sometimes.  For example, I just ate two servings of mashed potatoes for dinner.  Yes, I regret it.  Yes, I'm beating myself up about it!

What can I do about it once it's done though?  What's done is done.  Is there really a point of beating myself up over something I can't undo?  (Well, not without being accused of having an eating disorder.)  All I can do is pull myself up by my bootstraps and move on.

How do I get the motivation to move on?  Sometimes through my family.  My hubby is great and very encouraging. However, often it's nice to talk to someone who has been there.  Quite often I'll lean on members of the DOC (diabetes online community).  Usually I'll post on Facebook or Twitter asking for some support.  Sometimes I'll write on my blog.  Even if no one replies, getting it out helps a lot.  Sometimes I'll go to the Y and walk around the track or walk on the treadmill.  Drinking a glass of water or a Diet Coke also helps (water is always the healthier option!).

The most important part of burnout, regardless of condition or situation, is realizing you're not alone, even if it feels that way.  Everyone goes through burnout.  EVERYONE!  Keeping that in mind, remember that "You can do this!"

Vintage (#HAWMC)

Please... I still need more guesses for my Misinformation post. Click here to read it and guess!

Today's WEGO prompt: Post a vintage photo of yourself, with a caption about the photo and where you were in terms of your health condition.

This is my 8th grade school picture.  At the time, the only thing I knew about diabetes was that my grandfather had it.  He was still alive at the time of this picture.  He had either lost one or both of his legs.  I was blissfully ignorant in my early teens.

Little did I know, a little less than 25 years later, I would find myself diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.  Back then I was a stick.  Probably underweight actually.  Definitely not a kid that doctors would warn about the possibility of diabetes later in life.

Sometimes I envy this young teenager.  I had no idea the struggle that would find me later in life.  Would I want to warn my younger self?  I don't think so.  There was nothing I could have done to change my diagnosis.  Why ruin that sense of innocence?  Overall I'm happy with where my life is right now and wouldn't want to change it.

I take it back... (#HAWMC)

I still need more guesses for my Misinformation post. Click here to read it and guess!

Today's WEGO prompt: Write about a time that someone said something to you that they wished they could take back. Did you forgive them? Why or why not?

Shortly after I was diagnosed, a man that I've known for years responded to my recent diagnosis by saying, "We're watching our weight so we don't get it [diabetes]."  I was stunned and couldn't respond.  Did he just call me fat?  Yes, I admit that I'm a little overweight, but not fat or obese.  Definitely not a weight that would warrant diabetes.  Did he apologize? No, but I don't think he realized that he said anything wrong.  I never let on that he hurt my feelings.

I've forgiven him in my heart and I'm pleasant any time I see him, but I do admit that his comment still stings a little.  I don't think I'll ever tell him.

Although I'm not mad at him about the comment, I remember it not out of bitterness, but to educated others about things not to say.  Even if I was obese, that isn't something to say to someone with diabetes.  It basically blames the person for their condition.  No one did this to him/herself and no one deserves any chronic condition.

Worldless(?) Wednesday (#HAWMC)

I still need more guesses for my Misinformation post. Click here to read it and guess!

Today's WEGO prompt: Go to www.wordle.net to create a word cloud or tree from a list of words associated with your condition, blog, or interests. Post it!

Diabetes may be part of my life, but it's not my whole life!