When it comes to diabetes, whether you’re the PWD or the caregiver, I can guarantee you that you are STRONG.  After all, you deal with this disease every day!  And I think most of us don’t always give ourselves the credit we deserve, although we may be quick to point out when we aren’t so strong.  With that in mind, it’s time to give ourselves credit for our strengths.  And also to share the things we may not be so great at.  This month, we want you to tell us:

What do you consider to be your Diabetes Strengths?  What do you think are your Diabetes Weaknesses? 

Well, it’s nearly the end of May, but this still counts. May was kind of nuts, and I honestly had no idea these prompts existed until some of my fellow bloggers ALSO procrastinated posted using this prompt today.

I’m a dancer with a chronic illness – so naturally, I don’t think I do anything right. Especially since I’ve been trying for the last 6-8 months to get my A1C under 6.0% and master adequate ballroom and swing technique. Neither have come easy. In fact, the two walk hand in hand. My quest for the perfect blood sugars often sends me out of my classes and lessons because my dosing is all wrong, or the meal wasn’t as much as I thought, or… or… or…

I’m the most impatient person in the world when it comes to this type of stuff. I want to dance like my instructors as much as I want to stop radically spiking after meals. So I increase my insulin intake and exercise like crazy, overloading my brain and blood stream because I just want to be better, but I could actually just be making myself worse. Skipping class because your sugars drop to 59 for the third time in the same day doesn’t make you a very productive student. Both require management and practice and trial and error. But I want it all now, damnit.

I also really like chocolate. And pizza. And sushi. My insulin pump does not.

On the flip side – I’m a very active T1 and can’t seem to function without some sort of physical activity in my day. Except for maybe when I’m sick or something. Although – I have tried dancing while ill… and I usually just get sent home. (It’s the thought that counts, right?) I’m also an insulin pump user involved in a hobby that can be very cosmetic and superficial. Sometimes being attached to a wired device is really inconvenient in this community. It breaks lines, it gets tangled in straps, and it leaves strange nubs in spandex costumes. But I trudge along anyway and am thankful I found a small community and an instructor that really just don’t care if I’m battery powered.

This post is my May entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival.  If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2013/may-dsma-blog-carnival-3/