Adult T1s, who cares?

I have an 8 year daughter that has Type 1 diabetes. She is cute and adorable, giggly and wiggly like most 8 year olds. She holds my heart and hearts of those that know her. We will be in a restaurant or at the mall, checking her sugar or giving her shots and strangers always seem to come up to us and say "What a brave little girl!" "Don't worry, a cure will be here soon!"  People see her story, her picture and have been most generous in donating to our Walk to Cure Diabetes through JDRF.  If I say those magic words, "Jasmine is low". The world stops revolving while I make everything right for her (this includes school, church, sporting events, restaurants, etc.) She is a little girl, she is loved, people care. But what happens when Jasmine is no longer that cute little girl with Type 1 diabetes? When Jasmine has become an adult T1? Will you still love her? Will you still care?

I have met this group of amazing adult T1s. They have welcomed me into their lives, their group. They share their stories, their situations and they all give me such hope and inspiration for my own daughter. At the same time though, I see their daily struggles and the lost hopes and dreams of  finding a cure in their lifetime. They are proud, never expecting "favors" or entitlements because of their diabetes. They were around when needles were thick, test strips required peeing on them and an accurate blood glucose reading was like finding a needle in a haystack! Their moms (God bless these wonderful and tireless moms back before all these modern advancements and the internet!) were told the same story that I have heard, "In ten years there will be a cure", "The cure is just around the corner", "We have made amazing advancements, a cure is so close!". Some of these people have had T1 diabetes for 20, 30 and even 50 years plus. I have only had to deal with this for 2 1/2 years with my daughter and I think how I am going to get through another day! They are awesome and courageous and have my utmost respect. While they are beautiful people, they aren't the cute little kids that receive the positive attention like my daughter does. They are adults, responsible for themselves, so who cares?

When strangers find out that these adults are diabetics, people will say to them, "But you don't look fat!". If their blood sugars start to drop and they start to shake or slur their words, people assume they are high on drugs or have been drinking. If an adult T1 says "I feel low", the world doesn't stop revolving while they take care it.  These adult T1s have jobs and families, they are active, productive people in our world. They don't get a break from T1 diabetes and they don't get a break from being an adult. Most of us might say, "Well, we don't get a break either", but until you have to deal with the every day battle with Type 1 diabetes then you have no idea what a break you were already given. 

I only know this life as the mom of a child with T1 diabetes, the one who spends every waking moment seeing that my child is ok, that damage isn't being done to her eyes, her kidneys, her heart, her brain! The sleepless night worrying if I have done all that I could to make sure my baby girl awakes in the morning. This is the easy side of  T1 diabetes. I am not the T1, I am the temporary pancreas who one day will not be needed because my daughter will have to do all of this on her own, just like these other adult T1s. None of them whine and complain about every little thing, they handle their lives better than most of us because they can't ever give up or give in. I am sure that some days they make mistakes, they don't always do everything right, but then neither do we, the ones with a working pancreas. All of them are heroes in my book and through all their struggles, they have helped make this world a better place for my T1 daughter. 

People say to the adult T1s, "You are so lucky that you got diabetes as a kid. You have never known anything else. It's all normal to you".  Normal = 4 plus shots a day or a mechanical device attached to your body, finger pokes 5 plus times a day, every carb counted for every morsel of food you put into your mouth, trips to the Endo or hospital for check ups and lab work every 3 months, endless diabetic supplies that cost a fortune and must be carried with you for just a quick trip to the store, feeling wonderful and then the next minute wondering why you are laying on the floor, explaining to your employer that you will just be a few minutes because your sugar levels have dropped dangerously low and you have to take care of it immediately or else you could die! This is "normal"??? If everyone in this world could fly and your wing was broken, wouldn't you still miss being able to fly like all your friends. To soar without hesitation, to feel the wind beneath your wings? I am not saying that T1s can't fly like the eagles, but it does take a lot of preparation, perseverance and dedication to take flight. Funny thing is, most of them never share with you these facts, how difficult some days are. They are inspiring, they have learned to appreciate life, they don't seem to dwell on the negative but focus on the positive. They celebrate their lives and as a wonderful man said, "Why don't we have a party for diabetes? Let's focus on the good not only the bad!"

I know my thoughts this morning are ramblings from a mom that didn't sleep too well last night but I am just asking you to ponder this......The next time you meet an adult that has Type 1 diabetes, please remember Jasmine, her little face, that little girl who struggles with dealing with this life long disease. The adult T1 face may have some lines and wrinkles now but inside is still that same child dealing with life and diabetes. Children or adults, we never loose our need for compassion and understanding, love and concern (T1s or not!). Go hug an adult T1 today, tell them that Jasmine's mom sends her love and that you care.  <3 To all of the wonderful adults T1s that I have met, I hope I have not offended any of you with my writing. I just want the world to know how totally amazing all of you are. <3