The Silver Lining of Managing Diabetes

Over 4.9 million people in the UK have diabetes and I am one of those.??Before I continue however, I think there is some myth busting to do… being a type one diabetic does not mean I have eaten too many sweets, it just means my pancreas doesn’t work so I do not produce insulin.

Whilst I recognise that diabetes does affect both men and women, it does impact upon women differently.?Cyclical hormonal changes, whether that’s periods or menopause affect blood sugars and make the management of the condition challenging at times.?In addition, women with diabetes are at a higher risk than heart disease than men, which in my mind is enough of a motivation to look after number one.?

Given the fact that there are over 4.9 million diabetics in the UK, I am acutely aware that there will be many women working in the social housing sector that have the condition or are related to/know of someone that does.?I am therefore hoping some of these words resonate with at least a few of you.

In June last year, I experienced a severe hypo, and in short, to say it scared me does not do it justice. Firstly, it's important to say my management of the condition isn’t awful… but even the best controlled diabetic will have their off days where it seems impossible to get blood sugars into range.?Secondly, it's not easy; people think you take insulin, or a tablet and job done.

In reality, every day is different and can be a challenge, it's a balancing act, trying to continuously stay between the magical numbers 4 and 7 with regular self-testing and adjustments to my insulin requirements.??Some days you can eat the same thing, do the same activity yet your levels are different and that's because various other factors come into play such as stress, time of the month, exercise, climate, illness, to name just a few.

This blog, however, isn’t intended to be about?diabetes?per se but a reflection on the strengths I have gained through the management of a long-term health condition and how these have enabled me to develop my skillset.?I think it’s important to see the positives:

Prioritisation?

Managing a full-time job, two young children, staying fit and healthy as well as trying to maintain a social life for anyone can at times be difficult. However, the added factor of diabetes ensures I think things through, plan carefully and put things into context; Don’t sweat the small stuff some might say, prioritise and focus on what is important; Nothing is insurmountable.

Organisation and Time Management

So many people I know do not schedule in proper time in their day to have a lunch break, often eating something on the go, if at all.?However, this is something I cannot afford to do.?I must find the time to eat, sleep, exercise and retain some focus on my own self-care.?In doing so, I stay organised and manage my time well.?Ensuring I regularly eat or go on that lunch time run gives me time to think things through. On my return to my desk, I am then far less stressed and far more productive; the email I was trying to compose or report I was trying to write then just flows naturally.?In addition, it also benefits my physical health and wellbeing - so a win-win all round!

Empathy

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) can have a debilitating impact on any victim’s health and wellbeing but when those victims also have long-term health issues/conditions, like diabetes, which aren’t automatically obvious, the affect can be compounded.?Understanding how stress, anxiety and the hidden worries of a health condition, I have found, has helped me to empathise with people in difficult circumstances. This has been invaluable in my work.

STEM Learning

It may seem odd to mention my mathematical skills when talking about the strengths I have gained through management of my condition.?However, I need to work out my carb to insulin ratio, interpret graphs from my insulin pump and sensor. In doing so I have certainly developed some transferable skills and have even referenced this in job applications and interviews.

In addition, I also stay up to date with medical advances and the latest technology. While not a passion of mine, I’ve even found learning about healthcare trends and the impacts on human biology really interesting. It’s surprising, for example, how many conditions are related to regulating a specific chemical or bodily hormone.

Perseverance and Resilience

Diabetes is relentless, it’s always there, and will never go away for me.??The constant focus on monitoring blood sugars and adjusting insulin can be frustrating, but I must keep on.?Even for the impatient perfectionist in me, I must be consistent and persistent, otherwise I’d never be able to function.?

Perseverance and consistency in the face of fluctuations and inconsistencies out of our control, is a daily struggle for people with diabetes.?However, we must put it into context as without this I couldn’t survive.

Life is like this for many people, whether it’s managing health, exercise routines, eating habits or being successful in our careers: regular consistent routines are an important way of reducing the impact of stress, whilst incrementally improving our daily lives.?

I guess in short, my diabetes has helped me to realise this in all of my activities.

In summary

While it’s so easy for these things to overwhelm us, all of us, the challenges of life can also help us, and we must recognise the positive impact that these things have on our ability to be successful.

By Katy Anderson , WISH Midlands board member