“What is that thing in your arm??”

A question I get asked sometimes (but mostly people stare at it, wondering what it is). #WorldDiabetesDay is today and I am a recently diagnosed type 1.5 diabetic. ?

I am writing this post to create more awareness around insulin dependent diabetes.

What is 1.5 diabetes? It’s called?Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slow-progressing form of autoimmune diabetes. Its one of the types of insulin dependent diabetes. It cannot be cured by eating well and exercising (advise I get sometimes from well wishers??).

Those of you who have known me for a while will be surprised to hear that I am a diabetic - surprised me too, because I wasn't one until last year (2020). I hadn't even heard about this type of diabetes. The onset is much later in life than usual type 1.?

That ‘thing’ in my arm is a ‘Flash Glucose Monitor’, a device that helps me monitor my glucose without fingerpricks ( if not for this, I had to prick my fingers 4 - 8 times a day - ouch!) and correct my sugar levels across the day.

Living with #diabetes is a ?24/7 job without any breaks. You go ‘high’ and ‘low’ for many reasons unknown to you and you try your best to be within a target blood glucose level.?Some say, it’s like playing a sport at a professional level, you got to always be on top of your game, have the discipline and the mindset to manage it!

Diabetes is an invisible #disability. ?

In the workplace it becomes quite sticky at times. You can become hypoglycemic (low glucose) ?just when you have to cycle to catch?the train to be at work on time, when you are about to join a important meeting and sometimes just as you are about to present in a group.... !

But at these times I have to (uncomfortably) miss the train, or put my hand up in the meeting to say “excuse me, but give me a few minutes to step out to fix my sugar levels” or forget everyone else who is watching and gobble glucose tablets like I haven’t had a meal in ages (it’s not tasty, trust me).

It is awkward/uncomfortable to say you need time out, or that you have diabetes, or to wear a sensor all the time - Fortunately, I have a workplace which is open and supportive to my situation at Interxion. Is your workplace supportive to this type of #disability?

I am one of the lucky folks who have access to great healthcare , tools (such as this sensor, an insulin pump) & support system. Unfortunately this not the case for ?every person with diabetes, they do not automatically qualify for these tools and are not reimbursed through insurance. They have to compromise on their wellbeing because of 'lack of access' or 'prohibiting cost' of using them.

A century after its discovery, insulin and other fundamental components of diabetes care remain beyond the reach of many who need them.

This must change.

Change begins with more understanding, awareness and collective action!

https://worlddiabetesday.org