To Eat, or Not to Eat

Many of my favorite ways of relaxing go hand in hand with a snack.
Watching a movie-popcorn
Reading a book-milk and cookies
Laying in the Sun-chips

the list goes on and on. So, now that a case of diabetes has got in the way of me being allowed to snack, I am faced with a dilemma. I mean, who goes to the movies without buying popcorn? And who goes on picnics or watches football games without enjoying chips and dip? My doctors told me I would continue to live a normal life. So why am I feeling like an idiot, munching on celery, while my friends share a bucket of popcorn and look guiltily at me?

I haven't found a solution to this issue, yet. I want to stay upbeat, but I am secretly harboring a jealous anger that I cannot eat what I want to eat. Every now and again I splurge. I eat the popcorn and up my insulin units. I stuff my pie-hole with pie, and then exercise until I want to drop. There are ways to manage, yes. But, at least in this instance, what I want most of all is a cure for this chronic disease.

I'll have the special and eight units of apidra.

Restaurants have quickly become a fear of mine. Why, do you ask, should I fear a land where handsome waiters re-fill my soda and my friends and I can sit and chat while someone else makes our food? The reason is because I have quickly become addicted to having a shot or two with dinner. Not of tequila. Nor vodka. Not of anything you'd find behind the bar...but of insulin. And even a very well trained waiter can't help but give someone a second look when they are "shooting up."

So what to do, then? Run to the bathroom if I need to take insulin? Hide under the table, or do it in the car before hand? Those aren't really options, unless I know ahead of time what I am eating. But I've found this odd situation as a perfect opportunity to educate a few people about diabetes.

When I was in the hospital, a room-visiting nun stopped by. She said I didn't look like the type of person who should have diabetes. I am tall, and thin, and young. But she said "on the bright side, now maybe you can help others not get diabetes."
I was shell shocked. Hare dare she imply I did this to myself?! Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that is just one of the perks of having my pancreas. I cried for an hour, and then I decided I would tell as many people as possible about type 1 diabetes.

So, although I would rather not have to explain that, no, it isn't drugs I am shooting into my arm, I don't mind teaching a waitress at the Olive Garden or a waiter at Red Robin about this disease I have.