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July 8, 2011 By Kristina

While We Are Moving: Living and Loving Today

Littlesilkdress of Living and Loving Today one of my, real life friends, I have known this sweet young woman for many years and she is just the loveliest! We frequently discuss how we are kindred spirits because we seem to be on the same page often. I do believe she was the first blog follower I had, as I think I was her first follower {long before our blogs had more than 2 followers}. I couldn’t help but ask her today because of those reasons, as well as, she too is a native of Kansas who transplanted to Colorado a few years back.
So how could I not ask her to guest post during this moving week, As I venture back to Colorado again?!

Enjoy!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Every once in a while I post about being married to a type I diabetic. How the misinformation and lack of understanding frustrates me, mostly and especially within the medical community. To be honest, my own understanding of the disease was minimal before Husband and I started dating. I don’t expect everyone to know about it. But if there was one piece of information I wish more people had, it would be this: he didn’t do anything to “earn” type I diabetes and even though a healthy diet is recommended for him like it is for everyone else, he does not have to avoid any particular food as long as he counteracts it with insulin. This is an insulin dependent disease, no matter what.

It hurts me, in a way any wife would understand, to see the judgmental looks some people give Husband when they find out he is diabetic. That look that says, “well if you would take better care of yourself this wouldn’t be an issue.” Or the well-meaning but off-base advice telling him how he can cure his disease. He has appointments at the Barbara-Davis Center, a leading facility in diabetes treatment and research, every three months. We are fairly confident we would be informed of any cure.

I write about how most days it is barely a thought and others, like when he was hospitalized for diabetes/hyperthyroid issues, it is all consuming. We are so grateful for modern medicine and how it has made it possible for those diagnosed with diabetes to live long, healthy lives. Of course, we still wish for a cure, but we will take what we can get!

Sometimes as I navigate the insurance companies, hospitals, and doctor’s offices I wonder how I could really only be 24 years old. But then I remember Husband has been dealing with this since he was diagnosed in middle school. Others, like my former boss’ son, will never remember a life without it.

Yet I don’t see the Big D when I look at Husband. He is not defined by it. I rarely notice the insulin pump clipped to his belt. While a lot of time, money, and determination go into treating his diabetes, I only see him. My wonderful, loving, incredible husband who knew I was the one in less than two months of dating and who proposed just short of six months. The man who takes care of me just as I take care of him. The man who knows how lucky we are to have each other.

Diabetes is not always easy on our relationship – any disease brings its fair share of trials to a romantic relationship – but we have learned it can’t define us anymore than it can define him. Love, we have found, is worth it.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: guest post

« While We Are Moving: vintch
While We Are Moving: Single Parent Faith »

Comments

  1. AvatarJoan says

    July 8, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    What a wonderful to explain how it feels to have to live with a misunderstood disease. Sounds like both of you handle it with such grace.

    I too have a misunderstood disease and dealing with the ignorance gets tiring.

  2. AvatarLittleSilkDress says

    July 8, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    Kristina, my kindred spirit, thank you for your kind words. It was an honor to compose a guest post for you!

  3. Avatarvintch says

    July 8, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    LOVE me some LittleSilkDress! the way you wrote about your husband in this post is breathtaking and precious. seeing your guest post on here is a double dose of beauty–you and kristina together!

  4. AvatarBouncin' Barb says

    July 8, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    That was a beautiful testimony to the vows “for better for worse, in sickness and in health”. I loved and had a husband for 23 years and we both never saw anything for each other before the sickness and dying. You guys sound perfect!

  5. AvatarThisisme. says

    July 8, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    What a lovely guest post you have written there for us. It must be very hurtful for you when people take that attitude towards your husband’s diabetes. It was a beautiful post you wrote about the love you have for each other.

  6. AvatarJo-Anne Rambling says

    July 9, 2011 at 4:12 am

    Diabetes is not such a bad thing to have ok it isn’t great either but there are worse conditions. It is a lifestyle adjustment when you find out that you have it. I have type 2 diabetes and take tablets to keep mine under control. In my family both my parents are diabetic along with one sister we are all type 2.

    If you love someone then you don’t worry about whether they have something like diabetes.

  7. AvatarLittleSilkDress says

    July 9, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    Thank you for the kind words, everyone. They mean more than you could possibly know. Ms. Rambling, I am sorry to have made you feel isolated. That was never my intention. I am glad you are able to manage your type 2 with pills and wish you continued health and happiness. There are certainly worse things Husband could have and we are very grateful he does not have anything more than type I diabetes and Graves disease (both of which are endocrine related), but type I does require quite a bit more care than pill consumption and/or a balanced diet. There are similarities between the two types, but they just aren’t the same. His pump is his pancreas, something that will always be the case unless there is a medical breakthrough; and even with constant testing of his bg levels there is only so much a human operated device can do. There is always potential for error. While it doesn’t consume us, there certainly is worry that surrounds a disease caused by Husband’s body attacking and completely killing the insulin producing part of his body. Without close monitoring and a careful balance between food and insulin consumption, he would die. At the very least, not maintaining tight control can eventually lead to other very serious health problems like heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, etc. We have had some pretty scary moments in the last few years due to aspects of his diseases that are beyond his control. Feel free to check out http://www.sixuntilme.com, a blog written by a type I diabetic about what it is like to live with the disease. It is phenomenally honest and favorite read of mine.

    I hope you have a lovely weekend and again wish you continued health and happiness.

  8. AvatarElla says

    July 9, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Thank you for sharing your and your husband’s personal health struggle. It is moving to read. You have depicted not only the reality of living with Diabetes type 1 (and how it is different from type 2), but also the grand love you have for each other. My prayers go out to you both.
    -Ella

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Hi, I'm Kristina and I’m so glad that you are here.
I'm a crunchy, homeschooling mama of 3 that is on a mission to live an intentional life. I don’t want to just survive - I want to thrive. Join me as I share in my journey of intentional living, my passions, my family, my heart, natural living, and the things I’m loving. Welcome. Learn more >



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