Ramblings of a Young Diabetic

Sometimes, if I’m really hungry but not sure what I want to eat, I take a shot and raid the pantry.
A low blood sugar has been used as an excuse to buy snacks.
My favorite middle-of-the-night-low-blood-sugar remedy is a bowl of Fruit Loops.
Most regular (non-diet) sodas taste like poison.
Having to do math every day is a pain in the butt: 1 unit of insulin for every 10 carbohydrates; subtract 100 from the high blood sugar and divide by 30.
“High BS Level” is a double entendre, especially if I’m being particularly crabby.
My relationship with food feels like a secret love affair.
I dream about food sometimes. Willy Wonka dreams.
My dad, also a diabetic, and I used to eat butter-sugar sandwiches.
One time in elementary school I told a kid that my pump was a pager.
I dated my first boyfriend for a month before I told him I had diabetes.
The “Shots” song has a totally different meaning for me.
Speaking of shots, low blood sugars feel like I’m drunk, and high blood sugars feel like I’m incredibly hungover.
When I meet or hear of other people being diabetic, I get excited to know of another member in our special club.
Two of my good friends are nurses, and I used to let them check my blood sugar and give me shots when we were little.
My husband is a saint for putting up with a crazy diabetic wife.
My life really does feel like a roller coaster of highs and lows and in-betweens.
When I’m watching shows like The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones, I often think if I was in this situation, I’d never make it. And it’s a strange feeling, but it also reminds of how lucky I am to be here.

Ashleigh Painter
Deer Park, TX