Yesterday, on Nicole's post Wha? I'm a Wha? one of her commenters said she thought type 1 should be thought of as a lifestyle rather than a disease. I couldn't disagree more.

If it's called a lifestyle, people will think you brought it upon yourself. People will think that you're eating well and counting carbs and exercising because this is a lifestyle choice that you've made.

There is enough confusion about type 1 and just about diabetes in general that I think calling it a lifestyle does a great disservice to people who are struggling with this disease. And it is a disease, regardless of type.

I can only imagine the field day that insurance companies would have with this changed moniker. "Oh, it's a lifestyle? Well, then, no more strip coverage for you. No more insulin or pill coverage. No more pump and pump supply coverage." Olivia checks her blood sugar between eight and twelve times a day. With each strip costing $1 a piece, you're talking $40 - 60 a week, just for strips. What about insulin? CVS charges $93 for one vial of Lantus and $90 for one vial of Humalog. Olivia goes thru 3 vials a month. Her pump supplies average out to about $ 330 per month (It's $987 for a three month supply.) $150 a month for insulin and roughly $200 a month for strips and you're talking a price that most people cannot afford to pay.

Calling it a disease makes people aware that it's serious, that it needs funding and a cure rather than just shutting us up with more insulin and whiz-bang treatment options. Because no matter how snazzy, no matter how many whistles and bells, my child still has diabetes and if she doesn't get that insulin, she'll die. That, to me, at least, is way more than just a lifestyle.