Last week was Invisible Illness Week which I missed thanks to my crazy work schedule and inactivity here in the blogosphere. But there was a "30 Things About My Invisible Illness" meme floating around that I really wanted to get in on. So here it is:

1. The illness(es) I live with is/are: Type 1 Diabetes, PCOS, and endometriosis

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1993 and 2009

3. But I had symptoms since: Two to three weeks before. I got sick very quickly with the D. The PCOS/endometriosis took several years to diagnosis.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: I have no idea considering that I don't remember what life was like before this. I'd say in recent years, the biggest thing has been bolusing for even the tiniest amount of carbs that go into my mouth.

5. Most people assume: I have no idea. Most people who know me assume that it's nothing. Most people who don't know much about things assume that I shouldn't be eating cake.

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Crawling out of bed.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: Probably Grey's Anatomy or House, even though I have no time to watch either of those.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My meter. And my cell phone.

9. The hardest part about nights are: Getting and staying to sleep. I've always had trouble with that. I blame diabetes and nightmares.

10. Each day I take 1 pills & 4 vitamins.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: know that Type 1 has none, but I've tried everything for my other conditions.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible. I'd rather have the option to hide whatever I live with than have the world know and judge immediately. PCOS has some visible features which have changed my life. I'd love to give those back.

13. Regarding working and career: I love my job. I work with volunteers on abused children cases. Diabetes doesn't usually get in the way, but sometimes it likes to throw little bumps in the road just to see if I'm paying attention.

14. People would be surprised to know: that I don't have it all together just because I never complain about the diabetes to them.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: This isn't new to me. I don't remember a time without it so there's been nothing to "accept." With my other conditions, the hardest thing to accept was losing perfect skin.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Nothing yet. My parents always encouraged me that I could do whatever I wanted despite this disease. Pregnancy will be the only challenge that some have said wouldn't happen. We'll see.

17. The commercials about my illness: aren't really on my radar.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: No idea since there was no "before."

19. It was really hard to have to give up: Eating cheesecake constantly.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Collecting books since I wasn't collecting those when I was 4.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Eat anything that I wanted to without having a number in my head.

22. My illness has taught me: Compassion for others and a common empathy for those that do have illnesses.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "You can eat THAT?" Yes, yes, I can. This is why insulin was created!!!

24. But I love it when people: don't judge me for eating cake or drinking a soda when I'm not low.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: You'll get through it. Eventually, it's just life. With its ups and downs and all the in betweens.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How much other people seem to "know" what's best for me. And how much other people will give of themselves.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: There are so many! I have amazing people in my life! Probably the nicest was when my yoga teacher ran to get me a Coke...she barely knew me and I'd interrupted the whole class.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I have an invisible illness and I saw it on SUM.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: heard. All people with diabetes need to be heard right now.