Diabetic Recipes
jhhwild
I was riding in the car with my friend the other day when all of the sudden, pretty much out of nowhere, he asked me the golden question. "So, what would you do Andy if you didn't have diabetes"? Immediately a weird feeling took over me. It was like my mind knew the answer to this simple question, but to my disbelief, I was unable to come up with anything. It's a question that I have asked myself over a million times. I have spent a lot of hours thinking about how my life would be, or what I would be doing, if I didn't have diabetes. Amazingly though, I didn't really know what to say. I kind of laughed, and looked at him and said, "dude,, I don't have any idea".
I wasn't mad at him; I guess I just wasn't expecting him to ask me anything like that. But it's not like people haven't asked me before. I guess it had just been a long time since anyone had.
So for the rest of the car ride, I guess I tried to come up with more of an answer. But basically I just kept coming up with nothing but laughter and puzzlement. I'd look at him and begin to try to come up with something intelligent like I actually had a "back-up" or "alternate" plan for the day I was no longer diabetic. Still nothing though. Does that mean that I have accepted I will always be diabetic? Does that mean that I have lived life so long as a diabetic that my mind no-longer operates in the "life without diabetes" realm? Have I come to peace with my diabetes?
So now I ask you the same question you have probably thought of a million times too. What would you do if you didn't have diabetes? Would your life be different and if so how? Is it unhealthy for you to try and think about life without diabetes when at this particular moment is not really a reality? What about your philosophy, are you someone who says things happen for a reason, and if so, why were you chosen to have diabetes?
Thanks for reading my blog today guys. -Andy
Hey Andy...I think I'm the only one who has asked me that question! I still haven't been able to come up with an answer. In some ways I'm happy to be who I am. I wouldn't have the career and life I have now. I don't think I would have the patience and understanding I have towards other people's problems. I'm happy to have those things. I'm not saying I'm happy to have the diagnosis I have but I'm grateful for my life. Most of the time when I think about it I'm unable to think of anything because life would be completely different! I'm unable to comprehend it.
Absolutely "lupiegoose". i agree completely. I have come to accept who I am, and most of the time I try to be thankful for who i am. It's just funny to me to think about a life without diabetes. Crazy huh! Thanks. -Andy
I've only been a diabetic for three years, so I do recall what life was like before. I view my diagnosis as a little bit of a blessing in disguise (not in a happy happy joy joy kind of way mind you). I'm taking much better care of myself than I used to. I'm quite aware of everything I put in my mouth. Having said all of that, things I wouldn't miss are: planning everything I do, planning all my food. Having to leave the house with a bunch of crap. Having this bull$hi neuropathy pain in my feet. Having to take little blue pills. Going loopy while going low. While it would be quite an adjustment going back, I would go there for sure - like the rest of us!!!
Corey
Well said Corey. Thank you for that. -Andy
First, I would take a trip and leave my meter, insulin pens, backup insulin, backup syringes, glucose tabs, snacks, and emergency contact plan behind. I would love to fly the friendly skies without a carry-on bag or take a week-long road trip and bring nothing but a change of clothes (or two). As for as me, I think I would be the same person... maybe a bit less uptight... maybe not. I would stop planning so much and be more spontaneous. It's hard to imagine not having diabetes-- I even have diabetes in my dreams.
-Kirk
I would spend WAY less time worrying about my body every minute of every day (to borrow a phrase from Cara's blog). It's like having a computer program running in the background eating up memory, most of the time.
But really, for me I'm pretty used to this. As years go by I remember less of my life before the D. If I wish for what could have been, it's on behalf of my parents who have quietly suffered all this time.
Well said araby62. Well said. Thank you. -Andy
Buy a box of golden grahms and a gallon of milk. And when that was gone, I would start on a box of Whoppers.
Honestly, I have no clue. :)
That's freaking hilarious George! I'm laughing my ass of right now :) But, yeah isn't funny we don't have a clue? We so used to being on diabetic life auto-pilot that it's hard to even imagine life without it.! thanks man. -Andy
What a great (and tough )question! I would drink a lot of pina coladas w/out worrying about hypo problems the following morning :) I would also love to go, well anywhere, without pump supplies, back-up isulin & syringes, a glucometer, test strips, alcohol wipes, glucose tablets, etc. But most of all I would have a huge party for my family & loved ones to tell them to stop worrying about me and to thank them for all their support and encouragement throughout the years, even when I didn't deserve it.
It sounds to me more as if your friend were asking what career path you might have chosen if your experiences with diabetes had not led you to a path to wish to help others -- particularly children -- with the condition. Obviously we've no idea how your personality would have been different if you'd grown up without the responsibilities of caring for yourself with the big D... But... presuming a similar disposition, might you have considered becoming a phys ed teacher? a personal trainer? One of those folks who runs/teaches Outward Bound? From your blogs, I find it hard to picture you flying a desk for a living...
I am on autopilot, as far as diabetes is concerned. If it was suddenly gone from my life, I know I would worry so much less. Moving forward to different stages of my life wouldn't always involve "and then what about medical insurance?" Or "Do we have enough supplies for that?" Or "that's dangerous, but if we plan for it, we can do anything." I look forward to someday saying "Let's do it," instead of "Let's plan and then do it."
But Day One, I'm there with SuperG and the Golden Grahams. Don't worry, George. I'll bring my own box. ;)
Thank you Kerri, Kirk, tmana, and gingerstar16. We all appreciate your comments! :) -Andy
Dear Andy,
I am Luis Fernandez, a Spanish researcher in the field of eHealth from the Tromsø Telemedicine Laboratory on Tromsø (Norway) (www.telemed.no/ttl). Our project, MyHealthService (http://myhealthservice.itek.norut.no), is focused on developing new eHealth services for chronic patients. Currently we are studying patients, like you, who are creating web content (e.g. blogs, webs, videos). For this purpose, we have designed an anonymous web survey (which doesn’t have any commercial purposes). We will really appreciate your collaboration with our research by filling out this survey. Please if you are interested send me an email and I will send you the link to the survey.
Sincerely,
Luis
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Luis Fernandez Luque - PhD Fellowship
NORUT, PO box 6434, 9294 Tromsø, Norway
mobile: +4793421287, fax: +47 77 52 80 34
URL: http://myhealthservice.itek.norut.no/
Luis, thank you for your comment. You did not provide an email address though? If you are interested in doing this still then leave another comment on this page so I know your not a spammer! With all due respect of course :)