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Finish this sentence, I was asked. "My Diabetes..." It is a playoff inspired by an NPR blogger, who was covered by his friend, Ted Koppel, in a documentary that focuses on his "My Cancer" blog. Leroy Sievers was a Peabody Award-winning journalist who detailed his inward thoughts about colon cancer in a personal online journal of sorts, helping himself and others find some comfort and knowledge while living with cancer. He aimed for everyone to learn from one another by finishing one sentence. By scouring his readers' answers, it allowed him to see if he had "missed something", and determine if there was a "lesson the disease was trying to pass on". So today I wanted to answer this question, only involving my own disease, our own disease... and see also how you would finish the sentence, "My diabetes..."

My diabetes has reinforced my own ability to stay grounded in reality. It has helped me appreciate how useful a calm and responsible demeanor can be. This becomes a coping mechanism, which I am constantly thankful for, letting me take the needed steps to ensure I stay healthy and keep the "Beast" in check. And also allowing me to take those steps with the sureness that diabetes can be put in its place, even if that involves building an endless retaining wall that keeps the evils of the disease from spilling over. In spite of the constant work to stay on track, my diabetes has given me something to be actively passionate about. Because if I wasn't, an inward, constant, autoimmune disease process would have me under it's thumb... something I won't accept.

Share with me, share with your online peers, and finish this sentence: "My diabetes..."