Managing Diabetes Your Way and Why That’s Okay

Managing Diabetes Your Way and Why that’s Okay!

Choice should be a necessity, but for some it is a privilege. This is true for folks living with diabetes and how they manage the disease on a daily basis. Diabetes doesn’t come with a “one size fits all” treatment plan, yet we try our best to figure it out. One test strip, one bolus, one juice box at a time.

Diabetes management has come a long way. We went from no treatment to discovering insulin in 1921. Ketones were determined by peeing on a cloth, hanging it outside and seeing if flies were attracted to it, and now we use test strips in the privacy of our homes. Insulin pumps were so large, you wore it like a backpack. Now insulin pumps are these cute little companions that can fit into your pants pocket or they can be tubeless. And while there is still a lot more that needs to be done regarding access, usability, compatibility, awareness… This National Diabetes Awareness Month, I want to share this message:

Sometimes you gotta change it up

I’ve always been hesitant to try new diabetes tech. Insulin pumps were not the go-to when I was diagnosed at 2 years old. Syringes and insulin pens (multiple daily injections, or MDI) were my pals. From ages 9 to 15, I was encouraged to go on an insulin pump. It wasn’t until I was 15 that I was ready. It was an “aha!” moment for me – maybe it was my Aries impulsiveness but I woke up one day and wanted to try something new. Long story short, even if you use diabetes tech, you still have to know the basics.

When I was 19, I decided to take a pump break. After some issues with my then-pump, I needed some time away from pumps. I was feeling burnt out from them and rather than it being a tool to help manage my diabetes, it was frustrating me. Back then, CGMs weren’t as common as they are now, so “finger poking” was the norm. Going back to injections wasn’t really a big deal because I received a very helpful crash course from an educator. Back up plans are second nature, especially when you live with diabetes. There was a certain type of freedom with MDI that I loved and still admire despite deciding to go back on an insulin pump when I was 21 and have been on one since. I chose to go back on a pump because similarly to when I was 15, I was ready for another change.

Next came the introduction of a CGM and weaving it into my management. Finding the right CGM took some time for me. Having to understand, accept and explain a new device seemed like too much for me at the time. When I did try CGMs, and they didn’t work, I worried about how much money I “wasted.” Turns out that nothing likes to stick to my skin yet everything irritates it. For me, staying with the same pump was important because I didn’t want to go back and forth with choosing a new pump (the fewer people I had to talk to… the better!). Thanks to trial and error, I found a CGM that works with my pump and has improved not only my blood sugars but also my relationship with diabetes.

Rav with DHF community friends Nethmi and Aastha, ‘calling each other’ on their pumps.

Doing what’s best for you

When someone questions your choices, even if they mean well, it can make you second-guess what you already know works for you. We already juggle so much with managing diabetes and living our lives, and unfortunately, not a lot is within our control. Whether we choose MDI or pumps, this pump or that pump, CGM vs finger poking everyday… Having choice is important! Having the flexibility to choose what works for you is important!

If someone says, “I use X,” try not to respond right away with, “I used to use that and hated it.” Even if that’s true for you, someone else’s preferred method isn’t a personal critique of yours. Before sharing your experience, ask what they like about their approach – maybe it’s about comfort, necessity, or simply what helps them feel at ease.

This mindset helped me navigate this journey in a way that felt manageable because as long as I was doing what was needed for my mental and physical health… then what’s the big deal? In the past, I have received some interesting comments about taking my pump break or why I was adverse to trying tech in general. Does skepticism and the fear of failing not run in anyone else’s genes?!

With the right support and tools, you will find what is compatible with your needs.

I think there is an assumption that when you change up your management style, you’re doing it because something is wrong, therefore you are “bad at diabetes.” When in reality, you’re trying something new to see if it works for you currently. I acknowledge that it can be a lot of trial and error, and that is frustrating. As exhausting as it can be, trying to find what works best for you is essential to feeling at ease with your diabetes.

Whether you push some buttons, inject, swipe, scan, glance at an app on your phone to avoid talking to someone (same here), take a tech break, feel reluctant to try something new – remember: we’re all figuring it out. And that’s totally ok. Your diabetes management might look different in 5, 10, 20 years, or it might not. You know your body best, and that self-awareness deserves respect, not debate.

Remember, the only time we judge others is when they tell us that ‘cinnamon cures diabetes’.