More Than Blood Sugar: Finding Balance with T1D

More Than Blood Sugar: Finding Balance with T1D

Living with diabetes can feel like juggling a hundred things at once. Friends, family, school, hobbies, and then throwing in blood sugars on top of it all. It often left me feeling like there were not enough hours in a day, like I could never be happy and healthy at the same time. But over time, I’ve learned that balance doesn’t mean being perfect; it means finding small ways to make life with T1D a little easier to manage.

Feeling Different: Coping Socially with T1D

Unfortunately, many of us can relate to feeling shame around our diabetes and other health issues,wishing so badly to be “normal.” I especially remember sitting with my friends at lunch watching one friend offer another candy, and she just casually took it and ate it—no thoughts, no worries, no injection. I felt so jealous and resentful, and then felt guilty for feeling that way at all.

After a while, I began to realize that I was so focused on fitting in by trying to be myself pre-diagnosis, to be ‘normal’, I wasn’t being myself at all. And I was putting my health at risk.

Instead of telling myself, “Yeah, you definitely should have the cake like everyone else and unapologetically take insulin and continue to enjoy yourself,” I would tell myself “just eat the cake” without taking insulin so I could feel ‘normal’ for just one night and so no one else thought I was different and shouldn’t eat the cake. It took me a while to realize embracing your diabetes with the people around you and not letting it stop you was a very different thing from avoiding it altogether. Once I realized that, I started working to find balance between T1D and social activities. I also noticed when I managed my own diabetes openly, it gave others permission to be more open about their struggles too. What I thought would make me stand out actually made me feel more connected.

4 Strategies for Building Social Confidence with T1D

I still don’t have all the answers, but I’ve picked up a few strategies that make social situations less stressful. These are the things that help me feel more confident when diabetes feels like it’s trying to steal the spotlight:

1. Be open about your T1D when you feel comfortable:  I started to realize that a quick open explanation (I’d love to have some cake; just let me take my insulin real quick) wasn’t limiting me from enjoying the cake with my friends; it was actually an opportunity to answer questions and take care of myself so I felt my best and could fully enjoy the cake.
2. Teach a close friend: Having T1D can feel really isolating. I found it helped a lot if my friends knew what I was experiencing. Having great friends by your side ready to offer you a juice box when you’re low can really help you feel less alone in the struggles of T1D.
3. Give yourself permission to say no: Having diabetes can be really exhausting. It’s okay if you need to say no if you’re too tired from battling your blood sugar all night. The people who love and care about you would want you to take care of yourself, and you’ll be able to show up as your best self when you can.
4. Celebrate small wins: Dealing with T1D is hard; celebrate every small victory. Taking insulin in public, educating someone you trust about T1D, and treating a low at an event are all things worth celebrating. Try to focus on all the things you’ve accomplished rather than being overly hard on yourself for having a high after having pizza with friends ( impossible to avoid if you ask me).

Passions Still Matter with T1D

Doing things that you enjoy is so important, and no one should have to give that up. I for one always loved hiking. When I was diagnosed with type 1 and went to go on my first hike, I had gone low before even getting to the trail. I was so annoyed and upset and felt like quitting, but when you give up the things you enjoy, you stop feeling like you. Personally, I really enjoy combining my hobbies with T1D, for example, writing about T1D like this or drawing my experiences with T1D. But whether you like to hike or read a book, you are allowed to give yourself the time to do it. Remember, rest and enjoyment are productive. Diabetes may always be a part of your life, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it take away the things that bring you joy. You deserve to keep showing up to the things you enjoy even if that looks a little different than before.

My piece for DHF’s T1Zine Support issue. Check out the full Zine here >

Burnout, Grief, and Growing Stronger

The burnout with diabetes is very real and does not make you a ‘bad’ diabetic. Acting in place of an organ is not easy; something that for most is as natural as breathing becomes a full-time job and constant numbers. Having the weight of those numbers on your shoulders is a feeling that’s impossible to explain to people who don’t live with it, though burnout and struggling with mental health are very common among the T1D community. This does not mean you have to do it alone or that you can’t receive support. I was so embarrassed to reach out and say that I needed help, and I let myself struggle alone. There were days I felt like I just couldn’t check my blood sugar or that I would disappoint the people around me by not being able to carry the weight alone; it felt too heavy, and if you relate, just know there is always support. Rest is a form of self-care, not a sign of failure. There is nothing weak about asking for help; in fact, it makes you so strong.

More Than Just Diabetes

Diabetes is hard. It can be exhausting and overwhelming; there are days when it feels like a full-time job just to keep going, and there are so many lessons to be learned, and I have dealt with a fair share of burnout, fatigue, and grief. But what I’ve learned is that balance doesn’t come from ignoring diabetes or trying to outrun it; it comes from learning to live with it, one day at a time, and giving yourself grace along the way. I don’t have all the answers, but what I do know is even with T1D, life can still feel full. And if you ever feel like you’re failing—know this: you’re not. You’re carrying something heavy, and the fact that you’re still here, still showing up, is proof of your strength. Diabetes may shape parts of our lives, but it doesn’t define us. We do.

If you’re struggling with burnout or your mental health, here are some Canadian resources that can help:

• 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night, for immediate support if you’re in crisis or struggling.
• Kids Help Phone: Free 24/7 support for youth up to age 29. Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
• Good2Talk (Post-Secondary Students): Free, confidential mental health support for college and university students. Call 1-833-292-3698 or text
• GOOD2TALKNS to 686868 (Nova Scotia; other provinces have their own numbers).
• Talk T1D Peer Support (Breakthrough T1D): One-on-one peer support and virtual meetups for people living with T1D. jdrf.ca
• Mental Health + Diabetes Directory: A listing of mental health providers in Canada with training in supporting people with diabetes. diabetes.ca
• DHF Peer Mentor Program – Hope Connects: One-on-one peer support to support students as they balance their T1D during their transition to post-secondary school diabeteshopefoundation.com/peer-support-program

Check out Emily’s T1D Merch designs here >