I'm with you guys... I've never 'celebrated' my diagnosis. I was diagnosed in April of 1986, but I have no idea which particular day. So, wooooo, 24 years.
Brandan's symptoms were present on his 1st birthday, he was diagnosed 2 weeks later. I don't see the diagnosis itself as something to celebrate, but getting the diagnosis in time to save his life is something to celebrate. Every birthday party celebrates his birth, his life and another year with diabetes. It comes with mixed emotions. His first birthday party was the first and last time he could eat his birthday cake without insulin. I can't help but feel a little down about that every year.
June will be 11 years for me. I've decided I am going to (mentally) mark this year as my re-diagnosis. Because i feel that for the first time in 11 years i am finally working WITH diabetes instead of AGAINST it. My relationship with diabetes is now give and take - the healthiest way to maintain any relationship (in my humble opinion). It took me ten years to realize this.
Go figure.
I don't do anything special for it, but I do think its important to acknowledge it!
My mom and dad send me this card saying how proud they are and that they know everything will turn out ok, and then we all have like ice cream or somthing and then go for a hike to keep my BG under control.
I don't really do anything. I'll think about it, and sometimes I'll talk to my mom about it. I have noticed that I won't touch teddy grams though. I was eating those right before I was diagnosed because I was extremely hungry (and loosing weight at the time). That particular snack reminds me of that day so I haven't touched them since.
Yes, I do do something special--final exams. XD I was diagnosed on December 5th, which is right around Finals time at my college. XD
I just had my one year on Easter, and I did nothing but randomly tell people. I was actually angry, just because it reminded me I have manyyyy more years to deal with it, and this past year was extremely rough...
I don't think theres anything to celbrate besides still being alive...
I was diagnosed my moms birthday (Sept 12) 1967. I do not feel like celebrating having the D but am so thankful that I do not have a hundred other diseases that seem so much worse. In reading everyone's response I think it would be good to educate a few folks on that day. I was three so don't know what it is like not to have D but if anyone could tell me what it is like to not have to take shots (I use a pump now) I would really like to know. Even with my pump I am still stabbing needles into my body. I wonder what people think if they could see me do my infusion set. It scares so many and the remarks from others are most of the time all wrong. I guess I will have to wait for your response to my question.
[quote user="Lady Di"]
I was diagnosed my moms birthday (Sept 12) 1967. I do not feel like celebrating having the D but am so thankful that I do not have a hundred other diseases that seem so much worse. In reading everyone's response I think it would be good to educate a few folks on that day. I was three so don't know what it is like not to have D but if anyone could tell me what it is like to not have to take shots (I use a pump now) I would really like to know. Even with my pump I am still stabbing needles into my body. I wonder what people think if they could see me do my infusion set. It scares so many and the remarks from others are most of the time all wrong. I guess I will have to wait for your response to my question.
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Lady Di I would be able to tell you what it's like not to have take shots!!! I am a type 1, but at the other end of the diabetes scale. What I mean, is where you were 3 when dx'ed, I was 52. If you have any questions, I am the guy. LOL Oh, I've been diabetic since aug./08
Thank you. I do not know what it is like to live without being a diabetic. When I started I was using glass syringes with disposable needles. I remember they were in a fish bowl on the top of the refrigerator. I think my mom boiled the syringes but my memory is fuzzy from so long ago. Before you were diagnosed did you think differently of people with diabetes because they we are a little different ourselves. The reason I am asking is because I feel crushed at work when I am not listened to in regard to my disease. I am the best expert on what I need and it does not seem to sink in to others. What are your thoughts?
[quote user="Pat"]
[quote user="Mikaela"]
nothing. just a regular day!
[/quote]
this ^
not even sure what day of the month it is...I know it's in April. Celebration shots every day?
[/quote]Just what they said! hehe
It's just a regular day to me too. It's nothing I'd want to celebrate anyway.
I am 57 years old and will be "celebrating" my 40th year with Type 1 diabetes this year. Each year you lead a "reasonable happy"**** year with Type 1 diabetes is a reason to celebrate. Give yourself credit and a pat on the back for having the serenity to accept what is not within your power, the courage to change what is and the wisdom to know the difference. (Sounds like the beginning of Type1Anon!)
[View:http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html:550:800]
I can only remember that it was in October......I don't really want to celebrate a day that has caused me so much stress in my life.....sorry for being a bummer! I know there are so many worse things in life.....but diabetes has been a bummer for me.
My anniversary was 4 days ago. I've had diabetes for 3 years now. I don't really do anything. I mean to me it's kind of a sad day but a thankful one too. I mean before i was diagnosed I was sick and when they diagnosed me I was sad and everything but happy because at least they knew what was wrong with me.
Tina, you're the first person I've met to have the same anniversary date as mine - Valentine's Day. Except mine was Valentine's Day 1995. Every year now, it's a day with a different kind of meaning than previous Valentine's Days. It is also, now, the birthday of a dear friend of my family. It's not a straight-forward holiday anymore!
V-day always feels a bit melancholy to me now. I always remember what it was like to be in the hospital that day, fighting for my life, in severe ketoacidosis. But mostly, I feel amazed and joyful that I made it out of that V-day alive, that I've lived to tell the tale. But it's a cautionary tale. I want to tell everyone who's ever been diagnosed as having panic attacks to get their blood sugars tested. And for everyone who has ever been told their symptoms don't add up to anything, to keep persevering until you find a doctor with answers. That day reminds me too of how doctors make mistakes and don't know my body the way I do - blind faith in doctors almost cost me my life at the time of my diagnosis, when a GP dismissed the possibility of type 1 diabetes based on my age (I was 20, 5'9, 134 lbs and falling) and sent me home on oral medication for type 2. The day is also a reminder that, during that first year of diagnosis, I was told by a prominent well-respected medical clinic that I would die early and start having major complications in about 10 years. I was fortunate to pass that 10 year mark relatively intact.
I'm attracted to the idea of rituals but haven't made much of one for Valentine's Day. Each year when that day comes around, I just sum up where I am with my health from the previous year, and consider whether I feel that I'm headed in the right direction with my care overall. And I feel gratitude for all I've experienced in the year's since my diagnosis, and how diabetes hasn't prevented me from having happiness and peace in my life. In fact, in many ways, it seems like illness is what has taught me what's really important.
I like to celebrate living another year with diabetes. I almost died once because of it so it's a big deal to me. I didn't celebrate before but now that I'm doing better I use it as a day to congratulate myself and force others to congratulate me too! I like to use it as an excuse to talk about it and get people to understand it better. Especially my stubborn and ignorant older relatives who only know about type 2. I also use it to get people to make me a cake! And make me dinner while they are at it! For my fifth year I will definitely force someone to buy me an expensive steak dinner. hehe.... My family and boyfriend are really supportive tho and they definitely like to celebrate with me.
My daughter was dx April 25 last year, she was 10 and has done amazing with the disease. Last 2 A1c's 6.1 and 6.0 so I wanted her to know how proud I was of her, she loves gardening so I found garden rocks with the words HOPE WISH and DREAM on them, I gave her the rocks with a card that said "DREAM to be anything you want to be and all of your WISHES will come true. Have HOPE that one day there will be a cure." I have never gotten around to dissposing of all of her used needles, pokers and insets, they are in a pail in the broom closet, so we spread them all out on the table and took a picture. She's doing the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes and has used the caption "This is what year with diabetes looks like, lets hope we don't have to see what 2 looks like" with the picture when doing her fundraising, it has worked really well, and it's amazing how many times she's poked herself in a year.
Nothing. I'm not even sure what the exact date is. All I know is it was sometime in late August 1977. It was within a couple of weeks of when Elvis died.
Just past 16 Years, dx on January 11th 1994. Every year think about doing something and every year forget. lol Maybe for 18 years I will buy a 18 year old bottle of whiskey and enjoy it.. Actually would look forward to that.