I am trying to convince myself that my answer would be, "heck yes! Diabetes has made me a better person!" And while I was forced to mature much quicker than any of my friends (I consider that a great thing!) and I'm much more knowledgeable in the health care field as a whole than I ever was before my diagnosis, my answer would be no. I would not choose this for anyone. It's not worth the stress, worry, and anxiety. It's not worth having to educate every ignorant person out there that no, I do not in fact have a beeper, it's an insulin pump.. and that no, I'm not fat, but yes I still managed to get diabetes. It's not worth all the things I had to miss out on as a child because they involved sugar or being away from my parents' care. I gave up hope when studying in school how big pharma companies will seriously delay the cure of any disease that racks in as much money as diabetes does. I think it's the people around me that have made me choose my answer.
I applaud you, though for your answer. I felt that way for a while, but when I really think about it, no, I would not choose diabetes.
I really wonder if anyone that said they would choose to have diabetes have dealt with any of the serious complications that can arise from it? Not judging anyone's answers; it's great to hear what people would do if given a choice. I have this assumption, that could very well be wrong, that if you're dealing with a serious complication from the diabetes you would always choose no, not to have it. I am open to contradiction. This has just been my assumption on the matter.
I have had my fair share of DKA and hospitalizations, among seizures and brief comas from severe hypoglycemia… I learned a lot. My T1 hasn’t challenged me with ulcers or losing limbs or heart&kidney failure… But I still choose T1. It’s made me appreciate life more… Humbled me… Challenged me and made me stronger. I’m not sure what kind of person I would be had I never been diagnosed.
I would not choose it, how ever because I can't back out of it I can say that I love the person that it made me! I love how I see and experience the world with so much more love and compassion then I can imagine I would have without it. My BF even told me that if it hadn't been for my diabetes and the experiences it has given me and us, I'd probably be a very boring self centered person LOL!
However, I also deeply hate that I have this disease, I hate the fear and worry, I hate what it does to my body and my mind. But I can't go back so I'll keep powering through.
When I was first diagnosed I would have said No, but now as I have been given the opportunity to educate people that I am surrounded by I am glad that I have it. I have said since day one that I am glad it's me and not one of my younger sisters.
My family doctor made a misdiagnosis of t2 at first. I went a whole year on a rollercoaster that couldn't be controlled. I was in the hospital a couple times during that year. Dec of 09 my doctor finally sent me to an endocrinologist and thank God he did. She told me that I was t1 instead and that was the problem I was having. I immediately began shots and a couple months later started on a pump.
I have become comfortable with who I am and diabetes has taught me a lot about life. I have had my bad days, who hasn't? I keep going though. So, yes I am glad that I have it and I'm glad that I can embrace the fact that I can control it.
Honestly i might sound crazy but i would not change my diagnosis. I mean, sure I do not like doing shots, testing sugars, counting carbs, etc, but i would not give it up. If it meant i had to give up all my experiences with diabetes and all of the people i have met, i would definitely not given it up. I have met so many great people on this website, and i would have never met them if i didnt et diabetes. I go really deep into things, so i felt like i was given diabetes for a reason and i stick to that philosophy. I think i was chosen to have diabetes because i am strong enough to handle it and that i could take it, and i am. I really think this disease has made me stronger and has shown me that i can accomplish almost anything.
Right after my diagnosis, I kept wondering "Why me? What did I do to deserve this?" But after a while, I realized that I could have been diagnosed with something a lot worse. So would I choose diabetes, no, not really. But since I have to have some sort of disability, diabetes would be my choice. It can easily be lived with and easy to control whereas other diseases can't be. Yeah, diabetes sucks, but it's been over 7 years and I'm still alive, which I'm thankful for everyday. As I see it, my life could have changed for the worst 7 years ago, but it didn't; it just changed.
This is a very tough question for me actually. I really don't know what I'd choose. I mean, I've met some amazing people on here. If I didn't have diabetes, I would of never met my boyfriend or a lot of my other diabetic friends. My boyfriend is great, and he's brought so much happiness into my life. It would be a lot different if I didn't have D. Diabetes has let me see how precious life really is and that you need to enjoy the little things. I would always freak out if I saw someone with an illness or disease, and now I want to help them. My neighbor I use to live by was a diabetic and I didn't even want to be around him because it just freaked me out. Now I feel bad for him because he lost his father to type 1 and I saw how it really is. I've become a lot more mature and respectful to people now as well. I just think that diabetes came into my life to help me see what I wasn't seeing before. So in a way, I don't think I would change being diagnosed just because of the person it has made me become. The only downfall is that it is an annoying disease and it is life-threatening. My children could get it, and then there would be a lot of guilt. I worry about complications and sometimes I feel alone. So there are times when I would go back and say I didn't want it. But in the end, I know I can live with it and it's going to be okay. :)