Here we have a vial of fifty..actually now 49 test strips. Depending on your perspective, you may see fifty blood glucose tests. You may see fifty brief moments of insight into a life with diabetes. You may see fifty moments of self doubt followed by self fulfillment or something similarly positive. You may see fifty chances at validation if you’re trying something new with your diabetes management. Or you may see fifty opportunities to remind yourself that you’re in control and that whatever number comes up is not the end of the world.

I can never take a picture of just one subject. Focus fail.

So yes, these tests strips are vital to my/our diabetes management. But it’s more than just a number. These tests take only seconds, but they can impact minutes, hours or even days of psychological gobbley-gook as we try to figure this “diabetes” thing out.

Intense, right?