“What is one thing you would tell someone who doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes? Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes. Have more than one thing you wish people knew? Go ahead and tell us everything.”

Diabetes does not stop, ever. Diabetes shows no emotion. Diabetes does not care how hard you are working to control your blood glucose or if it’s your anniversary. Diabetes demands constant attention. And even when you give diabetes the attention it so desperately craves, your reward is a d20 roll away. Managing this disease is extremely difficult but if you’re reading this and your pancreas works fine, I’m sure you’re saying to yourself “I don’t know if I could do all of that” – trust me, eager reader, you’d be surprised what you’re capable of when your life is on the line.

To the prompt, what’s the one thing I would tell said functioning pancreas owner? I’m not alone.

It’s my diabetes. I’m the one responsible for the ups, downs, highs, lows, no-hitters, the Costco-size box of peppermint patties, the juice under my bed, the collection of used insulin pen needles, the insurance, the endocrinologist appointments, the carb counts, the insulin injections, the blood glucose tests, the…everything. It’s all on me. But I’m not alone.

If you’re coming to this post not knowing what the value of community is, I direct you to the ridiculously long list of Diabetes Blog Week participants. Each one of us is on the hook to get this diabetes right on an individual basis, but despite the solitude there is comfort knowing that support is there and yes, You Can Do This. Turns out it’s true, there is strength in numbers.

Yes, there’s plenty of doom and gloom I could, and sometimes do spread, about life with diabetes to the uninitiated, but this week ends on a high note. This post ends with the thought that there is more out there, and we are all better because of it.