My Perspective
I was diagnosed with T1D 7 years ago this month. I was diagnosed a few months before my 21st birthday. Three major changes happened in my life shortly afterward; I moved out alone, I fell off of my parents insurance plan and I got my dream job as a backcountry ranger for the Forest Service.
All of these things upped the ante on adapting to the diabetes lifestyle. Insurance....I had to learn how to do without. Thanks to Community Health Centers, I am affording supplies and care.
Living alone...meant eating alone. I was learning to cook for myself for the first time anyway, so I did it right. Simple, healthy, hearty meals.
Becoming a Wilderness Ranger...meant being miles away from the nearest person, regularly without communication, always in a strenuous setting. I have had my close calls, 30mg/dL and miles out, but I always had my SYSTEMS in place and always have a backup for my backup.
Get your retinas examined occasionally. They can take pictures of them. I got the service free through a local community health clinic. Get your kidneys checked too. Too much sugar over time will wear those filters out and proteins will start to get through and show up in the urine. I have not always been good with managing my glucose but I have always been super active and my A1C does not reflect my poor management. EXERCISE. Try your best to keep your glucose in check. Don't eat right before bed.
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