diaversary – Cut the B.S.

5 Years a Diabetic, Where Did The Time Go?

This week I celebrated my 5 year Diaversary. I can’t believe it has already been five years. I’d like to ask where did the time go, but I know exactly where it went.:

1 visit to the ER.
Over 9125 finger pokes.
Over 10,950 insulin injections/inhalations.
Hundreds of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (my quick sugar of choice when treating a low BS)
2 Research Studies.
Over 20 blood draws and endo appointments.
5 glucose meters
3 generations of Dexom Continuous Glucose monitors.
7 different insulins.
Over 350 followers on Instagram @cutthebsgirl.
Over 400 Likes on the Cut the BS Facebook Page.
Over 45 blog posts with over 2300 visits to the Cut The BS Blog.
1 5K run completed…slowly but complete!
4 JDRF OneWalks walked and one more on the way!
Almost 50 walkers recruited.
$16,699.30 raised for T1D research from hundreds of donors!
3 cruises.
5 Wedding Anniversary Trips.
10 Indycar races
1 Diabetes unConference.
1 radio show.
A community of my peeps.
Countless laughter.
Immense love.
So much pride.

I say “celebrate” because the last five years have truly been a gift. Every single day has been a gift. It’s been a gift to me. It’s been a gift to my family. I hope it has been a gift to anyone my life and efforts have touched.

I’m so grateful to those before me that relentlessly raised funds and conducted research so that I can have these five years. I’m so thankful that they didn’t give up on finding insulin. It has been an absolute honor to benefit from better treatments and I am extremely hopeful for a cure. I have to be.

I’m so stinkin excited for what the next 5 years have in store!

Cut the BS y’all! Much love.

It’s my Diaversary

I felt particularly anxious yesterday and could not quite put my pricked finger on why. I even tossed and turned until 2:00am before falling asleep and didnt’ know why. It wasn’t until this morning when I realized the date: June 28th. It’s my Diaversary, meaning it has been 4 years since I woke up in a hospital bed and was asked, “How long have you known you had diabetes?”

For months, I was trying to figure out how I was going to celebrate this day. Life then took over and I shifted my party plans. I thought I would still want to party it up despite the fact that this day snuck up on me. It was surprisingly somber for me, though. Remembering this day 4 years ago took me to a dark, sad, and hopeless place. I seemed to have been brought back to a place that I have fought so hard to keep behind me.

That’s when I reached out to my dia-buddies via text message. Of-course, I true Dia-badass fashion they came through for me. I received virtual hugs, words of encouragement, and suggestions of our now traditional test strip shot. Need a visual? Here you go:

After dinner, my husband took the girls swimming and as I watched my beautiful family happily jumping into the pool, my eyes welled up with tears. “I’m so happy I’m here!!!” I thought to myself. “I’m delighted I get to watch this and be a part of this, all of this!” All the reasons why today is a day to celebrate came to me all at once.

I get to watch my girls continue to grow into the intelligent, creative, enterprising, and fun young women they are.
I get to continue to plan trips and plan a kick ass future with my husband, best friend, and hero.
I get to participate in research studies that help diabetes medicine and technologies move forward.
I still get to help others with Diabetes or Pre-diabetes by way of this blog, Team Cut the BS’s fundraising efforts, and just by being me.
I get to watch more Indycar Races and cheer for Charlie and Conor, so that children with diabetes can follow in their sweet and fast footsteps.
And I get the opportunity to experience much, much more!!!

With a new outlook on today, I took my friends up on their suggestions and poured myself a shot for all the insulin shots I’ve taken since June 28, 2012 (A loosely estimated 5,840 shots, probably more.) Happy Diaversary to me. Cheers.