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There are approximately 30 million people in the United States with diabetes. That is roughly 10 percent of the population. This number is only rising.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney disease, cardiac failure and so on and so on. Uncontrolled blood sugars increase the risks of mental issues and amputations and blah, blah, blah. That is not new news, and we have heard enough of the negatives!

The real truth is that diabetes is the leading cause of courage, self-awareness, persistence, empathy, compassion, persistence, maturity, enlightenment, appreciation, bravery, understanding, fortitude, daring, grit, substance, personality and guts.

Get out the scissors and cut out this article. Fold it up and put it in your pocket, wallet or purse. Post it on your bulletin board, calendar or refrigerator. Diabetes is not for sissies.

Those who learn as much as they can, take their medications, eat the same amount of carbs at the same time of day, exercise for 30 minutes at least four to five times weekly, and learn how to quiet their brain to relax need to be called heroes. They are rock stars.

The real truth is that diabetes is the leading cause of courage, self-awareness, persistence, empathy, compassion, persistence, maturity, enlightenment, appreciation, bravery, understanding, fortitude, daring, grit, substance, personality and guts.

When life hands people dealing with diabetes lemons, they make sugar-free lemonade. When their world is turned up-side down, they deal with it and still do daily finger sticks, count carbs, walk the dog and pray hard.

Love is a daily decision and their love of life and their loved ones help them to decide to take care of themselves. It ain’t easy, my friend, but they get by with a little help from their friends and medical professionals.

The real truth is that diabetes is the leading cause of courage, self-awareness, persistence, empathy, compassion, persistence, maturity, enlightenment, appreciation, bravery, understanding, fortitude, daring, grit, substance, personality and guts.

Diabetes care has changed so much in the past 10 years. The learning curve is very steep and this can send anyone into a tailspin. Without credible support a person with diabetes can feel like they are drowning.

The people who do not assume that their treatments are the same as their grandmother’s care nor that their medications should be the same as their brother’s should be commended. Diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all disease.

The real truth is that diabetes is the leading cause of courage, self-awareness, persistence, empathy, compassion, persistence, maturity, enlightenment, appreciation, bravery, understanding, fortitude, daring, grit, substance, personality and guts.

It is not often that the encouraging aspects of a chronic disease are pointed out. Strength comes from accentuating the positives and downplaying the negatives.

The real truth is that diabetes is the leading cause of courage, self-awareness, persistence, empathy, compassion, persistence, maturity, enlightenment, appreciation, bravery, understanding, fortitude, daring, grit, substance, personality and guts.

Randall
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2018/10/web1_Randall.jpegRandall
THEIR VIEW

Bobbie Randall

Contributing columnist

Bobbie Randall is a certified diabetes educator, registered, licensed dietitian. She supervises a Diabetes Self-Management Training Program at Dunlap Community Hospital, Orrville, Ohio. Contact her at [email protected].

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