Invisible Illness Awareness Week.

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:  2000
3. But I had symptoms: A couple weeks prior to diagnosis
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: learning I will never be perfect in my diabetes care. I wasn't made solely to be a pancreas.

5. Most people assume: I ate too much sugar as a kid

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Remembering to test.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: ? Untold stories of the ER I guess?
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: The pump, my panc, my pal!

9. The hardest part about nights are: sleeping with an insulin isn't all that comfortable...

10. Each day I take _  pills & _ vitamins.  Just insulin boluses throughout the day.
11. Regarding alternative treatments:  I have heard a lot of things. The simple fact is we all need insulin to live and use energy from food. My body doesn't make insulin. There are no alternative treatments. I need insulin and that is that.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible I guess. I am Ryanne. That's how people know me. Not as disease girl.

13. Regarding working and career:  I can do anything I want. And I want to be a Nurse.

14. People would be surprised to know: I can eat cookies.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Perfection isn't possible.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Honestly to get in control. I often feel like it is beyond my capacity to take care of myself. But we keep on keeping on and its gets done :)
17. The commercials about my illness: Wilford Brimley. B.B. King. Mary Tyler Moore. That one Miss America Lady...

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Not worrying all the time.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: Not paying attention. Not caring.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Bloggin!
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I don't even really remember what that feels like. 

22. My illness has taught me: All our experiences in our life are to teach us something. Apparently have a lot to learn from Diabetes :)

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: You can't eat that.

24. But I love it when people: Ask questions and don't pretend they know everything about diabetes.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: Look Unto Me In Every thought. Doubt not; Fear Not. (D&C 3:6)
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: you can do it!

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How much different your life ISN'T from everyone else. I am still like you.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Stop and sit with me while we were  hiking and almost to the top.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Knowledge is power. 

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: That you are trying to understand. I like you :)