Diabetes Awareness Month 2019

It’s November, which is diabetes awareness month, which means that I finally get to introduce you to my Mum.

My Mum has type 1 diabetes, which has a massive impact on her life just like any disability, yet she still carries on and is a huge inspiration to us all. I know that that word is used too often and I don’t want to be that person who calls someone inspirational for just carrying out day to day activities. But, when you have your own needs and own appointments and also have to deal with a child with demanding needs you deserve some credit.

Mum has diabetes as part of having an auto-immune disease which means she gets very poorly very easily resulting in fatigue. Meaning that we have a lot in common, even though cerebral palsy and diabetes are very different, and fatigue will be caused in different ways we can still relate. This forms a big part of me mine and Mum’s relationship. We all have bad days when our disability gets the better of us and I’m human- if it’s been a bad day fatigue wise I complain to any member of my household. But, being able to talk my Mum is special because when I say I’m fatigue she gets it.

Although I know that Mum struggles a lot I am weirdly extremely thankful that I have someone so close that understands, just that little bit more than the rest. As small as it sounds it’s great because we usually go for our flu jabs together which to someone else may not seem a big deal, but it’s nice to think that the morning after the flu jab when I’m moaning about my achy arm my Mum understands my pain.

But, it’s not just our similarities the make our relationship special it is our differences…

Even though, elements of our disabilities are similar we also understand that we can never fully know one an other’s needs. This is something that we often talk about, in which this helps our relationship as we then have a different level of respect for one another.

I often worry about becoming diabetic myself, as it’s on both sides of my family which means the chances of me developing it at some stage are high. You’re probably thinking that if I was going to develop the condition, I would have already got it. Yes, but Mum was diagnosed at 42 so this means there’s still a chance. I worry about having diabetes because I often think that diabetes and cerebral palsy would be too much, I mean I would have to have the pump for sure… let’s not talk about me injecting.

But even though, I worry I look at my Mum and just see how she handles it so amazingly well especially whilst juggling her other conditions. I guess, I’ll always have some worries about how I would handle diabetes if I ever get it. But, it doesn’t eat away at me because how can I let it when I’ve had the best teacher and role model?

Life must have been a juggling act when I was younger and was more dependent on her, and I guess in some ways it still is as I might not be as dependent on her but I’m still not totally independent. Yet, this teaches us more so to just make the most of life and enjoy it. It’s fair to say that my family probably faces more challenges than the ‘ordinary family’ but, you know what that’s okay because without these challenges we wouldn’t have these significant bonds. My Mum, has been there through every appointment and still is, she text’s me most dinner times to check up on me, I always text back to check up on her too and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Happy diabetes awareness month 2019 Mum, thank you for everything you do and continue to do for me despite facing your own health battles on a daily basis. I know you don’t do social media and don’t let many people share photos of you never mind dedicating a whole blog post but, you deserve this recognition because I wouldn’t have this blog today if it wasn’t for you! Oh, let’s add some cheese… I love you Mum I know you’ll always support my needs, and I’ll always support yours.

Happy diabetes awareness month 2019 everyone, please raise awareness!

Thank you for reading,

Georgia x
@georgia4213
@GeorgiaVineOT