I thought that because we’re
all new to this, that I should introduce myself. I know that a lot of people
will assume that Ninjabetic is a doctor or a nurse or someone within the
healthcare profession. Obviously the pros are there, quietly lurking in the
background with their expert knowledge, ready to pounce whenever a specialist
subject crops up. However I am not one of them, thankfully! I have nothing
against the pros, but if I had attended medical school I would be there until
my dying days!
No, I’m a 26 year old type
one diabetic who one day stumbled into Queen Alexandra A&E (not for the
first time) waiting to hear those dreaded words, “DKA.” Whilst there I was fortunate
enough to meet Dr Kar who was so massively enthusiastic and motivating about
type one diabetes, I couldn’t help but get drawn in. If I’m honest his
enthusiasm did scare me a little, as he bounced over to my hospital bed at
silly o’clock in the morning, waking me up and shaking his shiny hair as he
took off!
More about me…. I suppose I
do what most 26 year olds do, and that’s anything and everything we shouldn’t.
I used to have a lot more stamina than I do now. I would roll in at 4am most mornings, get up for work at 7am , drag myself through the day and then repeat it all
over again. I can probably do that once a month now. Not only because of the
expense, but as other type ones know, diabetes will give your energy levels a
good old kicking if you don’t take care of yourself.
I also work quite a lot. I
work 6-7 days a week, taking a few hours off here and there, when I can. I’m a
video editor for a market research company which involves working shifts.
Around that I blog for a TV channel. Now I can’t name names, but let’s
just say I think ch4 and e4 are the best channels out there!! J (Have I said too much?!)
I love being on the beach on
a summers night, wearing a big hoodie and being surrounded by friends. I love
walking on grass in the morning, when it’s warm outside but the grass is still
dewy. I love experimenting with food and making up strange concoctions. A few
weeks ago I made a roast dinner pizza; yes it was just a roast on a pizza base
(with gravy as a dipping sauce!), I love a good challenge and never ever back
away from one, I love to shock people, to do the unexpected, to be different, and
to stand up for what I believe in but most of all to stand up for those who
can’t do it themselves.
When it comes to diabetes
and the community that we’re trying to set up here, please don’t think that I’m
gong to preach to you. I will openly admit that for the past 9 years I have
been a terrible diabetic, but I’m trying to get on track with it.
I forget to take my insulin,
I forget to eat, I skip meals, I under-correct, I over-correct, I take fast
acting insulin instead of long acting (and vice versa), I run out of insulin
and testing strips without realising, I go out and don’t take anything with me
for when my sugars drop, I wear shoes that look good but are not feet friendly,
I inject through my clothes which then bends the needle, I wait until I am
feeling absolutely terrible before I drag myself to A&E, I cancel or ignore
my appointments, I will do anything and everything I can to avoid having blood
taken and until 34 days ago I smoked and had done for 9 years.
We all make silly mistakes
when it comes to diabetes, however every mistake is a learning curve. Granted,
mistakes can be costly to us, especially if they are repeated over and over
again, but hopefully that’s something that we can avoid by helping each other.
That’s me in a nutshell I
guess. I hope that this will be the start of a long and fruitful friendship
with you all. Whether you’re a type one, a relative of one, a friend or a
health care pro, we’re all in it together!
But for now I must vanish
like smoke into the night. That minimum wage won’t earn itself!!!
Catch ya later
Ninjabetic