You Can (and I have proof)

When I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the word diabetes appeared on every piece of medical paperwork… I started wondering about some things and decided to do some research. Then a Twitter friend asked if she could donate blood with diabetes. Even though I don’t meet donor requirements for other reasons (weight limit) I looked it up…

You Can

Some things require “reasonably controlled diabetes.” With diabetes you can still:

[source for Rock Star – Miss America]

Also, we can eat cheeseburgers if we so desire (I’ve been asked that a lot).

Limitations

There are a few limitations that we’re stuck with because of diabetes, but this list is much, much shorter than what you can do.

It appears that treating diabetes with medication (I assume insulin is included as medication… maybe?) precludes you from donating bone marrow, but those type 2s controlling with diet and exercise only can. Since “All the cells of the immune system are initially derived from the bone marrow” [source] and type 1 diabetes is triggered by an autoimmune response that kills insulin producing cells, this makes sense to me.

Also we are not allowed to become Class 1 pilots, I assume that’s a safety issue.

Inspired?

We may not all do “amazing things” but it’s important not to adopt a mindset of defeat because diabetes affects every part of our lives.

I’m interested in what things you’ve done and not let diabetes get in the way of. Care to share?

12 thoughts on “You Can (and I have proof)

  1. Well, I once wanted to go on a Scuba-Diving excursion with my father (one of those one-day deals where they teach you the basics then throw you off the boat), and they told me I couldn’t go because of diabetes. And that was in Mexico, where I thought rules were more relaxed than the US! But other than that, it’s been pretty much “don’t-ask-don’t-tell” for me.

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