D-Blog Week 2015 - Keep it to Yourself

        

      This week I am participating in the 6th annual Diabetes Blog Week. Each day there is a designated prompt that is meant to advocate about the different issues surrounding diabetes. Today’s topic is Keep it to Yourself.  Many of us share lots of aspects of our diabetes lives online for the world to see.  What are some of the aspects of diabetes that you choose to keep private from the internet?  Or from your family and friends?  Why is it important to keep it to yourself?  (This is not an attempt to get you out of your comfort zone.  There is no need to elaborate or tell personal stories related to these aspects.  Simply let us know what kinds of stories we will never hear you tell, and why you won't tell them.) (Thank you Scott E of Rolling in the D for this topic). 

     I am a very open book in terms of discussing my life with Type 1 Diabetes online. In fact, I often feel more comfortable having these discussions through blog writing rather than in person. In face to face conversations, I feel self-conscious when talking about my struggles and feel guilty when I complain. But through the Diabetes Online Community I somehow feel protected and safe, knowing that many of those who read my posts 'get it' and lead a life similar to mine.
    In the past, I have shared my A1C online, but I will admit that only happens when I am happy with it. A lot of the time, I only make posts when I am in a good Diabetes mindset. When I am struggling, I shut down and keep to myself. After my scare on Christmas eve, I took a step away from the blogging world. I was experiencing Diabetes burn out and just did not want to talk about anything. Slowly but surely, I am turning things around and am opening back up. In April I applied to a scholarship from the Diabetes Scholars Foundation to attend the 16th annual Friends for Life Children with Diabetes Conference. I found out last week that I was accepted, and I cannot be more thrilled. I am so excited to meet many of the people I know through their blogs and make face-to-face connections with those in the DOC. I am learning that it is ok to share my struggles because that is how we grow and gain strength to continue to the journey with T1D. 

Here are more Keep it to Yourself - Tuesday 5/12 posts.