Friday I posted truths and lies about me and diabetes. I offered up a Stick With It Sugar mug and SBUX gift card as a prize for a random reader that answered both questions correct. Many entered but only won could win.
I did not approve or respond to the comments that had incorrect answers about diabetes because I didn’t want to call anyone out.
My lies were:
- It doesn’t bother me that I will soon be entering the last year of my 30s.
- Type 1 Diabetes can be prevented by breast-feeding ones children and avoiding vaccinations.
I hate that I only have one more year in my 30s. It isn’t the gray hair, wrinkles or extra pounds that bother me (although I’m not celebrating them), it’s the idea that I’m almost 40 and I feel like I should have accomplished so much more than I have.
Nothing has been proven to prevent Type 1 diabetes. Some folks feel very strongly that breast-feeding can prevent Type 1 – I breast-fed all my kids until at least 18 months old. I still have 2 kids with Type 1. As far as vaccinations – there are those that believe avoiding vaccinations will prevent Type 1 but it has not be proven to make any difference.
The top incorrect answers were:
- People with diabetes can not join the US military or pilot a commercial airline in the US
- I would rather speak in front of a thousand strangers than get on an airplane
It is true that people with diabetes cannot join the US military or be a commercial airline pilot in the US. There are folks that develop Type 2 diabetes while in the service and to my knowledge they are not medically discharged but if a person already has diabetes they can not join the armed forces and if they develop Type 1 diabetes I do believe they are medically discharged from the service. This bothers me a great deal since I am a US Air Force veteran and I would have liked my children to have had the opportunity to serve in the military. It is also true that a person with Type 1 diabetes or another type that is insulin dependent can not be a commercial airline pilot in the US – they can in Canada though – this doesn’t bother me because I hate airplanes – and yes there is some irony in the fact that I served in the Air Force but I’m so afraid of flying. I have a completely irrational almost debilitating fear of airplanes. I truly would rather speak in front of 1000s of strangers – even naked – than ride an airplane.
Thanks for playing all.
Stick With It Sugar 
I’m also in the last year of my 30s, and I understand exactly how you’re feeling. There were so many times in the past I’d said “I’ll do it later” (regarding education, profession, etc), and now that I’ve got two kids to take care of at home, it’s too late. It’s one of the few regrets I have in life.
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Scott – I don’t think it is every “too late”. I think there is still lots of time but things get messier as we get older and others depend on us. I wish I had taken time to learn another language, play the guitar and play the piano and travel. I hope my kids see that I am still working toward goals – that it doesn’t stop once there is family and bills and everything else.
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