Happy 4th of July! Happy Independence Day! To me, this holiday is a celebration of freedom. Of course, I started thinking about how this could possibly relate to diabetes, and I believe it does. Despite many people’s struggles with diabetes, those of us who live with this condition really do have much more freedom than our predecessors did.
In 2011 we have medications that address all different aspects of type 2 diabetes. We have much more effective types of insulin that are made in a lab and no longer from animals. We have the tiniest needles imaginable. We have blood glucose meters that require a teeny drop of blood and take just a few seconds to give a result.
We can pursue our dreams, have babies, run marathons, compete in the Olympics or on professional sports teams, participate in extreme sports, perform in movies or on stage, go to school, become executives, and so on.
We have the freedom to treat our bodies well, to exercise, eat healthy foods in healthy amounts, get good sleep, say no to smoking, find balance in life. We can learn about diabetes from countless resources and we can share correct information with others so they gain a better understanding of what diabetes is and what it is not.
We have the freedom to make choices and live well. Let freedom ring!