Last night I put on a Diabetes Exhibit at our local hospital. We had reps from companies that make diabetes gadgets and supplies. One gentleman who came through the exhibit said that he was visiting from another state and thought he would stop by because he was recently diagnosed with diabetes. I have no idea how old this man was, but I’m guessing mid-seventies. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “Why should I care? No one has told me why I should care.”
My first response was, “You don’t have to care. It is your choice to care.” Then I went on to explain that people with diabetes tend to care because they want to prevent the complications of diabetes. That is why we manage this chronic condition.
I care because I have a lot of things I want to accomplish in my life. I have two children and a husband with whom I still want to spend a lot of time. Most importantly, though, I want to have a quality life – regardless of how long I’m around. I want to be able to see and pee, walk and be active, be productive and successful and so on.
Someone who still considers themself having a lot of time left, may feel similar to the way I do. Perhaps someone who is much older than me would feel differently. For those who are diagnosed at an older age, the chances of long-term complications (blindness, kidney failure, amputation) are much lower. The immediate effects of unmanaged blood glucose, however, can still have a negative impact. High blood glucose can lead to blurred vision, lethargy, depression, mood swings, dry mouth and frequent urination. Low blood glucose increases the risk of falling, passing out, seizures, headaches, blurred vision and lack of energy. Both of these situations can interfere with one’s daily activities and can be extremely frustrating.
In order to avoid both long-term and short-term complications of diabetes, we care. And we are the ones who benefit from our caring. Do you care? If so, why?