We’ve never liked each other very much, have we?
From the day that nurse with diabetes came to visit me in the hospital, showing me one of your siblings in the hopes of altering my enthusiasm towards the initial idea of you.
The initial idea of you branding me as a diabetic. Labelling me, for the whole world to see. Marking me with a permanent reminder of the condition that I will be stuck with for the rest of my life.
I’ve tried. I really have.
But you annoy me. Your expanda band sticks to my skin. I can’t help but fidget with you. ALL THE TIME. My wrist feels trapped, and suffocated every single time I have you on.
You leave my Mum and Dad’s words ringing in my ears.
“But it could save your life!”
I convince myself that it will never happen to me. An accident.
I convince myself that I’ll at least be conscious enough to utter the words “diabetes” if I ever find myself on the stretcher in an ambulance.
“But it could save your life!”
The words keep ringing in my ear. So much so, that I’m driven enough to wear you when I go out for long drives on my own. And on aeroplanes. You know, where an accident is more likely to happen…
But we’re still not able to make it work.
“What about a necklace?” You ask.
“What about something fancier?” The catalogue, filled with your dressed up children and cousins teases.
To be fair, jewellery annoys me too. And I hate having my pockets weighted down with anything that isn’t necessary.
But I am trying. I really am.
After committing to a watch in 2016, I felt motivated enough to replace your expanda band with a curb chain. It was a mild improvement. But not enough to actually wear you.
After leaving you in plain sight on my chest of drawers for months, I’ve finally decided that a New Year is as good an opportunity as any to make more of an effort to wear you in 2017.
I’m trying to see the good in you.
Won’t you be kind to me?
I suppose a perk of being female is that we’re used to and taught to expect to spend our lives with uncomfortable pieces of jewellery hanging around our necks or wrists.
I have a silicone band that I wear, vastly more comfortable than a chain. I never take it off (nearly 5 years and counting now – but still looks clean – probably from the daily shower it gets). It gets itchy in summertime if theres too much sweat underneath.
I’ve often considered a tattoo….but I dont like needles.
Good luck with your resolution. I dont know if you like being frugal, but maybe think of the money it cost and you might want to wear it. Like all things diabetes, it was probably expensive enough that that might motivate you.
I wore an SOS Talisman necklace for years, and it’s useful for things like clipping a pump to when at the loo. But the chain always breaks eventually.
If you carry an iPhone you can ensure your emergency medical info is available there to responders (accessible without passcode).
Hmmm, that’s another idea: an alert/etc talisman as part of a watch band so you don’t need to wear something extra?
I do use the emergency feature on iPhone, but I’m doubtful of how effective it would be in an emergency. But the watch alert might be worth looking into. Thanks!
I am not a big fan if jewelry either. So I got a diabetes necklace when I was diagnosed. I wore it for years and sure enough on a direct flight between Indianapolis and Orlando I went very low. I woke up in Charlotte NC on a stretcher int he airport. but for the necklace I would not be here. It is one of a few times that necklace saved my butt.
I still wear a new one.