Is Diabetes Normal?

In my latest column for Diabetes Daily, I’m pondering over whether I consider myself ‘normal’ as someone living with diabetes.

Since the day of my diagnosis, the notion of diabetes being “normal” has been drummed into me. I can still remember my father reassuring me that although I would be stuck with diabetes forever, I would still live a completely normal life. “The treatments have come so far, son. There will definitely be a cure in your lifetime.”

I rejected this notion that diabetes made me different. I hated seeing campaigns and stories that shed a light on some of the consequences of diabetes. I wanted so badly to project an empowering, superhero-like image of diabetes to the world, even if there were highs and lows along the way.

You can check out the full column here.

One Comment

  1. I have never minded the AD’s or being different. Maybe that is the age I was Dx”d or maybe it just never mattered. I think part of it is that for me diabetes was expected and I would have felt different if I had not been Dx’d.

    Different time, different expectations.

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