My Late "Not in a book."

Scott tagged me. Even though it's very late... here is the meme!

Meme:
Five Most Important Pieces of Advice ... You Won't Find in a Book!

Rules:
Post five of the most helpful pieces of diabetes management advice on your blog.

Link to this Wikibetes entry where we will be tallying up all of the great advice. You are welcome to add your advice directly.



Here is what I've learned about diabetes after living with it for the last 32 years.

1. A number is just a number.
It isn't good, it isn't bad. It's just a number that gives information.
This is something that I continue to work on every day. I used to really feel horrible when I would test and see a number that I wasn't expecting, or didn't want. Now, most of the time I look at the number on the meter and talk out loud to myself. "That's just information."

2. Keep trying.
With diabetes, there are good days/moments and bad days/moments. What's really important is to get up each day and keep trying.

3. Be ready and open to learn about diabetes management
When I was in college, I used to believe that I could just coast with diabetes, and didn't need help from doctors, etc because I knew everything. Fortunately, as I matured, I figured out the value of information from others. (doctors, other people with diabetes, etc.) There is always something to learn. It might not be earth shattering (like finding out you could use a baby sock to put your pump inside), but it's important.

4. Be forgiving. Of yourself and others.
It doesn't help to beat yourself up because you "screwed up" with your diabetes management. Same is true from friends and loved ones who offer help.

5. Connect with other people who have diabetes
This is probably the most important thing that I learned. It is important to be connected to people who "walk in your shoes." It's comforting to be able to talk about daily life with diabetes, and not have to explain all the vocabulary. It helps to learn from each other.