How I Got Here 

Let’s kick off the week by talking about why we are here, in the diabetes blog space. What is the most important diabetes awareness message to you? Why is that message important for you, and what are you trying to accomplish by sharing it on your blog? (Thank you, Heather Gabel, for this topic suggestion.)

When I started writing this blog, I came for the people. My friend mentioned that I had a long and positive diabetes story and that others could benefit from it. I wasn’t a blog reader, but I could become a writer, right? I had diabetes camp friends, but the local ones weren’t maturing into the support system I needed and the rest of them were living on the other side of the country. I knew there had be mature, young adults with diabetes somewhere. And I found them. I found they didn’t need to be young adults though. I changed my blog host three times in two weeks and then totally rebranded to InDpendence in the next couple years. I met people. And let them lift me up from all over the world. And loved my people who live in the computer. I came for the people and that has always been my number one priority here. The”you too?!” and “keep it up” and”you’re not alone” have always meant more to me than anything else that has come through here.

Lately, the most important message to me has been access to and affordability of the necessary tools. I’ve had my own troubles with affordability, denial of prescriptions, and overall financial burden due to diabetes. It’s hard to look around and wonder why you can never get a step ahead of finances, then realize it is because of your disease. I don’t have much to share about it. Most of it has been through private messages or phone calls because it’s a little embarrassing. I should share more because there is always a solution, and maybe someone out there will have one for me. (That makes me sound selfish, but I want this space to be a positive, conversational place, not just me talking your ear off.) I also feel that I don’t have much more to say than, “ugh, I’m having a hard time.” 

To see why other people are here, go here.