Free Diabetic Supplies

Diabetes affects millions of people in the United States alone.  If you or someone you know has diabetes, you know that there are a lot of things that have to be done on a daily basis in order to stay healthy. 

My mother had diabetes for most of her life.  I can remember the shots, measuring food for her diets, sore fingers and more.  Later on in her life, there was dialysis, wheelchairs and all that was necessary to prepare for the session as well as everything that it took for her to go through dialysis itself. 

I have to admit, somehow my mom got everything down to a routine, and I admire the attitude she had.  She had her ups and downs, but she never complained about her diabetes and she managed to maintain a schedule where she made Sunday dinners for all of us, went to the beauty shop every Thursday and went shopping every Tuesday or Wednesday.  In between, she would even play cards with her friends every week or two.  She managed to keep this up for over 35 years.

Even those with diabetes who are able to make the enormous effort to maintain an active lifestyle, still have hurdles, no matter how well they conceal them.  Every once in a while my mom would admit to some of the hurdles below.  Research shows that the top hurdles that people with diabetes report are:
1. People without diabetes giving you advice.  You can overcome this by talking to them during a quiet moment, giving them the facts and telling them how they can truly help you and what you really need.
2. Feeling isolated and alone.  You can deal with this by getting a doctor and other medical practitioners who are willing to listen.  In addition, there are support groups where people do understand because they also have diabetes.  There are also groups/chats over the internet that are specificially for diabetes and can’t get out much
3. Frustration with your doctors.  You can be proactive in finding the right doctor for you and be proactive in partnering with your doctor in creating goals and working together to achieve them.
4. Diabetes supplies and devices.  There is the inconvenience of ordering them and using them.  If you stay organized, work with your health plan and doctors and order in plenty of time, you should have an easier time.
5.  Burnout – feeling like you never get a break.  Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes right now, and you have to take care of it constantly.  You can take a vacation from you diabetes by cheating every once in a while – if you have a scoop of ice cream once in a blue moon, it won’t be the end of the world.
6.  Having to carry my BG meter and testing supplies around everywhere I go.  There are new glucose monitors and insulin pumps coming to market as we speak.  Contact a university diabetes center in your area, or do some research on the net to find information about these diabetes tools that will soon make things much easier.  You can also contact www.fda.gov/diabetes to see what is close to being approved.  You can also contact the American Diabetes Association for ideas and guidance on making things easier.

There are definitely some bothersome hurdles to overcome if you have diabetes.  There is constant research every day to try and make things easier.  Remembering what my mother went through and knowing some of the strides that research has made, I don’t know how she did it, except for the fact that she was happy to be alive and hopeful that new remedies would keep coming.  She would have probably been encouraged to have this information.  We hope it is encouraging to you.