Written June 1, 2021
Me First
Research shows people living with type 1 diabetes make about 150 extra decisions a day. In addition to the daily “extras”, for three decades now I have collected hundreds of hours in doctor waiting rooms.
I am fortunate, my diabetes appointments are for preventive maintenance. I am there to put me first in my life.
If you read the statistics, diabetes retinopathy (eye complications) is one of the leading causes of blindness. If caught early, it’s treatable, which tells me people with diabetes aren’t getting their eyes checked.
Today was my annual diabetes eye appointment. They do all sorts of assessments on my eyes. This is my 2nd of 3 exam rooms. In front of me is a detailed eye camera, it captures images in the back of my eye. Here they inject a dye into my vein and then take copious amounts of pictures as it circulates to see the health of my eyes. My eyes remain dilated for pretty much the rest of the day. Think big cartoon like pupils - freaks my kids out every time.
Admittedly, I have no interest to add to the dismal statistics and each appt I get a bit nervous to hear the results. Then I pause and reflect on the immensely full life I lead living with type 1 diabetes as a mother, athlete, business owner, and adventurer.
I don’t take for granted the appts the doctor has little to say but “see you in a year”. That was the outcome from today.
If you or a loved one is living with diabetes, I encourage you to make an annual diabetes eye appt!
If you don’t have diabetes, ask yourself, are you putting yourself first with your preventative maintenance health check ups?
Happy June!
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