There are very few times where I feel that I have been lucky to actually have diabetes.
Usually, thinking about my life with diabetes makes me ashamed, angry, sad, depressed, bitter or frustrated.
But this weekend, this weekend I saw the other side. A glimpse to an alternate reality, where its cool to have diabetes. Its OK to be low. Perfectly fine for your pump to alarm in public. No issues sucking your finger after you test your blood.
Winter Slipstream 2011 was a safe place – a place to let it all hang out. Everyone ‘got it’. I could relate to others, and they could relate to me. There was no ‘you don’t have diabetes so you don’t know how I was feeling’. We all have it.
We talked. Shared. Empathized. We told stories – good ones, bad ones. There was talk of lancet roulette. People were thrown in the air, they landed, and were OK. Games were made up and played. I never knew T1′s were so freaking competitive!!
There was swag. Merch. Adult Beverages. Future activities planned, discussed. People came from all over. Ithaca New York, Sherbrooke QC, Moncton NB, Prince George BC, Canmore and Calgary AB. All over Ontario.
Connections were made. Bonds were strengthened. World domination discussed.
Chloe, Jen, Chelsea and Hank at Connected in Motion – you do great work. Keep it up, and I cannot wait to help!
By: Jason Turner
