6 Ways to Stay Hopeful Living with Diabetes

In 1969, when I was diagnosed at age three with type 1 diabetes, my family was assured there would be a cure in 10 years. How many of us have heard that over the years? I’ve lived through a lot of those 10 years!

Eight years ago, working as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, I had an adult endocrinologist assure me a cure was within FIVE years. That was eight years ago, so you do the math!

I have come to terms that there may not be a cure in the next five or ten years. What I do hold onto is HOPE. Hope and confidence there will be better and less burdensome ways of managing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We are experiencing some of this now with new, smarter insulin pumps, CGMs, inhaled insulin, and oral medications. And these will continue to improve.

Do I have hope there will be a cure in my lifetime? Sure. But I’m realistic, as we all should be.

Here is my list of things I do to stay hopeful and positive about where we are:

1. Live each day to the fullest, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Seriously. Don’t get stuck living for the future when we have a lot to live for today.
2. Be kind to yourself and remember we’re not shooting for perfection. Both the American Diabetes Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommend shooting for 70% time in range. Technology and insulins aren’t where they need to be (yet) to consistently stay in range 100% of the time.
3. Read about current research. This helps me feel like I see potential lights at the end of the diabetes tunnel. I especially like “shiny coins”, small things I can look forward to like the next new gadget or device. These are happening a lot faster than they used to. Look at all the new pumps that have come out or have updated in the past year! And sensors that are getting smaller and more accurate. I’ll take it!
4. Find a diabetes friend. Or a friend who gets it. This is always helpful! I have a few who I can commiserate with, share my personal failures and successes with, and who I can laugh with (see #5).
5. Remember to laugh. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with diabetes. It will make you feel good. And when you can’t laugh, remember to breathe, because if you don’t breathe, you die. (Hopefully that made you laugh!)
6. Set realistic goals for yourself, and reward yourself when you’ve met your goal. This is so important! Make it fun – both the goal and your reward.

And when someone tells you there will be a cure in 10 years? Well, ask questions. How do they know? Do they have resources they can share with you? Are they open to discuss?

I believe we can be realistic AND hopeful. Forge on.

How do you stay hopeful? Let us know in the comments below.