I Know I'm Different, But That's OK With Me

After 45 years with diabetes, I’ve always been different from my peers. But, that’s never stopped me from experiencing the wonderful things in life.  I’m now on an amazing trip to Paris France with three fellow dietitians.  We came from different parts of the US, and the three of them met in Atlanta to fly together (barely beating the ice storm). I flew solo from Chicago, and we met in Charles DeGaulle Airport at about 2:00 AM Chicago time.The four of us have been chatting for weeks about all the things we want to see and do while we are in the most awesome and mesmerizing “city of lights.”  In the beginning everyone was talking about packing only a carryon piece of luggage EXCEPT for me.  I knew that I was different because of all my diabetes supplies.  I know I need to bring double extra “just in case.” With extra supplies and ready to eat foods for the many “just in case” moments, I must pack a carry on plus check a piece of luggage.I’ve talked about planning numerous times- in my book, in my videos, and in my posts on social media.  Planning as much as possible eases the stress when confronted with a situation such as a low blood glucose reading, or the need to test a couple extra times a day because your activity is so very different as you tour a new city……and adjust to a 7 hour time difference…..and eat new food. We can’t predict everything we may encounter, but planning lets us “go with the flow” and enjoy marvelous experiences like this without worry.I know I’m different, but that’s OK. Giving in to the demands of diabetes just a little bit, by planning ahead and being prepared, lets me relax and enjoy the companionship and the unique culture of Paris.