Someone I respect pointed out that type 1 diabetics are often left out of the chronically ill conversation. Which is kind of hilarious seeing as there’s no cure and it affects every aspect of our existence. Are we not “sick enough”? Because let me tell you, diabetes can fucking kill you at any moment. It’s an exhausting disease that requires constant vigilance. I’ve been battling it for 22 years and it never, for a second, gets easier. It gets less overwhelming sometimes, but it sure does love to kick you when you’re down.

Everything affects it and it affects everything. For example, a cold is not just a cold when you’re diabetic. A cold is a balancing act. It forces your sugars up and you have to walk a very fine line between underreacting and overreacting. There are actual guidelines for sick days since getting sick can be so disastrous.

So I guess I’m just baffled as to why there are people gatekeeping illness. It’s deeply ingrained too, because it took me YEARS to realize that, yes, I am chronically ill. But how does it detract from your place at the table to allow diabetics in? Validate us, dammit.