At the time I'm writing this, I've been diabetic for almost 21 years. That makes me ancient to some, and a rookie to others. But it's only been the past 3 years of my life that I've begun to question my condition. Questions along the lines of taking a deeper look at pathology (fancy word for cause and effect).
Let's look at organ systems nearby and how they work together. What are some other common conditions along side diabetes? What are those pathologies like.
I'm inspired by what I've found. But that's not the point of the post. The point is that for 17+ years I never even considered anything other than living and dying with diabetes. That is, in terms of my doing. New pancreas? You've got good beta cells? I'll take them! But I realize now that I was always waiting on somebody else.
And if I thought long enough about it, I'd realize that we hadn't really come that far. When I was diagnosed, stem cell transplants were the promising venture. However, they were expensive and hard to come by. Pancreas transplants have been happening since the 60s and 70s, but always with complications and a laundry list of additional medications.
How do you even begin to describe the over-reliance on modern medicine and the societal elevation of modern doctors? What did they know that I didn't at this point? In 20 years, I've changed pumps 3 times and insulin type once. Nothing really new. It's like getting a new car. Features? Sound system? Sure. But I know how to drive.
Medtronic -> T-Slim -> Omnipod
Novolog -> Humalog -> Fiasp
This is was so surface level! Condition management, I GET IT! We really don't know anything new about how this is happening?
As luck would have it, I stumbled across a well-read, forward-thinking personal trainer via Instagram that alluded to a supplement brand that had sparked his curiosity in the ways of modern nutrition. Well his curiosity sparked my curiosity. I did some digging and found my way to the particular site. I had entered a branch of alternative health where individuals were doing personal research on large overarching health conditions. They were breaking down symptoms and personal histories to find the underlying mechanisms of what they were experiencing.
I was uplifted, inspired. And hungry for more. I wasn't ready to give them my credit card number but they had laid an impressive foundation of research for me to launch from. That one site visit sparked an incredible journey to where I am now. The more I learned, the more I experimented. The more I experimented, the better I felt. I'm confident that this realm of medicine and health will come to match and exceed the status of your local pharmacy.
So, my fellow diabetics, stay curious. Take nothing at face value or as the end-all-be-all. First and foremost, believe that there is more to know. That is the first step to opening the door to diving deeper. You'll be surprised by what you find.