Mommy, there's a monster under my bed!

We do not have any history of diabetes in our family; however, my son was diagnosed with it (Type 1) just five years ago at the age of 16. Five years is a long time but, not near enough time to learn or completely understand the disease.

Every day for the rest of his life it will be a challenge for him to stay healthy. Diabetes will be with him forever unless a cure can be found. On top of his daily studies with college classes and the two jobs he has it is a full time job taking care of his health. I see how exhausting it is for him at times but, I am so proud of his courage and determination to live a healthy normal life.

When my son was a small child he sometimes worried that there might be a monster under his bed. I could easily chase those fears away for him back then… but now… the monster sleeps with him at night and there is nothing I can do because that monster is his Diabetes. As a parent it is very hard to face the guilt knowing there is nothing I can do to make that horrible monster go away!

Diabetes is the monster that follows him everywhere he goes, no matter what he is doing or where he is going.

Diabetes is the monster that drives with him in his car and goes to work with him everyday. Diabetes is the monster that attends college classes with him during the week. Diabetes is the monster that celebrates birthdays with him every year. Diabetes is the monster that will attend his wedding one day and be with him on the day his first child is born. Diabetes is the monster he fears will make acquaintances with his children and grandchildren one day.

Without a cure, there is a possibility that one day his future wife will share his same fears. It would be a fear of a new monster invading their home, their family, and their own children. I don't want my son to know what it is like to be a parent and not be able to chase the monsters away. This is my nightmare and I don't want to share it.

I don't think people truly understand how this monster controls the lives of people with Diabetes and their families unless they are affected by it in one way or another. (As in having it or knowing someone with it.) There will always be a worry about medical insurance and life long expenses that are very unreasonable and unfair. Life is not fair, we all know that but, living with Diabetes was not his choice and it surely wasn't an offering he chose to take or a gift he wanted to receive.