TW ⚠️ My diabetic retinopathy journey pt.1 Complications are sensitive to talk about. Confronting. Taboo. Uncomfortable. When diabetes already feels like a heavy burden to carry, sprinkling the thought of complications on top is like rubbing salt in a wound. I get that. Trust me. But talking about complication is brave. Compassionate. And needed. When I found out that I had Proliferate Diabetic Retinopathy, the only words that stuck with me were “leading cause of blindness in diabetics”, and, “if you do not start treatment now, you will go blind.” Blind. Blind. Blind. When one of your main senses is threatened. The world stands still. You get tunnel vision (excuse the poor pun) and it becomes hard to think of any other outcome. I understood the need to use those words. The urgency was there. I needed to act quickly so that my condition didn’t worsen. But I had just turned 22. I needed to know there was a future for me, that it was going to be ok. I was young and (bloody) scared. I needed more perspectives. More information. I needed to know people who had lived through it, to know that whatever the outcome, I could live through it too. Now. I need to tell this story. To stay accountable. To heal. I need to tell it for myself. But more than anything, I need to help the diabetic who is sitting alone in an optometrist, wiping away the tears because they feel like their life is over. I want to be one of the other scenarios that helps someone see past the scary words. That you will be ok too. If at an stage in the upcoming posts you feel uncomfortable, worried, or concerned for your own health. Don’t be silly, please take necessary action to get help. Its so important to look after yourself. talk it out, seek professional help. Do what you have to do. And if you feel concerned for me at any stage - know that I am in a stable condition now, and am in a much happier, stronger place. So where to even begin?

Look, my last appointment with my endocrinologist wasn’t my personal best. My hba1c went up more than I anticipated 😅.. but the thing I love about my endo is that instead of criticising or asking why my level was high at 3:48pm on Wednesday the 18th of August, wanna know the great advice I got? You need to reward your diabetic efforts. In my case, rewarding the amount of finger pricks I have been doing a day by getting a cgm every once in a while. His analogy was that it’s like going to a cafe and getting a bagel for breakfast - You don’t do it all the time, but sometimes it’s a nice reward in the work week. And yes he acknowledged that a cgm is an expensive reward and wishes it wasn’t, but considering T1D is a full time job in itself, it’s good to remember you need things in your diabetes week to look forward to as well! The past few weeks I’ve been working hard on increasing finger pricks per day, pre-blousing and keeping a log book to feel more in control. Sooooooo I bought myself a cgm this week as well as my favourite patterned diabetes case from @ibdmedical 🌺🌸🌼 #thelittlethings If you need a pick me up to make your diabetes week a little easier, I’m excited to share a discount code ‘insulinaddict10’ for 10% off store wide at @ibdmedical

Rufus and I are celebrating 20 years of diabetes today. And I’m celebrating the fact I’m even using the word celebrating! The Meg I knew in her teens and even the Meg I knew 5 years ago went to great lengths to hide diabetes. Scared of what other people thought. Ashamed to be “different”. Tired of the responsibility. Mad at the inconvenience. Yearning to be as carefree as my friends. Only thinking of the “for the rest of my life”s and scared of what that looked like. Today is different. I had a beautiful phone call with an old friend a few weeks ago and wanted to share some fitting words of wisdom that he was able to give me. Partway through the two of us reminiscing I said “I was such a push over – still am.” He pulled me back down to earth by saying. “You’re not a push over. I just think you pick the battles that are worth fighting for. You’ll always stand up for what’s important to you.” I love that perspective, and I think for me, diabetes is one of those battles. It’s given me a voice and shown me what’s important and who is important in life. And although it’s taken me 20 years, it has shown me that it is ALWAYS ok, no matter the situation, to put your health first. Now I choose to stand up, and that alone reassures me that the Meg I once knew would be proud. Because heck I know I am proud today. I hope you are able to take those hard things in your life and always pick the battles worth fighting for too 💙. P.S swipe for the post my mum made for me today, a perfect reminder that diabetes doesn’t just affect those who are diagnosed, and a proud moment for two scared parents that had no idea what our 20 years would look like. God I’m lucky 🥺🥺🥺#cheers #iykyk #diaversary

Hope everyone’s hanging in there! 💙

I hope that in my lifetime I no longer have to explain what diabetes is. I hope that no one has to justify why insulin is simply a human right. And more than anything I hope that instead of raising awareness on #nationaldiabetesweek we will instead all globally celebrate the day that diabetes is cured. We deserve that. (Photo: Me in my OG @jdrfaus merch soon to head off to JDRF kids in the house in Canberra, 2003. Pictured with my brother and sister 🥰💙)

Still here, still have diabetes. A big welcome to those new to this page and a big hello to old friends. It’s been a hot minute. And by hot minute, I mean I have literally dropped off the end of the earth. Sorry about that. I’m really disappointed in myself and need to apologise to anyone who has reached out or asked questions about my products lately. I did not expect to be away from this page for so long, however, there have been challenges going on in my personal life and the honest truth is that I have not felt good enough to represent what this page is all about. (Swipe to see the realities 🙈) My energy and time has been focusing on getting through some non-diabetic related stuff (since October) and i think it’s a good analogy that like diabetes, sometimes life gives you curve balls and the only thing you can do is do your best to get through the day. My diabetes has unfortunately taken a bit of a blow through all of it, went from a 7.9% hba1c to 8.9% in the matter of 6 months which is understandable when your life has been a concoction of stress and being in limbo. BUT TAKEAWAYS (as spoken by my favourite endo) - “Never be embarrassed by your diabetes, I will never judge you for a disease you didn’t ask for.” - “it’s life, these things happen, it’s only natural to have ups and downs with your diabetes management when these things happen.” - “f$&k everybody else, make sure you’re putting your health first through it all.” Again I’m super sorry for my absence. Really grateful for the support with insulin addict and feeling ready to move forward and give it the attention it deserves! And lastly, If you’ve gone through the ringer lately, just know I believe you and I see you, and you’re not alone. Xxx (PS the video was me trying to record my partner Tom snoring 😂 I look at it now and I’m like, “look how bloody tired I look” felt relevant to how I’ve been feeling anyways.)

One of the best things you can do for yourself when it comes to t1d is to connect with others who wholeheartedly get it. I had the privilege of meeting James at a Melbourne type one meet up back in 2018 and he, as well as his sister @sarahmargueritee have been such huge supports for me (and insulin addict) ever since. And look, privilege is a big word, I feel a bit over the top using it. But there’s no other word to use. If you know @typeonejames97 or Sarah or ever get the chance to you’ll know how incredibly supportive, selfless, caring, passionate, and genuine they are-especially in being there for other type one diabetics. Please please please go and show some love on james’ page @tour4typeone as he walks 21km over 21 days, venturing from the most northern point of Victoria through to the most southern point. Feel very special to have worked with him on this logo and I’m very proud to have been able to contribute to such a good cause. Also, get in touch with him if you would like one of these hoodies! Profits going toward his fundraising goal of $10,000 for @diabetes_australia 💙💙💙

❤️KEEP GOING KEEP GROWING ❤️ So I’ve felt Inspired by my beautiful diabestie (and dia-twin) @courtneytype1 to get a little vulnerable and start talking about my experience with diabetic retinopathy. It has been the biggest journey and chapter of my life to date, yet it is a repercussion that not many know I deal with daily. I had just turned 22. Was in my last year of uni. Had just started a relationship with my partner Tom and for the first time in my young adult life, I was so excited for the future. As you can imagine, I was devastated to be told that without treatment I was going to go blind. ❤️Like a lot of difficult things there’s no real saying how to get through it, except that you just do. There’s no other choice. You just keep going. And heck I’m proud that I’m still here. I’m proud that I’m still standing. ❤️My next few posts are probably going to be confronting and hard to comprehend, but it is so important to know that worst-case complication scenarios are not the only scenarios. ❤️With that being said If you want to read more about this part of my journey, how I managed to turn everything around for myself, and why I am so passionate about diabetes and mental health be sure to keep an eye out (no pun-intended) 😉👀👁

In the spirit of @olivia.rodrigo ‘s new song Drivers License, I thought I’d share the process of a type one diabetic getting their license in Australia. It’s different state to state here so tell me what your process was like!?

Do you ever have diabetes days where you’re just like ‘BIG NOPE FROM ME’? . . . First day back at work and this has been me all day 😂. Anyone else struggling to shake holiday mode? Needing some tips pronto 🤪

A big ‘beary’ Christmas from my family to yours! 🎄❤️🐻 All things considered this year I am more grateful than ever to have been able to spend the holiday season with my favourite people. ❤️ Sending love to those whose Christmas looked different this year. Make sure you check in on one another, eat what ya like and hug your nearest and dearest if you can. Love Meg x P.S let’s play a game: Can you guess what everyone got for Christmas? And can you spot the type one diabetics? (And guess what-there is more than one in the pic 🤪)

Anyone else watched Dash and Lily on Netflix? There is this scene and quote that I just LOVE. It’s where Lily (the character) explains the Hebrew meaning of Abracadabra. She says “Abracadabra comes from the Aramaic phrase Abra Kehdabrah meaning ‘I will create as I speak’”.And goes on to say how wonderful it is that we literally have the power to make magic with the words we speak. Take this into any life scenario and I think it is just so inspiring. You literally have magic within you, its just up to you to create it.✨💙