My Exceptional Diabetes Accomplishment

Like long distance running, diabetes is a lonely journey. There are others out there on the course and others cheering you on, but you are alone.

It is important to have caring and supportive people around you to help you cope with all of the difficulties of life with diabetes, but at the end of the day, we are alone with our diabetes. And those around us, as supportive and caring as they may be, don’t understand what life with diabetes is really like (this is why the DOC is so important).

Don’t misunderstand me. I am grateful for the support I receive from others and know that without it life would be much harder. I also know how difficult life with a diabetic can be – mood swings brought on by highs and lows, sudden changes in plans – “I feel terrible I have to lie down”, the annoying food obsessions and dietary requirements – “sorry I don’t eat pizza anymore”. And of course, there’s the worrying that goes with caring and loving a person with diabetes.

But, no matter how good your loving family and friends are, the physical and mental toll of diabetes is very hard to explain.

I’ve done many things that could be considered diabetes accomplishments. I’ve completed a bunch of marathons and half marathons and I co-founded ASweetLife.  The real exceptional achievement, though, is not some grand event.  It’s getting through a day, an hour, and a minute of life with diabetes.  It’s doing it over and over again, with a good attitude, and the determination to live a long and healthy life.     

Michael Aviad

Michael Aviad is co-founder of ASweetLife. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2002. Michael was born in Santa Barbara and grew up in Jerusalem. He studied law and after passing his bar exam went on to get an MBA with a major in finance. Michael worked for many years as an economist. He and his wife Jess, also a type 1 diabetic, have three sons. Michael loves to run and is always training for the next marathon.

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