Do you have Time for World Diabetes Day?

Well, in honor of World Diabetes Day I've decided to finally post after a 3-month hiatus. I've been so busy these days I haven't had time to post.

But then again, I should NOT be complaining.

Here's some simple math that helps me put things into perspective...

How much time might someone with type 1 diabetes spend on just the TESTING part of managing diabetes?

Average Total Test Time: 2+ minutes (looking for the kit, pulling out the meter, inserting test strip, pricking finger, waiting on test, clean up, and assuming there are no errors and they have a newer meter)

Average # of tests: 8+ (morning, pre-breakfast, post-breakfast, pre-lunch, post-lunch, pre-dinner, post-dinner, bedtime)

2 minutes x 8 times = 16 minutes per day

365 days x 16 minutes = 5,840 minutes

5,840 minutes / 60 minutes in an hour = 97 hours

97 hours / 24hr days = 4 DAYS

So in an entire year, a person with type 1 diabetes who actively manages their diabetes might spend at least 4 FULL DAYS simply TESTING for their glucose levels.

OR...

97 hours / 8hr work days = 12 full work days

Imagine spending over 2 weeks of full-time work simply testing yourself every 2 minutes. That's the amount of testing that they endure over the year.

So the next time someone says that diabetes is no big deal, ask them if pricking themselves for 4 days straight isn't a big deal... and that's not even including all the insertion time, pump operation time, medical visit time, carb-calculating time, blog reading time and worrying time.

So those of you who don't have diabetes better recognize... especially on World Diabetes Day!