If I’m being completely honest, I’ve been struggling to get ahead lately. I’ve been trying to plan, schedule, and get everything organised in advance but somehow, I just keep finding myself stuck in the day-to-day chaos. Between prepping new launches, juggling my health, and trying to stay one step ahead of my upcoming surgery, it’s been… a lot.
In hindsight, launching multiple collections in the run-up to surgery might not have been my brightest idea. But I love creating new things and honestly, that excitement sometimes outweighs my common sense.
I had my pre-op appointment this week, hoping to discuss how my diabetes management would work during surgery. The nurse, didn’t even know what an insulin pump or CGM was, let alone how to support me through surgery with them. Apparently, I’ll have to talk to the surgical team on the day. It’s not exactly reassuring, but after three surgeries in the last eighteen months, I’m fairly confident I’ll handle it. Still, it makes me angry thinking about how terrifying that would be for someone newly diagnosed or not confident in advocating for themselves.
Meanwhile, the gallbladder attacks have been coming thick and fast, leaving me completely wiped out. I’ve managed to stay out of hospital (small victories), but it’s taking every bit of energy I’ve got. And just when I thought I had things running smoothly, the universe decided to throw in a little chaos for good measure.
During the Pump-Kin Patch waitlist launch, I’d scheduled everything perfectly, double-checked all the links, and finally allowed myself a little nap… only to wake up to a flood of messages from confused Diabuddies because the link didn’t work. Cue full panic mode. Thankfully, you lot are the most patient, supportive community ever, and the launch still turned out to be a success. But it was definitely a reality check, maybe I really am biting off more than I can chew right now.
One thing I’ve been really working on lately is asking for help. It sounds simple, but for the longest time I’ve had this habit of trying to do absolutely everything on my own: running a business, managing diabetes, pushing through flare-ups, pretending I’ve got it all under control. Spoiler: I definitely didn’t. This past month has really shown me that it’s not weak to ask for help; it’s necessary. When my gallbladder flared up and I could barely function, my parents stepped in to help with the things I physically couldn’t manage, and my Diabuddy, Ceri-Ann, came to the rescue helping me with content when I was completely burnt out. It reminded me that the people who love you want to help and that having Diabuddies who understand the exhaustion, the highs, the lows, and everything in between makes all the difference.
So, I’m writing this from bed. Laptop balanced on one side, heating pad on the other, trying to remind myself that it’s okay to slow down. I’ve been through enough to know that the world won’t end if I take a breather. So for now, I’m taking it easy, one small step at a time.
Sometimes behind the chaos, there’s just a tired diabetic doing her best and that’s perfectly okay.
