Over the years, I’ve been told my Divabetic monthly meetings, The Divabetic Club, are like typical AA Meetings. “What?!!!! ,” I replied.
“How can you compare diabetes with alcoholism. No way!!!”
So okay, at our Divabetic Club meetings women and their loved ones come together to ‘share’ their experiences living with diabetes. The good, the bad and the ugly … “I’ve lost weight, gained weight, exercised, over slept, binged, thrown up, stopped taking insulin, checked five times a day, stopped checking and/or didn’t take my dog for a walk for a week”-style confessions … with tears or laughter. And yes, Divabetic Club’s golden rules are: no judgements and keep coming back!
But still I didn’t get it. I didn’t see the similarities.
Of course, I’d like to think that I was blindsided by the fact that we dress it up a bit with a feather boa! (Maybe the feathers threw me off.) But now, seven years after we sold our first Divabetic ‘Sugar’s the Bitch. No Me.’ t-shirt, I get it. I see.
Divabetic is about ‘acceptance.’ Divabetic is about learning how to accept your diabetes. We understand that the journey toward acceptance has nothing to do with time. You can be newly diagnosed or living with diabetes for decades before you accept your diabetes. That’s okay. Because once you do, you learn diabetes is no longer about ‘neglect,’ it’s about ‘respect.’ And that’s what “Keeps Your House A Home.”
You don’t have to like it, but you do have to manage it. One day at a time. just like AA!!! Here are The Divabetic 12 Steps (by The Divabetic Club NYC:)
1. I have faith in the cure. I acknowledge that diabetes is something that I will live with every day of my life.
2. I have made a conscious decision to improve my care and therefore the quality of my life.
3. I will respect not neglect my diabetes and I embrace the idea of self- management.
4. I am more than my diabetes but I acknowledge that diabetes may always be a part of me.
5. I understand that despite my best efforts diabetes can often throw me a curveball. I hold myself accountable for my current quality of life I forgive others for past imperfections.
6. I understand that my numbers give me greater awareness and are not an indication of personal failure.
7. I have the power/strength/perseverance to overcome these pitfalls.
8. I acknowledge and appreciate the concerns my family members and friends have for my well-being.
9. I will not judge others based on their personal habits.
10. I will consult with a qualified healthcare professional before engaging in any new form of treatment.
11. I recognize that my body, my diabetes and my life experience is different from the person sitting next to me.
12. I will help encourage others to improve their care.