Consequences and actions

I spend a lot of time dealing with the consequences of my actions when it comes to diabetes. Here are three examples:

Action 1: forget to bolus

Consequence: stupid high BGL

Action 2: Bolus too much

Consequence: stupid low BGL

Action 3: eat Nutella straight from the jar

Consequence: much happiness. (Although if I forget to bolus for it, see Action 1.)

Sometimes, my actions are deliberate (see: Nutella). Other times, they are not (see: forgetting things).

There needs to be a little more consideration when talking about consequences because a lot of time, I see discussions about diabetes consequences that are very unkind. Just because you know what will happen when you do something, doesn’t necessarily mean you deserve for it to happen. And a lot of the time, we don’t know – there is no controlling the outcome of our actions anyway.

But the thing that I am really conscious of is that even if we know what happens – even if we know that the consequence may not be pleasant – we rarely wish for the consequence to happen.

This is particularly the case when talking about the diagnosis of diabetes. No one at any time of their life thinks they would like to be diagnosed with diabetes. At least, I’ve not met anyone who feels that way. I know of no one who has been thrilled and excited at the prospect of a life forever affected by a chronic health condition. There is no high fiving someone who has just told you that you have diabetes. There may be tears and anger and distress. Rarely would there be joy though.

The same goes when considering people diagnosed with diabetes complications. Whatever they do; whatever they don’t do. However they have managed their diabetes. Or not managed their diabetes. No one chooses complications.

I think that we need to remember this. We need to remember that anytime we say words suggesting people ‘deserve’ what happens to them, we are being unkind and we are being judgemental. And these are both things that have no place in diabetes.

I wrote these words a while ago, and thought that it was a good day to post them.

My heart today is with the families of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan. These were young men who ten years ago did something stupid, stupid, stupid. No one is saying they are angels and no one is saying that they should not have been punished for their crimes. But the consequence of those stupid actions is not proportionate. They did something stupid. They did not deserve to die for it. #IStandForMercy