Supposedly women with diabetes are less likely to have a mammograms, and people with diabetes are not “adherent” with vaccines. I have to say that I am not surprised! Managing diabetes is a lot of work – so much to keep track of, so much to do, so many appointments, etc. One more thing just may not be a priority.
When I was pregnant, I remember feeling like I had to have every intervention in the book – every test, every precaution. While it was completely worth it, I just wanted to feel like there was something I could opt out of. I did not find out the sex of my babies, and I felt very empowered by that decision. And not having to be tested for gestational diabetes was probably the one benefit of having pre-existing diabetes when I was pregnant!
As a young kid I believed that we can only get one thing: mine was diabetes. Now that I’m an adult (and a nurse), I know that’s not true. People with diabetes can get cancer and other horrible diseases/health problems. And vice versa. So I work hard to keep up with the things that will keep me healthy in terms of diabetes and in general, including mammograms, teeth cleanings, etc. I recently got my (overdue) tetanus shot, and I will be making an appointment for a mammogram when I return from traveling.
After all, I don’t want all this effort managing diabetes for decades to go to waste!