Letters older than 30 days, preserved here.
158 letters
"To quote a favorite song of mine, Move Along by The All American Rejects: “When all you got to keep is strong Move along, move along like I know you do And even when your hope is gone Move along, move along just to make it through” You got this. I’m proud of you. Just keep moving along."
— Just shy of 17yrs a T1D
"It’s going to be ok. There will be times where you hate it, feel frustrated and alone. But then you’re going to meet wonderful people and connect with those who understand this whole situation. Sometimes it’s scary, sometimes it’s exhausting but you’re so much more than those numbers!"
— - after almost 29 years of T1D
"This isn’t the end of the world it will definitely change things but at the end of the day this is a new era/opportunity. Don’t let this hold you back even for a minute because you will do more and mean more in your life than this diagnosis."
— 15yr diabetic as of Oct. 1
"One day at a time and step by step you will see that you will be able to do more than you think. Diabetes will be always with you but it will not define you. You got it!✨️"
— Pancreas babycare
"I wish people understood how serious type one is and that I almost died in dka"
"I’m so tired, I haven’t had a full night sleep in weeks now my blood sugar is all over the place. My Dexcom’s are low and they won’t send me more and my mum is constantly nitpicking and ruining what’s left of my energy, I neeeeed a holiday or like a hug."
— A very tired lady
"changing my sites is just another task to do on exhausting days, and I honestly get fatigued thinking about it and end up delaying it sometimes. Even on exhausting days, we can never truly turn our brains off"
"My number has been so high recently and it’s been really frustrating. I Decided to start eating more low-carb foods and even though it’s been really really hard, I realized there’s so many foods that are low-carb but still just as delicious and make me feel better but still always treat yourself!!"
"I feel like such a failure. I feel like more and more I’m having days that aren’t in range. I feel like I’m affecting my health and not going to have as good of a A1c. I feel like I’m never going to fully accept diabetes"
"You can do everything with diabetes. Diabetes can never stop you from doing anything. You are unstoppable. You can do everything and be successful 💐🤍"
— Proud
"You can eat everything. You can do anything. Your life is definitely not going to be the same but it doesn’t stop you from your goals and dreams.( at least if you don’t let it)"
"307 days since my diagnosis. Every day feels like that day but every day I know I’ve grown. Right now it feels so impossible and that nothing makes since but you will grow and you will become someone who you once looked up to."
— Kyn.t1d
"Dear Pancreas, 21 years of you not working and me working for you. You’ve taught me to embrace life, find balance through every high and low, and still enjoy my sweet treats. It’s not always easy, but through it all, I’m grateful for this journey and, most of all, for my life.💙"
— Living my life style 😊
"It’s gonna be hard, some days you’ll feel like just giving up. Diabetes is in no way linear. Don’t blame yourself for not being in range or for having a bad day. It happens to the best of us. You can get through it."
— Find A Cure 🙏
"It’s going to be tough as it can be but your tougher then it!!!!my granddaughter was diagnosed a year ago October 25th 2025 on my daughters birthday. I have taken care of my Gg since she was 5 days old, but you broke us at 8"
— Mime and my Gg
"If I could tell a new diabetic anything it would be that they can still eat and do whatever they want. I spent many years after my diagnosis not being able to eat and do what I wanted and I wish somebody told me the same thing because I regret those years taken away from me"
"You may be having a hard day with your blood sugars, but I wanna let you know that you’re doing great and tomorrow is a new day! 🤍"
— A fellow T1D
"No day is going to look the same and that’s ok just do the best you Can"
"I have been above 400 mg/dL (22.2 mmol/L) almost all day. I’m sick right now and I just really hate diabetes and the fact we never get a day off😭I wanna lay in bed all day and recover but that is like the worstttt idea for my sugars. Ugh."
— Exhausted & Overworked DIY Pancreas
"I am newly diagnosed at 20 years old and I tell myself that it will feel normal and routine in time. At least I hope it will."
"Dear Diabetes, I’m exhausted."
— Type one diabaddie
"Be patient with yourself, there are going to be better days and worse days. Surround yourself with people who want to learn about diabetes so that you can feel safe and cared for. They will most likely be the ones that will be there for you when you go through all the stages of t1d.🫶🏼"
— Soon 1 year t1d
"I wish my family and friends knew how much more difficult making "small" decisions is for someone with diabetes. It's not just shots and eating "low carb"."
— Exhausted Diabaddie
"Its been 13 years and I still dont understand you. Im still so scared of the lows that I ride high. Im scared. Im always thinking about how im slowly hurting myself by not taking more action. I see others and feel like im failing more then I realize. Im scared. I need help."
"Dear pancreas, I’m angry you stopped working but at the same time I’m greatful because I have learned how to take care of myself and love myself but I’m still angry"
— A fellow warrior
"I never could have imagined that the longer I live with this, the mental load would end up being heavier than the physical aspects."
"I feel like I can never be in range, it’s a constant battle of trying to keep up with my numbers"
"Fuck you diabetes. Fuck you every single time. Fuck you for making me feel like i’m not ever going to reach my fullest potential because i’m burnt out and tired from doing the job of something that’s supposed to work on its own. Fuck you! Fuck you for changing my life when I didn’t want it to change"
"you will never be able to go anywhere again without some sort of bag. you can’t be ‘spontaneous’. you can’t get majorly pissed. you can’t eat whatever you want, whenever you want. the sooner you realise this, the easier it gets. this comes from a place of compassion, honesty and relatability."
"Take care of yourself"
"F diabetes and this dumbass insulin pump and dumbass doctors that don’t know the difference between type 1 and type 2 😀🫠"
— A tired Aussie 20-somethint
"I would give anything, everything to take this from my son. Why wasn’t it me? He is so resilient and brave. Most of the time it’s just what we do, but sometimes it hits wrong and I just want to take the lows, the highs, the pain, the exhaustion."
— Momcreas
"“No matter the location of my pump, it’s always “a pain in my ass.”” I live by that phrase. It helps me acknowledge that I hate having T1D. I think that ignoring it makes it so much worse. Now I laugh in the face of it because I know that I am stronger than it; WE are stronger than it."
— Proud Diabetic
"I hate having to be strong and have to fight to keep myself alive. I wish I was just able to go through a day without thinking about how every little thing is going to affect my blood sugars and how my blood sugars are going to affect the things I need to do."
— Sleepless Gummy
"Trying to navigate my 4th Summer as a parent with a now 8 yo T1D… no school means no routines, no nurse to help, no way to take a break and turn off. keeping in mind after childhood, she’ll never get to take a break either. keeps me going. t1d gives us no choice but to be stronger."
— Summer Blues
"This is new and it’s hard. It takes work. But that doesn’t mean you should let it consume you and steal your joy. Still be you be outgoing, be an array of sunshine. Don’t seal yourself off. You are beautifully you and you’ll be OK. Live with no regrets especially when you’re uncertain❤️"
— 20 years T1D
"Never forget how strong you are! Even on the difficult days, you keep going. know that you are seen and rooting for you every step of the way. Be kind to yourself, keep showing up for yourself and don’t forget to live your best life. Sending lots of hugs 🤗"
— Your Biggest Cheerleader
"I don’t want my diabetes to define me."
"I wish I had a diabestie. Anyone else struggle with this?"
— Lonely missing pancreas girly
"Don’t let the counting of macros get to you, don’t starve yourself for better sugar and try to stay as positive as you can"
"I knew I wasn’t ready to lose our mom. But it hits me every time I go to call her when you’re doing something. When you’re being mean and I don’t know what to do, she was who I called because she knew you best. When you were good and I was proud I’d call her. Now what do I do?"
"bro i’m so done with ts"
"I am so proud of myself for making it through the days I thought I couldn’t."
"It’ll be OK you’ve got this one day at a time you’ll make mistakes, but you will learn from them and I’ll give you strength to do whatever you need and you’ll push through it all you’ll learn more lesson lessons than make mistakes, but each mistake ends up being a lesson too"
— Exhausted artificial pancreas
"“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1"
— Child of God
"My kiddo was diagnosed last summer. Her dad hasn’t been much help with it all. Iv become a hover mom constantly terrified imma mess up I can’t handle the thought of messing up her life causing her more medical issues. I have felt scared to send her anywhere. Her dad or school. Hoping soon I’ll be ok"
— Tored momma of a t1 four year old
"I don’t fell like being a t1D today"
"My dt1 was so hard to manage I was told I probably wouldn’t be able to have children. When I accidentally got pregnant, I was strongly urged to have an abortion. So doctors forced me to have surgery, made me monitor my dt during the operation. I'm still traumatised & scared of being a dt1 mom."
"i wish it didnt feel so shameful to be diabetic. i feel like a burden. telling people i just met, just in case i lose conciousness and need help. stopping every1 for a rest when im low. having to wait before a meal. weird looks at me. explaining myself to doctors like its my fault im ill. sigh"
"Dear diabetes, FUCK YOU!!!!!"
"Just celebrated my 20th diaversary & reflecting on that is absolutely insane, bc it has been quite literally the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do. Idk why this had to be my experience, but I think that my being here despite all of the times when I might’ve not been, means something."
— Involuntary Human Pancreas under duress
"I feel a deep sadness in my heart when I think about having to live like these without any choice given at birth. Sometimes I feel like I'm paying for something bad I did in a past life. I just hope to achieve my dreams of singing, even when I'm really tired. Love you all"
"Taking it one day at a time"
"I’ve been tutor one for 6 years, after about 4 years of complete burn out, i’ve decided to regain control and go back to strict by the book car until i relearn how to be better to my body. This disease is so mentally taxing."
"Im very excited about the eledon trials! It seems very promising looking into the details and I personally believe that it could really work! I hope that the government passes the bill for islet cell transplants, so that the testing phase and release are able to go by faster and be more accessible🤞"
"35 yrs T1D, & now 4 new auto-immune issues making T1D even harder. 4 different medical specialists. Each one ignorant/arrogant with no grasp of the highly specific comorbidities I need to manage 24/7. Leaving me to do my own medical research just to keep myself alive! ...Thankfully I'm resourceful !"
— Alone, but no other options available.
"I wish people would understand that I did not do this to myself. Yes I'm overweight. Yes I was diagnosed as an adult (25). No I didn't get this from my diet. I was on a low carb no sugar diet since 18. But they never bother to look past the size of my body."
"I have been doing your job for 14 years. You ruined all my life plans by stop working after a flu. I'm still angry at you sometimes. I'm still demotivated and exhausted. But, I realised that it's not your fault. You were attacked. You tried your best. So rest now soldier, I got us."
— Diabetic Soldier
"Just a little break….. a bit of time off would help, nearly 14 years of keeping myself alive & I’m exhausted, I get no help, not been seen by a team for over 2 years just expected to keep going with no support……"
"No matter how hard I try to give myself grace, I’m still angry my pancreas failed"
"I wish they knew the complexities of it all, everything that goes into it, the physical/mental/financial. It’s all hard and takes it’s toll. It sucks, truly."
— TiredofT1D
"Dear pancreas, You served me well for nearly 26 years. What a feat! I know it's not your fault you were attacked. Please don't think I hate you. I don't. I'm just mourning you and the life we lived together. I miss you and am upset at the circumstances we're in. Not at you."
— Thankful for your service
"Proud of myself for how far I’ve come since my diagnosis just over a year ago. What a wild rollercoaster ride it’s been"
"Everything in life is a win, if your goal is to experience. 💙 proud of all of you diabaddies"
"You truly never get a break."
"Dear pancreas, oh how i wish..how i wish u were here."
— 🧚🏼♀️
"I wish people knew that managing diabetes is way more than a couple shots of insulin and eating candy."
"my a1c is dropping!! i’m so proud and happy 😛😛😛"
"I wish people understood how hard t1D is, and what it actually is. You are literally keeping yourself alive every single day. Having to control an organ is insane when you think about it. The fear and anxiety that comes with this, the countless hours of counting carbs, hoping you don’t go low"
"How much it makes me want to die being this way. I didnt choose this, I dont want it, so stop assuming I did this to myself"
"I wish people knew how mentally exhausting it is. I also wish people were more understanding or empathetic about the emotional side. I struggle to regulate my emotions, im sure like many type 1 diabetics. Im more sensitive, and it gets labeled as dramatic or immature."
— Beccasrollercoaster
"I wish people knew how it can affect someone’s relationship with their body. Since I received this diagnosis I have battled an eating disorder and continue to fight every single day. I wish there was more awareness and more compassion in that area."
"I wish people knew how unfair it feels from time to time, and how privileged they are to lead a "normal" life. Also I wish they would judge less. Yes, diabetes gives me anxiety. Yes, I will inject wherever I want. No, it's not "too simple" to be considered a disability."
"It’s so hard because I’ll do really well for a long period of time then I’ll have a few days where I’m just rage bolusing and it sucks but we just have to keep swimming. I’m proud of the way we all keep going and it feels nice to finally feel like I have a community as the only T1D in my family💙"
"So despite you failing…despite doctors telling me that because you didn’t work…I wouldn’t see my 18th birthday or have kids…taking my vision…despite it all..you forged in me the strength and fortitude I needed to achieve everything I was told I couldn’t. A dad. A Husband. Thank you"
— T1D Knight
"All the planning and forethought is tiring. I mourn spontaneity. Everything requires a plan: dinner, hiking, walks, girls trips. But I still can and want to do it all!"
"Dear Pancreas, you taught me I'm strong enough to escape the prison that was my life three years ago (for that I thank you), only to end up feeling trapped in my own body instead. I've had to rebuild my entire life after abuse, if you could quit trying to destroy it that'd be awesome."
— A small request
"I am so proud of myself for getting through my toughest days while managing my numbers. Dealing with type 1 is exhausting, but tacking on anxiety, depression, an eating disorder and financial stress seems impossible most days."
"I am proud over myself that I keep moving forward with my life and for not letting diabetes stop me. Wanting to live my active life with lots of friends has given me motivation to learn quickly about this new way of living."
"I had a rough time at school today."
"Type 1 diabetics are easily the strongest people on the planet. We really out here fighting off near death experiences on the daily 😮💨 and we just keep going !!! Even when it’s hard ❤️🩹💪🏽"
"I'm proud of making it through a diagnosis that ended me up in the ICU, and then building a support network so that could learn everything i needed to stay as healthy as possible. It's only been 2 years but I'll still be proud of how I made it through my diagnosis in 20 years."
— Diabetic Optimist
"There’s an old adage that says “you can’t love anyone else until you love yourself” I’ve struggled with that one as a diabetic because my own body couldn’t love itself. It decided to attack itself. I’ve tried to love myself and this journey despite all of this."
— Tom
"Making progress towards getting off MDI and onto omnipod !! So excited and so ready, after being really afraid and closed off to the idea of a pump."
"Keeping a tir of 20-50% I could never before… I guess I’m proud of that…"
"Im proud of how hard ive worked to be okay. And when i get a dosing wrong, tomorrow is a new day."
"Im proud that even on the bad days, its ME keeping ME alive. ❤️"
— A proud diabestie
"Dear Pancreas. Because you died on me I am constantly in constant anxiety. I am constantly double guessing every action I take. I am exhausted and scared and facing a very real future where I cant get insulin. It would probably be cheaper and more convenient if I died."
"I wish there could be more knowledge in health care professionals how everything could affect bloodsugars ☺️"
"I'm proud of how far I've come in managing all of this. Some days are easy & others are hard. But that's also life I guess"
"Dear pancreas... i will be doing your job for the rest of my life, more time that you did. And i swear I won't just go off like a little b*tch like you did."
— A tired but strong dude
"29 years ago this year, your immune system attacked you, just a 6 year old. You couldn't protect yourself? Doing your job manually is harder than the outside world sees. Everything that happens between the injections, CGM, & pumps few understand. In spite of your failure, I am more resilient."
"I miss my life before I was diagnosed a year and a half ago. I miss how free I felt. How spontaneous I was. How social I was. How present I was with the people I love. Now I feel riddled with anxiety, my world feels so small and everything feels like a means to an end."
"the part of me that only exists due to diabetes is the constant worrying. blood sugar levels, illness, other chronic conditions, constant pain. I am always worrying about something and worrying about if it’s linked or related to my diabetes.."
— Exhausted Human Pancreas
"I am thankful for my diabetes. I said what I said!!"
"No one talks about the isolation. My people care. I know that (I do!!), but they don’t really know (thank god!). And that, there, is the hardest part."
"No one tells you the profound loneliness you'll have with this disease around people who don't have it. The privilege of planning ahead, having contingencies, the resources, the math, just to go out for the day. The additional decisions you have to make that they never consider."
"I am about to go feral on this plate of pasta and Diabetes can't stop me."
— carbi
"After 30 years, the countless thousands upon thousands of blood, injections, tests. And damn, do I wish I could wake up and not ever have to do any of this crap and rest for once. But no matter what, I will exist in spite of you."
"No one talks about the conflicting feeling of wanting the people in your life to understand but not, at the same time"
"No one truly talks about hard how it is to not just give up on it"
— just tired
"six years in and still am struggling to accept diabetes. i hate it. so much. people say you aren’t your diabetes but so much of my life and dictated my my diabetes. i hope i feel more at peace one day. this shit is hard"
— lonely exhausted diabetic
"Dexcom g7 SUCKSSSSSS"
"My want to advocate for those with diabetes exists because of my diagnosis of t1D at age 24. My diagnosis pushes me to finish my doctorate in PT and become a CDCES to spread education and awareness of diabetes."
"honestly, if we’re strictly talking about diabetes:: then my strength and my community.. i wasn’t sure about anything before i got diagnosed but now that we’re going on 6 years (April 5, 2020), i can say i finally figured out what i wanted.. and i can’t thank diabetes enough!! 🩵"
— A proud diabaddie
"Congrats on your unauthorized early retirement. The team (me) is still working overtime to cover your absence. Hopefully you're on a beach enjoying many sugary margaritas with extra sugar on the rim - I’ve got enough salt towards you to supply the whole ocean."
— Nick
"You have caused so much grief and burnout that I will never forgive you. You have taken away parts of my life that I will never be able to know."
"Dear Pancreas, You dying when I was barely a year old hurt me in ways most will never understand. By the age of 4 I had already learned to check my blood sugar and how my highs and lows felt. Because of you I get to be an organ-somwthing most will never do"
— Owner of a dead pancreas
"sometimes u jus gotta take ur insulin n move on... don't stress."
"caught a low before IT caught me hahahah"
"@pancreas - u had legit 1 job and u outsourced it lmao?!?!?"
— Outsourced2me
"Dear insulin, please hurry up and work"
"The small wins that come with this disease that people don’t see or don't celebrate with you. Those wins are valid and real, and if no one else will celebrate them, then me and my dead pancreas will"
"My ability to fully live life exists because of diabetes, without a doubt. Prob different than what most ppl will say here, but this disease has made me the strong, resilient woman that I am. I trust myself and ability to figure it out, and I live truly like I could die tomorrow 🤙"
"I think 'tired' is oversimplifying it to be honest 😅"
"Can my pancreas be replaced with a second stomach? Would be nice that i don't have death organ in"
"Is there like a word for "I am tired everyday thanks to Diabetes" or?"
— Ms.Tired
"It makes me sad that I’ll never be able to experience what true freedom feels like. Or live to my full potential. I’m tired. I’m fighting a daily battle that my friends and family will never understand"
"Dear Pancreas, because of you I am tired. Please do what you are here to do."
— Just done really
"I think one of the hardest parts of being Diabetic is how little people understand that my mind is a never ending highway of thoughts. I wish my family understood that more..."
— rllytiredlol
"I am TRYING to be strong for my kiddo. and some days it's easy, other days it's seriously not and I am just seriously sad for her"
— T1Dad
"Diabetes has taught me that I'm tired. Constantly."
— 2Tired2Funktion
"Going low right now, it's barely even 9 am. I don't want to eat skittles and juice. Ugh"
"Even tho your pancreas is not working you still can do stuff the way as a normal life just have to give yourself insulin instead of of your pancreas"
"I am tired of counting carbs but we always have to do stuff in our lives😔"
"I love my pancreas it is dead but I hope one day it will come back to live 💙🩵love you all"
"Hope you work soon"
"Just did my first in person Diabetes event!! eeeek!!"
"Diabetes is so expensive, like why do I have to pay SO much to live?"
"I am THE carb monster."
"ate a muffin and my graph was so flat after. Idk it seems dumb but that's a WIN!!"
"Guysss!!! My HBa1c came back today as 5.7!!! Holy 🥳 going to have so many carbs to celebrate lol 🥹"
"I'm stronger than most people will ever have to realize. And that's ok. I can't expect people around me to get it. But whoever reading this does, and that has to mean something..."
"Oh Type One, how I wish we never met. But we did. And here we are. Maybe one day we'll say goodbye. But not today."
"I'm so tired that my life is based on the evaluation of numbers. It's like I'm not chronically ill - it's more like I'm performing every day and pretending I can handle anything despite incessant exhaustion."
"Diabetes is HARD but I’ve met so many incredible humans because of this disease. You guys are badass and I love you!!!!"
"Had a terrible sleep last night and now I'm on the blood sugar rollercoaster today. Yay me!"
"I'm finding more moments to try and remind myself that this is hard and that it is totally ok to admit that. 💙"
"Just ate McDonald's and stayed in range so I guess that's a win of the day!!"
"T1D as a woman is really freaking hard. I miss my working pancreas every day and I’m trying to do the work for you but it’s so hard. I miss you, pancreas. But I understand why you wanted to retire 💔"
"I'm so happy!! I had a bagel this morning and stayed entirely in range. It's a small win, but nobody else sees it."
"I am not handling this well. I'm trying. As hard as I can. But some days I feel like a freight truck has hit me trying to manage this. My family doesn't understand, my friend's don't. I'm tired of feeling this way."
"I met someone else with T1D today and we just looked at each other and understood everything without saying a word."
"I ran a marathon last month. With an insulin pump taped to my hip. Take that, pancreas."
"I'm so tired of being brave. Can I just be tired for a day without someone telling me I'm 'so strong'?"
"28 years. 28 years of needle pricks and carb counts and I'm still standing. That has to mean something."
"My little sister was just diagnosed. I'm heartbroken and furious and somehow also relieved that she has me to guide her."
"I hate that you decided to quit on me when I was 7 years old. I didn't even get to understand what was happening. But I'm still here, and I'm doing okay despite you."
"I'm tired of explaining to people that no, I can't just eat less sugar. I'm tired of the jokes. I'm tired."
"20 years in and some days I still cry in the bathroom after a bad low. Nobody tells you that part."
"Dear pancreas, you're fired. I've been doing your job for 15 years and honestly I deserve a raise."
"Some days I forget about you entirely. Those are my best days. Other days you're all I can think about. I wish you'd give me a break."
"My A1C dropped to 6.5 and I have nobody who truly understands what that means. So I'm telling you. I did it."
"I'm scared of the complications. I try not to think about it but at 3am when I can't sleep, that's all there is."
"Thank you for teaching me resilience. I would never have known how strong I could be if you hadn't broken down."
"The beeping never stops. CGM beeping, pump beeping, my anxiety beeping. I just want silence."
"Had a terrible low earlier. But skittles saved the day. And I'm still here baby!!! 🤘✨"
"I just want to eat a slice of cake without doing math first. Is that too much to ask?"