It’s World Diabetes Day; Why Am I Here? What is My Why?

“I’m not even supposed to be here today!” Dante Hicks, from Clerks, 1994

So, I was not going to write a blog today. As you read, you will gain a deeper understanding why.

A Good Habit I Have Developed 

Read to the end, as something inside me clicked.

Over the past three years, it chose that World Diabetes Day is an opportunity to take a step back, watch and listen to others, and speak up when asked. I am fully available for nearly 360 days a year. 

It is selected because it is the birthday of the lead researcher who discovered insulin at the University of Toronto, Sir Frederick Banting, along with his associates, Charles Herbert Best, James Bertram Collip,
and the support and leadership of John James Rickard Macleod. Only today did I learn about Colip and Macleod, who were instrumental in providing insulin delivery and the necessary physical resources.

So, just as I manage my own birthday, today is a day to reflect on my diabetes work, which is equally important.

A Year of Reflection Since This Time Last Year

Image by Monika Iris from Pixabay

In November 2024, I was lying in a rehabilitation center recovering from a broken hip, but also from three months of staph infection in my left leg, and then the amputation of all five toes on my left foot. It was not fun, but I will say one key thing. I had time to reflect.

The “downtime” increased the challenges in my mental state from internal and external sources. I was diagnosed with anxiety before I was ten, and I am overly chatty, could overshare, and state what I think, which led to relational issues. 

At Thirty-Eight in 1996, I finally went to a professional, who was a great friend, and I was diagnosed with ADHD. In providing some education and treatments, a pill would not fix the problem, but I had to change. The ways I think, and approach tasks, and relationships. This advice was spot on, except for the idea of a pill.

Back To 2025, Where I am Attempting to Improve the ADHD

Coming back into “civilization” caused a tidal wave of ADHD and Anxiety. Note that I have been taking an SSRI or SNRI on and off for the anxiety over the past fifteen years, which did not seem to work. 

After completing research, journaling, and other steps, I contacted my PCP to get an appointment to figure out a path back to control. In February, I started taking the generic version of Adderall XR. Immediately, I felt it work, but then a few weeks later, it didn’t seem to be working as well. Since that time, I prescribed 10mgs, then 20mgs, and now 25mgs, one a day, which is working okay., This saga is measured daily.

I realized by reading or listening to a few more books, including “ADHD is Awesome!: by Penn and Kim Holderness, that I have my condition. I will not say anything other than to read it. Penn is like a brother, and Kim, your insight really helped me gain a solid understanding of what a spouse has to live with every day.

So, Back to Why World Diabetes Day is a Quiet Day for Me

I am still around with WDD, just trying to handle other things in my life, but at a lesser level.

Seriously, I am out here taking it all in, but take a look at the picture above. This was not much more than a week after open-heart surgery, where the surgeon went in for an aortic valve replacement and found three blocked arteries to remove and replace

The simplest answer I can give:

“Living every day of my life with Type 2 Diabetes + Seven Circulatory Issues + Two Mental Health Challenges + Two Complications + One Amputation is a burden to never miss a warning sign”.

So, welcome to one of my designated days of self-care.

Sharing a Few Posts on Social Media You Need to Read

I am either a professional acquaintance, peer, or friend to all of the authors with their posts on LinkedIn:

Happy #WorldDiabetesDay from the team at the International Diabetes Federation! ~ Belgium & Remote

#WorldDiabetesDay, an opportunity to draw attention to the global burden of diabetes. ~ Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Switzerland  

I decided to calculate how much Type 1 diabetes actually costs me every year. ~ Cyrine Farhat, Lebanon

On this World Health Day, I stand as a stroke survivor, amputee, and lifelong diabetic to remind us that health is not a privilege — it is a human right! ~Salih Hendricks, South Africa

Today is World Diabetes Day — and there’s a silent risk we need to take more seriously: ketones. ~ David Edelman, USA

Go to the World Diabetes Day Official Image gallery

Below is a Worthwhile Read

How Reflection Fixes My Foundation

• Reflection on performative activity: While many of my peers are most active during awareness campaigns, I choose to pause, reflect, and focus on my “why,” showing that my motivation is internal and principle-driven, rather than driven by external recognition.
  
• Historical perspective and ethical grounding: The story of Banting, Best, and Collip reminds me to value ethical, life-saving action over profit, and this guides my advocacy.
  
• Equity and impact: I am motivated by the global implications of diabetes care—not just my personal experience—but for all 800+ million people affected worldwide.
  
• Voice for the underserved: I acknowledge that the experiences of individuals with Type 1, Type 2, and other forms of diabetes differ, but I stand for everyone, bridging gaps in understanding, access, and perception.
  
• Consistency over spectacle: I rest on certain days to reflect, but I work consistently the rest of the year, showing my long-term commitment to meaningful change rather than chasing temporary attention.
  

Here is My Personal “Why” Statement

In the world of diabetes and related chronic/non-communicable diseases:

I exist to amplify the voices of people living with diabetes, to ensure life-saving treatments like insulin remain accessible, equitable, and human-centered, and to advocate for understanding, dignity, and systemic change. 

My purpose is to translate my lived experience as a person with Type 2 diabetes and multiple chronic conditions into insight, influence, and action—guiding leaders, policymakers, and communities locally, nationally, and globally.

I Used Simon Sinek’s“Golden Circle” to Create My Foundation of Action

Simon Sinek’s book is titled “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.”

These statements will enable me and those I work with to make a positive impact in the world.

• Purpose | Why: I want to ensure every person living with diabetes has a voice, access to essential care, and recognition of their lived experience.
  
• Mission | How: I do this by reflecting deeply, advocating consistently, influencing policy, and sharing insights rooted in my personal experience and ethical principles.
  
• Vision | What: I engage with leaders, communities, and the global diabetes ecosystem to create meaningful, equitable, and sustainable change.

Thank you for reading. A disagreement with a family member helped provide the focus to record and make these ideas actionable. Happy WDD! ~msd

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