My PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager) is more than just a medical device. It’s basically an extension of my body at this point.

Much like people treat cell phones as a must-have-on-me-at-all-times sort of item, that’s how I feel about my PDM. I carry it (and my cell phone, TBH) around as a small but mighty stack of technology. When I set it down somewhere and struggle to recall where I left it, I panic and can’t focus on anything else until I’ve found it. I make sure to keep the battery charged, and would argue that I get more concerned if the battery is low on that device than I do with my phone. And I’d sooner give my phone over to a toddler to play around with than consider handing off my PDM, even to a trusted family member or friend.

It’s more than just my PDM, it’s a lifeline.

In a world that remains ever-increasingly reliant on technology, there are times where I certainly wish I didn’t have to depend on my PDM so much. It would be nice to not have to carry it around all the time and fuss over it, making sure it’s charged and working properly. But just when I start to grow resentful of the device, I remember how much easier, overall, it’s made my life. It’s given me freedom that I wouldn’t have discovered if I’d chosen to stick to multiple daily injections. I also believe that, combined with my Dexcom CGM, it’s responsible for my improved blood sugars and time in range into my adulthood.

So even though I didn’t exactly wish for a PDM to be an extension of my very being, I’m glad that it is, because it’s proven to be a valuable piece of equipment in my diabetes care toolkit.