I Travelled to Vancouver, But My Diabetes Came with Me

Last week, I flew to Vancouver for the international AA convention. Fifty thousand people, a beautiful, walkable city, and a reminder I didn’t expect: diabetes makes everything harder.

The calm before the conference
What a gorgeous city! Every corner felt like an invitation to explore. I walked 15 miles one day, and my blood sugar stayed steady. I felt strong, independent, and free.

Then the chaos hit
Then the conference began. It was spread across multiple buildings. Meetings were unpredictable; some never filled up, while some filled up 45 minutes early. Planning became nearly impossible, which meant a lot of unexpected walking, rushing, and added stress. Which, of course, meant… a lot of lows.

Even with all my preparation, I spent most of the weekend battling crashes. I was navigating crowds, chasing down sessions, and trying to enjoy myself… while feeling like my brain was made of molasses.

It was frustrating, exhausting, and at times, it made me want to cry. Not because I don’t know how to handle my T1D, but because it shouldn’t have to take that much mental space to exist in the same space as everyone else.

The moments I spoke up
There were also moments when I had to advocate for myself, and I’m proud that I did. At the massive stadium event, I was going low and knew I couldn’t wait in a line that wrapped around the building. So I walked straight up to the front and got my friends and me inside. I also preboarded all four of my flights (check out my blog on T1D and travel). I knew that as a person with T1D, it’s my right under the ADA. And if there was one thing I could do to ease the mental load, I took it.

What I’m taking with me
Here’s what I came home remembering:
🩷 Even joyful things come with an extra layer of planning, stress, and effort
🩷 It’s okay to feel frustrated by that extra layer and to need more rest, flexibility, and emotional support.
🩷 It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.
🩷 Advocating for yourself is your right, and it’s basic self-care

I’m glad I went. I said yes to something that scared me. I learned a lot about myself. But I also came home deeply aware that even in a city full of adventure… my pancreas doesn’t take a vacation.

If you’ve ever felt like “fun” trips leave you more drained than restored — you’re not alone.
You’re not dramatic. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just living with T1D. And that’s hard. And you’re doing amazing! 

Lauren