Today, I’m celebrating my second wedding anniversary. Erik and I have been together for four and a half years total, and got married on a beautiful summer evening just outside Portland, OR.

It was a pretty damn good day.

A lot of people with diabetes, however, are concerned that this will never happen for them. They wonder if they will ever be in a relationship, ever get married, ever have kids. Having a chronic disease can put a hindrance on finding a special someone, but it doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen.

Keep things in perspective by remembering that we all come with a little bit of baggage. No one is perfect and hang-up free. Likewise, we don’t have to accept everyone’s baggage. If someone doesn’t want you because they have a hang-up with your diabetes, trust me, you don’t want them either.

Don’t ever feel guilty for having diabetes. It is not your fault, and if someone doesn’t like it, that’s their issue. It’s not your job to make someone accept and respect you. But you should always expect respect.

Hiding your diabetes does not make the diabetes go away. Honesty is always the best policy in relationships. Diabetes is not the only thing about you that is important, but it’s also not something trivial like your favorite color. Not only does your partner deserve to know about your diabetes (and should know, for safety reasons), but you deserve to have confidence and trust in your partner. You can’t do that with secrets.

Finding a partner takes time, with or without diabetes. A big life commitment shouldn’t be taken lightly. Appreciate the time that you have to meet people and explore relationships.  Don’t rush the right person.

There are plenty of people with diabetes who get married.