I had a 40 at work the other night. The only reason I checked was because I felt.. wait for it.. high! ?!?!?!?
I was diagnosed in college, so I was terrified and I knew this wasn't want my aunt or someone else would have. I definitely didn't know much about the disease either.
As I said in my reply to Betty though is there is a difference between merely not knowing vs. being insensitive or hurtful. This guy yesterday wasn't hurtful, but he was insensitive. How in the hell am I an insulin dependent, pump wearing, type 1 diabetic who'd be unaware that they had glucose meters?
Nah, this guy was particularly stupid or socially inept. I'm not writing him a pass.
Yep. I've had those too. I was "sure" I was high and it ended up that, ooops, I was low. Hence, why I'm on a list for another safeguard.
Yeah, those are people who, most likely, have a relative with type 2. That's why the off-handed comments about "oh, I'm so glad I don't have to take insulin" chafe my hide. "Look you type 2, you...grrrrrrr." ;) Most of the time I choke on letting them have it because it probably won't solve anything. I just go into teaching mode and point out there is a form of diabetes that requires insulin, and that's not the one that they have.
OK, I'll share my story, too. My maternal grandmother had diabetes, which was diagnosed around the age of 40, and I remember, at the age of 3 or 4, watching her take her syringe out of the black bakelite box, and boil it, and take her insulin in her thigh by lifting her dress and rolling down the garter that held up her stockings.
My mother said she remembered coming home from school every day to find my grandmother lying on the couch with a wet rag on her head. I believe she said it was because grandma was having low blood sugar, but I don't really know.
My family was terrified of diabetes, and I was raised with the constant admonition: Natalie, don't eat that, you'll get diabetes! So all *I* knew was that I was damned if I was going to get diabetes, thank you!! Then, as my mother passed her 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's with nary a sign of it, I thought I was home free, because I believed it was directly hereditary. I didn't watch my diet, but I was never obese, although I did get into today's overweight category with a BMI of about 27. I also didn't have gestational diabetes, so I thought I was doing OK.
So the shock of getting diagnosed was so horrible I can't even describe it to you, and all I could think of was all those voices from my family saying "I told you so, I told you so!!" With loads of self-blame and guilt, because with my family history, I wasn't unaware of the media picture of diabetes, and my family had TOLD me that if I got diabetes, it would be MY FAULT!
So I still struggle with guilt and body image problems -- I wonder if Melitta even knows how much she comforted me with the simple words of saying "You know, you're not large, Natalie!"
So I guess I knew way more than I wanted to know about diabetes from an early age, but it was the wrong information with the wrong emotional content!
That's a lot of baggage to have. I hope you work through it. With that, at least, I'm good.
It's rare I get a silly comment, so when I do it's something I remember.
I also want to recall what I knew about diabetes before my son was diagnosed. I think I understood that Type 2 had a genetic and lifestyle component that they could control with diet, exercise, meds and insulin was a last resort for them. Yet I knew you didn't have to be overweight, because I had worked with a lady in her senior years that was not. I think I understood that my Grandmother was Type 1 that she had got it as a child, and had no choice but to take insulin. She was diagnosed in 1924(didn't know then it was so close to the development of insulin). I remember my mom said she would have "episodes" and "insulin reactions" that was cause for emergency care. She had to resharpen and sterilize her own needles. My mom said she left a few times to be admitted to a treatment center in New Jersey (from North Dakota) for months at a time. They were poor and in a rural area most of my mom's childhood. My Grandfather was given shock treatments for mental illness, and lost jobs frequently. Really don't know how she managed her health under those conditions, now that I know what it takes. Surprisely, she lived to 54 years old, passing away at home while my mom was giving birth to my older sister. Looking forward to reading on her memoirs when my mom finds her journal.
Oh yes, definitely a difference between not knowing and hurtful or insensitive - and my own personal least favorite: persistent know-it-alls who just happen to be dead wrong!
yeah, same with me; just don't eat sugar and take a shot. I knew the difference too between type 1 and type 2...but I had no clue what type 1 REALLY meant. When I was told I would need insulin the rest of my life..I wasn't THAT freaked out initially. it was afterwards, it's when this all settles in and you realize what type 1 Diabetes really means, the struggles, highs - lows (on every level), feeling like crap, the complete adjustment in one's life. I remember my mom saying to me, "geez, I had no idea type 1 diabetes was like THIS." I too wish people who were ignorant just not say anything, or just ask if they want to know. I don't like talking about it much..but I'd prefer someone ask rather then pretend they know anything...because, typically they do not.
Wow, what a story of resilience. I'm sure her memoirs are really interesting.
I remember in a spat I had recently a type 2, I pointed out that I'm so thankful to be alive now. We're in an era of really great technology when it comes to diabetes. This month is the 90 year anniversary of the discovery of insulin.
That significance isn't lost on me at all. My life would be completely different. It's another reason I tend to bristle a bit when people go on about how things must be "so hard". Yes, it can be hard, but I'm very much aware of how much harder things would be without the science and tech that we have today.
Again, I'm not attacking people who don't know anything about diabetes. That would be just unreasonable. It's the people who don't know anything or who know very little that then come at me with some crazy talk. ;)
It gets irritating and like u I just don't have apokerface after 38 years of having to explain the samething to the SAME person AGAIN GETS ME!!
I just walk away from those people or change the topic. I don't think anything good can come from those interactions.
Oh, having to repeat myself does irk me. In that sense, this guy does get a pass as it was a group of people that I'd not met before.
I too wish people who were ignorant just not say anything, or ask with if they want to know. I don't like talking about it much..but I'd prefer someone ask rather then pretend they know anything...because, typically they do not.
That sums it up. People just need to learn to ask more and listen better. These days it seems that people want to have an opinion on everything. I hope I still know when to shut-up and say "oh, tell me more".
Regina...sorry to hear about your cat...I lost my little guy, Ernie, last year...still turn corners thinking he's still here. Good luck with your service dog. Have you seen this video, make sure you have the volume on, it is SO SO sweet, makes me cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRi9bV-22jo&feature=related
Oh I will go with that. I really hate to repete myself to pl who are around me all the time and "know" so they say then come out with something REALLY loaded with carbs and say "Just a little won't hurt u" ERRR WRONG> Sorry bad day (well bad weekend) here.
well, basically they're correct, for a type 1 carbs won't hurt you or me, one just has to take and match insulin with it.
Not 4 me anymore. I won't try & explain it here.
I enjoyed your lukewarm rant, Regina and hope you won't be waiting long for your pooch. I think it would be really cool if the service dogs could also be trained to nip at folks who give us inane and totally unsolicited advice!
Awwww, cute video. I'd not seen that one, so thanks for sharing.
Yeah, I hope I get one as soon as possible. Right now, however, my doctor and I are doing our best to reign in my numbers a bit. I crashed today and actually felt it. I felt weird and a bit distracted. I remembered this discussion, Embarrassing Situations, and checked my blood sugar. Sure enough, I needed a snack.