My husband and kids are quite used to my diabetes and it’s normal for them to see me tending to my “tasks”, so they are never nosy about this, but my parents are another story! Yesterday I was visiting them and when I pulled out my meter to check my sugar, as I do at least five times per day, my mother first reacted with her panicked voice “Oh do you need something honey? You need to eat!” Now I have had several hypoglycemic episodes in my past and ER visits, and I understand a mother’s concern, and she is in her late seventies now and maybe forgets that this is a normal part of diabetes, but it got on my nerves right away. Then when I finished the test, she immediately demanded “What is it?” I’m not even sure why this bothered me but it feels like someone prying into private (?) info, and besides it was over 300 (just had pasta and, I admit, some dessert at a fundraiser) so I was feeling frustrated, but being a daughter (even in my forties) I dutifully answered, however maybe not very kindly.
I wonder if this happens to other diabetics? I assume so. I think in my case at least, a glucometer is still a novel machine to my mother since I spent the first five years of diabetes with only urine tests available for “checking control.” I remember the awe and wonder we had at this new thing that could actually check blood instead, and of course in those early days it was great fun for them to ask and for me to announce what the meter was reporting when it was used; I guess they can’t get beyond that and I should be more patient. Probably I’m just irritated at the way the question was posed – maybe if she had said “Can I ask what it is?” or something like that I would feel less put upon. Sorry for dragging on…I always enjoy “diabetes police” reports from others!
Every time I call my mother, she asks me what my blood glucose was that morning. It never fails. I don’t even argue it with her, because I think she just doesn’t want to worry, or wants to help in whichever way she can… (Though it’s very annoying…) Most of the time, I can say realistically what it was… while others, I just tell her something else. lol My mom is 68, and at that age where she frets over everything, so I just don’t want her over focusing on things, and giving me grief, I guess. It helps me keep my privacy a little, too. It helps that she’s about a 1,000+ miles away lol
Last night I had this cheesecake that I didn’t have the carb count for so I estimated. And all night my family was like “Did you check yet? What’s your sugar?” And this was going on since like 10 minutes after my last bite. I’m like I need to wait at least 2 hrs to see!! And then they asked exactly at 2 hrs (one of them actually got out of bed to ask!!!). I’m like wow, hahaha why are you so interested. But I was at 90!!! Good estimate I did! I was actually proud. Haha.
My Mom is a dietary nutritionist by profession…and she can perfectly understand what I am going through and how my daily"routines" are as a diabetic. Much that I constantly give her assurance that everything is just fine (bg wise)…she will still ask me…as if a day is not complete…if I do not assure her that all is well. I’m even also prepared for a 2-5 minutes “lecture” on diet and nutrition. At first it annoyed the hell out of me…somehow I got used to it. Until nowadays we both can joke around with her food policing. Indeed you’re right…Mother’s great love and endless concern. And every time that she drives me nuts…I simply utter those words to myself =)
Yes, having a mom, even if she does drive me nuts sometimes, is really endlessly more wonderful than the alternative. Thanks! (And I’m sure my kids could list my “faults” as well.)
My family does this too. Usually I just answer with “it’s good, it’s too high, or I’m low”. I usually stop there, but my husband likes to check my meter and then announce it to who ever asked. Some times that bothers me but for the most part people know not to say anything to me if it’s high cause I get downright nasty mean at times.
haha i know exactly how ya feel. I was diagnosed over christmas break, just a few months ago. The first few weeks at school my mom told me i better text her my numbers before every meal or else she would call me. And then one day I forgot all day to text her. She called me that night in hysterics, thinking that I passed out from a hypo. I told her that she was causing too much stress, and that was bad for my sugars, I think she finally got the message that I can handle my D. hahaha
In a word. Yes. But they don’t really have to. I don’t obsess over it nor do I make it a topic of conversation. I am however, not secretive about it. To me that would indicate some sort of shame. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.
My mom has passed but my grandmother now that’s another story in it’s self! She ALWAYS does the samething your mom done! I love her bunches but sometimes…I do just like you did answer then fuss about it! She ALWAYS wants to feed me no matter if it’s high or low! “YOU NEED TO EAT” Always!!!
lol Tim I know that feeling also. My mom was the same way. I don’t think she got the message yet that I can handle my D without her always checking in on me. There was one day that I did not text her the whole day what my numbers were and did not call her she got on an airplane to NY and came looking for me at my dorm. Talking about embarrassing, she thought I had passed out from a low too. I told her that all the texting was not good for my numbers but it did not work for long, now we are down to twice a week from everyday informing her my numbers. haha moms
Once I moved out of my parents house they have never asked. My wife will only ask if I am showing signs of a very low number. That does not happen very often since I use the Dexcom CGM. My daughter who lives in Charleston, SC will ask when we get together since she was dx’d in 2006 at the age of 23. I live in Connecticut and I’ve been doing this thing since the age of 3 in 1958. My daughter and I talk about it alot since we unfortunately have this common bond. She still gets frustrated when the numbers are not where she would like them and I tell her it happens to me once in a while and to roll with the punches.
