Yeah, wow. DC, you sound like Superman. You had to have had a high or low at least once - before you were diagnosed and didn’t know about it right?
Glad you are so strong with your condition. Although,I am a bit questioning about people who say they have never been depressed or burned out though - it is almost impossible in todays world - everyone has had something bad happened to them which they have been sad or discouraged about at one point or another. I am assuming you mean never been depressed about your D though and not other things.
to clear any confusion, i am definitely not superman,'' nor would i want to be. i am definitely not gloating. and sure, i've had some dicey moments. but i've always been able to deal with them myself. i fix the problem and move on. i'm sure i'm not alone in that regard. also ... it does bother me that people assume i'mashamed’’ when that never has, and never will be, the case. i’m sure it’s been easier being dx at 8 months. but D has never depressed me, i’ve truly have never been burned out. (in reality, i sincerely believe i’m healthier because or D; it forces me to focus on things that matter.)
finally … i don’t disclose my D because i don’t have to. i consider it totally irrelevant to others in my day to day life and it never once has affect me on the job, even when i’ve worked in harsh places like iraq. my wife and kids don’t know my a1c’s (though i’d tell them if they asked.) they never ask for my BGs. none of them could refill my pump because they’ve never had too. i didn’t know what glucagon was until a couple months ago when i read about it on line. never had it and don’t plan to have it.
i understand my approach is different and unconventional. i totally accept that others do things differently. that’s the beauty of D – there are a lot of different paths to goal we all want to reach. my approach has served me very well so why change?
I am proud too…not because I have Diabetes but because I am still alive after 56 years of diabetes. That really is an accomplishment but then if I sit and try and figure out why I am still alive - I get very guilty and say I should have done this and that and so on and so on …BUT there was no testing available and one just had to rely on symptoms. It is still a daily battle and all of you out there should be very proud.
Sheila
DC thanks for the clarification. I admire people who can stand on their own and live the lives they have lived alone. Many of us need that other person to help us through life’s ups and downs. We all seem to have our own amount of “hupspa” as my grandmother would say. I am grateful for those friends who stand beside me, when I am feeling like I am the ONLY diabetic in the room or world…who support and encourage me, who allow me the freedom to do things MY way, the “D” way rather than forcing me to do things according to their rules. It is true I have friends on both sides of the fence, and I am more thankful for the ones who allow me that freedom. My dh asks my A1C because he is learning and loves me, he is the cook in our family and needs to know if he needs to make changes in our meals. Otherwise, I don’t think my children have ever asked, nor has any member of my family asked. My parents didn’t know I was diabetic until just before their deaths…which was more their question than my need to tell them. They saw me checking my sugars in the hospice room they were in and asked.
I do believe that you are right, we are healthier because of “D”…we have to be. I do believe because if you were dx’d at 8 months it is all you have known for all those years. For some of us, many who might find out today, it is a shocker, a surprise (that isn’t a nice surprise) and something we might not have expected. So give us a break huh? Some of us aren’t super man like you…or have reactions like you do…some of us need that support and encouragement. Rather than make it sound like we are weenies, you could offer your heartfelt support and words of wisdom over the years. What a great help that would be to those of us who need that boost. Have a great day!
My friends and faily know that I am diabetic. I would be careful about discussing diabetes at work because there is still discrimination against people with disabilities. The Equal Employment/AA officer at my instituion knew because he was responsible for providing reasonable accommodations for me, but he told me not to discuss the details of my condition with my boss… if it is not relevant to my employment, they don’t need to ask anything about it. However, your closest allies should know in case something happens.
Marie, maybe I am naive and a little behind the times as far as discrimination in the work place about diabetes. So enlighten me, please. Do they honestly consider diabetes to be a disability? I am disabled, but by a whole different set of circumstances. There are several employees at my husband’s job who are diabetics, and they give themselves their insulin at work, in the break room in front of other employees, if not one is grossed out by an injection, The bosses know about their “D”. Also, in the schools, teachers talk openly with their students about their “D” at various levels…and no one says a thing. So please what kind of job do you have, how would they "frown on it? What reprecussions could they take against you, if you are doing your job, haven’t had problems at work, etc. I truly find this mideviel in nature.
Yes, my friends and co-workers know I have diabetes. They know what signs to look for that indicate I’m having a bad hypoglycemic reaction. They all know where the candy drawer is at work or where I keep it on my person. Safety trumps personal info in this case, as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve had very little ‘food police’ advice from people over the years. But I did get dirty looks now and then when I was still taking shots via syringe in restaurants, movie theatres, etc. I just shrugged and carried on.
For the last 15 years since my dx, I have told all my close friends, coworkers, bosses and family that I have D. I believe it’s important to share this bit about me, especially if I’m acting irritable or “stupid.” It could be a low, so I’ve asked all of them to tell me to test and see.
In my department at work, 4 of us are diabetics out of 14 people. Because I have had D the longest, it seems that my coworkers are always willing to share their #s and stories. Though as a LADA who controls D with insulin and symlin, up to 8 injections a day, my care is a bit different than theirs (pills, diet & exercise). But we still have common D issues to discuss. My boss has also been very supportive and even suggested to keep a sharps container at my desk for my frequent testing and injecting.
In Hawaii, there’s a high incidence of D so everybody knows somebody in their family that has it. So though there’s support and concern, it seems that everybody immediately thinks having D will eventually lead to dialysis and amputation. However, I believe by living our lives openly and honestly then we can re-educate the masses and not allow their misconceptions to become our reality.
Most of the people in my life know that I’m diabetic but there are family members and others that I haven’t told. Part of why I haven’t told is that I’m not close to that part of my family and thus I’m not sure I want to bring up all the drama-rama that could come from my revealing that part of myself to them. In contrast, most people that see me in the course of the day do know I am diabetic and that I carry my meter with me.
Sometimes I wish it were easier to explain why I have what I have. Another part of my conditions is that I have a Charcot foot and thus I am usually in an aircast on my right foot. This is something that many people notice and will comment. At times I get that they may mean well, but I wonder how much of the soap opera that is my life are they prepared to hear? The gist of the story is that I don’t know when I broke my foot, I had a blister on my foot, went to the doctor and a couple referrals later am told it is broken. That is over 2.5 years ago and I still wear the cast nearly all the time. Yes, it sucks to have to wear it all the time! Because I’ve been working where I am for less than that time, everyone has seen me with the cast so there is the occasional question of when will it come off to which I don’t know the answer. I was told 3 to 18 months at the start but that was over 30 months ago now, so I’m guessing I’m still far from finished baking.
JB, I know what you mean, I have severe arthritis in my knees, and I limp. I could have surgery to replace the knee, but at this point in time, it’s not feasible. People are telling me all the time it hurts them to see me walk. Well, that’s nice. But then don’t watch me, because it hurts enough for both of us, and I am dealing with it. How much drama must people know about us — I think only as much as we want them to know.
I hope they find out soon what’s up with your foot…do you think it might not be healing because diabetics heal slower than most people? Just a thought, but even then 30 months seems a long time. I’ll do some praying on it for you.
Jim, amazing that so many of your co-workers are affected by “D” also. Here in SD we have a HIGH Native population that is affected by diabetes. Thus our big push for education and care. I agree 156-% that letting people know about “D” is a major part in finding a cure. The more people have the correct information, and the more people they know that are diabetics, the more likely they are to support research and a cure. And what’s the sense of keeping it to ourselves, really. Who are we protecting?
I think a lot has to do with gender. It seems to me that male D, type 1, don;t seem to go through all the hormone phases of life that us women do. I think we get depressed and get the mood swings just because we are female. I have always thought that the male species has it easier than us females…I mean insulin is a “hormone”…I do think it is great that DC is very healthy after 50 years. I am wondering how he was able to control the BG when testing was not even available back in the 1950-60-70’s ???
Just a thought…
Sheila
Part of it is healing slower. Another part is that I’m rather overweight at about 310 lbs with a height of 5’10", and this is me down 30 lbs from where I was so I was heavier before and just put too much weight on the foot is my hypothesis. Just recently I got into an exercise program and working out with the cast on is tough as it’ll cut into the back of my leg usually which makes it harder to exercise.
I sooooooooooooooooooooooo agree with you… I understand that diabetes is an individual thing, but i’ve gone through some experiences in my life, that for me, it should not be kept quiet. I’m not saying we should walk around with a banner “hey hey we’re diabetics”… LOL But how are people supposed to understand diabetes, if people don’t make it our business to inform? How will inventors make better products of more diabetics are not talking and voicing our opinions? In addition to that, I never wanna assume that my sugars are so well controlled that I don’t need anyone to know… YOU NEVER KNOW when an emergency will come, or if it does come at all. I have never heard of a diabetic fortune teller. I don’t care how tight your control is.
