Friends,
Do any of you have tips on how to make time for quiet time with God when you DEX is always going off?
I feel that one of the most important things I need to teach my son is how to not make Diabetes his God. It is hare to model when there is so much to be done.
Thanks,
Nisha
not sure what u mean and don't want to guess at it. can u elaborate?
I'm not really following you... In my view, God wants a person to manage their diabetes, so if the CGM alarm is going off for some reason, I really don't think God will mind you doing something about it.
I think she means finding quiet time, in her case for prayer, but it could just as well be meditation, relaxation, etc, for other folks.
And the answer seems pretty obvious--either readjust Dexcom alarm settings to alarm less frequently and be able to avoid less crucial alarms, or find a way to stabilize BGs, at least at certain times, to avoid the fluctuations that trigger the alarms.
Conversely, it's also okay to recognize that sometimes your body needs attention, sometimes right away. And giving it the attention it needs doesn't have to be so disruptive, it can just be part of a normal routine. Nothing sacrilegious about taking an insulin injection or some glucose tablets in church, or anywhere else.
I recognize that lots of religious traditions incorporate forms of self-abnegation, whether that's Buddhists meditating in incredibly uncomfortable positions, Shia Muslims self-flagellating, or Christian mystics fasting for long periods of time. But I don't think you're going to find a lot of support on here for neglecting your diabetes care as a way to display devotion to your god.
Yes,you understood me. I was just wanting to set the example for him that no matter what our challenges are we need God and neglecting our relationship with him can be as deadly to our souls as neglecting to take of our bodies. I would certainly never want my son to neglect his diabetes care. But I also know that being responsible for so much can weight you down if you don't have someone to carry the burden.
I hope your god doesn’t interpret your taking care of yourself as neglecting him (or her?). Your body is your temple (as per Corinthians), so you’ll serve your god best from a healthy one. That would be my take if I were your god (or more plausibly, pastor), anyway.
I did not explain myself well the first time. I was referring to more a general state of mind. A state of constant worry. That voice that tells you that every second has to be about diabetes. That is what I hope does not happen for him. In my opinion, one of the best guards against that is God’s Word. Yes, he has to take wonderful care of his body and I would never tell him to ignore an alarm simply to keep reading his Bible. Jesus died to save the world from sin and to carry it’s burdens. So if I cannot with certainty teach my son that Jesus wants a daily relationship with everyone diabetic or not, and that Jesus sees him as more than his condition then I have indeed been serving an idol not God. An idol without ears to hear or hands to save.
As a T1 since I was 31 (well that was my dx year--i had high bg's for ages prior to that which caused all the classic symptoms but i was clueless) I can tell you it's a rare moment when I don't know I'm a diabetic. The moment I wake up I instantly think about how I feel--am I low? am I high? It's inconceivable to me to spend a day with no thoughts that I need to be aware of my disease and it's consequences and it's control. Maybe others are more fortunate. I'll be taking this disease to my grave...
I think about my diabetes a lot too, in the same sense phoenixbound mentioned. however, that doesnt mean that i dont live the moment. to me, thinking about my diabetes (or carbs, or BG, or whatever) is, most of the time, like thinking about my balance. am i leaning too much to the right, or to the left, am i about to fall? it all goes on in the back of my head and it rarely distracts me from my life completely.
i dont see it as a bad thing that i think about how my body feels a lot, i just see myself as a person who is a bit more aware of her body than non-PWD…
AS for quiet time. Check your bg before you have your quiet time. If you are trending towards low eat something if you need to take a correction before it gets high. Preparing the body and mind to be ready for quiet time is very important. You need to quiet both down so you can listen to God.
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I do agree that a constant state of worry is a complete tactic of the enemy and anyone in a constant state of worry is harming themselves, diabetic or not. It’s very easy to fall prey to worry especially as others have stated we have to constantly be aware or we could be in a limbo of poor health. The God our asker is referring to isn’t just a god. A god wouldn’t care enough to even notice our state of mind or how we feel but the God, the Jehovah Jireh, when we put our complete faith and trust in Him washes away pain, worry and sickness replacing it with comfort. This is hard to see in the natural because of how sick we can feel, but praising Him through the storms of life brings rest to our weary bodies and healing in the very air we breathe. It seems so simple but just resting in his presence can breaks every chain of worry. We don’t know what tomorrow brings but when He walks with us through the fire the anointing power can break every chain. I could go more into depth on what a “chain” could be considered, but I wont. 
If you could explain to your son that trials will come (in this case diabetes and the worry it brings) but as they come God will never allow His believers to walk through it alone, then that might be beneficial to him if he’s old enough to fully understand the concept.
Thank you very much bagpipegirl. This is the most helpful response yet. I hope I have not offended anyone with my questions. Diabetes is no my personal situation and it is impossible not matter how much I love my son, for me to know what that feels. Callous or legalistic sounding comments were not my intent. However, I know for myself, at least some time with Jesus on a regular basis is the wellspring of life. I believe He died to save us from our sins but also so that we could commune with God and know him intimately. Showing my son how to hold on to that gift no matter what his physical state is a privilege for me as a parent. Blessed Easter to all of you!
Ironically his favorite verse right now is
1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear but when you are tempted he will provide a way out so that you can bear up under it."
He mentions it in prayer for his friends so I know God has great plans for this verse in his life:)
After I was first diagnosed with Type 1 at the age of 32 I had a hard time with quieting my mind down to focus on things other then D. Mostly because it was so new and frustrating to me. I met with my pastor and told him about the constant thinking about D and how I wish I could use that time to focus on Christ. He had me read Weathering the Grace of God by Ken Gire. It really helped me to see that every time I think about D I can pray or think on Gods word so my mind doesn't get "taken" over with only focusing on D. After having D for a couple of years I have noticed that while it always seems to be in my toughts it isn't "screaming" at me like it used to if that makes any sense. I hope this helps.