In the past 18 years, I rarely discuss my T1. I did not how well I hid this part of my life until recently. Two years ago, I suffered from food poisoning, which of course, landed me in the hospital for a week, with DKA. Long story short, I ended up calling a couple friends to switch snack schedule for my daughter’s sport. One fairly close friend came to visit me after I got out ICU. We had been friends for close to six years. She look at me, and asked me point blank why had I never told her that I was diabetic. I never had thought of mentioning it to her. I don’t know why. Diabetes to me is mine. I never really met another type 1. I found most people just don’t get it, so why bother trying to explain it. She laughed at me and then nearly cried.
And that is why I don’t tell many people. I don’t want their pity. I don’t want their judgement either. Being dx in my 20s, even my family drives me nuts. I am the main caretaker of my 81 year old mother, but yet they will ask me almost every time they talk to me, how is your diabetes? I know that they are trying to say they care, but How is my diabetes? Why does that phase really bother me?
After the bout of food poisoning, my BGs went all over the place. It was like I just couldn’t get it back in control. Finally, my endo sent me a CDE. It helped some, but for every four questions I had, she would only answer one. I then found out she normally only treated T2. No offense, but that is just not the same. Then my endo introduce me to DEX. OH DEX, how I love you. I was very concerned about having such a thing attached to me 24/7. I certainly didn’t want a pump, why would I try this? Simple. I would do anything to help me get control of those pesky 300s BGs for no reason, that made me feel like crap. It wasn’t two months later that I decided that I did want a pump.
This is when I found this website. Researching. It is where I said WOW! These people get me. These people understand that drunk feeling on a reading of 39. That crap feeling of a BG of 300. That feeling of SILLY BETES! Why? I really want to go to one of your conference just to meet some of you.
DEX has introduce to one other diabetic. At a high school football game, DEX went off and a parent who I barely knew looked at me as I was checking to see what DEX was screaming at. I caught his eye. He then pulled out his DEX and smile. It was like in that moment, we knew, and we were kindred spirits. We spent the rest of night talking in a language that neither of our spouses understood.
I am now in my second day pumping and quite pleased so far despite the many lows I am experiencing. My BGs in just two days have level out. I have resolved to myself that I now don’t care who knows that I am diabetic. So what if DEX screams and the world hears. Who knows, maybe I will meet another friend who just gets it. And now that I have been PINGED, who cares if my tubing hangs out every now and then? With the last name Stoner, it is probably best that I am willing to stand up and say Hi!~I am a type 1 diabetic and currently for the past 18 years been shooting up insulin.
GREAT POST!
WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY
WE ALL UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER & ALSO LAUGH TOGETHER
I understand why you don't tell people. It isn't fun to relate something that sucks and has no end in sight and top of that, the most well-meaning person just can't understand what it is like.
I Love this!!! glad you're enjoying the community!
join our chat room you'll have fun we all do
Shoshanna27, I can"t seem to figure out how to join the chat room.
Shoshanna27, I can"t seem to figure out how to join the chat room.
click on CHAT on the upper right
It doesn’t work. All I get is a blank active chat screen.
Actually it says active conversation, and then the box is empty. Even the main room on the bottom of the screen is the same way.
i'll have marie or linda help you later
don't give up
Thanks 
stoner, I always access the chat on the home page, shosh does it from the top banner. in any case, if for some reason you are not connected to chat, you might need to turn it on. is the little green light on like in this screen shot
then click down there where the light should be ( near where I’ve circled)
keep in mind some of our members office computers do not allow chat (well I know at least one person like this) so wait until you get home perhaps, or try another computer, or try another browser, I use Firefox
ok thanks
Nope, and I am at home. I have tried numerous computers. (I have three and at the office three more) All are still empty. It is probably some security thing turn on and I don’t know where it is. I search for every now and then. I will keep trying. Thanks for the help>
Welcome Stoner it was nice chatting with you.
I ♥ Your Post!
I LOVE this post! I am longing to see that kindred look with someone else. It is truly a relief and this forum rocks for support! Glad we both found this forum and looking forward to a long healthy friendship with ya! See you in the chat room. :-)
Stoner, it has been such a pleasure getting to know you better in chat. It is also a pleasure to have you with us. Oh and yes I had food poisoning once, knocked me out for a week or better.
Anyway, I also was skittish about telling people for a few years and once the dam broke, I simply went crazy telling everyone. i have not stopped telling everyone. For me it is just who I am. Oh and for the record, I tell others about RA, AS and Yadda Yadda Yadda. I know its the Yadda part that is most interesting, or so say Jerry, George, Elaine and maybe Kramer. LOL
LOL ALL THE WAY