JUST VENTING about things that I find frustrating...some things are laughable and some things are not.
Ever have anyone to announce your medical condition to a stranger while you are standing there and can speak for yourself? AND you do not want it told?
Ever have anyone try to be your food police? If you eat an apple it might cause great harm or (for the sake of life) a piece of candy (even if you are hypo)?
Ever have just life events (such as stress and for females, your cycle) demand a little more insulin than normal?
Ever feel like you need to educate everyone about hypoglycemic events in the case you may have unclear communication so they know you are not stupid?
So far I have had to get a medical letter submitted to my employer because one day I did not feel it was safe for me to climb a 15 ft. ladder. I had to explain why sometimes I may be ok and sometimes I may not. I was then told to explain why I did not state this at the time of hire.
How things are different for diabetics does get frustrating and there are few who can identify except those with the condition. Let us VENT together and we can feel better for doing so.
I couldn't agree more. Nothing annoys me more than having someone announce my medical condition without my consent, or comment on what I should and shouldn't eat.
Can't say I've shared your ladder experience, but also know that you never have to share your diabetes diagnosis with an existing or potential employer. Asking you or chastising you for not having told them is a flagrant violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and opens them up to serious legal liability.
Replies below: Ever have anyone to announce your medical condition to a stranger while you are standing there and can speak for yourself? AND you do not want it told? I would not care. I seem to oddly (for this community) to have a desire to educate people. Only time it would really bug me would be in a job interview.
Ever have anyone try to be your food police? If you eat an apple it might cause great harm or (for the sake of life) a piece of candy (even if you are hypo)? I have not experienced that since I left my parent's home. Nobody besides my folks has ever tried to tell me not to eat something. If I missed the incriminating looks, maybe I just do not care what anyone else thinks.
Ever have just life events (such as stress and for females, your cycle) demand a little more insulin than normal? Oh yea. Why wouldn't it? Hormones rage and I had D went I went through puberty and know how hard those hormones strike. Then there are life events, and again OH YEA. Stress can wreak havoc on a diabetic. I have lost two parents painfully, so I know.
Ever feel like you need to educate everyone about hypoglycemic events in the case you may have unclear communication so they know you are not stupid? Yes. I do it regularly. My hairdresser, nail person, volunteer supervisors all have instructions. It is could save my life.
So far I have had to get a medical letter submitted to my employer because one day I did not feel it was safe for me to climb a 15 ft. ladder. I had to explain why sometimes I may be ok and sometimes I may not. I was then told to explain why I did not state this at the time of hire. Hmmmm. Could you have just explained that you need to check your BG before climbing that ladder? I would say you have a case if you are low, but would worry about using D in that manner. Although you feel it is justifiable, the employer may look on that as an excuse.
How things are different for diabetics does get frustrating and there are few who can identify except those with the condition. Diabetes is a diabolical disease. I am approaching 53 years in November. I take it all on me--when I have problems, they are usually my fault--miscalculations, eating something I should not eat, etc. FRUSTRATING? OH YES! But it is what it is. I can't change it, so I just do my best every day and take a deep breath when things get messed up.
The people that I keep in my close circle and count as friends are the ones who get it, meaning after I tell them what I have going on they have some compassion and empathy. Within reason, they will take my low carb, vegetarian diet into consideration when making lunch plans. And I am always quick to thank them for that and tell them I appreciate it. And then they go out with other people to the places that have menus I cannot navigate.
But I've had people get exasperated and call me rude when I ask what is on the menu for an event. Or outwardly huff and puff in disapproval when I have to walk slower because I have foot issues or I'm really light headed that day or whatever else makes it randomly challenging to be on this planet that day. Or if I even have to sit down instead of standing during a lengthy conversation. Or the flaming extroverted, bungee jumping, adrenaline junkies who snort when I tell them I'm just not really into those things. I don't even get to the part where I explain why.
And then there are the people I've told about my health and who have seen the adjustments I have to make, but still have the "Aren't you over that yet?" comments to add.
I generally try to take the high road and on most days I do. But when the fuse is short, or they are repeatedly annoying and invasive, I just look at them and say, "Remind me, will you? Where are your medical credentials from?" or "I don't recall you living in my body," while feeling around in my pockets like I'm looking for something. It tends to shut them up and give me back some personal space :)
And I guess that's what it is for me - personal space and privacy. Do what makes you happy in life. I know what I need to do to get through. Just let me do it. Maybe we can find some commonality and do things together, but your way is not the right way for everyone. Please respect that.
No, I’m not offended at all and certainly not by your post. I should have been clearer when I was writing mine! I was venting about people I’ve encountered who are fortunate enough to be untouched by the health issues that I/we face daily that make me cranky. But they don’t think about it because they don’t have to. It’s when I tell them what I need and they don’t or can’t empathize to cut me some slack that it affects my sunny disposition. it’s when they judge me and give the impression they think I am less because I need an accommodation that I get grumpy.
I agree with everything you mentioned. There are things I can’t do. Experience has shown me This. But I find that when I cut myself some slack, other people will hassle me thinking I’m lazy or just not trying hard enough. That’s when I unleash the biting sarcasm.
I was also responding to another thread at the same time and what I think I said here I may have actually said over there. Oops.
No, I’m not offended and I apologize if that is how my post came across. Don’t apologize for your vent. It’s your experience and it’s valid!
Honestly, the only thing that really bothers me about diabetes is the constant change - the constant adjusting and correcting and thinking. I couldn't care much about what other people say or do - if it annoys me, I just try to ignore it and I know that the feeling is fleeting. I also don't really care about the treatment - sure, my pump gets annoying sometimes, but in the end it's just part of my daily life. It's when I do everything "right" and still end up with high/low blood sugar that really gets me frustrated.
There are people worse off than I am I know. My Mom, who has Celiac disease and 1001 allergies to food and the environment,has it far worse than I do. She cannot eat some things at all, like tomatoes, or she may have a life threatening reaction...where I have to live by moderation. Still, frustrations happen to us all. Sometimes venting helps :-)
YES!!! That happened to me today! I had been running high for the past week or so ,I adjusted and then, had a low of 63. Sometimes things are beyond our control.
While I agree with all of the things others have written, my biggest personal frustration is being introduced as "A Diabetic" No name, no occupation info, nothing else. Is that all I am? One time it happened I had to laugh. The person I was meting for very first time responded with "A. Diabetic? Does the stand for Alice or Andrea?"
Yes my Dad tells everyone,that I’m a Diabetic (the bad kind) and a major organ recipient…basically he tells everyone I have one foot in the grave and the others on a banana peal"…But I know He loves me… so how can I hate that…
Hate,and bitterness is poison, I try not to sweat little things like this…love and compassion is our path to eternal life.
I don't mind that people say that I have diabetes, but please...at least give others my name. It is especially bothersome to me because it often leads to the comments about someone's relative losing their legs and then dying, the assumptions about how any of us (type 1, or 2) get diabetes, and I'd just as soon not hear that crap. But when either I say (if it comes up in conversation) or the person introducing me says "...has diabetes" the rude comments and assumptions don't appear as often. Don't know why.
1DebY, f topic, a piece of advice. My husband has his MFA and declined to get a teaching certificate. Don't make his mistake! funny, when people ask if I support the arts, I say yes - I pay the bills!
I know how you feel. Sometimes I’ll be eating with one of my friends and taking my BS or shot and she tells everone I’m a diabetic . And then that’s who I am the diabetic girl . But she’s just trying to help so in the end its ok.
For now the constant carb counting...and when I think I have it right my blood glucose numbers say differently! As a funny example..on Friday my husband and I went out to eat and I ordered Salmon, but it came on a bed of wild rice. I ate the seasoned vegetables with it so I wanted to skip the rice because it would have put me over my allotted 25 grams. I took a bite of salmon and realized that I didn't get all of the rice off the salmon and choked a bit. My husband asked me if I was ok and I said, "yeah, I just inhaled two grains of rice". He smirked and said, "oh know that's 2 extra carbs" We both chuckled but the irony is he was right :)
so how can I hate that…