People with diabetes: we’re hooked up like a tow truck
With Tour de Cure coming up, we’ve been doing a blitz of media appearances. I love being a spokesperson for Tour, because talking about how cool this event is and diabetes is second nature to me. Its like someone asking a person without diabetes: “What’s it like to be you all day?” Easy peasy question! Yesterday I taped a radio interview with a popular morning show here in San Diego. The host asked me about the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and had me explain the Red Rider program. When we wrapped up the interview, he switched off the recorder and thanked me for calling in. Then he paused and said slowly,
“My dad actually has Type 2 diabetes….so I guess it runs in the family huh?”
“Its so funny with diabetes isn’t it?” I said back to him . “As soon as you have a connection to it, its like you discover this whole world of people whose lives have been affected by diabetes somehow. You know, the fact that you are aware that it runs in your family is a huge step towards prevention. In fact, just knowing that gives you more information than most people who are at risk!”
The host told me he tries to be careful about what he eats and makes time for exercise, but before I could tell him that getting regular A1c/fasting glucose checks were also important, he had to run off and get back to his day.
I am constantly amazed at the diabetes connections I make simply by putting myself out there. One time the barista at Starbucks and I got in a lengthy discussion about the rampant Type 2 diabetes in her family, simply because I asked her to re-make a latte that was not sugar-free as I had asked for.
“I really do need the sugar-free vanilla in here, I’m diabetic.” I had told her. I watched her face change a little as she took back the latte.
“Oh, really? Everyone in my family has it, I am sure I will get it one day.” She responded.
She had caught me on one of my “it’s my job to educate the UNIVERSE about diabetes” type of days, so I looked her firmly in the eye and told her “No, you don’t have to get it.” From there, we talked at length about Type 2 prevention.
I find diabetes connections every day that I never suspected I would have. The fact is, this disease is so pervasive these days, its hard to find someone who doesn’t have a diabetes story to share. The recent outpouring of emails I have received since launching this blog has been overwhelming. There are so many people from so many walks of life dealing every day with diabetes, or caring for someone who has it. Sometimes, having diabetes can feel like the most isolating thing in the world. It feels like no one understands what you’re going through, or the amount of work it takes to do simple things that others take for granted (hello cupcakes at the department meeting yesterday!) But other times, when I look at the amazing people I have met through diabetes connections, or the fact that diabetes has inspired my career path and led me to a job I love, and that I am right here on this blog interacting with a new, gigantic diabetes community that I didn’t even know existed, I feel, dare I say it? Blessed. Yep, blessed. I would never wish this disease on anyone, but when I look at my life, I realize that diabetes has given me a passion, motivation, and instant connections to people all over the world. Kinda funny how that works, huh?
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Comments
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. I don’t have diabetes, but when I was a teenager I started working at a summer camp for children with diabetes, and since then I’ve been very dedicated to diabetes education. My time at camp led me to become a nurse (one semester left). When I’m finished I plan to work with the ADA in this area, as they were very involved with our camp.
As a result of camp, I met many children and adults (former campers who became counselors), with diabetes and have learned as much as a person can I suppose without actually living with the disease. So when you talk about being in an educate-the-world mode, I really identify with that. I live in Louisiana, where poor diet and type II diabetes run rampant. And no one, not even people diagnosed WITH type II diabetes seems to understand the differences, and the causes of each type. Anytime someone mentions diabetes I feel obligated to launch into a small lecture about it. Mostly because many of my friends have been lectured by ill informed strangers who think that they’re diabetic through some fault of theirs. When we were in high school some 40 year old nosy man told my best friend, well you know you could cure your diabetes and get off that insulin (she had a pump and he saw it.) if you worked hard enough and dieted. Ugh.
I also agree that the medical field is seriously lacking when it comes to diabetes care, management, and education.
I actually worked with a slightly older lady recently diagnosed with type II diabetes whose sugars were consistently in the 300’s, and when I asked her about her diet, it was almost all carb.. so I wrote her out a loose meal plan. She told me her doctor had literally NOT even discussed with her how different foods would effect her blood glucose. He put her on a pill and sent her along. Happy to say, about six months later, she had been following the diet, lost weight, and had consistently good blood glucose levels and diabetes is no longer a threatening disease for her.
So I had to share my proud moment because most people I know don’t understand, appreciate, or care to hear it, lol.
Look forward to reading more… sorry to hijack your comments…
Danielle - I really enjoyed reading your comment because I don’t often get to hear such insightful thoughts from people that don’t live with this disease. You have truly experienced some of the toughest parts of managing this disease - lack of education, doctors who are too busy to care for patients, and of course, the ever-judging public.
The diabetes world is lucky to have someone like you who understands how to connect with people and help them learn how to manage diabetes. People like you are part of the support system that people with diabetes rely on to deal with a chronic disease 24/7. That story about the all-carb diet with that woman is downright terrifying - isn’t it scary how one piece of misinformation can set of years of bad care? I know one man with diabetes who was told by his doctor upon diagnosis that he would not live past 30 - so he didn’t take care of his diabetes for 10 years, thinking he should live it up while he had the time. Well 30 came and went, and he hadn’t died, but he was already developing complications and battling alcoholism as a result of living recklessly. Now he has a good doctor and works hard to take care of himself, but its terrifying to think that the poor advice of one uneducated physician almost sent him to an early grave. Diabetes education is just as important as the medications we take.
Thanks so much for checking out the blog and good luck with nursing school - I know I’d want someone like you helping me learn to carb count!
I love you.