A few of my LEAST favorite things

Coping & Support
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Things that drive me nuts-

Every time I have a sip of alcohol, my mom says I shouldn't drink, it's not good for my diabetes.

The lady at work who constantly tells me about her mother who was, like, 100 and had type II...but her situation was totally similar.

The fact that my grandmother blamed my mother for giving me diabeties because she fed me too many sweets...i wore a 6x in 6th grade, i was so not overweight

When I tell friends i am low, and they ask me what I need.  Really?  My BG is 40, and you have dealt with this a gazillion times.  Get me some freakin Orange Juice.

when my mom tells me i am eating too many carbs because i got a good helping of mashed potatoes.  i can't help it, i love potatoes.  i'll freakin bolus.  plus, i'm 26...i can eat by myself.

the fact that i wasn't allowed to go away for college, that sleepovers didn't often happen, that i have been afraid since i was ten that i would never lead the life i wanted.

when i was 12, my doctor showed me a foot that had been amputated from a diabetic.  awesome.  gave me nightmares.

stupid insurance companies that won't give you insurance because of a preexisting condition.  since not taking care of myself now because i can't afford it will lead to horrible complications that will end up costing way more.  yeah, way to understand that the way to save money in the long run is to take care of yourself now.  way to go, capitalist, i believe you have my well-being at heart.  or your own selfishness, but whatever.

How i haven't had a day since i was 10 years old that i have felt really good.  i don't even really remember what feeling good is.

 

But there are things that make me laugh, and make it a little better-

when my friends tease me about my "diabeetus" and ask if i have any diabetic socks

when my sister calls me a "diabetic," as if it's an evil thing.  long story, but we saw it in a magazine a long time ago, and we thought it was hilarious.  it's like being mad for someone calling me a girl, or a brunette...it's a part of who i am.

when my dad says he's proud of me, because he knows how hard i fight every day

when i think of my grandmother, who survived cancer and a dangerous staff infection, the death of a daughter and a husband, and is still kicking it today.  I hope i live as full a life as she is living.

22

  1. I tell my friends that when they first meet me i have diabetes and they say ok and some dont want to be my friend but it is a very hard thing to hide i just tell them that just because i have it  doesent mean you can get it by touching me or talking to me or even playing with me you should tell them how you fell and that diabetes isnt cantajus

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1. i just love the "are you sure you should be eating that?"
umm yeah i can eat that. just cause im diabetic doesnt mean i cant enjoy a cookie?

2. type 2 diabetics who complain about excerising, dieting, and taking their pills.  i would trade them any day.

3. When i dont feel good, everyone asks if my blood sugar is low. Ive had diabetes for 14 years. I know what i low feels like.

4. NO, sorry kids, it is an insulin pump. i dont put drugs in there.

5. At family get togheters the clueless aunt who says "I MADE A SUGAR FREE APPLE PIE, IT IS JUST FOR SHELBY. DID YOU GUYS KNOW SHE IS DIABETIC?!?!" seriously? If they didnt know, everyone sure knows now. Thanks auntie.

6. Getting told the horror stories of diabetics. I understand, it's serious.

7. Getting told what to eat and when to check my blood sugar by my friends. i know they love me, but im a big girl i can take of myself.

8. The "we dont allow cell phones at school".  what kind of phone has a tube connected to it?

9. the endless list of medical problems diabetes has caused.

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i hate it when people ask me if i can have sugar. and when im suppose to eat. im on the pump i havent had an eating scedule sense 5th grade! and how when myself or my sisters tell people we just meet that i have diabetes and their eyes get all wide and they go ooo because the think im fat. because yes  being 50 pounds and being able to seee your teeth through your cheeks is soo fat. im a curvy stick for the love of god! and how the distrect nurse for the elementry and middle schools thinks she knows every thing about it. " when doing a glucogon put the water in to the vile and shake it." dont shake it theres going to be bubbles stir it. its diffrent if they never had a diabetic before. and how they always use fat old people when they do meter commercials. wow ive never complained about it before well i did once but that was years ago i feel so much better.

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I hate reexplaining everything! When im in a bad mood my mom says go check your sugar. my mom will say at mealtime oh, can`t you just eat a little bit more potato? No I can`t, I would already be trying to eat theat last little bit forcibly. my dad just asked if i wan t to try cheese made in quebec, canada. Then my mom yells theres no carbs. uh,ya, cause we`re eating again in how long? an hour? oh, and I`ve already been to quebec,as a class fieldtrip to improve our french(I live in canada and have to speak french most of the time in school because im in french immersion) I dont think i need to eat something that supposed to come from there to experience french cooking. not to different from cooking accross the country. Then my mom saying no we need to do this when trying to adjust something with my insulin.then the next day it turns out we have to do what i said! my moms excuse is that shes the one who talks to the doctor! yeah, who the one who pays attention to whats happening with her blood sugars and insulin doses?ME! THEN people at school start telling me I have a grandma or aunt who ha s diabetes... WHAT KIND? a couple people at sc hool understand like some one who has a ffriend with diabetes that actually had patience to explain it properly to them.thats all for now! oh it feels good to have people understand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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these are some of the things that bug me

  • when my aunt (who has a son with diabetes) tells me what to do with my diabetes and how i should treat it. her son was only diagnosed about 9 or 10 years ago.
  • ok i know there are some jonas brothers fans on here but im gonna say this. i hate that they act like they know exactly what diabetes is. that goes for those who don't have diabetes
  • when i was in junior high and my english teacher yelled at me for testing my blood in her class room
  • hearing the word Diabeetus.
  • being in a bad mood mistaken for blood sugar. thanks dad i appreciate it now go away.
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[quote user="Payton"]

[quote user="Layne"]When people say "diabeetus."  Ugh, makes me cringe.[/quote]

That is the worst! LOL

[/quote]

Wilford Brimley! My biggest "diabeetus" pet peeve!

Besides him, I gather the "are you allowed to eat that?" question to be among general consensus, one of the most annoying things. My GP, when I was first diagnosed, told me that "sugar is now your enemy". Too bad it can save my life.

The people who think they know exactly what you're going through just because their mother/uncle/third-cousin-twice-removed has diabetes. And usually has type 2.

I've been at my current place of work for four years and I still get people asking me "oh, you're diabetic? what's it like?" GAH! And yes, the people who tell me "oh, I don't think I could do that" when it comes to taking insulin. Oh trust me, you'd be able to do it if you were faced with DKA. Truuuuust me.

The "how many injections/tests do you take/do a day" question. Everyone asks it, shortly after discovering I'm diabetic. Schadenfreude, anyone?

 

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Oh, and I forgot. I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere, but in Alberta, diabetics have to get a signed medical to get a driver's license. And we have to renew our regular licenses every two years instead of every four, and our learners licenses every year. So when I recently booked my license exam, it occured two weeks after my learners expired. So I had to get a medical to get my learners renewed and then another medical to get my actual license. At $125 a pop. Discrimination! I'm thinking about writing letters. We should get reimbursed for medicals if we're forced to get them for something we can't help.