Pink Sherbet Photography

At the beginning of the month, I wrote about online dating. I couldn't decide how to approach my health conditions. Was I supposed to hold them back or just put everything out there from the beginning?

I decided to take a medium sized approach. The few that have progressed to getting my actual email address, I've told about my diabetes. It was easier to "admit" about my diabetes than hide it. After all, my blog, Diabetic Echoes, and so many other things in my life are because of that one diagnosis.

I've left my other health conditions out of the picture for now, because I don't want it to be the looming cloud above anyone's heads. I want them to get to know me in the true light of who I am. When the time comes, I'll have to tell them. But I'm hoping by then, things will be a little smoother.

The feedback has been minimal. Most will just say that they don't know much about it and move on. It isn't a topic that anyone dwells on, thankfully. And no one has decided that it's "too much to handle." I haven't progressed to meeting any of these people so that will be another (scary) step to conquer.

But all this dating frenzy leaves me wondering about a few things. For instance, what do I want out of a potential partner in regards to my health? What will they be able to do for me that will make it all easier?

For starters, any potential person must be comfortable with my conditions. Not only is it a matter of accepting my diabetes, but also accepting that there may be future complications. It's about learning all the information that they can so they are fully equipped to share lives. It's understanding how my other health conditions play into my daily life and long-term health.

There are always small things that I need out of a relationship: keeping juice and snacks stocked at their homes, understanding the speed in which a low must be treated, knowing the signs of low and high blood sugar, checking my blood sugar if I can't, finding out where the glucagon is and how to use it. All these things must be accomplished so that my life isn't lingering on the edge of danger because I haven't realized I'm low or they don't move fast enough to get a soda.

Eventually, I'd like someone who is comfortable with my health conditions in the same way that I am comfortable with them. Someone who isn't afraid to talk about the fears and concerns and details of diabetes and my other conditions. I need a partner that can handle that I'm scared of the future a lot of times.

It'd be nice if the person also knew how to work the pump, what my medications are for, and why I see two different kinds of doctors. I want words like "basal" and "bolus" to mean something to them. I want their support when I visit the doctor and get a bad A1c result.

Things like being able to insert a sensor when I'm too scared, smoothly managing to disconnect the pump for intimacy, and knowing what kinds of food I prefer to manage my lows with would be excellent bonuses. There is also carb counting, diabetes friendly activity planning, and knowing that sometimes diabetes just gets in the way.

Diabetes affects my life on a moment to moment basis. And it affects whomever I'm with at those same moments. It may be the difference between going out to eat at 6 or 8. It may mean cutting work outs short. Or having trouble getting pregnant. All these things are not something that only rest on my shoulders. Overall, I want someone who understands that but also understands that diabetes doesn't need to be front and center 24/7.