Children with Diabetes

I called my supply company today. A very good company that provides me with all of my pump supplies - including batteries and IV preps - thank you very much! Here's how the call went:

"Hello, this is Nicole Purcell calling, I'm due for my supplies so I'm just calling in."

"Oh, OK, hold on a second."

I hold on, hearing her type-type-typing.

"Oh, you're a pump."

"Excuse me?"

"You're a pump, just hold...o..."

"Excuse me, before you transfer me, I need to tell you that I am not, in fact, a pump. But I am a person that wears a pump..." Letting that little gem hang out there for an uncomfortably silent few seconds. "Hello, are you still there?"

"Um, yeah, um, I'm going to transfer you to Christine."

"Thanks"

Christine picks up the phone and confirms my order will be mailed next Tuesday - batteries, IV prep and all. Thankfully, she refers to me as Nicole.

Pleased to have my supplies ordered, I could almost blow off the whole earlier part of the call... Almost. But being called a pump reminded me very much of this post, written by Julia about how people with diabetes (or diabetics, depending on what you prefer) reference themselves.

I must say that being referred to as a diabetic never really bothers me. UNLESS - it is the sole term a person uses to make reference to my person. An example - I hate hearing phrasing like "The diabetic in room one" from doctors or nurses in the hospital. BUT I don't mind if in a long list of other things about me someone says I'm diabetic - ie: Nicole writes a blog for a diabetes-related company, she's stunningly gorgeous (ha!), oh, and she's a diabetic herself...

Also - I go back and forth myself - sometimes I have diabetes, sometimes I am diabetic - in my mind, just two different ways of saying exactly the same thing.

Today's phone call really hit a nerve. I want to be seen as a girl calling in for supplies that was nice to the receptionist at the fabulous supply company, I want to be seen as Nicole Purcell, I would even rather be seen as an account number - than be seen as a "pump."

I hate being reminded that there are times, when in someone's mind, I am solely my disease and its treatment. In someone's mind I am invisible. In someone's mind I am just a diabetic. In someone's mind I am just a pump. And that, is just plain sad.