Diabetic Recipes
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.
I am so glad that you said something to that girl. That was ridiculously rude on her part.
Go Nicole GO!
George - Wouldn't it be funny if this is the way she always treats people... Oh, you're ordering supplies? I see you're a One Touch! or Oh, you're ordering supplies - I see you're a syringe! Some people just aren't that bright, I guess. Hopefully what I said resonated... But probably not. - N
i'm glad you told her something too! however, i need to tell you something. i'm so tired of people refering to diabetes as a disease, an illness, a sickness whatever! it's not. diabetes is a lifestyle. diabetes is a condition. i'm not sick. i don't look sick. i don't feel sick. i'm not dying or suffering, i'm living. i have diabetes and if you're reading this you probably do too. i don't refer to myself as a diabetic either. saying that would define me as something i am not. i am, however, a living, breathing human-being who just so happens to have type 1 diabetes. people without diabetes don't understand these things - WE need to change that by the way we speak about ourselves. The diabetes organizations need to change this terminology also. these small changes can make a huge difference in the way the world views our CONDITION and our lives.
http://pancreaticallychallenged.blogspot.com
Julie - In my mind, the fact is that diabetes IS a disease - an illness - and a sickness - it's just not a visible one. To me - all of those words are akin to the word condition. And although I AM living with it, diabetes is definitely not my "lifestyle." I am a diabetic, in the same way that I am a friend, and a writer, and a singer - it's just another word that tells people about me. I have diabetes in the same way I have friends, an ability to write, and a good singing voice. In the end both descriptions are accurate. Although I respect your opinion, I disagree with it. - Nicole
Nicole,
I agree. Diabetes is not only a disease, it is a chronic, life-threatening disease. (One of the most common chronic diseases of childhood.)
Calling it anything else diminishes what it really is and the importance of finding a cure.
Penny
i agree it is important to find a cure and i will celebrate with champagne and chocolate cake til i puke when that day comes... if i'm still alive.
that's not the way i meant it. but glad to start a discussion... we have two very differing opinions on the same subject. by saying we have a disease puts this image in my head of leprosy, something people want to stay away from, something people don't want to understand. and i don't think of myself as that person and i'm sure you don't either. diabetes has to be a lifestyle because it's what i do everyday, taking shots is like breathing. and to me, diabetes is not like having friends, i would not choose diabetes... although i can't imagine my life without it... it has helped make me who i am and what i do.
In response to your remark about not looking nor feeling sick. i like that you said you don't look nor feel sick! So, when you do, then you're sick? i used to have that outlook, also. Now, when the bg goes over 250, i may look sick and definitely, feel sick! If my bg is less then 100, or nearer 100 mg/dl than 150 mg/dl, i usually look and feel sick! i consider the thing causing my distress or that causes me to inconvenience someone who is kind enough to save my life, a disease. I cannot control the outcome of what i do, i can do things to try to control the bg. It usually is more successful controlling me than i in controlling it!
You know, she could just call people "pumpers" and not "pumps", and I'll bet a lot more callers will be nicer. Ha!
-Hannah.
Hee... hee... All us pumpers being nice to the girl and her wacky terminology...
Absolutely, Penny. Thanks!
See, that's where our opinions really differ, Julie. To me diabetes doesn't have to be referred to as a lifestyle - because it's really not, in my opinion. It is a disease, by sheer definition. And although it requires me to do certain things day in and say out - I have never thought of poking myself with syringes or pump sites or testing my bloodsugar twelve times a day as "natural" - the way breathing is. If I were to compare it to an everyday activity, I might use brushing my teeth, something that's more of a "chore" than a natural function.
What I meant by my comment regarding friends is that the words don't really matter to me - "having diabetes" or "being diabetic" are just two ways to say the same thing - much as "having friends" and "being a friend" are two ways of saying the same thing.