Finding Others

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Finding Others

09-28-2007 10:11 AM EDT by Kerri Morrone
Categories: Type 1 Emotions Real Life
Tags: community diabetes management emotions
Views: 917

For a number of years, I was the only diabetic I knew. Diagnosed when I was a little kid, there wasn't an army of advocates knocking down the doors of my school. As far as I knew, the only meter in my elementary school was mine. In my high school, there were two meters: mine and the one belonging to a classmate's older sister. No one else I knew was taking a fingerstick before having the orange slices at soccer practice, or before tap dance lessons.

My first taste of a diabetes community came one summer at camp. Growing up in New England, I had access to one of the best diabetes camps in the country - Clara Barton Camp. I spent six summers at CBC, giggling with my fellow campers, singing my lungs out at the nightly campfire meetings, and making friends.

Oh yeah, and every morning, the counselor broke out the tackle box filled with meters, syringes, insulin, and other diabetes supplies. Everyone tested their blood sugar first thing in the morning. I felt like I was a part of a community that understood what it was like to live, every day, with diabetes.

After camp, it was high school. Then college. Then those post-college moments where I was figuring out what the heck I wanted to do with my life. And somewhere in there, flailing around between my many jobs and boyfriends and experiences, was my diabetes.

"Hey! What about me! Remember me?"

"Yes, Diabetes. I remember you. Come on, I've been testing and shooting. I even went on a pump for you. Aren't you happy?"

"Sort of. You're managing me, but you're managing me alone. What about some buddies?"

Sigh.

"Fine. I'll find you a few pals that understand us and what we're doing. But then, you be quiet, okay?"

Nods.

I went online. I found a few websites about diabetes. I started my own blog. Other people with diabetes found me. I found them. Then dLife. Then Blogabetes. The world cracked wide open and I found a whole community of people living with diabetes who really understood what this was like. Finding others made all the difference.

My diabetes gave me a grin.

I grinned back.

"Happy now? We have a whole mess of people who understand us."

Diabetes nodded and motioned for me to lean in closer.

"What? Yes, this is great. I know. What's that? No, you can't have a kitten. Let's just shoot for a good A1C, okay?"

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Comments (6)

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On September 28th, 2007 at 12:08 EDT shannonl said:

Halellujah!! I can comment!

Being isolated knowledge-wise is the worst thing to be when a person has something so heavy and at times stressful to contend with.

Opening up to others who you don't have to explain things to is such a freeing thing.

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On September 28th, 2007 at 1:13 EDT soloban1 said:

Having a community to support us in all aspects of our life is such an necessity. Glad you posted on this Kerri.

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On September 28th, 2007 at 1:27 EDT Julia said:

The first four or five years after Olivia's diagnosis, I didn't know anyone else with diabetes either. No kids, no adults, no nobody. When I discovered the Children With Diabetes email list, I was ecstatic. Then I started going to conferences and Olivia started going to camp and then I started reading your blog and started my own (and oh, by the way, you are directly responsible for Major Bedhead. It's all your fault.) and now I'm here, hopefully helping somewhat, getting a lot of support along the way, and I am amongst some of the most wonderful people I wish I never had to meet.

'snot fair that you won't get diabetes a kitten, though. Meanie.

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On September 29th, 2007 at 10:17 EDT caseyleigh said:

Im glad I have diabetes websites to be able to chat with others about diabetes and how Im feeling and such. I mean, I dont have anyone else I can chat with-well, I have a slight few, but with DLife, I can be online for hours reading others' blogs and such and respond with comments about my diabetes. Im happy I have this. Its the only way I can release how Im feeling.

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On October 2nd, 2007 at 8:00 EDT dotconnector said:

I was diagnosed with T1 at 14 in Plano, Texas and I didn't know a soul. I had just moved to Texas from Colorado and was volunteering as a candy striper at the local hospital when a nurse saw me down four glasses of iced tea while inthe break room. She asked if I was ok and told me to get my blood sugar checked. You know the rest...

At 20 in Austin with no friends with diabetes, really no connection to diabetes at all, I started a support group and advertised in the paper for people with T1 who were between 18-35 years old. Five or six of us met and talked about drinking, dating, and dealing with lows while living alone or with room mates; college and young adult stuff.

It was such a relief to communicate with people MY age that understood my frustrations and weren't going to let this disease ruin their lives.

It was a good experience and I am thankful that I have plugged into the resources available 12 years later and started blogging (www.diabeteslifebalance.com).

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On November 3rd, 2007 at 2:34 EDT diabeticjim said:

I am 38 and been type i for 24 years. I feel exactly the way your humorous story descibes. Lonely and unaware of other diabetics. I have a wonderful fiancee but she doesnt understand everything I feel when it comes to diabetes.

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