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My girlfriend and I just finished watching a program on TV called "Rock of Love". The star of the show is Bret Michaels, a type 1 diabetic of many years and former lead singer of the rock and roll band, "Poison". The show is all about Bret attempting to find his "rock of love" and tonight's episode was the season finale.
Brynn (my girlfriend) and I are hooked on the show. She loves all the drama and made-for-tv "stars" of the show and I get a kick out of laughing at the girls and all of their chick fights. But, I particularly like watching Bret and how he lives a rock-and-roll lifestyle and somehow manages to take care of his diabetes??. Anyway, on tonight's show, he was faced with having to choose between the two remaining girls and I believe that diabetes was the ultimate deciding factor.
During his last date with one of them, his diabetes kicked in, but she was more concerned about the date at hand then with his diabetes. However, while on the last date with the other girl, (the one that Brynn and I like) Bret's diabetes problems kicked in again and his date showed real concern for him and his diabetic needs. Ultimately, this was the type of love, or "rock", that Bret was looking for.
I think, as people with diabetes in relationships, we too can appreciate and confide in the person that is our rock. I remember the moment in my relationship with Brynn where I felt ready to start confiding in her and sharing my very personal feelings and emotions with this disease. I'll never forget the time when I had to explain to her, like Bret Michaels did with his date tonight, how she was going to have to learn how to use my glucagon kit and how she was going to have to jam that thing in me if I passed out. It was hilarious. Let's just say that I am glad that we have that talk behind us! Anyway, I think that it's so interesting that, as diabetics, a turning point in a relationship comes from a conversation about this disease. The moment I knew I could trust my girlfriend enough to teach her how to potentially save my life is the same moment I knew we reached another level in our relationship. The same happened with Bret tonight and so the reason he made the choice he did.
I was so hoping someone would blog about this today! If you hadn't, I would have, Andy. I think you're right and their handling of the d was key in his making his decision.
I seriously wanted to punch the dried-up stripper in the face when they were out in the dune buggy and he said repeatedly - and confusedly - "I really need to get something to eat-" and she just kept on trucking.
I'm hooked on this show too - and unfortunately I missed the finale! I kept waiting for diabetes to come up on one of these 'dates.' From your post, it sounds like he must have chosen Jess (yay!).
I missed the finale. He must not have picked the stripper.
I too wondered when diabetes would come up. I'll have to catch the repeat to see how it was factored into the episode.
Finally got to watch it last night. Man, that Heather is a piece of work! ;-)
P.S. -
Brett Michaels video on dLife
I swear the whole time I was watching (Jes was my favorite too!) all I could think about Heather was "What a moron!" Bret obviously needed to eat something. But he had to pull all that stupid macho stuff and say, "I can tough it out." Rather than just telling her, "Hey! I've got to go eat. We are leaving NOW!" But that wasn't the point. The point was that Jes noticed right away that something wasn't right. (Me too with the sweaty face & funky eyes! A look I know we all know.) And she was concerned about him. I think Kerri said it in a blog once: Love me, love my diabetes.
That's the way it should be. So I think that he made the right choice. Even if he and Jes don't continue to date, at least he got rid of the 80's hooker who didn't have a brain in her head.
hi,
thank all of you who deals with the diabetes
like i do hearing it & reading it,
it broughttears to my eyes forgive me that i feel a little mushy i just feel like an big
part of the big famliy that deals with the problems somehow that make's me feel stronger
in #'s an life we all can use an suport like this when either down or up !!! it's nice to know that we've people like us who suports everyone near an far away an close home!!!!!!
thank you everyone rocks in my book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks maria
p.s. have a nice weekend rock on fighting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, before I start ranting, I want to say that the show was a blast, I loved Jes and think Bret is fabulous. I am also happy that he discussed his diabetes on the show but (now for the rant) am I the only one that was confused by the string of diabetic issues he was having?!? When your bg is low, shouldn't you be drinking juice/eating ANYTHING sugary instead of taking the time to show a girl your glucagon set? I'm not even going to discuss Heather's total lack of concern. Appalling! But really, it upset me that it was so cut and dry; my husband pointed out that it must have just been a test for the girls, to see if they care about his health. It just makes all of the non-diabetic viewers think that us diabetics have no idea what we're doing! I would hate for people to think that after 33 years as a diabetic, I am always in danger of slipping into a coma. I guess I am lucky to have good sensitivity to my hypoglycemia but if he knows that his sensitivity is that low then someone- Big Jon, a producer, a cameraman, ANYONE on set should have been there with juice and sugar pills!!!
Okay. I'm done. Anyone else agree?
I completely agree amberdior. The whole time I watched that episode I kept yelling at the TV, Drink a soda fool!!! What are you doing just standing there?!?!?! My husband keeps explaining that the people on the screen cant hear me but that doesn’t stop me from trying to communicate!! I confess that I watched this show just to see how much the Big D actually made it off the cutting room floor. I didn’t see him test once! I know they focused mainly on the girls, but come on. I am testing 6-8 times a day minimum and I am not drinking like a fish. Where was his meter? Where were the glucose tabs or juice or something, anything with sugar in it? Even his glucogon instructions were off a little. He forgot to mention the mixing part! grrrr... so much for a realistic view of diabetes on a reality show! Now people ask me why I can’t drink but Bret Michaels can… thanks Bret!
During the last episode when Bret was having trouble with his diabetes I felt like slapping him! Why wouldn't he just test... he was like I don't feel well... hmm... lets do nothing here! It was really irritating!
You all have to understand that he's been living with diabetes for nearly 40 years without complications. Don't you think he knows how to take care of himself?
Maybe he did test himself and maybe he did eat something. Maybe VH1 editors chose to edit it out. You don't know what winds up on the cutting room floor.
Ease up on the guy. Don't you think he's been through enough dealing with those crazy beyotches?
i hadn't watched but 1 episode of 'rock of love' but after reading all of yalls comments i want to go youtube it right now! dang firewall at work.... oh well i guess i'll do that when i get home!
ps i did hear/read somewhere that his contract specifically stated that diabetes must be presented in the show but most likely the way it was presented wasn't specified and editors have free-range of these reality shows so you never know what will actually 'make the cut'.