Pink Sherbet Photography

Sometimes I really want my friends to know about my diabetes. Other times, I really hate that they know anything about it at all.

My mom always told me to be open about being diabetic so that my friends would know how to treat lows and what to do in case of emergencies. She's right (why are mothers always right?!?). My friends need to know where my glucagon is in my house. They need to know the symptoms of low blood sugars. My friends need to be prepared for the emergency situations that come about when you're diabetic. (READ MORE)

On Sunday, my friend Manny retweeted the Facebook status of someone who supports GLBT National Coming Out Day, which was yesterday, October 11. Many of us here understand "coming out" of a different closet -- the one which stores our diabetes supplies -- and admitting our pancreatically-challenged status to the world. For some in our community, it has had profound effects relating to loss of a job, inability to get a new job, loss of health insurance, and (obviously) increased healthcare costs. Some people with diabetes have admitted that their decisions to marry, whom to marry, and/or when to marry have been directly affected by their partners'/spouses' insurance status.

Most of our gay and lesbian colleagues with diabetes do not have that option.

  (READ MORE)