Mad Baker
It's always interesting to meet fellow diabetics in person. It doesn't happen all that often to me, but occasionally I will bump into someone and find out they are diabetic too. Being a pumper has definitely changed that awareness (because you know all diabetics can spot a fellow pumper from miles away!).
Over the summer, I went in to have a microdermabrasion procedure (trying to get rid of the post-acne marks from the PCOS) at a local doctor's office. My new patient forms asked the usual questions: pre-existing conditions, prescriptions, etc. So I marked the normal things: diabetic, PCOS, on humalog, etc. and moved on.
The physician's assistant in charge of the procedure started asking me the usual questions to make me comfortable (where I work, what school I attend). All of a sudden, she asked if I was on an insulin pump. I was caught by surprise, as most people never mention it. It turned out she was a fellow diabetic and on the same pump as me. We chatted about how she wanted the CGMS, when she was diagnosed, and control issues.
As I walked out of the office, I couldn't believe that I had picked that office with that PA and found another diabetic. I was excited, intrigued, and honestly, a little annoyed. She was very nice. The procedure went well. I really had no complaints.
The one thing that bothered me was what she said about her control and her A1c (she implied never working hard and still keeping good numbers). Certainly, I can't hold a grudge against someone for their body's control (or lack of control). The competitive side of me wanted to win the battle, yet I realized that I had lost.
Tonight, I was snacking on some crackers in my campus gym (trying to prevent a low blood sugar before my workout). They have a no food policy, so one of the employees called me out. I immediately explained that I was diabetic (unfortunately, that didn't seem to matter but that's a different blog).
The guy standing next to him (another employee) looked at my waistband, exclaimed, "Look! You really are diabetic!" and pulled up his shirt to expose his Omnipod. The bond was instant. We chatted about the crazy no food policy, the medical center in the gym, and so on.
He's the first diabetic I've ever met on my campus. I'm totally excited (not like I didn't know there were other diabetics out of the 45,000 students), especially since I recently got approval for my student organization group for diabetics. Maybe I can have at least one member!
So, happy hunting!
Hee Hee! It's true! We pumpers can spot another miles away. Sometimes, people think it's a cellphone and are STUNNED to learn it has insulin instead of phone numbers. I've also run into diabetics who are thinking about pumping but too scared to try. They're the ones I campaign to ;)
Thanks for this story. I am a new pumper and although I don't try to hide it I haven't run around to people saying "look at my pump, isn't it cool!" I haven't spotted any others wearing one yet, but I continue to look for them.
regarding your school's refusal to accommodate special dietary needs for diabetic execise you might want to talk to someone in your school's adminstration (perhaps the director of athletics) regarding their obligation to make reasonable accommodations pursuant to the ADA and possibly other relevent state laws
In a perfect world...I'd be at my perfect weight and size. I would not have Type 2 Diabetes. I'd also live in a castle with Prince Charming and have servants and never do a lick of housework...employment what's that?! In the real world I was just dx with Type 2 Diabetes. I consider every new event in my life to be an opportunity to re-evaluate my life. Step off the roller coaster so to speak...take a look in the mirror and see what I have missed. It's an opportunity to catch up with myself. It's an opportunity you do not want to ignore. Having Type 2 Diabetes has given me insight to eating better, making quality life-style changes, slowing down to smell the roses instead of observing them in a blur. In my life I have made everyone else first. With years of this practice you become accustom to being last and to exhausted to take your turn. And then you get back on the roller coaster and it all starts again. I thank God for this opportunity to step off and smell the roses, listen to the music, hear the birds chirp and take time to take care of myself. Lets make every minute and every second of life precious.