Well yesterday at the hospital I work at I was walking back from the cafeteria with a co-worker. I know a lot of people there because the job I do, but today was a little different. My co-worker Jeff is a long time diabetic on the same pump I am. He was asking me questions on my CGM because he wants to get onto it. We passed a girl that I know from a different site.. and yes she was a pumper too! She asked how I was and all we talked about was our experiences with our pumps. Another lady walked up behind I have known for a few years but had no idea she was a D educator and she never knew that I was a diabetic. She asked me to be part of her classes for the kids she works with.

I had another one of these D meetings today. I was working in a clinic after hours installing a computer and I heard something in the hallway. I made myself known that I was there and he walked back. I recognized the name but not the face Dr. Twist. He is a urologist and guess what? Yes he had a pump on his side too!! And I said “so you too huh?” Showing him mine.. and he said “yep.. since I was in my 20’s in med school” we had a conversation about the struggles with D.. he told me that dealing with D is the hardest thing he ever had to do. I expressed that to see someone with his training and expertise first hand experience with D makes him a better Dr.

I came home tonight to turn on the TV and seen a story on the news about a new friend of mine on facebook “The World Guy” Eric Bendl who walks from state to state to raise awareness of D. This disease effects SOO many of us but is also a fiber that binds us all together. We don’t have to do it alone. Not now, Not Ever!

Views: 3

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I wrote a really cool reply w/ my encounters w/ other PWD this AM but deleted it by accident and then got roped into that other thread pretty much all day. In sum, I haven't met too many. I think that it would behoove a lot of medical people to show us more respect. Their whole thing always seems like "oh, you have diabetes? *punt*" and just go through the motions about stuff a lot of the time.
My personal favorite is when people say " you don't look like a diabetic". I always ask ,what are we supposed to look like?
Like Kristin said (I'm thinking the same words here) WOW! A great day!!!
Robert G, thanks for your post. I feel much less scared and isolated since I found TuDiabetes.

I felt so very, very alone before I found this site.
In my Saturday morning yoga class, two of us spotted each other ("a diabetic sighting") because we wear insulin pumps. Then I invited R to join the newly formed Type 1 women's group that meets in Berkeley, run by TuD member/excellent contributor Zoe. Then yesterday, R and I, along with two others from the Type 1 women's group attended the Taking Control of Your Diabetes (run by Dr. Steve Edelman, an endo who has Type 1). Oh, it is good to be "brought together."
At the whole foods store Ive shopped at for about 3 years, an employee was very helpful to me. Because when my son was dx'd 14 mos. ago I went to the store the day after we were released from the hospital. There standing in the sugar-free aisle I was utterly stupified. I knew how to make healthy choices, but if he wanted a treat, chips, syrup what then?!? Someone noticed I looked needed help, I told him about my son and he brought over Brian who was type1 since age 6. We talked a long time about all I had questions about. We found out the we had the same gym, and the next day we met there with my son just so he could meet someone else will type1. We got tips, we saw his insulin pens(said he just never wanted to go on a pump) and even though are understanding of D was in its earliest stage (he was down to the 400-300 at that time, I even thought hypo-whats that, oh he'll never that LOL). Meeting another helped us feel better about the disease. Ever since I never miss the opprotunity to speak to someone who knows about the Big D. And thats why I'm so glad to have found this great community.
Thank you everyone! TuD has helped me to open up with others and to be fortunate enough for others to open to me about their live with D.. There is so much we can do to help ourselves and others with D and it all starts with reaching out!

RSS

Advertisement



REsources

From the Diabetes Hands Foundation blog...

Together, We Can Get Diabetes Co-Stars to 10,000 Views!

Above is a photo of Diabetes Hands Foundation’s own Manny Hernandez with the stars of the Diabetes Co-Stars Video, “Strength in Numbers.” In case you haven’t heard the news yet, there is a new video making it’s way through the …
Continue Reading

Congratulations Diabetes Advocates Scholarship Recipients!

The Diabetes Hands Foundation and Diabetes Advocates Program is proud to announce and congratulate the members of DA who were granted scholarships to attend diabetes conferences in 2013! Thanks to a generous grant from Novo Nordisk, in 2013 we were …
Continue Reading

TuDiabetes Team

DHF STAFF

Manny Hernandez
(Co-Founder, Editor, has LADA)

Emily Coles
(Head of Communities, has type 1)

Emily Walton
(Business Manager)

Mike Lawson
(Head of Experience, has type 1)

Corinna Cornejo
(Development Manager, has type 2)

Heather Gabel
(Administrative and Programs Assistant, has type 1)

DHF VOLUNTEERS


Lead Administrator
Bradford (has type 1)

Administrators
Lorraine (mother of type 1)
Marie B (has type 1)

Teena (has type 2)

Brian (bsc) (has type 2)

jrtpup (has type 1)

 

LIKE us on Facebook

Spread the word

Loading…

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

© 2013   A community of people touched by diabetes, run by the Diabetes Hands Foundation.

Badges  |  Contact Us  |  Terms of Service