Monday
Jan122009
A Nice Conversation
Monday, January 12, 2009 at 3:16PM A long time ago I told you about a colleague that I found out had type 1 but did not really want to share about it.
Since that call almost 2 years ago we have spoken many times but have never mentioned diabetes.
Not. Once.
Today she called in and it went a little different.
"How's it going Karen?"
"Pretty good George except my diabetes is driving me nuts lately!"
She went on to tell me how lately she has been having really high BG's and she cannot figure out why.
"I had a bag of Cheetos and took the right amount of insulin but now I cannot get my level down."
I told her how I understood what she was going through. Then she said something that I had to talk about.
"But with all of that I still will NEVER get on a pump." It was a weird statement and it seemed totally out of place. I explained to her that I was on a pump and that I like it but that it is not for everyone.
"I still get high blood sugars and have issues but I just love the flexibilty of it and I don't have to take shots all the time." I was trying not to sound mad because in a way she offended Master P and I could not let him get dissed like that!
"Oh," her voice totally changed, "but don't you have problems with the sites?"
She was talking about infections and pain. I told her that I have never had infection but have had some pain but nothing horrible. I explained all the things I like about being on a pump but reassured her that I think it is not for everyone.
"Hmm. I thought it was painful. Interesting." She sounded like she was almost considering a pump. Or at the very least not totally dissing it.
It was not the conversation I hoped for long ago but at least she talked about it.
Reader Comments (6)
Her concerns match some of G's. Though, lately, he's become more and more open.
I have a co-worker who's son was diagnosed 2 years ago. He absolutely does not want to talk about it. In fact, I think I remind him of it and he avoids me.
(Or, maybe it's just because I'm a boring dorky person).
I was one of the ones who said "NEVER!"...until I met a diabetic on a pump. And it was all downhill from there. Once I figured out it wasn't nearly as bad as my head thought it would be, I was okay with getting one. :)
I am so proud of you for having that conversation. Daniel would not survive without Zak! He said when he is cured he will get two frames to hang on the wall, one for Zak and one for Cody. lol
I can remember resisting the idea... but that was 14 years ago when pumps still used bent needles ;). My son was not interested b/c he thought that he'd have to re-insert the infusion set after sports - even with me in the house he had misconceptions about it. I showed him the disconnect - he had no idea!
Oh yeah, I've been there. Not so long ago I was absolutely freaked out by the idea of a pump - scared of site infections and being tethered to a piece of medical equipment and of it failing & sending me into DKA. I never thought I'd try a pump. Until I started reading D-blogs. Reading about people who wear them and use them and love them slowly made me overcome my fears. And now, I wish I hadn't waited so long. But I do think it was extremely important that I came around on my own and in my own times. If my endo or family had pushed me into it, I may feel differently. But certainly take the opportunity to show her the good points of pumping when you can!