February 7, 2010

How do you decide who to tell about your Diabetes?  Do you share it with just your family?  Friends?  Co-workers?  Anyone who will listen?  When do you tell?  Do you just fit it into the conversation as an afterthought?  ”Oh by the way, I have Diabetes.”  Or is it a more formal conversation?

My entire extended family knows, even the ones I have not seen in years.  This was not because I choose to tell them.  Rather, as soon as I told my Mom and Dad, the news spread like wildfire.  Eventually I would have told everyone, but I would have preferred to do it in my own way. 

I have told all of my close friends.  Most of them knew something was going on, so it made it a little bit easier.  It helped explain my strange behavior and it was comforting to be able to talk to someone about it. 

I have quickly come to realize that deciding who you want to share this with is a process.  Or at least for me it is.  I have only told a handful of the people I work with.  I have told my boss because I felt like I had to since I was missing more work than usual for doctor’s appointments.  And, I have told one close friend at work because I knew her brother and niece have Type 1.  I do not want to tell anyone else.  Not yet. 

It is still hard for me to talk about and sometimes it is exhausting.  I want to educate people about Diabetes, especially since there are so many misconceptions out there, but I have found that I have to be in the mood to explain it and answer questions.  I still get a little annoyed when someone says, “Oh I could NEVER give myself a shot.”  My response is always that, “It is astounding what you find you can do when it is a matter of life and death.” 

Who do you choose to share it with and why?  Do you ever find that it is difficult to tell certain people in your life?

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Laura   |SAdministrator |2010-02-09 22:05:09 Such an interesting topic! I think it usually takes me a while to tell a new friend. Eventually it comes up with everyone who I'm close with, but I think it takes me a little while. Sometimes it happens when someone asks about my "pager" (aka my pump), or lately it comes up if I'm talking to another parent about my kids and my pregnancies, but it's a strange thing to just introduce into a conversation and friendship.

jgarrett   |70.61.90.xxx |2010-02-11 11:54:34 I am not shy when telling others about being diabetic. I let them know that I am making it a positive thing in my life by attempting to live as healthy of a lifestyle as possible. I have also shared information on diabetes with them- such as nutritional information and carb counting. I let them know that exercise is an important part of my life as well. And as a full time working mom - with 2 kids- I am expecting my life to be every bit as normal and as long as someone who isn't diabetic. They are just more fortunate than me that they don't have to pay for insulin or pump supplies.

JoannaJoy   |76.178.12.xxx |2010-02-11 17:29:47 I agree. Some of my closest friends know and are great in helping me deal with the drama's of diabetes. I haven't offered it up to many other friends. But, I have considered it when hiking, skiing, biking with people...just in case. But what am I supposed to say...By the way, I have diabetes, and if I pass out on me pop this sugar in my mouth that I carry in my back pack? How would you broach this?

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