My Diabetes, OUR problem?
More times than not, I don’t think about how my betes affects those around me. I don’t like to think of myself a rude person, but lets be honest: between our test strips, lancets, tester, insulin, pod or needles, alcohol swabs, sugary just-in-case, extra batteries, carbohydrate…remembering how my numbers will affect those with me – it’s A LOT. I was reminded today when the batteries on my PDM were low. For those of you who don’t have an Ollie (Omnipod pump), when your batteries die in your PDM, your pump will stop working. Helloooo?! No good.
My dad says “if it weren’t for bad luck, you’d have no luck at all”. So sad, yet so true. The only aspects of my life I seem to catch a break on, are the people in it. I have a crazy, yet also crazily supportive family and a group of friends who I finally feel “whole” with. AND safe with. As betics, we know that there are a bajillion different reasons our sugars can go haywire and it’s important to be around people who understand that and can help. Now, admittedly I have a problem not only trusting people but letting them into my “inner circle”. Truly, the only people I trust with any aspects of my betes, are the friends who have been there for me through all kinds ups and downs with it, and my family. I’m trying little by little to trust other people again. (We all know after you get burned a couple times, this whole “trust” thing becomes a lot more difficult…especially after trusting someone with your health)
Anyway, back to the Ollie situation! The guy I’m seeing, (let’s call him Krispy) says he’ll run to my casa while I’m at work to make sure I have the things I need so I can change my Ollie (have y’all noticed yet how I nickname everything?). At first there as no way I was letting this happen. My thinking was: My diabetes, my problem. I was able to keep that up for a bit, but in the end, I let him help me.
It’s weird because only those closest to me have ever experienced me “sugar drunk”, have ever given me a shot (back before I had Ollie), know when I’m low before I do, and have I ever let put an Ollie on me. I think for a while it was me being stubborn. Then, to be honest, I think it was a pride thing. “I don’t need help“. Well, guess what? I did. And I do.
As much as I hate to admit it, I need help with my diabetes. Yes, I hate when my friends ask me to test my sugar because I’m acting crazy but guess what? Most times, they’re right. I’m acting bonkers because my sugar is off. There’s a couple friends who actually know if my sugar is high based on my tongue. No, I’m not kidding. My Juju- can look at my tongue and gauge my sugar! If it’s white- it’s high so I test. Juju has also injected me with insulin (straight to the booty!), tested my sugar and will straight up, grab me and force me to test, eat, whatever it is that needs to be done if I’m not cooperating. I hate it but that’s what I need. I know I’m insanely stubborn, but I actually need people to make me let them help me with my betes.
My dad is a superhero. Like a legit, should wear a cape and spandex – superhero. He’s seen me in every situation I could ever be in, and yet still helps me! Yes, he’s my dad but being able to be a strong, reliable, diabetic-dad – I genuinely think that may be a super-talent. He’s had to give me shots before, test my sugar, not kill me when I’m sugar drunk, give me the glucagon, take me to the ER, help me carb-count, and stick up for me in more situations then I would like to remember…
Where am I going with all this? We all need help sometimes, and even though it’s hard for me to admit that – I know I’m lucky to have people around me who ARE willing to help me (and put up with my stubbornness!!)