[Gary_W]

Originally Posted by Chappo

However, Eddy is spot on: Type-1's all too commonly get grouped in with people who are Type-2, and the generic understanding of Diabetes is solely of Type-2. I cannot tell you how many times people say "You're not even CLOSE to fat, how can you have diabetes?".

I had a good one yesterday. My daughter was invited to a birthday party of a schoolfriend. It was held at an indoor rollerskating place. She's never been on rollerskates, neither have I. My wife couldn't be there.

As I've JUST managed to get a loan pump which is clipped onto my belt, the idea of falling over and breaking £3000 UK of loan equipment did not appeal. I didn't want to disconnect as the party went on for 2 hours and there was no-one there not taking part in the skating that I particularly wanted 'the diabetes' conversation with to ask them to look after my pump for me. Fortunately, one of the other dads I know well DOES skate and my daughter happily went on the rink with him whilst I watched. All was well with the world. She was having a great time and we were all perfectly happy. I walked her around the little training bit in between times where I could wear outdoor shoes. Enjoyment had by all (apart from where she slipped and grabbed my shirt plus tubing )

One of the other fathers started giving me a semi-hard time about why I wasn't out on the rink. At first I just said I didn't fancy it, but he wouldn't let go. So finally, I said 'I'm type 1 diabetic. I've just spent months getting this £3000 pager on my belt to treat it and I'm too clumsy not to fall on it. As it's a borrowed one, that wouldn't be good...'

'Why do you need that? You can just treat it with one injection a day, can't you?'

I explained that it must be a very intelligent injection if it can do that.... But yes, it is all tied in to the fact that most people believe that diabetes is T2 as that is the one that the media is currently telling the world is brought upon ourselves...

Gary