I have been a Type 1 diabetic for almost 31 years. My son is also a Type 1 diabetic, and has been for almost 4 years now.
My boyfriend and I had an argument tonight about the "loose" lifestyle I supposedly let my soon to be 8 year old lead.
Says the boyfriend, "He needs a strictly regimented schedule. Deviations should be rare. I can't believe that, after being raised that way yourself, you allow him to live this goosey-loosey life where he doesn't even go to bed at the same time every night!"
Say I, "First of all, since you aren't living in the house you can't tell me he's not in bed within a few minutes of the same time every night. Secondly, 'strict regiments' are NOT needed. Schedules, yes, but the way you're making it sound everything would have to be orchestrated to the exact second to make you happy. The beauty of both of us being on pumps is that we can have flexibility while still maintaining better control!"
Obviously I know that frequent, large variations in schedule aren't the best choice. However, my ex-Marine boyfriend makes it sound like I have to be a drill sergeant! When I was turning 8 there were no blood tests ... and we all know urine testing doesn't show what IS in the blood but rather what WAS in the blood. The pump was not an option. Insulin was made from pigs and cows whereas it's now developed by using rDNA ... things have gotten BETTER! And my parents were NOT overly strict about schedules.
Yes, we had times to be up for school to get there on time. Yes, we had a set time for bed. But as long as homework and dinner were completed before it was time for bed, they didn't worry whether it was an hour earlier or later than usual.
I know that in many ways he has my son's best interest at heart. (The boyfriend is not his father. My son is from a previous marriage.) I guess my question is how to explain to the Marine that regiments are for the miltary and that civilian life, even civilian life with diabetes, needs to be more spontaneous and allow room for deviation.
It turned into a pretty big argument. Figured that with all of the experts here maybe I could find the voice of reason in it all.
Thanks for any help you can offer!!!!!!!!
