survey

[suubman]

Survey For Diabetics please reply but you dont have to fill out all spaces if you dont want to but it would be helpful:
How do you fell personally about being a diabetic

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment

How long have you been a diabetic for

Do you recieve any finacial assistance

How does it affect your day-to-day life

How does it affect the lives of people around you

Is your budget affected

Should people feel sorry for you

Does it affect your job

Would you choose not to be a diabetic

[ant hill]

Survey For Diabetics please reply but you dont have to fill out all spaces if you dont want to but it would be helpful:
How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
Victimized, Branded, Been told what you cannot eat, Just another druggie and so on. :(

Have you suffered any verbal insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
Not a insult but been told that i can or cannot have. :(

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassmentNone so far.

How long have you been a diabetic for
36 years and still counting.

Do you receive any financial assistance
No but i wish i did. :T

How does it affect your day-to-day life
Dramatically!!

How does it affect the lives of people around youIt's just the diet that you are labeled with "A Diabetic" tag. For instance you are in a plane and you are about to have dinner and you see a tag "Diabetic". :( :mad:

Is your budget affected
A little as my government do subsidize my need. :D

Should people feel sorry for you
No but understand. :cool:

Does it affect your job
Yes, Again the victimization.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Yes!!! :T

[shabbie6247]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic its a daily challenge to monitor and maintain the best blood glucose results that i can

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic no

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment no

How long have you been a diabetic for exactly one year today!

Do you recieve any finacial assistance not required as i live in uk so all treatment is free

How does it affect your day-to-day life i have to watch what and when i eat but apart from that no affects

How does it affect the lives of people around you it doesnt

Is your budget affected no

Should people feel sorry for you definately NOT

Does it affect your job no

Would you choose not to be a diabeticof course!




i'm curious to know what exactly you will be doing with this information please]:questionm

[Belinda]

How do you fell personally about being a diabeticit has been part of my life for 30 years I don't know how to really feel without it anymore

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabeticnope

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassmentnope

How long have you been a diabetic for30 years on July 17

Do you recieve any finacial assistance nope but I did get some of my master's paid for due to 2 medical conditions and diabetes was the culprit...

How does it affect your day-to-day life other than the testing etc...it doesn't really like I said after 30 years it is just part of my day

How does it affect the lives of people around youI guess it doesn't no one ever has said anything .....

Is your budget affectedwell it is not as bad as it use to be but do I want to spend money on med...NO

Should people feel sorry for youOH **** NO

Does it affect your jobnot really I do miss 3 days of work a year due to appointments but other than that NOPE....I teach special ed so technically there is something wrong with all of us

Would you choose not to be a diabeticIf I had to choose I would rather be diabetic than autistic, mental retarded etc... but If I choose for no illness than yes but it is not a perfect world

[Harold]

i'm curious to know what exactly you will be doing with this information please]:questionm
Here, found your answer; in the introductions-and-announcements post (http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/introductions-and-announcements/18992-help.html)

[EasyType2]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic

I'd rather not be.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic

No. Only some really silly questions.

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment

No.

How long have you been a diabetic for

19 years

Do you recieve any finacial assistance

Hah! not in the US and of A.

How does it affect your day-to-day life

Only as to keeping up with pills, insulin, and testing stuff.

How does it affect the lives of people around you

Hardly at all, except those very very close.

Is your budget affected

Of course. All the meds cost money.

Should people feel sorry for you

Of course not! what an inane question.

Does it affect your job

Only in the most minor ways. Nothing to cause a problem.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic

Of course! That's a bit like asking if I would prefer to not be dead.

[owlyn]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
Any day above ground is a good one. I could have worse things.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
Not that I know of...

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
If sticking myself with various sharp objects numerous times per day counts as physical abuse, then yes. Otherwise, no.

How long have you been a diabetic for
Too long.

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
From whom?

How does it affect your day-to-day life
It is an inconvenience.

How does it affect the lives of people around you
I guess you'd really have to ask them.

Is your budget affected
Congratulations! You proved the rule! The one that says "There are no stupid questions."

Should people feel sorry for you
Why should they?

Does it affect your job
Not as far as I am concerned, but it may affect my co-workers when they come by my cube and see me injecting into my abdomen. Hmmm, come to think of it, to answer your other question, I guess it does affect others around me

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
There you go proving that rule again. You should apply to be in the Guiness Book of World Records.

[Dewey]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic?
Personally, I feel fine. It's a condition that I'm in control of (most of the time), and I'm still alive, healthy & well...Besides, we All have off days, regardless of whether we have Diabetes or not.

Have you suffered any verbal insults or abuse because you are a diabetic?
I've had some stupid remarks (verbal insults) along the way, but truthfully, people Often say foolish things (regardless of the subject), lol.

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment?
No, I think people know better than to put their hands on me, or the "wrath of Dew" shall fall upon them! ;)

How long have you been a diabetic for?
Over 25 years.

Do you receive any financial assistance?
No. Never have. I've received insulin from a friend here, when I was in need.

How does it affect your day-to-day life?
It's just a part of my life & existence. I take care of it & live like anyone without the disease, really...

How does it affect the lives of people around you?
If I have lows, family helps me out...sometimes, my mom or sister get overbearing, but my husband deals with it very well & knows exactly how to treat me, lows and all. I also have a close friend (who lives with us) who helps if I need it.

Is your budget affected?
Yes, somewhat. I think most people, regardless of the ailments they're afflicted with, experience financial burdens of some sort along the way.

Should people feel sorry for you?
Not only NO, but HE** NO!
I'm not a "victim," am not helpless, and the last thing I'd ever need is someone to feel pity for me!

Does it affect your job?
It has only a couple of times (when blood sugars went low), but for the most part, no.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic?
No, I would NOT choose not to be Diabetic. I could think of many diseases that are a HE** of a lot worse. At least we Can control our Diabetes....unlike Cancers, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and so many other ailments!

I also feel that Diabetes has helped me to help others & meet wonderful people I would never have otherwise known. As you can see, I'm very positive about Diabetes. Life's a gamble, no matter what we do....might as well make the most of it & take care of ourselves as best as we can.

[jeggeman31]

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
Nope not at all

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment

Only when my dog takes off with pump in mouth because she thinks it is a toy!


How long have you been a diabetic for
April 1990 was my Dx date.

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
No, none at all


How does it affect your day-to-day life
I don't think it does at all. I am just like anyone else. Just have a pump attached to me, that's all

How does it affect the lives of people around you
Not at all.

Is your budget affected
I only have to pay $700 out of pocket per year for my stuff, so I don't think it does.

Should people feel sorry for you
Not at all

Does it affect your job
Nope not at all

Would you choose not to be a diabetic

If it was being diabetic or nothing, then yes. But to trade for something else, I would rather stay diabetic.

[blue_eyed_devil]

how do you fell personally about being a diabetic?
quite strongly. it has had a huge impact on who i am today.

have you suffered any verbal insults or abuse because you are a diabetic?
no. just ignorant comments, but nothing actually aimed at attkcking me.

how you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment?
no never.

how long have you been a diabetic for?
fourteen years.

do you recieve any finacial assistance?
not at all, though when i was a child i did.

how does it affect your day-to-day life?
only that i get really annoyed about people's ignorance. it can be frustrting, but you move past it and realise you can't keep feeling sorry for yourself, you have to live life, however it's delt to you.

how does it affect the lives of people around you?
not sure you'd have to ask them.

is your budget affected?
yup all the time, i cover all my pump consumables and well, everything.

should people feel sorry for you?
definatly not. i don't feel sorry for anyone else. and i HATE it when people feel sorry for themselves about this condition, it really bugs me.

does it affect your job?
nope. but i do work with a bunch of thousand year old nurses who tell me what to do all the time!

would you choose not to be a diabetic?
i can't answer that. because it's had such a profound impact on who i am, i honestly don't know.

[slipperyelm]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
I'll skip this question.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
No. That would be strange.

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
No, Again, that would be odd.

How long have you been a diabetic for
14 years

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
No

How does it affect your day-to-day life
Take prescription medicines daily. Take supplements daily. Must eat carefully, sometimes must bring meals where others can simply eat what is available. Test blood sugar level 5 times daily. Have brief conversations with family about "how I'm doing." Read books, journal articles, internet sites, participate in this discussion site daily. Am more careful to exercise than I would otherwise be. Eat differently than I did before diabetes. Spend more on food than I used to. Spend more on prescription meds and supplements than I used to. Go to doctor more than I used to.

How does it affect the lives of people around you
I'm always talking to my family about my current blood sugar levels, what affects my Blood glucose levels in what ways. I talk to them about research & opinions I've read about. They listen to me a lot on the topic, and have gotten quite an education. They encourage me to "keep it up" when I'm handling things well for my health. Occasionaly, they are afraid for me, especially in the past when my medications were causing me so much trouble and my quality of life was not so good because of side-effects, especially hypoglycemic episodes.


Is your budget affected
Yes, I spend about $52/month on co-pays for precscriptions. "Co-pay" is the portion of the presciptions that my private insurance does not cover. I spend about $45/month on supplements that I would not buy if I were not diabetic. I buy a more elaborate private insurance than I would otherwise. It costs $900 per month, not including the portion that is paid by the employer. I make co-pays in the doctor's office of about $90/year. In exchange for her access to subscription medical journals, I waive my usual tutor's fee of $40/hour to a research technician who is also going to nursing school. I sacrifice about $320/month through the waiver, but it gives me access to any journal I need, plus her own knowlege as an endocrinology research chemist. I aslo spend more for food than I would if I did not have diabetes. Pre-diabetes, I ate a very inexpensive, high carbohydrate diet with lots of beans, lentils, rice, bulghur, pasta, bread, tortillas, potatoes, winter squash---cheap foods. Now I eat more meats, cheeses, eggs, and tofu than I used to--these cost me more.


Should people feel sorry for you
Pbbbt. Doesn't make any difference to me. I'd prefer that they understand the condition rather than just emote over it.


Does it affect your job
It used to: When I had a lot of side-effects from medicines, I could not even get a job, I was too disabled by diarrhea and nausea from metformin medicine for one and a half years. Then I had so many hypos from a sulfonylurea med that I could not figure out how to survive in someof the jobs that I otherwise might hire for. But now meds are not causing me problems and I can work. I do need to work where I can stop to check blood glucose and once in a great while eat if necessary. So if I can't stop the production line --so to speak-- for a moment, then I can't do that particular work.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Yes. But there are a lot of life problems of lot more difficult than diabetes, so if we all have to choose a bucketful of problems, I'd put diabetes in my bucket before any number of other troubles.

[MissDB]

Survey For Diabetics please reply but you dont have to fill out all spaces if you dont want to but it would be helpful:

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
I feel upset because I already have illnesses to deal with, like having Pan-Hypopituitarism and being Legally blind. I sometimes also feel grateful because I am in some senses more healthier .

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
NO I have not.

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
No.

How long have you been a diabetic for
If you can answer that question for me I would be really grateful, because no one seems to know.

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
NOpe

How does it affect your day-to-day life
In a lot of ways: meal planning, scheduling more physical activity time, testing blood sugars when it isn't a convenient time, (I am an elementary school teacher. You just can't stop in the middle of a lesson to do this. 7 year olds don't have much patience.

How does it affect the lives of people around you
Sure does!

Is your budget affected
Sure is. Eating healthier costs more.

Should people feel sorry for you
No, but they should be more considerate and have more understanding.

Does it affect your job
Yup.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Yes. This is not a fun illness. It is a very serious one that affects all aspects of your body.

This is an interesting survey. I hope I helped in some way. What will you do with the results?

[decimaldancer]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic? At first I was shocked and now I am resigned. I was doing well and thought I was 'cured' or something and went back to my bad habits and found out there is no cure. So now I have resigned myself to changing my life for good instead of just a few years. This doesn't go away, I am just realizing this.

Have you suffered any verbel insults or abuse because you are a diabetic? No I haven't at all.

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment? None
How long have you been a diabetic for? Almost 3 years

Do you recieve any finacial assistance? I have insurance.

How does it affect your day-to-day life? I have to watch what I eat and I cannot indulge when someone brings goodies to work. When everyone else is eating cake or cookies or something else, I am eating veggies or non-fat yogurt or low fat cottage cheese.

How does it affect the lives of people around you? My husband has lost weight, but he needed to anyway. My mother doesn't believe I have it because no on in the family has ever had it.

Is your budget affected? Not really I am just spending the grocery money on fruits and veggies and lean meat more and forgoing beer and chips (or crisps) and doughnuts.

Should people feel sorry for you? Why?

Does it affect your job? Why should it really? I just have to excuse myself to test and/or eat now and then but I am allowed to have a break every two hours so that isn't a problem

Would you choose not to be a diabetic? Probably but life doesn't run to those kind of choices. Or apparently I already made the choices to be diabetic, by eating poorly, smoking and not excercising as much as I should have. Now I have quit smoking and am back to trying to eat properly and maybe one day I will get it in gear about the exercise, but as I have learned, I always will be diabetic.

[David]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
Diabetes has been a part of me for a long time, so I live with it. It could be worse.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
No. I hear an occasional misinformed comment about diabetes in general but they're not directed at me and I generally try to correct what's been said.

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
No

How long have you been a diabetic for
going on 37 years

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
No

How does it affect your day-to-day life
My entire day is affected by, almost revolves around diabetes. I test before each meal, after each meal, before bed, before and sometimes during driving (which I do a lot of while working) and whenever I feel I may be low. I always have to consider how whatever I do, like eating and exercise, can affect my BGL. I need to count how many carbs I'll be eating, remember to take the proper amount of insulin for what I eat and adjust my insulin or eat the proper amount for exercise.

How does it affect the lives of people around you
If I'm in a bad mood or acting a little off, they might have to ask themselves if I'm really just in a bad mood or could I possibly be low and need some help.

Is your budget affected
Even with my insurance, testing and pump supplies are expensive and need to be paid for.

Should people feel sorry for you
Definitely not

Does it affect your job
It generally doesn't directly. I do a lot of driving as part of my job and am able to test whenever I need to.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Definitely yes if I had that choice to make.

[w5wjp]

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
Nope, no one would dare

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
Again, no one would dare

How long have you been a diabetic for
Since 1987

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
Just what the insurance company pays

How does it affect your day-to-day life
It doesn't really

How does it affect the lives of people around you
It doesn't, some don't even know I have D

Is your budget affected
Just the copays for insulin and pump supplies

Should people feel sorry for you
**** no!

Does it affect your job
Nope, well NASA won't let me be a shuttle pilot

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Duh!

[REDLAN]

Have you suffered any verbal insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
Not to my face anyway

Have you suffered any physical abuse or harassment
Nope

How long have you been a diabetic for
25 years

Do you receive any financial assistance
All my medical needs are met by the NHS - and I don't pay any fees for any of my medication diabetes related or not.

How does it affect your day-to-day life
I try not to let it, but in reality it mainly affects what I can eat and when - while I can eat at different times my control works best when I eat at particular times. I also lose a bit of flexibility - good control means planning ahead.

How does it affect the lives of people around you
Well my wife calls me a professional diabetic - so I guess you can draw your own conclusions about that. People have to put up with my occasional bad moods when I'm high or low, and generally being difficult at times.

Is your budget affected
not that I notice

Should people feel sorry for you
I'd rather they didn't.

Does it affect your job
Yes. I have to make allowances for certain tasks - for instance I need timeout if I'm low (very rarely), and I tend to have more sickness than the rest of the team. I also need more time off for appointments. I also can't be as flexible especially around things such as meal breaks.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Oh no! I just love testing 8 times a day, injecting 5+ times a day, feeling crappy when I'm high/low, oh and most of all missing out on the chocolate cake at the staff meetings. Personally I'd jump at the chance of a viable treatment.

[poodlebone]

Survey For Diabetics please reply but you dont have to fill out all spaces if you dont want to but it would be helpful:
How do you fell personally about being a diabetic

Well, I don't like being diabetic but since I have no choice, I deal with it.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic

Never

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment

Never

How long have you been a diabetic for

20 years

Do you recieve any finacial assistance

I have health insurance through my job. I pay for half of the monthly premium (close to $200/month for my share) and have various co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions/diabetes supplies.

How does it affect your day-to-day life

It's something that I have to think about num("hrf"))
return a;
me I eat something I have to think about it. I can't just decide to eat a handful of crackers and not worry about it, because I have to match it with insulin. I have to make sure I have my meter and other supplies with me all the time. It has been much easier since I got an insulin pump.

How does it affect the lives of people around you

Before I got my pump I had terrible problems with low blood sugars. People used to worry about me all the time and everyone was always asking me "Are you okay?" if I didn't answer them right away, or if I was tired. They just assumed I was about to pass out.

Is your budget affected

Even though I have insurance I still end up paying over $200 a month. That $200+ would certainly be welcome for other things. So while it does cost me, right now it's not a huge burden.

Should people feel sorry for you

No, they shouldn't. I admit that in the past I would sometimes use it to my advantage. Get people to feel bad for me by complaining about how bad I felt because of a low BG or something like that.

Does it affect your job

It used to, when I would pass out at work, or have bad lows. It would take me hours to get back to normal sometimes.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic

Yes. This not anything I would choose to have if I could avoid it.

[msdebagain]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic. i hate it, but its gotten me to take better care of myself

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic no

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment. no

How long have you been a diabetic for: 10 yrs

Do you recieve any finacial assistance : CA disability

How does it affect your day-to-day life. some days its a hassle. checking blood sugars, figuring out what i can and cant eat. other days? i enjoy trying to be a healthier person

How does it affect the lives of people around you:
my family is a junk food family, and they are VERY affected by this. we have stopped using fast food places, no fried foods, eating habits are changed and they are all very healthy and complain that they are being punished. they understand why but still complain

Is your budget affected? yes big time. i take a ton of meds so i have a ton of co pays. Thank Goodness Walmart has cheap meds 4 dollar copays

Should people feel sorry for you. as i'm recovering from hospitalization i am expecting it. but the healthier i get then i say no.

Does it affect your job. ... my job affected my diabetes. i was so busy i didnt eat right and didnt monitor my sugars.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic... in a heartbeat. Cancer was easier to beat than diabetes

[murphysl]

How do you feel personally about being a diabetic? I try to be optimistic--right now, my health is preventing me from doing anything that makes me feel very useful, but I believe it is temporary. My health has been improving since being treated by an MD(H). It's just a slow process.

Have you suffered any verbal insults or abuse because you are a diabetic? When I was in graduate school, the coordinator for visually impaired students and I met with a professor to make arrangements for a class test. The professor said that he didn't want a "planned medical emergency" during the test, e.g., hypoglycemic insulin reactions. That's the only time I can remember, although I have had my intelligence insulted many times by several health care workers, with regard to treating diabetes.

How you suffered any physical abuse or harassment? no

How long have you been a diabetic? 32 years

Do you receive any financial assistance? SSI, food stamps, insurance (Medicaid)

How does it affect your day-to-day life? There is frequent disruption in my day-to-day life for one thing or another related to treating diabetes (glucose monitoring, deciding when to take insulin and how much to take, actually taking the insulin, monitoring glucose levels, deciding what to eat, how much to eat, when to eat, deciding when and how much to exercise--everything must be carefully balanced. I take natural medicines for diabetes several times a day as well, so I need to be sure I remember to do so. I am also on a special diet, so I often spend time calling grocery stores to locate hard-to-find food items. I seem to need more sleep and rest than healthy people, so that limits my time for doing other things.

How does it affect the lives of people around you? I have been told I shouldn't be left alone for too long, so someone has to be here with me. It probably affects my parents on an emotional level--people hate to see their children suffer, no matter what the degree of suffering is, and no matter how old their children are.

Is your budget affected? Yes--not everything I need is covered by my insurance

Should people feel sorry for you? Definitely not. Respect, understanding, encouragement, and compassion are good, but pity is the last thing I want. For me, it is counterproductive.

Does it affect your job? I am unable to work due to diabetes and adrenal fatigue, which according to my doctor, may have been at least partially caused by diabetes.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic? Yes

[suubman]

thnkyou everyone who has relplie, youve helped me alot. Im doing this for my year 10 P/E assignment on the topic of overcoming adversity and had to choose a minority group and i chose diabetics.

[HiImDan]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic

Sux

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic

I'd have to make a rather lenghty list

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment

as above

How long have you been a diabetic for

29 years

Do you recieve any finacial assistance

nope

How does it affect your day-to-day life

affects everything

How does it affect the lives of people around you

they love it

Is your budget affected

obviosly

Should people feel sorry for you

no

Does it affect your job

cost me my vision and therefore, my job

Would you choose not to be a diabetic

yep

[Dewey]

Would you choose not to be a diabetic... in a heartbeat. Cancer was easier to beat than diabetes
I know you had Breast Cancer, but some Cancers are Not easy to beat (depending on a multitude of factors, such as stage, type, etc.), and some cannot be put into remission. Currently, I have two friends that have been battling Breast Cancer for several years, and neither are in remission (both are currently undergoing a new chemo treatment). Even if you do "beat" Cancer, you're forever watching over your shoulder to ensure it doesn't return...Also, Diabetes doesn't have the urgency Cancer does. If people screw around and don't treat their Diabetes properly, they get more leeway (sometimes years of leeway) before any complications arise. With Cancer, if improperly treated or left untreated, it can result in spread of the disease to other organs, and can become deadly. Also, the treatment methods for Cancer are far more harsh than those for Diabetes.

While I haven't personally had Cancer, I've lost many friends to different types, and do not share your feelings with regards to having it rather than Diabetes. I'm not trying to argue with you, am just sharing my feelings as to why I feel the way I do.

[Patti]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
I could have something worse.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
No

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
No

How long have you been a diabetic for
It will be 50 years this Nov.

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
No

How does it affect your day-to-day life
I'm so use to it that it really doesn't bother me.


How does it affect the lives of people around you
They are also use to it.

Is your budget affected
Yes, it is.

Should people feel sorry for you
Absolutely not

Does it affect your job
No

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Definitely yes

[Cyborg]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
I've learned to accept it. What doesn't kill me, only makes me stronger.

Have you suffered any verbal insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
No

Have you suffered any physical abuse or harassment
No

How long have you been a diabetic for
~8 Years

Do you receive any financial assistance
No

How does it affect your day-to-day life
I have to test frequently and must always be in control of my bg.

How does it affect the lives of people around you
The people around me have learned more about diabetes, how it affects me and how it could affect them.

Is your budget affected
Yes, treatment is not free

Should people feel sorry for you
No

Does it affect your job
Barely

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Yes

[jerryn]

Survey For Diabetics please reply but you dont have to fill out all spaces if you dont want to but it would be helpful:

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
"Sure it sucks, but hey there's a lot worse diseases out
there to deal with"

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
"No"

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
"No, and if I ever did get any physical abuse, I'll have to open up a can of whoop *** on the abuser!" I may have diabetes but I can still kick butt!

How long have you been a diabetic for
"1.3 years"

Do you recieve any finacial assistance
"Heck no. I don't need any assitance!"

How does it affect your day-to-day life
"I've got to test the glucose levels three times/day.
Testing and taking the meds are the only reminder I'm
dealing with a disease"

How does it affect the lives of people around you
"I've told my wife and kids that I don't want any sweet snacks in the house! If they want something like that then they should get in the car and go tto Friendlys or something."


Is your budget affected
"Not much yet. I do tend to eat the good stuff more so maybe. Good stuff = New York Strip steak, shrimp, scallops, boneless chicken breast"

Should people feel sorry for you
"Heck no. There's a lot worse diseases out there. My wife has 3 uncles that battled cancer. I know of someone my age dealing with MS. And I also know someone who died from ALS. I watched Parkinsons take my father-inlaw slowly over 7 years! Imagine coming down with Parkinsons 6 months after retirement! So.. there's a lot worse. Plus I'm still active living a normal healthy life!"

Does it affect your job
"Nope. I'm an engineer so I need my brain functioning. I'd say I'm still sharp!"

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
"Dumb question! Sure I'd like to be 100% disease free, but sooner or later something is going to bite each and every one of us on this planet. I worry about keeping my numbers in check because I want to live with this disease without any further complications. It's not easy, But the goal is to go the longest I can without any further complications."

[cherokee_psh]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic

Just like everything else is life, you play the hand you are dealt.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic

No

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment

No

How long have you been a diabetic for

3 years (part were pre-diabetes)

Do you recieve any finacial assistance

How does it affect your day-to-day life

minimal, once you get what you need to do down it becomes a routine and you fit everything else around your routine.

How does it affect the lives of people around you

to a degree-I don't buy sodas, use splenda instead of sugar, and changed the method of cooking and recipes. Noone is complaining!:)

Is your budget affected

Food, For some reason junk is cheaper, maybe because they sell more of it. Medically, I have taken the steps (after discussing them with my doctor when the suggestion a brand change) the insurance suggests to keep costs down (medco for most prescriptions). I still would not site this as a concern.

Should people feel sorry for you

NO

Does it affect your job

No

Would you choose not to be a diabetic

I missed that option on the genetic survey!!!:D Why would anyone choose to have any disease ever? I guess my vote is yes.

[princesslinda]

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Survey For Diabetics please reply but you dont have to fill out all spaces if you dont want to but it would be helpful:
How do you fell personally about being a diabetic: I hate every part of my disease.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic: no

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment: no

How long have you been a diabetic for: Diagnosed 8/31/06

Do you recieve any finacial assistance: I have insurance.

How does it affect your day-to-day life: I can no longer eat without thinking about what it is and how it will affect me. Checking my blood sugar is the first thing I do in the mornings, the last thing I do at night...it takes over a big part of my life.

How does it affect the lives of people around you: My husband is aware of what I can and cannot eat and tries to make sure there's nothing in the house that will tempt me...also whenever whe go for a family gathering, someone will tell me "I hope this is something you can eat."

Is your budget affected: I spend more out of pocket on healthier foods and medications than I did before diagnosis.

Should people feel sorry for you: ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Does it affect your job: Not in any way

Would you choose not to be a diabetic: ABSOLUTELY!

[bryan42]

Survey For Diabetics please reply but you dont have to fill out all spaces if you dont want to but it would be helpful:
How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
fine/scared, then fine again
Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
yes,my needle pokes at me everyday!
How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
noHow long have you been a diabetic for
2 months, ok im done with it now :( Do you recieve any finacial assistance
no,but Ill take ANY offers!! :)
How does it affect your day-to-day life
Other than being OBSESSED with the disease...
How does it affect the lives of people around you
My wife is very supportive and has joined eating better with meIs your budget affected
yes,that went out the window with the sugar cookies!
Should people feel sorry for you
only if they want toDoes it affect your job
noWould you choose not to be a diabetic As dumb as this may sound..maybe not, only because I am forced to eat good and live good,I would not have otherwise,I would have just kept eating crappy. I have suffered much pain in my life,so this isnt that bad,other than the "cant eat anything that looks good" syndrome. :T

[catgalla]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic:
Now I feel normal. I don't let myself dwell over this because life is too short as it is.

Have you suffered any verbsl insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
No I haven't gotten any insults or abuse

How you suffered any physical abuse or harrassment
N/A

How long have you been a diabetic for
16 years
Do you recieve any finacial assistance
No
How does it affect your day-to-day life
Just constantly checking my bg's and giving myself insulin and try to watch what I eat
How does it affect the lives of people around you
The only affect other people around me have is when I'm low and moody. Watch out!!!! Other than that I don't get anyone else really involved with it.

Is your budget affected
No really. I have good health insurance

Should people feel sorry for you
Absolutely not!!! When people ask me about it I make it sound like it's no big deal. Like having a cold. I don't want anyone feeling bad for me.

Does it affect your job
No and hopefully it won't.

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
ABSOLUTELY!!!

[msdebagain]

I know you had Breast Cancer, but some Cancers are Not easy to beat (depending on a multitude of factors, such as stage, type, etc.), and some cannot be put into remission. Currently, I have two friends that have been battling Breast Cancer for several years, and neither are in remission (both are currently undergoing a new chemo treatment). Even if you do "beat" Cancer, you're forever watching over your shoulder to ensure it doesn't return...Also, Diabetes doesn't have the urgency Cancer does. If people screw around and don't treat their Diabetes properly, they get more leeway (sometimes years of leeway) before any complications arise. With Cancer, if improperly treated or left untreated, it can result in spread of the disease to other organs, and can become deadly. Also, the treatment methods for Cancer are far more harsh than those for Diabetes.

While I haven't personally had Cancer, I've lost many friends to different types, and do not share your feelings with regards to having it rather than Diabetes. I'm not trying to argue with you, am just sharing my feelings as to why I feel the way I do.


no i understand. BUT for me? cancer was easier to beat, than this battle i've had with diabetes. i just nearly died from DKA last month, and am not used to daily monitoring of my disease. with Cancer, i just went for treatment, took my medication (which i still do 5 yrs later) and went to the doctor. dont get me wrong, my cancer was stage 3, i had 3 tumors all 5cm, i did chemo, rads, and never missed a day of work the entire time. i'm a 5 yr survivor and trust me i dont make light of it. i watched both my parents die of it (my dad had 3 remissions)both grand parents, and many friends. while you may not share my feelings, i do understand, but for ME it WAS easier. and as far as people 'screwing around and getting more leeway' as far as their diabetes, i screwed around with my diabetes and didnt appreciate how lethal it could be. so i understand on all levels. you have the right to disagree with me, but please dont think that i dont know from where i speak. i do.

[Tricia452008]

How do you fell personally about being a diabetic
I have had my fair share of ups and downs but i would not change a thing about it! I refuse to hate something i have no control over

Have you suffered any verbal insults or abuse because you are a diabetic
Yes i have....i have had people see me test in a resturant and they came over and started verbally cursing me and my mom out for "doing that nasty stuff in public"-I was 12...but you learn faster that many people are idiots!

Have you suffered any physical abuse or harassment
No

How long have you been a diabetic for
18 years.......OMg i just said that outloud and freaked out!

Do you receive any financial assistance
No

How does it affect your day-to-day life
I always have to remember to take the time to stop and test...thank goodness for big purses so i can take things to go and be on my merry way

How does it affect the lives of people around you
its hard to see my mom and dad upset when im crashing or i dont wake up cause my sugar is 30....but we know that every day is a struggle

Is your budget affected
yes but not greatly.....i can still afford things i just have to set my medicine money aside

Should people feel sorry for you
goodness no! i have walked away from every bad reaction and i am grateful for that..If anything i feel sorry for the people who have to go through that with me..(my parents and patrick)

Does it affect your job
Barely (i've only called out of work once for diabetes related problems)

Would you choose not to be a diabetic
Yes and no.....I would love to not have to deal with shots and testing ever again, but at the same time it would be hard to lead a "normal" life without testing. I have been doing it for 18+ years!!