How do you tell someone you're diabetic?

[Goldrun]

Okay, most everyone in my family and who I work with and am friends with when I was diagnosed 2 years knows...cause it was a learning curve for me, and I dragged everyone along with me! :T

But now, I'm sort of settled into a routine, so diabetes is not like every third word I utter.

I have recently started working out with a group of new people who don't know I'm diabetic....so, that leads me to ask...how do you tell people that you're diabetic? Just a casual 'oh by the way' or do you just wait until they notice your med-alert bracelet or checking bg or doing an MDI (or adjusting your pump)?

[Who?]

Why bring it up?

[Goldrun]

I typically don't with new acquaintances...but given the fact that I'm exercising with these folks, I wonder if it's a good idea (in the event of a hypo episode, which is not that uncommon when exercising). That way, it won't come out of left field if I wind up having a problem in the middle of a mountain bike ride.

As it stands, I'm leaning towards not, but I just wondered what others experiences have been.

[Maddogg]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, it will come naturally, you'll know when you should mention something about it. Like if one of your friends offers you a regular soft drink or anything that shouldn't be in your diet, you can then explain to them that you're diabetic...

Medic alert bracelets are a pretty good give away, but some people are really good at hiding there medical conditions and sometimes you only really find out that someone is diabetic when they have a meal and do what all diabetics should be doing (test blood, take insulin, all that other good stuff).

I don't know anybody who's afraid or freaked out by diabetics, you shouldn't feel like you have to hide this from your friends or posse...

[notme]

Honestly, I never think about it. If it comes up somehow, I mention it. If it doesn't, I don't make a point of it.

Just let it happen GR and don't worry about things. If you are concerned that someone should know because of low blood sugar help, then by all means just blurt it out.

Good Luck!

[jeggeman31]

I don't bring it up, until I test in front of someone, or when I was on MDI I would give myself a shot in front of someone. Most people now ask about my pump and that is how I tell them.

[Shawny]

I tell anyone who I spend the better part of my day with. Even anyone at the gym (mostly just the personal trainers, and not your average joe). It gives you a feeling of security. I feel that if you are going to spend a lot of time with someone, or some group of people, they should know, you are doing yourself a favor and them. If you tell them, they won't be nearly as freaked out if you didn't, and if you were at a party with them, they won't think you are just plain and simply drunk, they will actually find out what is wrong with you.

I am not ashamed of diabetes, I don't try to hide it. In some way it helps finding out who your real friends are too. If that friend freeks out and doesn't want to know you, then you know that they aren't worth your time and effort. But almost everyone is very understanding, I have never met someone who doesn't want to know me when they know I have diabetes. So telling them is not going to hurt you, or them, it just makes you that much safer.

Then again, I don't go around shouting it from rooftops either ;)

[mg_2204]

Everytime I've told someone I have diabetes I regretted it afterwards. Now I use the 'need to know' basis.

[jeggeman31]

Everytime I've told someone I have diabetes I

regretted it afterwards. Now I use the 'need to know' basis.


Why is that, if you don't mind me asking.

[Cyborg]

How do you tell someone you're diabetic?

"I'm diabetic" :D

[jerryn]

easy... I can't eat that, my endocrin system is challenged.

they I usually hear "What??????"

They I say I'm insulin resistant. I've got type 2 diabetes

[Goldrun]

How do you tell someone you're diabetic?

"I'm diabetic" :D

too funny! I was thinking along those same lines myself!
I guess the deal is, I don't want people feeling sorry for me (cause I don't), but I also don't want to be in a position where I might be in trouble, and then have to 'spring it on them'. I'm in pretty tight control....so I'm leaning towards the inevitability that they'll notice me checking sugars or injecting one day (though I admit, I'm pretty **** slick at that!)

[Scratch]

I think it's a good idea if you're going to be exercising in a group setting, that you tell them you're a type 1 diabetic. Like you, I don't like the feeling that they might feel sorry for me, but thus far my most common experience when telling others when out golfing or otherwise is that they don't feel sorry for me, but they tend to be impressed by my determination.

Of course, I don't know if that's so great either, I have to do some extra stuff to have the fun, but I don't know if it's truly indicative of determination.

I guess the big thing that should be stressed it's simply a matter of safety for you to have the people around you in possession of good information about who you are and what might need to be done if you have a particularly bad hypo.

[owlyn]

Although it is part of who I am, I don't consider it who I am. If it comes up in the conversation somehow, I don't hide it, as I am not ashamed of it, but I usually don't tell anyone proactively, as it is basically none of anyone's business. However, in a situation such as yours, I would tell your co-exercisers just in case you keel over from hypoglycemia. You will liley find most of them saying, "Oh, really, my (fill in the blank) is diabetic," inevitably followed by the stupid questions such as, "Do you have to take shots, or do you take insulin pills?" or any number of other equally uninformed questions.

[shabbie6247]

i guess people just notice you doing the D thing when you are out socially or exercising.
i went out for lunch the other day with a friend that i havent seen for ages. as the meal was coming i checked my BG's and overheard someone on the table behind me say "oh look shes diabetic", and i just felt them watch me take a shot. its the first time for me in a really public place, but hey, you just gotta get on with it.

re: when to tell people? well its not a big issue now, like goldrun everyone got dragged into it when i got diagnosed. i wear my medical bracelet now so if i get into trouble i know someone will be able to help. i dont tell everyone.

[nneighbour]

Just get a friend like I have who will tell everyone. Last night I was out with a friend, my meter case is on the table, I get up to go to the bathroom, come back, there's some drunk accountant sitting in my chair playing with my kit trying to figure out how to test his blood with my lancet because my friend told him I was diabetic and he wanted to find out if he was too. Grrrr...

[shockme]

ya shoulda told him it only works withtesticular blood...:D trish

[Cyborg]

.


Ouch!

[Goldrun]

hmmm...where to find a friend like that?

:D

[Funnygrl]

I let them ask what my pump is, or test in front of them, or mention it if it fits with the conversation.

[mg_2204]

Why is that, if you don't mind me asking.

I don't mind at all! :)

Bad experiences. All the time. I got treated differently. Especially true with work colleagues. Twice I had to put my foot down and say whoa! Because I was treated like someone inferior, weak, someone sick. I'm sorry but I was one of the oldest and didn't need to sit my bacon 3 times before break time. Nor did I go off sick once in the time I worked at that place (almost 2 years). And I'm very sorry but being diabetic doesn't wipe away the training, expertise, and dedication I have for the job I love.

Relatives and friends well... they are surprised. Sometimes they'll argue 'But you don't look sick!', 'Are you sure?', and my personal fav : 'It's all in your head!' ...

It's one thing for them to see me take my pills but testing... it makes them uncomfortable. Sometimes I have the impression I am doing something dirty. Really!

I hate diabetes. I wish I didn't have it. But I do. But I find I cope well with the disease. It's stuff like this that really gets to me.

That's my experience.

[gogirlnyc]

Yes and I have had similar experiences with work colleagues and it just really annoys me how everyone around is offering sweet food and say to me "Oh sorry but we can't offer you any" and I ask "why not" and they say "because you are diabetic" - I say to them please give me the same opportunity as others to choose yes or no to what foods I will or will not eat. I have also overheard them say "we can have extra because she cant have any" This is part of the reason why I carefully choose who I tell about my type 1.

[trailrunner]

It's not like I introduce my self" Hi, I'm claire, and I am a diabetic." If it comes up, it comes up.I am sure I'm not the first one they have ever met.

[Kate H]

i don't tell people........... need to know basis............ that means if i have a meal with someone, they are most likely going to notice that i have taken a shot (this isn't always true.... i went out with a large party once, and took my shot without a single person noticing... one girl who knew i was diabetic, asked me if i was going to take my insulin.. and i told her i had)

at work, i don't have a physical job, so only my boss knows that i have diabetes, and those of my co-workers that i eat with in restaurants..... when i eat at work, i usually shoot in my office, out of sight of everyone else

[SugarLESSlie]

I have to say this, and I hope I don't offend anyone -- but WHAT YEAR is this!! It sounds like the people you are working with are all stuck in 1955 + just plain rude on top of that.

They not only don't know what diabetes is, but they sound flat-out stupid!

[gettingby]

Goldrun, I'm with the others here. I don't bring forth the information but if asked, I will tell them.
One good thing to do is to make sure at least someone at the gym knows of your diabetes. That way, if something should happen, then you have the comfort of knowing that emergency help will be called instead of everyone standing around scratching their heads while you slip lower.:hmmmm:

[mg_2204]

I have to say this, and I hope I don't offend anyone -- but WHAT YEAR is this!! It sounds like the people you are working with are all stuck in 1955 + just plain rude on top of that.

They not only don't know what diabetes is, but they sound flat-out stupid!

I truly think people are afraid of what they don't know or don't understand thus saying stupid things and acting like idiots. I've met my fair share and I'm tired of it.

I've been striped of all my responsabilities when the manager learned about my diabetes. I was writing health care plans, reports, I was in charge of medication, in charge of shifts, and working like a horse... in other words, not your regular twit! I was quickly demoted and found myself under the supervision of a 21 y/o who had NO training whatsoever and hid all the time to talk on her stupid mobile phone. I had to fight to get respect and my responsabilities back...

So no more. Ever.

[cherokee_psh]

It is not how I identify myself anymore. Just like the asthma. I tell if I feel I need to explain an action. Then, I have asthma or diabetes. I do tell a food allergy frequently and avoid potlucks. Shellfish has too much iodine for me. I'm sorta attached to breathing so I do my best to avoid it. Once while eating out at Chinese restaurant, I ordered egg drop soup and started having breathing problems. UGGHH... They made it out of an oyster base!! Since then my husband cannot enjoy hot seafood if I am at the table with him. The smell makes me sick and I start to wheeze, quickly leaving him all alone at the table. Now he takes our oldest daughter with him when he wants seafood. The other 2 inherited my allergy.

[Just_Plain_John]

Generally a BG meter check starts the discussion. Sometimes if appropriate I'll say something like, "wait a minute, I have to test my blood sugar real quick, I'm a diabetic." People are reasonably interested usually, and if so I'll give them a little info. It's rare for anyone to notice my MDIs, even out at a restaurant.

I like to pretend I'm disappointed if needles don't freak them out, but actually I totally understand, and prefer to be discreet.