How People React to My Diabetes – Part 2

I know you’ve all read the first part of my How People React to My Diabetes – Part 1. Here is Part 2 in the series. More reactions – good, bad, and neutral – to strangers and friends reacting to me taking care of my diabetes. Stay tuned for Part 3 (of 3) in this series.

What Are You Eating?

I’m sitting at an outside table, blurry eyed, staring off into nothing. I hear someone ask, “What are you eating?” I don’t move to look at them, just put another tablet into my mouth and then reply, “glucose tablets.”

The person who asked starts talking about diabetes and glucose tables, but I’m too out of it to hold a conversation. I think she realizes this and eventually stops trying to engage with me.

My blood sugar number had gone very low, after a long day of paddling a canoe down 18 miles of river. Read about another instance during this trip at my blog post: Don’t Hit the Giant Rock With Your Canoe.

I’m sure this person was just trying to start a friendly conversation, especially since she knew what glucose tablets were. It was just the wrong time for me. I could not focus or hold any sort of conversation.

You’re Doing Drugs, Nice

I was having lunch at a restaurant, and was seated outside by the sidewalk. While I was waiting for my food, I injected myself. I got out my insulin pen, screwed on the one time use needles, pressed my arm up against the railing, and injected the needle into my arm.

While I had the needle in my arm I look up. I see a man walking down the sidewalk towards me. This man slows down as he sees what I am doing. He looks at my arm, looks up at me, smirks, and nods his head.

I think he thought I was doing illegal drugs! I thought it was funny that he approved of what I was doing. And surprised because I’m pretty sure illegal drug users don’t have this sophisticated equipment.

Either way, it amused me that I wasn’t being judged, regardless of what he thought I was doing.

You Can’t Do That Here!

I was in high school, out with some friends. (I can’t remember if it was at a mall, restaurant, or somewhere else.) Because I was about to eat or because my blood sugar number was high I needed to inject myself. Like I always did (and still do) I would prick my finger and inject myself where ever I am.  

A lady walked by, stopped short before loudly proclaiming, “You can’t do that here!” And carried on about how it wasn’t safe and I was being inconsiderate.

Sadly, this is a reaction I have had more than once. I’ve since learned to just ignore these people. It isn’t worth getting worked up over and engaging. I’m happy to report that this kind of reaction has happened less and less over the years.

Put Your Phone Away!

During this time, I’m wearing a continuous glucose monitor that’s hooked up to my phone. When I want to see what my blood sugar number is I have to go into an app on my phone.

My friend and I were at the movies. With some water and popcorn sitting on the trays in front of us. We reclined in the comfy seats and are enjoying the movie. Everyone’s engaged, eyes and ears locked on the screen.

BEEP BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Everyone’s now looking at me. It’s dark so I can’t see everyone, but I’m guessing they’re looking at me with a judgement filled glare. I dig into my purse and pull out my phone, the bright light is like a beacon. I can see that my friend is glaring at me. My fingers run over the phone screen, and the beeping stops.

After the movie my friend tries to scold me for not silencing my phone. I tell her that my phone was on silent but if my blood sugar number goes too high or too low my phone will always alert me. A look of realization quickly crosses her face. She is no longer mad at me.

Where Have You Been?

It’s 2007, I’m a waitress at a family restaurant. It’s the end of the night and I still have a few tables to tend to. If I have a busy night running from table to table, it’s easy for my blood sugar number to drop.

And that’s just what happened. I stop and sit in the back drinking a non-diet soda. This usually does the trick. But for some reason, this was not enough. I’m still in the back while my coworker runs back and forth getting me more soda and something to eat. I asked another coworker to check on my tables for me, and they do.

I was in the back for maybe 25 minutes. When it was safe for me to start working again, I go back out to check on my tables. Every table except for one was polite, had enough food, and didn’t need any refills.

Although one table said that they were good, their facial expressions, tones, and body language told a different story. I stood there for a few seconds watching these masked glares, and judging eyes. Trying to appeal to their displeasure I started to explain why I had been away for so long.

Their scrunched faces turned into neutral expressions. Most of them seemed to understand why their waitress had disappeared for so long. Even though my coworker had checked on them while I was away, that wasn’t enough for this table.

My explanation was enough to calm them down. But I don’t think they were pleased with my absence. Sometimes no matter what you do you can’t make everyone happy.

Read my disclaimer here.