What it’s Like Traveling With a Diabetic – Alyssa Interview Part 1

My friend Alyssa said, “I think the hardest thing is watching you be frustrated when you’re trying to get your blood sugar up or down and it’s just taking longer than you want it to. Because I can see that you want to get going and you can’t.”

It’s not easy to watch people you love be in distress. Especially when you know that there’s nothing anyone can do, all you can do is wait.

Setting Up the Interview

My two friends, both named Alyssa, and I were driving home from a trip to Utah. During this drive back I interviewed them about what it’s like traveling with a type 1 diabetic. The two-hour interview turned into a long overdue conversation. We all travel very well together and having this talk will only make our future travels better.

How Often Do You Think About Diabetes?

I wanted to know how often they think about my diabetes during a trip. Because, as you might be able to guess, I think about it all of the time.

It took some back and forth, but eventually the Alyssas realized, “Well, I guess I do think about your diabetes before, during, and after our trips together.”

Most of their time thinking about diabetes is during our trips, which makes sense. That’s when they’re with me and need to be ready in case something happens and I need help.

I’m thankful that they both already understand the importance of my diabetes. They don’t get mad at me if something happens. (No one should get mad at me, since it is the disease acting up, not me.) Sometimes my blood sugar number goes low and I have to wait until it goes up. When this happens, they’re both patient and happy to wait for however long I need.

Throw a Rock at Diabetes!

Sometimes they get mad at my diabetes with me. On this Utah trip, we got mad (and they also were supportive) enough to, as we all said, “throw a rock at diabetes!” This was the safest way to express our rage at my diabetes. And it helped. If anything, it just gave us something new to say (and do) when my diabetes was being rude.

It’s hard for my friends to watch me deal with the frustrations of diabetes. But it’s also hard for me too. As Alyssa accurately said, “I think when your blood sugar is being a shit and not doing the thing that you want it to, despite multiple snacks or injections or whatever… I think that’s probably real frustrating for you.”

And it is. I don’t like it when my diabetes prevents me from doing a hike, or it slows me down. A lot of time I will consider it my fault (and not my disease’s). I hate knowing that my disease (me) is affecting others and making others feel bad when it causes me distress.

Love and Support of My Friends

The Alyssas want to help for many reasons, but mostly because they care about me. They don’t want anything bad to happen to me. If I go too low, we all have to sit and watch me be annoyed with my disease.

If needed, they help remind me to check my number and inject myself. During hikes they’ll watch me (not in a creepy way) to see if my behavior changes due to low blood sugar. If my diabetes gets in the way, they’ll stop hikes early or turn around and not finish the rest of the hike.

Alyssa expressed how hard it is for her to handle herself in normal day to day life. Knowing that diabetes is a huge extra part of my life, she said, “If I can help you remember your diabetes, I’m more than happy to help.”

Diabetes Doesn’t have to be a Burden

I’m happy to say that even with all of the downsides about having diabetes, our travels have always been positive. Even though I asked them to answer in terms of diabetes, they both said that the best part of traveling with me is how awesome and full of laughter I am.  

I learned that they’re in full support of me and my confidence in taking care of myself. And they’re proud that I don’t let my diabetes hold me back. And no matter how much I see diabetes as a burden, they don’t.

Check out Alyssa Interview – Part 2 for more on this story.

If anyone has any questions about traveling with diabetes please talk to your doctor. Disclaimer