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Fed up explaining

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G

Glenn

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi to all

I dont know about antone else, but i get fed up explaining about diabetes.

I went to mum in laws for lunch today, a late christmas meal if you know what i mean. Trouble is i spent most of the day talking about hypos and bg levels, i know that people are only asking because they care, but do you know what, i'm fed up with it !!!!! is there no escape ??? Ok thats me done moaning, what kind of day have you all had ?? i have no doubts that many of you have experianced this pain happy new year and good luck to you all.
 
It can get a bit wearing at times! It's worth doing it though, especially with nearest and dearest, so that they have some inkling of what it's all about and hopefully they won't pester you too much in future. Agree that you don't want to take all day explaining it though - you have to think about it enough as it is! 🙄 Maybe work out a short speech about the basics. I find most people's eyes start to glaze over after a while, mind you I can go on a bit!
 
I agree Glenn, but we can get our own back sometimes - a friend came round the other day and was telling me about her low carb diet, she began talking about values and just sat there open mouthed when I knew more than her!! Ooh I loved it!!
 
Before I went to visit my parents with Bede, I emailed them a heap of information so they could be clued up and involved when we got there. Same goes for sports clubs, new teachers etc. I always have something on hand to show people - it's a good way to work out if they are genuinely interested or just being polite :D
Funny, but most people assume all diabetes is T2 and requires a complete change in diet.
 
I could talk about it all day long after all its in my head 24/7 no matter how hard i try for it not to be, at least my family ask me things and take an interest.
 
I find "corridor" conversations at work the worst......You walk past someone in the corridor or bump into them at the coffee machine and the standard comment is How are you????? to which you reply.... Well I've just had a hypo / the BS is all over the place / I've just got back from the podiatrist.................Even better its my birthday - have a cream cake / pint of beer....
 
I agree with steffie. If they want to know,I'll tell them as much as I can, every time.

It's something you'll need to get used to Glen. There are situations when it's vital for others to know the right and wrong way of doing things, and you're the best person to explain.

Rob
 
I don't min question being asked or explaining how it all works, and I love it when you get techincal, there eyes glaze but they got to listen after all they started it...

What makes my mind boggle though, is the comment 'oh I could never inject myself'......

Errr... Do or Die is very persusive argument indeed... I don't chose to inject (or now use an insulin pump)

But there is one thing that really, really, really gets my back up...

Anybody who thinks that they know my diabetes better than I do and have the right not only to attempt to control what I do or don't eat, and what medication I should or shouldn't be using etc etc..
 
I found the only way to get through to my family is to throw the fizzy drinks down the sink. When my mother said it was a waste I said well don't keep giving me things full of sugar anyone would think you're trying to kill me with this poison. She soon started giving me sugar free drinks, even if it was only water.
 
The thing that drives me mad the most is when you spend time explaining how it all works and how food and diet is so important - and then you are told - go on one biscuit won't hurt you, or what would happen if you ate that biscuit - I am tempted to answer my eyes would roll back, my head would spin round and fall off and the rest of me would turn bright blue - but please don't call an ambulance - its all normal!!!
 
Hi All

Thanks for all your comments you have obviously all experianced this annoying situation yourselves, i think i'm going to record a short but factual speech on diabetes on a tape or cd then play it back whenever i'm asked about it !!. Although in fairness i am suprised at how many people know so little about diabetes, even i knew the bear basics about it before i was diagnosed.

Oh that will be my Auntie on the phone excuse me a moment whilst i go and explain it all again!!!
 
If you think its annoying with adults, try a child my 9 year old asks me things about it all the time but he sometimes does not understand my replies, hence why he asks again.I never get fed up though like someone said 1 day you might go hypo/er and are with one of your relatives and you may need there help then you will be greatful you had to go through all the explanations
 
There's this woman at work and on our tea break if I dare to eat a biscuit (obviously I take insulin for it!) she stares at me and says something like: "How are you allowed to eat that?! Don't Diabetics have to be careful about what they eat?!" like its a cardinal sin and I'm doing something very stupid!

Its a deep breath in and an explanation... I suppose she's only curious at the end of the day! 🙄
 
Lauren said:
There's this woman at work and on our tea break if I dare to eat a biscuit (obviously I take insulin for it!) she stares at me and says something like: "How are you allowed to eat that?! Don't Diabetics have to be careful about what they eat?!" like its a cardinal sin and I'm doing something very stupid!

Its a deep breath in and an explanation... I suppose she's only curious at the end of the day! 🙄
Click to expand...

I get that from my mother (I'm in my 50's!) every time I eat something she thinks I shouldn't, which is just about everything :D I guess she just cares 🙂
 
I have to say on a brighter note but on the same lines - things are taking a bit of a turn in my house with me getting involved in cooking fresh healthy food a lot more with the new lc diet!
I am now hearing a lot more - please can we have some of that - rather than are you allowed it!

I find that within two weeks, I have gone from cooking a meal for my son and hubby and a separate meal for me - to just one meal, sometimes with a bit of carb added!

I also have found that hubby has become so interested in blood sugars and insulin now - although supportive before, I don;t think he truly understood.

I think the point I am trying to make is I feel more normal now eating with the family.
 
TBH, I've gone passed the stage of going into the details.

I put it simply as:

"I eat to raise my blood sugar and inject to lower it. Sometimes I do too much/too little of either and this results in an inbalance.

I don't have low sugar or high sugar diabetes; it's all about balance.

I'm as capable as the next person, but at times when the balance is out out hand, I require help.

Also: Please stop pestering about my eating habits, for if you had to inject more than 4 times daily......I'm sure you would feel the same.

One more thing, what's for desert?"
 
I feel left out lol I haven't been asked about it and as my parents are diabetic (mum T1 dad T2) they assume I know it all and the kids aren't interested, how sad.
 
My husbands Dad was diagnosed with T2 shortly after my own dx.
Each time I see them they just don't understand my refusing choccie biccies, too many tatas, very little sauce or pickles, double cream, etc. etc. Their gp and nurse say that their diets are good and they don't need to change anything 😱 I feel as if I am banging my head against a brick wall if I try to explain why they should watch what they eat, ah well . . . . . . . . . . . so what chance for any of us? 🙄
 
I found that if people offer me things I don't want I don't mention D, just simply I am not hungry or thirsty at the moment.

I do get asked what is diabetes and I found this simple statement (I have a version of it on a card in my wallet) useful.

I have a shortage or a decreased ability to use the hormone insulin that allows glucose to enter cells in my body and be converted to energy.
 
It can get grating!

I found it annoying this weekend when I told someone I was diabetic when they asked what my pump was and they said "oh I'm a first aider, are you the hypo or hyper type?" Sigh, depressing!
 
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