Comments on: Thanks for the invite!

By: Sandy Annamae

Sandy Annamae — Tue, 09 Dec 2003 04:31:54 +0000

Good morning, Cheryl. Am glad you are enjoying
spring. fellowship, so has just finished her residency and is
knowledgeable about current trends in the treatment of diabetes
told me there is definitely a stigma against diabetes.
I have found that friends are afraid to acknowledge
this disease and do act rather strange around me. I am
not ashamed of it, but it does cause some anxiety in
me. Of course it’s easier for me since I’m just on
medication rather than injections. friends in this group who sympathize and understand the
problems associated with diabetes. there together!

By: Jules Xiomara

Jules Xiomara — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 19:04:58 +0000

Jenny: Good for you. You have a healthy perception of the disease. However,
I’m not sure I could ever relish being part of that particular “select” group –
:D.

By: Jules Xiomara

Jules Xiomara — Mon, 24 Nov 2003 15:53:56 +0000

John: started doing is just telling whomever I am going to meet
right from the get-go that I am a diabetic. If they
then sort of “drift away” (which has been happening
quite frequently by the way), then I realize they were
not the right person for me anyway. I also have met
some very nice gentlemen this past week who have been
very fascinated with the disease as they have family
members or other friends who have it and they want to
learn more about it. say, is just put it out there and let your new
girlfriend do what she has to do with the knowledge. If she
truly loves your dearly, this won’t deter her from
continuing your relationship. well now. My goodness, the highest sugar level that I

have reached has been 500 — can’t imagine 950! I’m
very glad your previous girlfriend was there for you
when that happened.

By: Jules Xiomara

Jules Xiomara — Sun, 23 Nov 2003 14:18:24 +0000

Amanda: between your age and mine. You became diabetic in a more
informed world and you are young and able to adapt much
sooner. ashamed of it only because when someone discovers that I
have the disease, their feelings towards me change
(sometimes drastically). I have just entered the dating
world again after 11 1/2 years. When men I meet on the
internet see diabetes as one of my interests on my
profile, they freak. They are afraid that I will go into a
coma or something on them. Even people I have known
for a while, but hadn’t told them about the diabetes,
when they find out, they seem to walk on eggshells
around me — afraid to eat around me because I may be
tempted to eat what they are having, always asking if I’m

feeling alright or why am I yawning — is it a reaction?
And I have never heard anyone tell me “it’s cool that
you can give yourself shots.” All I’ve ever heard is,
“Ohmigod, how can you do that?” or “You look like you’re
shooting up heroin.” on your illness and I commend you for posting. I
have a very good outlook also; if you go back and read
the rest of my posts you will realize that. I SMILE
to the point it makes some people nauseous –
LOL.

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Sun, 26 Oct 2003 11:01:00 +0000

OK…On being ‘ashamed’ of having diabetes…. I
have odd views of how our earth was created and how it
got populated. With any Genetic ‘blending’ there will
be some problems. Getting diabetes type one and some
forms of type two, are NOT ANYONE’S “Fault”!! You
didn’t ‘get it’ from cookies and milk, nor did you get
it from a kid at school. I believe -for real- that
it is a DNA “crapshoot”. This insidious condition
has been noted in ancient Egyptian Papyrus scrolls
and it was given its’ name in Ancient greek:
“Diavitikos” about 3,000 years ago. hereditary, but the genetics are such that no one can predict
just WHO will get it. Studies are happening now with
more advanced genetic studies and our improved
knowlege of the DNA.
ventured out across land and sea, settling and mixing with
other ‘tribes’ diabetes is also ’spread out’over the
earth. many forms of Type two diabetes, type one is merely
the result of an immunity system issue. Back in the
Old Days, folks didn’t have the lifespan that we do
now, and I feel that some forms of type two diabetes
are purely age related. Many people didn’t live to
see 50, and consequently, they may have had the
PROPENSITY to develop type two ‘betes, but they died before
this actually happened. ashamed of having diabetes I feel a sense of mystery at
having a very ancient ‘dis-ease’, and the type twos
should be proud of living long enough that they have
this sign of age. away from who and what you are. I realize the ignorant
statements are from the ‘cowain’ (Unintiated….unaware) and
do not let their uninformed ‘information’ bug me.
Type ones make up 10% of the 10% of the entire
population who have diabetes of any form. If I’m
mathematically accurate, this means type ones are 1% of the
whole. I rather feel part of a ’select’ group of
humanity. Maybe that’s how I get around it, but it works
for me.

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Sat, 25 Oct 2003 09:25:29 +0000

Amanda you have made my day with your wonderful story. You must be an
inspiration to everyone you meet. Thanks again John

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Thu, 23 Oct 2003 06:14:27 +0000

Hi Cheryl, Thank you for your message about
dating and injecting. I was diagnosed in February 1999
with type 1 diabetes and rushed to the hospital with
over 950 Blood glucose…guess who took me to the
hospital when I did not want to and woke me out of my near
coma to get me dressed to go there? That’s right my
girl friend at the time. We dated another 2 years and
she was very patient and understanding with the
diabetes even teasing me when I had to excuse myself to go
to the men’s room to injject before a restauarant
meal. She even helped her two daughters appreciate what
I was going through when I could not adequately
explain about my diabetes. Her 12 year old daughter even
gave me injections in the arm as her mother explained
to her..” if you want to be a nurse you have to

learn to give injections”. girlfriend of 3 months does not know about my diabetes. I
have tried to think of the right time to tell her but
since she lives in Australia and our communication as
yet has not been face to face, it has been hard. I
know that she loves me dearly but sharing diabetes can
sometimes give rise to misconceptions and old tired horror
stories. Any suggestions you might want to give me would
be appreciated. Incidentally I think there is always
light at the end of the tunnel. I have lost 70 lbs and
seen my Insulin requirements shrink considerably in
addition to going off one of my 3 high blood pressure
medications(hoping one more soon!). I feel like a new man and have
so much energy. Best of luck to you in your new life
and also my fellow club members in room ! John

By: Neva Marjory

Neva Marjory — Wed, 22 Oct 2003 04:38:56 +0000

Why be embarrassed of being diabetic? I am 19
years old and have been a Type 1 diabetic for going on
8 years. I have been on the pump for 6 years and I
absolutely love it. All my friends were a little skeptical
at first because nobody in my 6th grade class had
ruined the idea of being sick all the time. Eveyone
thought they could catch it. Nobody else in my family had
it so it was a little hard on everyone. But as time
went by everyone got used to it and when I would take
shots, everyone would thinl it was so cool that I could
actually give myself an injection. When I started on the
pump it was a moment in time. I was the coolest 8th
grader at my school. You shouldn’t be embarrassed. All
this time I have had diabetes, I have played
basketball, ran track, played piano in jazz band, played

percussion in marching band, and was in almost every club at
school you could think of. Everyone knew I was diabetic,
even the fans that came to watch. I was one of the
best in everything I done and I had loads of friends.
I know have been graduated for 2 years and still am
as active as can be. I go to college and coach
basketball. I have loads of fun and I am not ashamed to tell
everyone about my diabetes because I am like a role madel
to many people. They think I a diabetic can do all
that and still be healthy why can’t I? I talk to a 5th
grade class every year about diabetes so they want
treat someone with diabetes like my friends treated me
before they found out they couldn’t catch it. If you are
ashamed, you will be stressed out more by trying to hide
it. It’s just a fact of life. God has gave us a
“hurdle” (even though it takes a heck of a set of legs to
jump) and we must take it like it is and live life to
it’s fullest. I think the problem with most diabetics
is their doctors. They want you to alow down
(apeaking from experience) and then diabetics don’t care so
we sit at home and let our diabetes live our lives
and not us. I live my life because I don’t want
diabetes to bee my life. It is just a part of my life that
I have to take care of everyday for the rest of my
life (until the cure is found). Don’t be ashamed. Be
glad that God thought you were strong enough to handle
it. Don’t prove him wrong. I know it is hard. I am
just now getting good control of my sugars. But the
on;y complication I have is I have to wear glasses and
my eyesight hasn’t changed in 7 years. Just another
thing. I have a magazine cutout I carry with me. I get
sick of checking my sugar and I swear up and down that
it is time to let my diabetes take over my life
until I read this quote. It says “I am stronger that
diabetes.” And it’s true. YOu are stronger unless you let
yourself not be. Just a little bit of my mind. I see so
many people ashamed and I can’t understand why. I know
with society it is hard to live with shots but with
the pump you just look like you have on a beeper. If
we are ashamed and don’t let people know that
diabetes is a hard disease but you can handle it, diabetes
is still going to be the 3rd leading cause of death.
Well everyone have a wonderful, beautiful Saturday. I
hope I did not upset anyone. That was not my
intention. Remember to SMILE! what you make it!

By: Jules Xiomara

Jules Xiomara — Mon, 20 Oct 2003 11:21:47 +0000

I think some of my embarrassment and guilt is
that my mother keeps telling me, “I told you not to
eat all those cookies and milk — that it would catch
up with you.” I have heard that a thousand times if
I’ve heard it once. no diabetic background. However, I know it is
hereditary — my daughter had it when she was pregnant
(gestational) and my son is hypoglycemic. However, my great
grandparents may have had it and not even known about it.
it?

By: Sandy Annamae

Sandy Annamae — Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:31:27 +0000

Cheryl, here I am again. My doctor verified just
exactly what you said, that many are ashamed of having
diabetes. I, too, keep wondering what I did to get this
disease, but, since my father had it, mine is probably
familial. So, we diabetics perhaps aren’t so lucky in our
genetic makeup. I guess the important thing is not to
deny that we have it, and to try to take charge of our
lives with diet, exercise and medication. I guess I’m
saying that we need to put these feelings of shame aside
and get on with taking care of ourselves. thankful for this group. We can share our feelings openly
and it seems there is always someone there to respond
and help.