It’s a picnic. I’m wearing a maxi dress with pockets and my infusion set is on my arm, the tubing snaking discreetly into the body of the dress, disappearing.
“Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too!”
I don’t know everyone but that’s okay; kids are running everywhere, it’s a beautiful day, sunshine like whoa.
“Do you mind if I ask … what is that plastic thing on your arm?”
“No, you can ask. I wear an insulin pump. That’s the spot where the pump connects to my body. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was seven.”
Slow nod.
Someone runs through the kitchen to grab a hot dog.
“Oh! I thought it was a port, like the port for a blow up doll or something.”
A long pause. A very long pause.
“I’ve had diabetes for like 30 something years. And I can confidently say that I’ve never had anyone ask me … ask me that.”
A first.
HAH. Diabetic by day….secret blow-up doll by night?
I’ve always thought your hair looked a little TOO perfect — LOL — this explains why.
Wow! That is quite a first!! : )
Hi Ginger, it is so nice to see you here! 🙂
Kerri, I am not going to make a reply to this blog. I like your sense of humor!
HAHAHAHAHA
I’ve been wearing my Libre at school (I’m a high school teacher) and have gotten many, many questions…
I don’t know what I would have said after that very long pause. Either remain speechless or follow up with a slap or a punch!
Too FUNNY!!!!! That comment would have left me speechless!! And if you know me, I’m not often speechless!!!
Kerri- That’ a new one!
I wear my Dexcom on my arm. I usually only get questions from people who already know or think they know what it is. Another member of the club that no one wants to belong to, or a desperate supporter of a club member…
“I wish my husband/son/daughter/brother would get one of those…” :/
I did have someone tell me they hoped I was OK, and they would pray for me (I was at a mass)- then I realized they thought it was one of the pods you wear after chemo to keep white counts up.
I am hoping some day to be able to say this:
It’s my home detention device.
But I figured out how to disable it…:)
That sheds new light on how we are perceived 🙂
LOL WTH?
My name is Joshua Snow. I am contacting on behalf of myself and the group of PA students I am working with to conduct research on the development of type 1 diabetes. We have selected your blog group due to the high followership and high likelihood of having a high number of mothers of children. Our research is a simple survey that takes less than 5 minutes to complete. We would not collect any personal identifying information from your followers. We need an administrator’s consent in order to obtain approval from our institutional review board. We would not be submitting anything until we have your permission and our institutional review board’s approval. If you have any further questions, feel free to message me or email me at jsnow@nyit.edu
If you agree to share our survey the explanation and link is below.
Thank you for your time.
Research study! Please help us learn how perinatal factors can help prevent diseases such as Diabetes in your child over their lifetime. Thank you!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YTSRC3T
I did have someone tell me they thought getting a pump required surgery for a port…but they didn’t say they thought it was like a blowup doll. At least out loud. Not sure how I would have handled that one, but I think your strategy was best.
Cyborg port. Heard of Westworld? Yeah they are doing miracles these days
Brilliant! Just brilliant! Cracked up in my lunch break, thanks Kerri.
That’s a good one. My daughter wears an Omnipod. On her thigh. We were snorkeling in Hawaii recently and someone asked if it was a fish food feeder!
HAHAHAHA that’s pretty awesome