newly diagnosed

Type 1 Diabetes and Your Friends
by Allison Blass, 17

When I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) at 8 years old, I didn't know anything about it. Who ever heard of insulin? A pancreas? What's that? So explaining it to my friends when I returned to school was going to be a challenge. Lucky for me, my friends were supportive and never made me feel like I was different or weird because I poked myself with a needle. In fact, a couple of them thought it was cool. (Some still do!)

The first person I told was my best friend, Jenny. I called Jenny on the phone and gave her the news. Of course, she was concerned. She was worried about me and wanted to make sure I was going to be okay. That's what best friends are for.

Jenny says, "I figured I could be here for you. I was never like, 'Oh my god, I can't talk to her now, she has diabetes.' I think for most kids, no matter what, their friends should be concerned about them as opposed to 'Oh my god, she has diabetes! I can't ever talk to her again.'"

Another friend of mine, Rebecca, says, "I value people for who they are, not what they have." Remember, when introducing type 1 diabetes to your friends that they are friends because of you--the whole package. Type 1 diabetes is only one part of the unique person that you are. 

Education is very important in helping people understand what you're going through. To explain to my friends what type 1 diabetes was, my mother and I gave a presentation in front of my class. We brought in diagrams and my type 1 diabetes supplies. I demonstrated a blood sugar reading to show that it was no big deal. We told them what to do if I was shaky or weak. I believe the kids really liked knowing what was going on. Type 1 diabetes is a huge part of your life, but so are friends. Rebecca adds, "People need to be educated so that they don't have any misconceptions."

But there are a lot of "what ifs". What if they stare at my pump? What if they're grossed out by blood? What if they laugh that I can't eat popcorn at the movies because it's not snack time? What if& The list could go on forever.
 
Lucky for us, people can't tell by looking that you're a person with diabetes. But for some, pumps and even medical ID bracelets can attract some unwanted attention. How to deal? Ignoring is an option, but I prefer to explain to people what it is. Usually people are just curious.

I met Julia when we were 15 and I had only had my insulin pump for a couple months. Julia tells me, "I don't know if I even noticed it when I first met you, and I was mostly puzzled.  'Did she say that's her pump? What the heck is it?' Now I'm just used to it." I explained to her, and my other friends, what the pump was and how it helped me. A lot them were really supportive of it when they learned that it was going to help me in so many ways.

Blood, however, is another story. Not only do you get the stares, but you can also get the "Gross," "Ew," and "Are you on drugs?" comments. So what's a kid to do? First, understand where they're coming from.

Julia says, "It was kind of icky. I'm a bit squeamish at times about needles and blood but after a couple times it just wasn't a big deal anymore." People aren't used to seeing needles on a day-to-day basis, so it does take some adjustment. Julia adds, "I got used to it."

The other thing is, like the insulin pump, your friends will get used to it, and eventually they will not even notice. Another interesting thing is the positive reactions you get from taking your number in front of your friends. Crowds of kids actually stand over my desk as the meter is counting down. It's crazy, I know&

Food for any type 1 diabetic is a big adjustment. Friends may want to eat something, but if it's not on your meal plan, you can feel left out. Tell your friends about your meal plan, and they might be less likely to spring a milkshake splurge on you. For parties, let the host know ahead of time to stock up on diet sodas and chips. If you know ahead of time that you'll be going to a party (like on Halloween), talk to your type 1 diabetes doctor or educator. They'll be able to help keep your numbers down while enjoying the party.

Life with type 1 diabetes is crazy and complicated. Life with type 1 diabetes and with friends is even more crazy and complicated. Adjusting to a life with both can be awkward and scary. But like everything else, things will fall into place. After a while, you won't even notice.