Interviews From Our Diabetic Life

J, age 12

Meri: What is the worst thing about having diabetes?

J: Having to give myself insulin after meals, and having to ask you for carb amounts.

Me: Then count the carbs yourself…

J: I can’t.

Meri: Then learn. You already count really good…you just need practice.

J: Whatever mom…

Meri: What is the best thing about diabetes?

J: Easy, eating when I’m low.

Meri: How is it dealing with diabetes at school?

J: I forget to check myself and I get mad at myself.

Meri: If your friend got diabetes, what would you say to him?

J: It’s OK; it’s really not that big of a deal.

B, age 8

Meri: What is the worst thing about diabetes?

B: Having to test my sugar when I’m in the middle of a video game.

Meri: What is the best thing about diabetes?

B: Getting to eat at random times in the day. Having a cool pump, it’s like a video game and my friends think it is cool.

Meri: How is dealing with diabetes at school?

B: I really don’t like being the last out to lunch sometimes, and the table is full, so I have to sit on the bench with the sun in my eyes.

Meri: Honey, you should check yourself earlier than the lunch bell, you can check anytime in class.

B: I know, but I forget.

Meri: What would you tell a friend who just got diabetes?

B: Don’t.

Meri: Well if they get it, they have no choice…what would you say to them?

B: I would help them check their sugars…I really don’t know…I would tell them to get an alert dog because they are so cute and fun!

L, age 6

Meri: What do you think about diabetes?

L: It is great!

Meri: Is there anything bad about diabetes?

L: No! I have a pump and it keeps me safe. My insulin makes me run fast and super zoom.

Meri: What else is good about diabetes?

L: I like being healthy. I like putting the carb number in my pump. My pump has zebra stripes on it.

Meri: What is diabetes like at school?

L: I like it when you come to see me to check my sugars, even J.

Meri: If your friend got diabetes what would you say to him?

L: I love you.

M, age 14 (The non diabetic brother)

Meri: What do you think of diabetes?

M: I don’t like it of course…it’s a disease. It isn’t something you hate or anything…it’s like a thorn in your side. Just something that is always there.

Meri: Do you think you brothers get more attention than you, because of their diabetes?

M: Of course not!

Meri: What about when you were younger, did you sometimes feel J got more attention than you?

M: Maybe in the beginning, but not really, no.

Meri: How does diabetes affect YOU?

M: I don’t get to eat all the sugar I want…but that would probably be the case even if there wasn’t diabetes in the family.

Meri: Do you feel sorry for your brothers?

M: It’s scary how sickness can make things go crazy. I worry about them sometimes. Especially when I was younger and J was in the hospital sometimes. But generally, it’s not much of a worry. Now that they are on pumps it doesn’t seem to be a really big deal. I hate it when they have to get shots, or their pumps put in, but they are used to it now. L didn’t even flinch at his flu shot! I thought “WOW! He is awesome!”

Meri: Do you think you are strong enough to have diabetes?

M: No, I don’t think so.

Meri: What makes you think you brothers are stronger than you?

M: I don’t like the idea of feeling high or low, and feeling sick, OR getting shots all the time. If I had gotten it when I was young I would have been terrified. My brothers are awesome. I don’t know how they do it.

(A little perspective for me. I'm really glad I got the boys watches with alarms on them for school. It is definitely the little inconveniences that bother my boys the most.)