We’ve all had our encounters with D-Police. And we’ll continue to have them. My experience is that the worst kind is when they know someone with diabetes. And not just know of someone, but know this person very well, and assume that the rest of the people with diabetes should take care of themselves the same way.
This weekend at the walk, many of the camp people went out to lunch after. Put ~20 people together who haven’t all been together in years, who are used to singing and being loud on purpose, and we can get pretty loud. Luckily, we got our own room. So as we were all sitting there enjoying our lunch, and all of a sudden we hear “you all HAVE to get a Dexcom.” All of us with diabetes just kind of stopped and tried to keep going with the conversation. Except we all knew that it wouldn’t be that easy. So I tried what I thought would be the easiest way to divert her with “if I could, I would.” But there was a response how there are ALWAYS loopholes as well. It also doesn’t help that the person she knows with diabetes is on MDI, and seems to have better control than a person without diabetes. What it all comes down to though, is that she doesn’t understand we are all different. I’ve known for 5 years now that this person is like this, but why do I still let it get to me? I might be upset that I can’t get a CGM, but I don’t need someone who doesn’t need it telling me exactly why I need it, and how I’m wrong. This disease is personal, and all you had to say was “my friend loves her Dexcom, have you considered getting one?” It totally changes the tone of the conversation and you’re no longer qualified as diabetes police.
