I was informed last Sunday just how cool diabetes is. Cara attended a friends birthday party and the second we walked in she wanted to dive right into the birthday snacks that were on the table, which was fine with me!
As I began to pull her meter out the circle of friends began to grow around us. What started out with 2 kids standing with Cara and I was now 5-6 and growing. The kids getting closer and closer trying to get a look at what was going to happen next. As I poked her finger we were in the middle of a pretty large circle of friends from Cara's class. I found myself in a bit of a panic, second guessing my decision to test out in the open like that. As Cara gets older and starts to care what people think about her and diabetes I need to be more aware of the best places for diabetes to shine. I would hate for a few kids to make rude or insensitive comments about testing...I mean they are only kids and kids are not to fond of needles and blood. All it would take is one little girl letting out a great big "YUCK...that is soooo gross!" to make Cara feel self conscience and thus begins the ever growing feeling of wanting to hide type 1 from her peers and public.
As I placed the bubble of blood onto the strip I began to look at the kids around us...completely mesmerized with what we were doing.
Wide eyed and so interested to see.
As I pulled out Cara's pump the circle began to shuffle around us, heads bobbing in and out trying to get around the heads in front of them as they tried to find the best view. I looked up at Cara who was sporting a HUGE smile on her face, thoroughly enjoying all the positive attention that diabetes was giving her.
Most (probably all) of these kids have seen Cara testing at school when she feels low however they really don't get a good look at us bolusing her. As I pressed the last ACT button to press on Cara's pink pump a little girl yelled out "OH MY GOSH, DIABETES IS SOOOO COOL" I looked at Cara and said "did you hear that? diabetes is cool!". The circle of kids that surrounded us now nodding, in a large cult like motion, agreeing with the above statement and with another glowing smile Cara also nodded, following her cult and replied "YEP, I herd that...hehehe"!!
1 comment:
Too funny...the kids with Natalie are always the same way. I always wonder when she is going to get tired of them gawking. I hold my breath afraid one of them will say "eww gross" or something worse. Funny, it's the parents that usually say something I don't like. One Mom continually cringes and says, "Ohhhhh, poor girl. How often do you have to do that??" I want people to get the severity of diabetes but don't act like it is so awful in front of her!!
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