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If you had to pick one person, who is the person you turn to most for support with your diabetes?
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Sorry to say “no one”.. and thats been for a long time. I have some Non T1D issues lately and all the Medical people I se are amaized that I am 90 years old and 70 years T1D and NO T1D problems….. BTW if I drop off this site it is because they drained 32 oz of water from around my right lung last wednesday and are checking it out ????
Sweet Charlie — best of luck and rest up. Rest is very, very good for many things. Especially for us over-achievers. 🙂
You’re in my thoughts and prayers
Sorry to hear about the water issue around your lung. I am so glad that you have been a T1 diabetic for so long and have no T1D problems. Take care
Glad you were able to report in. Hoping you get good care for your serious health needs. I am amazed at your self care for T1D. You are an inspiration inspite facing so much alone.
Sweet Charlie, you are amazing! I am inspired by your spirit and longevity. Whenever I’m feeling sorry for myself, I’ll think of you!!
Wow, what determination! I guess I’ll have reset my goals for 70 years with T1d. You were there for the glass syringes and clinitest chemistry set, weren’t you?! Me too!
I chose ‘Other’ because I’m pretty much on my own as far as dibetes issues go.
Me too
Unable to answer. Please define “support”.
I worked with a nurse who specialized some with diabetes and children. She’s a R.N. She has given me a lot of suggestions and support as far as getting me to try the Dexcom and a new pump.
Otherwise I tend to ask the diabetic nurse with my Endocrinologist or the Tandem pump rep since she’s a T1D herself.
My service dog that detects my Hypoglycemia and goes NUTS until I eat and drink something. If I have a hypoglycemic seizure re she tends to me.
My brother is also a T1 so we commiserate and laugh about it. I also have three friends who are T1s. One time, my friend and I were at a party and someone’s pump alarmed and we both looked at our pumps at the same time and laughed about it.
My wife has been there for 46 years.
I chose a Trusted Friend in the Diabetes Community who happens to be my Endo! She and I Learn from each other thus my latest A1c is 5.4 and I’ve almost eliminated All Hypos. I’ve been doing this for 58 years so I have a lot of friends in the Dm Community and look to them also for ideas.
This is a tough answer and I must say, “it depends”. If I’ve got the “DM Burnout” and need emotional support, I turn to my wife. However if I need physiological support, change of Meds or tactics, I turn to a good friend w/in the DM community. My wife will support me but I don’t expect her to know what to do when my numbers are just “out of whack”. That’s my burden, not hers.
Although I answered trusted friend in diabetes community, my husband is the one who is by my side every day and it totally aware of the frustrations I deal with on a daily basis. However my trusty friend, who also has T1D, understands the details of those daily frustrations and what to do about them.
Obviously my husband who is most invested in my health goals. He is OBGYN and deals with TI at work. My sister who lived with us for years also would come and help me sort things out if I had a low at night when he was working. I have been fortunate to have people around.
I need to give shout out to my Endo. Yes my husband could take over writing my prescriptions, but I hope that would never have to happen!
So mostly, it is a three legged stool I rely on.
I chose my physician’s assistant who specializes in diabetes. Luckily I really don’t have to contact her often, but she is always ready to help with any problems and contacts other specialists in diabetes if she knows they have an inside scoop on such things as clinical trials. Family members and friends barely know the basics of type 1
Friends (Fiffles) within the children with diabetes Friends For Life community. Online, but in person a few times per year, as well!
I put someone else. My endo used to have a full time nurse dietician/educator who is also a T1 for even a few years longer than me. We became friends outside of the office during that time. She now only works there a couple of days a week when she is in town. So we communicate by phone/text outside of the office whenever I need to talk. She’s been a great friend to have. Other than that, my husband gets to listen to me complain, but he wouldn’t know how to help me other than that.
My wife for emotional support. I continue to educate myself on a regular basis- reading books, attending a support group, participating in webinars, online resources, and more.
It was my spouse until he passed. He was a great support! Now my daughter is there to be a wonderful support.
It’s not even close – it’s my wife
That would be my husband of 52 years. He never gives up, always there to keep me going. We’ve traveled all over the world, been mountain climbing and scuba diving, worked together through it all. He won’t let me give up.
Technically she is a part of the online community but I go to her usually, not often, but when I need advise or opinion. She is diabetes goals 💯 and she is solid.
It used to be my dad, who was a doctor but he has passed away, and my Endo, who retired, so now I don’t really have anyone to turn to for support and knowledge about diabetes.
I answered online community. They all walk the walk and the liklihood that someone has faced the same issue/question I have is high. My Endo is my Rx source, that’s about it. I wish they had a CDE on staff. I have found that the depth of knowledge is greater with CDE’s and usually they either have T1D themselves, or have a family member/child with T1D. That’s about as close to “walking the walk” without actually having T1D themselves.
PubMed for answers
For emotional support my spouse. For support of pump/CGM issues my CDE. The online community has also lent support. I realize my response doesn’t answer the question. T1D is all encompassing. It defies confinement to just one part of my life.
Very tough to say one individual! Guess I’m blessed and grateful my wife, my sis, my son are all providing support whenever needed. Always found most people are rooting for me to do well in this struggle with Type 1
I belong to a group of T1 women and that is where I get most of my support. Online websites are also helpful in seeing the commonality of our struggles and successes
I checked my child; I called her at 3:20 am this morning to come to my house and provide assistance with a very low glucose and a resulting fall.
Hope you’re ok. ♥️
My mom because she is so empathetic and as a retired person, has the time, plus she has a medical background. At 1 year into my diagnosis, I think it’s been too overwhelming and scary for my husband but he’s improving and learning every day. This morning after I had a severe low, he helped where he could and asked lots of really good questions but then had to leave for work.
Those overnight/early morning scary lows are the worst! If you don’t have one yet, a CGM might help provide some advanced warning. It has helped me. Best wishes!
Everyday support is my husband, but the single person I would pick for support and management of my diabetes is my endo.
My best friend
I chose support to mean understanding of how to manage my blood sugars, usually with my insulin sensitivity or new products. That person would be my provider. She understands my case is complicated and often helps the most.
(For support with life in general, it’s family and depends on my mood.)
As usual, we are a diverse group with different answers. I am fortunate to have a spouse who is supportive and he worries but probably couldn’t help me much with a pump problem. My Endo is my go to for my life-saving scripts. I worry about living to the point where a pump is just too much and if my spouse passes before me who I will turn to. I have no children and no one else in the family with diabetes. One day at a time I guess. I do worry about the strong people out there on their own and I hope this group lends them the support they need.
As a RN, CDCES I am fortunate to have several T1D female friends from my diabetes sisters community who are also licensed health care professionals as registered nurses (RN) and CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists) and we serve as part of each other’s support networks. I often consult with one of them before I consult with any other healthcare professionals – especially when it comes to issues related to treatment recommendations and the ups and downs of living with T1D.
I put spouse because he provides day-to-day support, like waking me up when my CGM alarms at night.
My mother, who also has T1D, is also someone I truly on for support. We cover each other with supplies when our orders are delayed.
Like the vast majority, I picked “spouse/partner” (spouse in my case) but it’s actually an ambiguous question. What KIND of support? We’ve been married since before I was dx’d back in 1983, and she’s been a huge support on the emotional side. But in practical terms I get vastly more support in managing the disease and the technology and the insulin from other diabetics in the DOC than I ever have from doctors and even specialists (though I like my Endo). My wife doesn’t fully understand all the ins and outs, even after all this time, because why should she? Like I have some idea what menopause is, but on a granular level, y’know, that’s her area not mine.
As of now, my late wife’s niece who lives in the same town. Prior to my wife’s death, it would have been my spouse, who prevented my premature death several times.
I answered my wife because I could have died multiple times at night from hypoglycemia before I started CGM if not for her interventions. I wake her up far less often now with T-slim with CIQ. She offers emotional support now as well, has not had to intervene for years, but still has my back… so I feel blessed. I am getting a tattoo this weekend with 2 symbols, to commemorate her and the efforts of others, as well as technology now- guardian or protector, and a guardian angel from a pocket angel I carry with me since my mother died 8 years ago.