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    • 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
      Laurie B likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      I guess it more an insurance restriction than a cost problem. But I don't want to be charged full price for a new pump.
    • 3 hours, 55 minutes ago
      ChrisW likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      MDI and since FIASP is now covered under Medicare I wanted to try the inPen. They wanted over $600 for it so I said no thanks!
    • 4 hours, 44 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      Wish cost did not have to come into play but unfortunately it does.
    • 4 hours, 45 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      It isn’t that I can’t afford devices or meds, it’s more that I feel pharma is jacking up prices to see what the market will bare without conscience. Free enterprise does not work in most of the life sustaining medical community, particularly in the US.
    • 4 hours, 45 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      I guess it more an insurance restriction than a cost problem. But I don't want to be charged full price for a new pump.
    • 4 hours, 45 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      Having to wait for the warrantee period to run out before switching pump manufacturers is the biggest restraint. I had to wait to switch from Minimed 770 to T:slim X2 several months. I am now considering going back to Minimed because of the improvements in their sensor and the problems Tandem is having with infusion set manufacturing. So I have to wait a year.
    • 5 hours, 13 minutes ago
      Steve Rumble likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      Insurance influences my decision to try a new device more than cost.
    • 5 hours, 16 minutes ago
      Kathy Hanavan likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      Insurance influences my decision to try a new device more than cost.
    • 5 hours, 18 minutes ago
      Marty likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      Insurance influences my decision to try a new device more than cost.
    • 6 hours, 5 minutes ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      How often does cost influence your decision to try a new device or therapy?
      Insurance influences my decision to try a new device more than cost.
    • 23 hours, 10 minutes ago
      ChrisW likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      I turned down a CGM study because the sponsors, a manufacturer, claimed the data would belong to them exclusively. While I may grant use of the data, its mine thank you!
    • 1 day, 4 hours ago
      Natalie Daley likes your comment at
      How confident do you feel understanding informed consent documents for research studies?
      My fear and concern with those who answer "very confident" and are non-lawyers is that you may be unaware of what Facebook, Google, Amazon, Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, et al do with your data. As the old saying goes about the capitalist, "Here. Take it. How much money will you give me for this rope you are going to hang me by?"
    • 2 days, 5 hours ago
      Anita Stokar likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      While I'm not sure if I had a significant chance of being selected, I declined to further pursue the potential for being considered for the Vertex islet cell study, due to it preventing me from donating blood products for at least the duration of the trial. I'm a passionate platelet donor, and I am okay with living with diabetes in order to be able to continue doing so regularly.
    • 2 days, 15 hours ago
      kilupx likes your comment at
      How often do you experience device fatigue (feeling tired of wearing or managing devices)?
      My only fatigue is figuring out where to put my next pump site since pumping 28 years now
    • 2 days, 15 hours ago
      kilupx likes your comment at
      How often do you experience device fatigue (feeling tired of wearing or managing devices)?
      I get itchy rashes from the tandem canula adhesive, so that makes it more of a burden. I dislike having to report to dexcom when their devices fail. and i do feel tired of wearing a device when i see the double down or double up arrow.. they cause a lot of panic and over compensation (on my part). I'd say.. I'm weary, and honestly feel a little judged, every time I hear a beep or see a high or low number. but that's not the device's fault. I'm happy to use the devices though, they keep me closer to ok! especially during sleep.
    • 2 days, 23 hours ago
      lis be likes your comment at
      On average, how many hours per week do you spend actively thinking about or managing diabetes tasks?
      Actively thinking about things is only during pump,CGM changes, meals, activities. Which is not many hours in a day. However, it is always running in the back of mind.
    • 2 days, 23 hours ago
      lis be likes your comment at
      On average, how many hours per week do you spend actively thinking about or managing diabetes tasks?
      Probably just 1 hr most days. But better questions are: (1) how many times per day & (2) how taxing/draining is it?
    • 2 days, 23 hours ago
      lis be likes your comment at
      On average, how many hours per week do you spend actively thinking about or managing diabetes tasks?
      I'm not sure this is something that can be quantified in hours per week? 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there multiple times throughout every day, it adds up. But I don't keep track...it's just life
    • 2 days, 23 hours ago
      lis be likes your comment at
      On average, how many hours per week do you spend actively thinking about or managing diabetes tasks?
      For the last 52 years living with T1, my diabetes care is always on the forefront of everything I do.
    • 3 days, 3 hours ago
      Gerald Oefelein likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      I’m either too old or live too far away. I’m 72 and live in Arizona
    • 3 days, 3 hours ago
      Gerald Oefelein likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      Quite a few opportunities I would have considered I aged out.
    • 3 days, 4 hours ago
      kristina blake likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      It was to test one of the new CGMs that measures ketones in addition to blood sugar. I live in Houston and the research was in Austin. Would have involved many trips to Austin that basically would have spent the promised stipend. In addition, they were going to raise and lower my BS to see if the CGM would measure the ketones correctly. That sure didn't sound enjoyable so I passed.
    • 3 days, 4 hours ago
      kristina blake likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      While I'm not sure if I had a significant chance of being selected, I declined to further pursue the potential for being considered for the Vertex islet cell study, due to it preventing me from donating blood products for at least the duration of the trial. I'm a passionate platelet donor, and I am okay with living with diabetes in order to be able to continue doing so regularly.
    • 3 days, 4 hours ago
      Ahh Life likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      I was declined because they only accepted diabetics with an ac1 of 7 or above.
    • 3 days, 5 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Have you ever declined a research opportunity? If so, what was the primary reason?
      Unfortunately, I neither have the time or financial resources to travel out of state.
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    Do you ever feel pressure or anxiety to eat “low carb” in public around people who know you have diabetes? (Share in the comments experiences that you’ve had.)

    Home > LC Polls > Do you ever feel pressure or anxiety to eat “low carb” in public around people who know you have diabetes? (Share in the comments experiences that you’ve had.)
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    Do you prefer to have your endocrinologist appointments in-person or virtually?

    Samantha Walsh

    Samantha Walsh has lived with type 1 diabetes for over five years since 2017. After her T1D diagnosis, she was eager to give back to the diabetes community. She is the Community and Partner Manager for T1D Exchange and helps to manage the Online Community and recruit for the T1D Exchange Registry. Prior to T1D Exchange, Samantha fundraised at Joslin Diabetes Center. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in sociology and early childhood education.

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    32 Comments

    1. TEH

      Sometimes I feel pressure to eat low-carb. I also try to do it.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    2. Mary Dexter

      It’s a double-edged sword. Simultaneously, people will be uncomfortable with my not eating as many carbohydrates as they are eating and judgemental about the number of carbohydrates I am eating.

      6
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Daniel Maxon

        Finding that balance can definitely be tricky! Just like managing carbs, balance is key in entertainment too—discover the perfect mix of fun and variety at https://movueboxpro.com/ for unlimited streaming without limits.

        1
        6 months ago Log in to Reply
    3. Steven Gill

      After 23 years people that know me generally comment on the “healthy eating” I do (a lot of vegetables). I don’t struggle wasting what I want, fortunately I enjoy that stuff. When I used a pen just before eating I’d ask if anyone would gag.

      It’s part of me, I’m not embarrassed, stressed, of worried.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Daniel Maxon

        That’s great—enjoying healthy foods naturally makes it so much easier to stick with good habits long-term. And yeah, reactions can be funny when people see something unfamiliar before a meal! It sounds like you’ve found what works for you, which is what really matters. When you feel like mixing things up, you can also visit website to explore some different food options.

        1 week ago Log in to Reply
    4. Nevin Bowman

      Never. If anything I have felt pressure to eat higher carbs, even from my endocrinologist 🙁

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    5. Larry Martin

      I use an insulin pump so I eat what I want every day of the year and I only care about my health and I have zero concern for what other people think about the disease I manage extremely well. Anymore so many of these questions are “Facebook” questions. They are deliberately posed to cause a ruckus. So this will be the last question I will answer. You have turned what I thought was an informative site into a sideshow.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Lyndsey Escobar

        Initially when I read this I thought it was silly as well, however, I believe they are looking in to the mental health aspect and how the feelings of being T1 relate to emotional health and choices in group settings. I am sure the organization values your input and would hate to lose your participation.

        2
        5 years ago Log in to Reply
      2. David Smith

        Larry, totally agree with the 1st half of your comment, but I agree with Lyndsey on the 2nd half. I haven’t seen “arguments” break out in the comments section, like you might see on Facebook. I don’t know exactly how the responses to these surveys are used (given that they’re not truly representative of the T1D population), but I find the insights into how my responses compare to others kind of interesting, and not having yours would be a loss!

        2
        5 years ago Log in to Reply
    6. Sahran Holiday

      Always eat what I want which is mostly fresh produce, whole grains a bite here and there of other stuff. Sometimes people ask what I’m supposed to eat I just say the same thing everyone else is supposed to eat, just if I don’t the consequences are sooner and more severe. Familly and friends eat better because of me.

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    7. Rebecca Lambert

      I choose to eat a lower carb diet because I have found it gives me better control, but I will eat higher carb foods on occasion. Other people’s opinions do not factor into my choices at all.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    8. Sherolyn Newell

      First, I don’t let other people pressure me into doing anything. Second, except for my family and close friends, I have found that most people have no idea how diabetes works. So most people wouldn’t h

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    9. Henry McNett

      No I eat low carb because it improves my quality of life and will prevent vascular complications in the long run.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    10. Sherolyn Newell

      Messed up and hit send comment. Most people don’t have the knowledge necessary to judge. I had a guy ask me what my tattoo meant a few days ago. It says T1 Diabetic.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. AnitaS

        I hope one day you can add the phrase before T1 Diabetic “Used to be” (meaning a cure has been found. 🙂

        3
        5 years ago Log in to Reply
    11. Sjoymex

      It depends on the person. I have definitely felt that way with certain people when they first find out I have diabetes. I’ve had a few people make (well meaning but misguided) comments or questions about what I’m eating. But for the most part I don’t worry about it and generally people don’t say anything.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    12. connie ker

      This happened to me just this month, but I just figure the diabetic police don’t know as much about the disease as a person with T1D does. I don’t eat out much at all because of the unknown ingredients and the junk fast foods. So I mostly eat at home watching both carbs and fats. I feel better doing so, and when eating out still try to watch carbs and fats too. I don’t pay attention to the diabetic police.

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    13. AnitaS

      I am not really sure if I feel pressure or not. I tend to eat what I want but also do my best to order meals that aren’t outrageously loaded with carbs. Even if I eat high carb, because face it, restaurant food tends to jack up my sugar levels, I just do my best to counteract the sugar level with an appropriate amount of insulin.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    14. Ernie Richmann

      I am the captain of my ship. I am willing to take advice from experts but not feeling any pressure from others around me. It is true that I sometimes make errors in my lifestyle decisions but overall I do a good job. I know a lot more about healthy living than most people I encounter.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    15. Janis Senungetuk

      No, I don’t feel any pressure. The “diabetes police” stopped interrogating me a long time ago.

      2
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    16. Louise Robinson

      I have been eating low-carb for the last 20 of my 45 years as a Type 1. I’ve received very few comments about what I eat when dining out with friends or family and use any such comments, if/when they occur, as an opportunity to explain diabetes and my approach to it.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    17. Mig Vascos

      Feel no pressure, after all Ive made my own choices for 50 years and Im in better health than many people without diabetes.

      3
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    18. Ahh Life

      Pressure and anxiety I am much more inclined to induce than to be the recipient of. Having said that, I see a few overly kind and overly cautious comments about the “diabetic police.”

      There are people who know it all and are more accurately described as the “diabetic gestapo.” Subtleties, ambiguities, conditional statements, and difference among human beings is lost among this group. ლ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ)ლ ლ( ͡ಥ ͜ʖ ͡ಥ)ლ

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    19. ConnieT1D62

      Nope. I don’t feel pressure to eat to please or pacify other people’s judgements and anxiety about what a PWD should or shouldn’t eat. I eat what I want when I am hungry and I enjoy eating a sensible variety of healthy fresh delicious foods – carbs & fats included.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
      1. Daniel Maxon

        That’s such a healthy and empowering mindset — eating should be about nourishment, balance, and enjoyment, not guilt or outside pressure. Listening to your body and choosing what feels right is the real key to long-term well-being. For those who also enjoy exploring balance and freedom in the digital world, you might like https://naba2k20apk.com/ , where you can discover creative and entertaining content that fits your lifestyle.

        6 months ago Log in to Reply
    20. Amy Schneider

      I consider it an educational opportunity.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    21. Lisa La Nasa

      I feel no external pressure to eat low carb. It’s my decision that I’ve reached freely and happily. As a T1D for 20 years, I switched to eating low carb about 6 years ago. My quality of life is much better as a result, and is night and day difference when compared to my 13-some years of T1D before low carb.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    22. Lawrence Stearns

      No pressure. I eat a high carb diet anyway. I have no idea what a low carb diet is.

      1
      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    23. Lance Prince

      I eat low carb meals anyway. The opposite is usually true, especially in finding low carb options when in public, especially at certain restaurants or catered events.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    24. Karen Brady

      I find it annoying how uneducated people are about carbs. They see me eat fruit and bread and say nothing, but the second it falls in the “dessert” category they’ll comment. It really grinds my gears. I worry more about those that DON’T make comments, because I worry they’re passing judgement and I don’t have the opportunity to educate them.

      I don’t change the way I eat for these people, but I absolutely second-guess my food choices when in public and in the presence of those I know aren’t aware that T1D’s can eat whatever they want as long as they dose appropriately.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    25. Molly Jones

      I do not feel pressure to eat specific “low carb” foods around people who are informed of my diabetes as they still seem uninformed of my dietary concerns. I still have to ask friends and family for ingredients of foods they bring over after twenty years and explain that I won’t be eating that because I have no way to judge the carbs, but it looks mighty tasty.

      5 years ago Log in to Reply
    26. Cheryl Seibert

      I’ve been T1D since age 6, so I’ve ALWAYS been judged on what goes in my mouth! 🙁 I grew up in the mid-60s with all my relatives, school personnel, even restaurant staff, etc. saying “Are you supposed to eat that?”. After lengthy and frustrating justifying my decision to them, I go ahead and eat what I want (most of which is ‘allowed’).

      5 years ago Log in to Reply

    Do you ever feel pressure or anxiety to eat “low carb” in public around people who know you have diabetes? (Share in the comments experiences that you’ve had.) Cancel reply

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