Click here for The Blame Game – Wednesday 5/17 Link List
Having diabetes often makes a visit to the doctor a dreaded experience, as there is invariably bad news of one kind or another. And sometimes the way the doctor talks to you can leave you feeling like you’re at fault. Or maybe you have a fantastic healthcare team, but have experienced blame and judgement from someone else in your life – friend, loved one, complete stranger. Think about a particularly bad instance, how that person talked to you, the words they used and the conversation you had. Now, the game part. Let’s turn this around. If you could turn that person into a puppet, what would you have them say that would leave you feeling empowered and good about yourself? Let’s help teach people how to support us, rather than blame us! (Thank you, Brian, for inspiring this topic.)
I’m reprinting an old post –
(and FYI – The Blame Game has me singing The Name Game all morning – ack!)
(and just the thought of turning that person into a puppet makes me chuckle…)
(Oh, and I have a new, very kind and understanding and caring, boss.)
Dexcom Beeps!
I don’t want to write about this.
I can’t believe I’m writing about this.
Last week – there was a lunch – at work.
I’m the one who orders and picks up the monthly lunches. It’s fun and yummy! And every now and then, it’s a birthday lunch.
It was a Birthday Lunch. (There was Boston Cream Pie.)
Dexcom went nuts.
And one person made comments about Dexcom’s beepings.
The beeps got annoying and I switched it to vibrate.
The vibrates got annoying and the person said, “What is that?”
I explained that my blood sugar was high and the person said, “Well, yes – YOU ATE CAKE!”
And – I lost it.
I stayed fairly calm. I like my job and even more, I like my health insurance. And this person – is my boss. Well, sh*t.
BUT – the person needed to know – he was wrong. So I did the old “search thing” for Diabetes Etiquette – and found it/them.
And – I printed the following and put it in this person’s mailbox.
(https://www.diabeteshealth.com/etiquette-for-people-without-diabetes/)
Thank you Dr. Polonsky!
1 – DON’T offer unsolicited advice about my eating or other aspects of diabetes. You may mean well, but giving advice about someone’s personal habits, especially when it is not requested, isn’t very nice. Besides, many of the popularly held beliefs about diabetes (“you should just stop eating sugar”) are out of date or just plain wrong.
2 – DO realize and appreciate that diabetes is hard work. Diabetes management is a full-time job that I didn’t apply for, didn’t want, and can’t quit. It involves thinking about what, when, and how much I eat, while also factoring in exercise, medication, stress, blood sugar monitoring, and so much more – each and every day.
And this morning – in my mailbox.
“I sincerely apologize.”
You know, having Diabetes sucks. Having DOC friends is awesome. Having the GUTS to stick up for myself? Couldn’t have done it without ya!
Thanks DOC!
d-meanderings 