Among the numerous ways in which living with a chronic disease can affect self-esteem, one among my biggest insecurities as an adolescent was type 1 diabetes. When I used to be diagnosed at age 10, I heard doctors mention diabetes and thought: You mean old age disease? I used to be so apprehensive that my peers didn’t understand why I needed to inject myself or stop pricking my finger that I still felt like a freak. When I entered my teens and commenced falling in love with boys, I either tried to cover my diabetes completely or made it clear it was no big deal for fear that my chronic illness would hinder my probability at love.
Now I realize that this will likely sound a bit silly because the nice people on this planet will love you regardless of what qualities you have got, but feeling that you simply are different from individuals with a working pancreas could make an enormous difference to your confidence level especially within the younger years.
As the years passed and my personal support for diabetics grew, dating looked as if it would recuperate. I spoke more openly about the results of my illness, without over-explaining, understanding that my listeners were probably unaware of the ins and outs of the illness, and that it wasn’t something that involved taking in an excessive amount of oxygen on a primary date. From adolescence I also gained confidence, which allowed me to see my diabetes more as a feature of my life somewhat than a plot. This disease could also be a component of my life, but it surely doesn’t define who I’m as an individual or what I bring to the table in any relationship, job or situation.
This was the approach I took once I first met my now husband. On our first date, sitting right down to eat sushi, I casually told him, “By the way in which, I actually have type 1 diabetes,” checking my blood sugar before eating. I briefly described my illness and was pleased that he had no problems with being on a date with someone who had a medical problem. He also made no comments a couple of distant relative who died of diabetes, which is all the time a plus!
As our relationship grew and Adam learned more about my chronic illness, he showed great concern, support and never made me feel lower than a lazy pancreas. He knows that some nights would require less sleep than others and that there’ll all the time be situations that require a bit of more attention.
Diabetes definitely adds one other layer to dating, but it surely doesn’t necessarily must be a negative. There will all the time be someone with the patience and understanding that taking good care of yourself and your sugars will all the time come first regardless of what. If someone doesn’t have the patience to seek out out about your condition or suggests you risk your personal health for his or her convenience, they don’t seem to be price your time.
At the tip of the day, find someone who’s all the time able to fill you with a cup of oj.
