How do you or your kids celebrate Halloween with diabetes?
I stay home and give out candy to kids while my parents take my sister trick-or-treating. It gives me a chance to see costumes and avoid the temptation of candy.
—Caitilin Conroy, Scotch Plains, N.J.
My mom would swap my candy bag for money or a small toy. And some neighbors gave me fruit or books.
—Jennifer Baxter, Hermitage, Pa.
We have never found Halloween to be an issue. We do not ban candy or sweets—our daughter, who has type 1, just eats them in moderation.
—Denah Clark, Raleigh, N.C.
I go through all my carb count sources and inventory my son's candy. Any candy I can't find information for gets thrown away. The rest gets doled out 10 carbs at a time.
—Jamie Sciarrio, Spokane, Wash.
What development in diabetes care are you most thankful for?
The insulin pump. I have struggled for years with my dawn phenomenon. The pump was the best thing that has happened to me.
—Joey Webb, Minneapolis
The blood glucose meter. It allows us to use testing to review and improve diet and lifestyle, complemented by medications when necessary.
—Alan Shanley, Pottsville Beach, New South Wales, Australia
The continuous glucose monitor. I no longer have to worry that my daughter will go low overnight, and I can now sleep through the night, too.
—Jeanne Moore, Centreville, Va.
Simple things like test strips, which are easy to take for granted today.
—Richard White, Cleveland
How often do you visit a diabetes educator?
I see a certified diabetes educator about three to four times a year and get a lot out of the meetings.
—Duncan Roberts, Cleveland
Quarterly over the last year, until my health insurance plan would no longer cover the expense.
—Shelly Hassett, Kenmore, N.Y.
I'm coming up to my third session since being diagnosed in October 2008. I've toyed with canceling. I get much more practical advice from the ADA message boards.
—Keitha Say, Milwaukee
After three expensive visits, I quit going. For me, frequent testing and taking action as soon as I get a high reading help me understand what drives my sugar up and how to
control it.
—Carl Desko, Rossford, Ohio
How do your loved ones best support your diabetes management?
My wife is much more alert to my low blood sugars than I am.
—David N. Bateman, PhD, Charleston, Ill.
My family supports me each day by encouraging me to seek further education on a regular basis.
—Alan P. Stewart, Minnetonka, Minn.
My young grandchildren always remind me to take my shot or pills, and offer to let me walk with them while they ride bikes. They give me incentive to take care of myself.
—Nancy Fritz, Blandon, Pa.
My mom would constantly watch what I put in my mouth and would wake me up every night to check my blood glucose.
—Paula Henningsen, Waco, Texas
How do you wear your insulin pump?
I have a pouch my pump fits in that I wear on an elastic belt. The pump lays flat against my waist horizontally and is very comfortable.
—Margie Watkins, Gresham, Ore.
I hang my pump from the center of my bra. It works for me.
—Nancy Clapper, Palm Springs, Calif.
On my belt or in pants pockets that are high. At night I wear my pump on my boxer shorts waistband.
—Barnie Brown, Cape Coral, Fla.
I have a Velcro pouch that fits around my upper thigh, for when I wear a dress.
—Dawn M. Castle, Lynden, Wash.
What are your favorite ways to get outside and get active?
Playing with my dog, Sinbad! He makes me get up and go outside, even on days I really don't want to.
—Dwight Elkin, Alvin, Texas
My favorite motivator for getting outside is fishing from the shore. I get exercise by walking, climbing, and casting—and the reward is a marvelous fish dinner.
—Mary Ellen Perry, Ithaca, N.Y.
Gardening is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. We grow lots of veggies all summer and eat them canned or frozen throughout the winter.
—Mary Collins, Mountain Rest, S.C.
I got a membership to my local YMCA and try to swim every other day. I am losing extra pounds and feeling so much more energized.
—Maura B. NíConnell, Decatur, Ga.
What do you hate most about diabetes?
Constantly keeping written records of my blood sugar levels.
—Joseph D., San Diego
All the weight I have gained since I have been on insulin.
—Phyllis K., Tremont, Ill.
The pressure of always having to have good insurance.
—Corrie J., Etna, Calif.
Piercing my skin with sharpened metal.
—Robert P., Douglassville, Pa.
Feeling guilty every time I eat or drink anything.
—Tom S., Moses Lake, Wash.
That it will require my attention all day, every day, for the rest of my life.
—Donna B., Frisco, Texas
You have to make decisions every time you put something in your mouth. I miss sweet iced tea!
—Cherri D., Houston, Texas
The wait time between when I treat a severe hypoglycemic reaction and when the juice starts to work. I fear that I will continue to drop, so sometimes I overtreat.
—Donna K., Arlington, Texas
Most of my friends don’t eat breakfast, and when traveling with them, I seem to hold up our schedule by having to leave time for breakfast, meds, etc.
—Marge K., Annandale, Va.
Reading a diabetic recipe only to find out that one serving would be close to a whole meal’s worth of carbs for me!
—Renee T., Rochester, Minn.
I hate getting up every morning in a confused state with high sugar levels, trying to figure out what to eat for breakfast and how to start my day.
—Betty B., Portsmouth, Va.
Packing to go away—pump supplies, a back-up to the pump in case of failure, an extra meter, and snacks, snacks, snacks.
—Richard F., Andover, Mass.
That I got it!
—Kim S., Boston
That everyone looks at me and my diabetes like it’s a disability.
—Isabella S., Elkton, Mich.
I guess the one thing I hate most is the lack of freedom—always testing, always having my medication (in my case, insulin) on hand, and always keeping record and watching what I eat and how much, all the time.
—Frances M., Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.
Daily blood sugar testing. I test 6 or more times a day, and I wish there was an easier way to monitor blood sugar.
—Lucy G., N. Reading, Mass.
There’s never a vacation from diabetes. I can take time off from work and household responsibilities, but I always have to be cognizant of what I eat, when I eat it, when to take my medication, and have to be able to test my blood sugar no matter where I am or what I am doing.
—Maryann R., Bangor, Maine
Everything.
—Robin C., Ocala, Fla.
When people find out I’m diabetic they say, “I’m sorry.” I tell then not to be sorry because they had nothing to do with it. Then I tell them that I’m just thankful because there are a lot of worse things that I could have to deal with.
—Tony R., Massillon, Ohio
The aspect of living with type 2 diabetes that irritates me the most is the constancy of management. There is no vacation without probable negative consequences.
—Nancy S., Santa Rosa, Calif.
Simple...The constant monitoring of my glucose level and the depression that goes with it, especially when I'm doing everything right!!
—HuZhou M., Winston Salem, N.C.
That no matter how well I do keeping my A1C at normal levels, keeping my cholesterol at normal levels, exercising, eating right etc.,I will always have diabetes.
—Donna G., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
