Life is too short not to be comfortable in your bionic body, so how do you deal with showing a little skin (and your devices)?
When I was initially diagnosed, there was a short period where I was self-conscious about my diabetes. I soon realized, however, that the more I tried to hide my diabetes, the more people thought I had something to hide.
People love secrets and gossip. I began to grasp this in first grade when I returned to school after my diagnosis. I was secretly testing by blood glucose under my desk when my then-crush shouted, “Ew! Don’t give me diabetes!” Or something to that effect. The more I tried to hide it, the more the kids would whisper. I soon began to openly test by blood sugar in class and guess what…? Nobody cared! The more open I was about my diabetes, the more the kids wanted to talk to me and not about me.
Related: This Comic Strip Reveals How 'Stranger Things' Is Basically the Story of Diabetes
I’ve found this to be true at all ages and in all settings. Flash-forward to me in college, dating. Do I tell him on the first date… third date? Hold on, if I’m naked they won’t notice my pump, right? It’s all so complicated, but such a real dilemma for all of us. I usually told men on the first date (or even before), because if I’m dating you, I want you to know me, and if you don’t know about my diabetes, then you don’t know me.
I first met my husband at a bar in downtown Huntington Beach. I knew I was in love when I pulled out my pump (the night we met) and my husband said, “Hey! Is that a pump? My cousin has one!” We bonded over it right away, so in some ways, being open about my diabetes snagged me a husband.
Anyways… this is a “love your body” post. I love my body and I’ve learned to love it by being open about its flaws. I hope this can inspire some of you to love your bodies too!
Read more stories like this on The Mighty:
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