Diabetic Question – Blood Sugar Checks at the Dinner Table?

[goblue2539]

In defense of the OP's niece, I do have to give her a little credit.  When her mom isn't around, she'll walk away from the table.  Now if I could just get her to go so far as the bedroom or the office instead of right in front of me on the couch, I'd be thrilled. 

Also, the testing doesn't seem that noticeable or intrusive.  It's the injections themselves that squick me out.  I know that she and others have to take care of themselves, and I fully support that.  All I personally ask is for some discretion.  And it sounds like most of the PPs have done their best at that. 

[behindbj]

Yes.  The cheer squad should have gone on without her.  No reason for everyone to stop what they're doing while the one diabetic in the group takes care of herself.

The fact that she needs assistance is not the issue.  The fact that she apparently has not done anything to ameliorate the day-to-day problems and still has extreme needs that stops what everyone else is doing is the issue.

I had friends while in school (and still have many of them to this day) that would have died of embarassment if the world stopped every time they needed to take care of a recurring medical need, including diabetes.  And - like it or not - not everyone can do everything.  My hemophiliac friend would have loved to have played football while growing up (and to this day), but there was no way he could do it and not absolutely disrupt everyone around him so he could be accommodated. 

If the activity was too much for the diabetic cheerleader (and one of my high school friends had to drop out of the track team because no matter what she did, she had severe swings and issues after the exertion of track practice and meets), then she needs to find an activity that does not recur an ambulance to follow her around.  I have terrible knees, and really REALLY miss cycling, but the Tour de France is not going to switch to race-walking just for me.

behindbj

[Heat04]

Tell her my story. Was in the cafeteria and an diabetic tested at the same table where I was sitting. The person next to me saw the needle and blood and fainted - hitting his head on the table. Yes - his. He was extremely embarassed, but can't stand the sight of blood. Better to leave bodily fluids in the body while you are close to people.

That would be me. I would have fainted. Doesn't matter the situation...needles make me faint. Sometimes medical talk in general makes me faint, especially womanly talks because it actually happens/will happen to me. I'll probably be unconscious for most of labor when I have kids.
That's just how I am.
I don't expect people to know that. But it does happen and I usually close my eyes or walk away when I know it's getting too detailed.

[Visiting Crazy Town]

And - before anyone starts - I'll take care of the replies here:  "I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HIDE MYSELF AWAY IN THE DUMPSTER TO TAKE CARE OF A MEDICAL NEED!  I COULD GET RABIES AND FALL INTO THE STREET!"  No, you won't.  And if the bathroom is THAT FILTHY where you go for dinner, I wouldn't eat dinner there.  

No one is suggesting that people who do indeed test at the table deserve to sit out in the filth and do their thing, just like no one who advocates testing at the table is stating that everyone MUST WATCH THE GLORIOUSNESS OF THE TEST AND SHOT because it is their glory-given right to do whatever they want because it's medical.

As with all of these things, the extremes tend to get silly - and that's when things get heated.  All of us are coming from different areas, up-bringings and groups of friends and family.  Just because I don't care for someone doing the blood-checking thing at the table (nor does anyone else in my social group) doesn't mean that it's acceptable elsewhere.  It's just not acceptable to me - so I wouldn't do it.

behindbj, who is going to do her level best to work the word 'wingadingdingy" into polite conversation this evening

POD POD POD

[Sharnita]

I agree that being diabetic is nothing to be ashamed of.  I just think adhering to genral guidelines regarding blood born pathogens is also nothing to be ashamed of.

[Dixie Darlin]

And - before anyone starts - I'll take care of the replies here:  "I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HIDE MYSELF AWAY IN THE DUMPSTER TO TAKE CARE OF A MEDICAL NEED!  I COULD GET RABIES AND FALL INTO THE STREET!"  No, you won't.  And if the bathroom is THAT FILTHY where you go for dinner, I wouldn't eat dinner there.  

No one is suggesting that people who do indeed test at the table deserve to sit out in the filth and do their thing, just like no one who advocates testing at the table is stating that everyone MUST WATCH THE GLORIOUSNESS OF THE TEST AND SHOT because it is their glory-given right to do whatever they want because it's medical.

As with all of these things, the extremes tend to get silly - and that's when things get heated.  All of us are coming from different areas, up-bringings and groups of friends and family.  Just because I don't care for someone doing the blood-checking thing at the table (nor does anyone else in my social group) doesn't mean that it's acceptable elsewhere.  It's just not acceptable to me - so I wouldn't do it.

behindbj, who is going to do her level best to work the word 'wingadingdingy" into polite conversation this evening

POD POD POD

I'll second those PODs. Well said, behindbj!