Comments on: OMG, The Card We Need!

By: Carl

Carl — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:09:09 +0000

Its been a couple of years and i still have not seen these in the main stream.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:51:27 +0000

My pet peeve? “It’s manageable.” Try explaining to your 8 year old why he can’t spend the night at his best friends’ house because you’re too scared to let him and his best friends’ parents are completely freaked out by the whole thing.

By: Trisha

Trisha — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:18:44 +0000

Are these available yet? From where?

By: Scott M

Scott M — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:12:07 +0000

I picked up one of these cards at the TCOYD conference in San Diego recently. The Behavioral Diabetes Institute had a booth set up and handed them out gladly. It’s a great idea to build on. The more knowledge out there floating around- The Better.

By: Penny

Penny — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:10:15 +0000

This is a great idea.

The ones I like the best are: “don’t tell horror stories” (Why do you think I want to hear about your grandmother’s amputations and horrible death from a disease my son has? Who gets a kick out of things like that?)

“don’t peak at the meter”: often times when I check Riley in public I will shield his meter with my hand. Not because I’m ashamed of what the number might be, but because I know others won’t know that I am perfectly happy with a 148 BS, but they think it’s too high. And, really, I’m tired of explaining why it’s OK.

“don’t look on in horror”: I can’t stand when people make faces and comment when I test Riley in public. My favorite:”I couldn’t do that to my child” My response: “Really? Because if you couldn’t your child would be dead.”

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:18:35 +0000

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard about aunts and uncles dying or losing toes, or etc. Just the other day at the pharmacy a lady did just that. BUT – she said, “But isn’t it great that doctors are more aware now and it doesn’t have to happen anymore?” Took the stink out of her story. I’ll be ordering some of these too.

By: Jules

Jules — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:03:54 +0000

All of the comments have a bit of truth to them but….it’s too “in your face” style for me. Too many people would be turned off by it. I prefer to educate slowly but surely and treat people with respect and kindness. This seems to go a long way for me in getting family and friends to understand the disease. I am also severly hearing impaired and refuse to wear “Look at me when you speak” buttons as I have observed that they put people on edge and people end up avoiding you. While I enjoy the diabetes cards, I would never pass them out to friends in an effort for them to “get it”. There are other “softer” strategies that work for me.

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:02:20 +0000

That’s awesome, and I really like the idea of the card for type 1’s as well. That way, when someone sees you testing in a restaurant, and they say “Oh my granddaddy does that once per day too,” I can just hand them their card and continue devouring my Big Mac.

By: Runehawk

Runehawk — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:04:48 +0000

Diabetes Forecast (March ‘06)article had a similar theme: Diabetes Etiquette. Might be a good place to start for those interested in ‘making your own’ cards! -r

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:37:16 +0000

Type 1’s should have a separate insert that explains Type 1 for idiots, and points out the usually encountered ignorance, such as:

“You’re too young/thin to have diabetes!”

“You got diabetes as a baby because your mom fed you too many carrots and must have put Coke in your bottle”

“Didn’t you know that you wouldn’t have to take injections if you would follow the Atkins diet”

“You can prevent your diabetes from progressing, you just needed to lose weight (as a Type 1, I am 100 Lbs and a dress size 5. If I lost any weight, I’d disappear)”

PLEASE powers that be, PLEASE make a card for Type 1’s. I would pay ANYTHING for it.

-List the cause of Type 1 (autoimmunity).

-Explain how and why it cannot be prevented and how it is different from Type 2 diabetes.

-Explain that it is nothing the person did wrong, and it has nothing to do with weight.

-Explain that diets cannot replace the insulin needed for Type 1’s.

-Explain that Type 1 is the “severe” form of diabetes, and that yes, low blood sugar is an emergency, and that yes, I really DO need to test and take insulin when I say I do. Or I can DIE.

-Also explaint that I can (usually) match my insulin to what I eat, and this works fine. Yes, I CAN have some candy, and NO, the fruit cup is not “safe for diabetics” because it is NOT sugar/carb free. Fruit, cake, Coke, all carbs, I still have to bolus.

-Type 1 is often diagnosed in childhood, thus it is NOT “rare” to have it “so young”.

-Type 1’s often have other autoimmune diseases like Celiac or thyroid disorders. They are not making this up for attention. Autoimmune diseases tend to cluster.