I remember reading Kerri’s post and something dawned on me while reading yours. The two of you are both diabetic celebrities. It is your JOB to talk about diabetes. Many of us have the opportunity to talk about our diabetes with another diabetic maybe once a year, and another pumper far less than that.

I understand both you and Kerri’s desire to not be advocates all the time. But, please, if you ever see me out and about and notice some pump tubing hanging out from my shirt, don’t walk away without saying anything for my benefit!

You did the right thing at the right time. Next time the situation may be a little different. Sometimes when I see a fellow pump wearer, particularly an adult, we just signal each other and wave. In some ways it’s like meeting someone at a party wearing the same dress. One person might love to talk about where she got it and the good memories related to the outfit. The other might avoid you for fear some social faux pas is afoot.

I can see both pros and cons to bringing up the “pump” subject while on the beach. I work as a teacher, and know how overjoyed a newly-diagnosed Kindergartner (and her parents) felt when they found out that someone else at school had diabetes, too. Of course, you were dealing with a complete stranger.

I recall taking out my BG meter on an airplane once. It turned out that the guy next to me had another health issue (not the big “D,”) but he told me, after our plane landed, that I had been an inspiration to him and that he was going to work on taking better care of himself because of what he had witnessed me doing.

Thanks for commenting on my blog. It is always fun to hear from other’s who share similar T1 experiences. This is an interesting post and I can’t comment from the perspective of having diabetes but I can tell you how Sydney, my 5 year old T1 daughter, would feel.

Sydney has often felt a little insecure about Daisy, her plastic, pocket pancreas that travels with her day in and day out. She gets “the stares” and “the comments.” Generally if people ask about it, I take the opportunity to tell them a brief synopsis of T1 and why she needs her pump. I figure if they are nosey enough to ask, they should be kind enough to listen while I advocate for my daughter. Syd has had T1 for a little over a year now and a pump for the past 9 months. She is getting better at answering the questions and stares on her own and that is a great joy to see.

That being said, when she sees another kid or person who is wearing a pump, her eyes light up. It makes her day to know that someone is right in front of her who faces the same challenges she does. One man actually saw her pump, whipped his pump out and did a little “pump bump” with her. She thought it was pretty cool. She likes the type of immediate camaraderie that comes from seeing a fellow Type 1.

I would imagine you did neither a service nor a disservice to that little girl by staying on your towel and not engaging her in conversation. Her day was fun without finding a fellow pumper. Her day would have been fun even if you had chosen to talk to her or give her a “pump bump.” I think, for the moment, both of you were just enjoying the carefree-ness that playing at the pool brings.

landileigh