The Boy Had The Guts To Ask

Posted on June 29, 2009
Filed Under Juvenile Diabetes, Personal, dexcom continuous glucose monitor | Leave a Comment

The Dexcom CGM sensor on the back of my arm (starting to peel off after 5+ days)

The Dexcom Seven Plus CGM sensor on the back of my arm (starting to peel off after 5+ days)

Everyone was staring, but the little boy had the guts to ask.

We were at lake party recently and it was extremely hot outside.  I was very nervous about getting into my swimsuit as it is difficult to hide both the Omnipod insulin pump and the Dexcom Seven Plus continuous glucose monitor sensor.  But, with the mantra in my head that being healthy is sexy, I chose to let loose and just field the questions and stares.

There were several adults at this party and whole heck of a lot of kids.  What was so funny was that all of the adults (the ones that didn’t know me) kept looking at me with question in their eyes.  They wanted to ask what was up with all the medical devices attached to me, but no one had the guts to ask.

Until one little boy somewhere around the ripe old age of 5 years old, looked up at me and said “did you give blood or what?”  I immediately fell in love with this little kid.  He had the guts to ask what the adults were dying to inquire about.  I told the little boy that I had diabetes and had to wear it to check my sugar for me so that I could eat.  He shrugged his shoulders and replied “that’s cool.”  He ran off to play, as this was no big deal to him.  Of course, kids say the darndest things, but this one totally put me at ease.

It’s not that I’m not open about talking about my diabetes.  It’s part of me.  However, how do I bring it up to the staring folk to put them at ease, when they might just be staring at me because I have a giant zit on the end of my chin or maybe the fact that I have put on several pounds that we won’t begin to count??

I may not have the guts to bring it up, but when the other person does, it is no big deal to me.  Maybe I just need to find my inner 5 year old with guts and just address the stares.

Because afterall, being healthy is sexy, right?!

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