The bird on a wire, as shown in the picture, is isolated from the other birds nearby. I have two very different scenarios in my life to explain my own isolation.
September, 1945
I was diagnosed with diabetes that month, when six years old, and there was very little information given by my doctor about my condition. We did not know any other diabetics, so we learned by trial and error in the months and years that followed. Test your urine, take your injection of animal insulin, don't eat foods containing sugar and don't play too hard so you won't have an insulin reaction. That was all the guidance we had back then.
There were no relatives, neighbors, teachers in my schools or classmates that knew anything about diabetes. I found it was best to not discuss my diabetes. I isolated myself from everyone except my family. That was ok, I had a good healthy life despite the overwhelming odds indicating that I might not live beyond my teen years. We did not know that, and that was a good thing! I was different from my classmates and I sat and watched them play to avoid having low blood sugar. My doctor called me brittle. I was isolated from my classmates, and they ignored me. I did not make friends in school.
My life changed in college. Some friends listened to my describing my diabetic life, and they sympathized, but they never really understood.
I finished college and became a math teacher. I married a wonderful lady in 1964 and we had two sons. I was no longer isolated! My wife understood my diabetes. That was so important in the years that followed.
I had joined the other birds on the wire. I had a family and many friends. There was no more isolation. Life has been great with diabetes for 75 years!
March, 2000
My wife and I have been retired for many years. The coronavirus is frightening. We knew that our being older made it necessary to isolate ourselves from the public as much as possible to try and avoid Covid-19. I am 81 and my wife is 76. We know our ages make us high risk if we have the Covid virus. We were scared to shop at our grocery store. My wife did not appear in public except to buy groceries. I have had many necessary doctor appointments for the past year, and I will continue doing so. My wife is very healthy, and she has seen our dentist, but she does not need to see any other doctors.
I received my first Covid vaccine shot today (Jan 21), and my wife will have her first shot very soon now. Perhaps we will soon be able to join the other birds on the wire, and socialize to some extent, while still wearing masks and maintaining safe distances.
Socializing with the other birds is good when it is safe to do so, but it is not so bad to be isolated when necessary, to avoid undesired complications.
26Chris Miller, Pauline Montgomery and 24 others
2 Comments
Like
Comment
Announcements ·7
Announcements ·7
Let me just remind everyone of the rules because lots of you seem to have forgotten.
Rule one
NO HATE SPEECH OR BULLYING
Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated.…
See More
67Chris Miller, Courtney Aguirre and 65 others
1 Comments
Like
Top Posts
Top Posts
Lourdes Lopez asked a question
.
Been having some trouble the past 2 days. Long story short, was feeling low when my sugar was 91. Had a juice box and waited 15 minutes. Checked again and was at 89. Had 2 more juice boxes and even a PB&J without any correction. Blood sugar was only 102 after all that. I've been suspending my insulin on my pump, getting less insulin, covering less carbs. I have no clue whats going on and honestly its terrifying me knowing that even without insulin AND drinking juice/eating sn…
See More
1 Answer
Like
Comment
Comments
- Are you getting your period or on your period? Hormone changes can definitely affect sugars.
- Like
- · Reply
- · 2m
1 Reply
What are some good coupons or discounts for freestyle libre 14 day sensors and NovoLog flex pens?
I’m paying so much in insurance I can’t afford reg pricing for my meds. This is crazy. In NC.
I need help! Please! 
Like
Comment
Comments
My brave T1D baby has mastered giving herself insulin shots 
12/19/2017 she was diagnosed at the age of 7.


Kirin Abel asked a question
.
This might be kind of long, but I really need advice. My first endocrinologist appointment with a NEW doctor is two weeks away and I'm already having major anxiety about it. My last endocrinologist pressured me about getting on a pump & cgm every single time I saw him (even though my A1C was perfect). I was very adamant that I did not want to do it because I know myself and my body very well, and I knew that I would hate it. After months of him not letting up, I finally gave …
See More
11
20 Answers
Like
Comment
Comments
View 17 more comments
- I hated the Guardian cgm. I too had problems with it being “attached” to me. Right now I have on a Dexcom and had to stop to think where it was on me. I, by chance, you do decide to get a cgm, try something besides Medtronic. Best wishes and God Bless.…See More
- Like
- · Reply
- · 5m
- Never let anyone talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do unless you are really having a hard time and it’s life threatening then of course try but if your number are good then you got it down
- Like
- · Reply
- · 4m
Hi my fellow T1s. I am writing all of you to let you all know that after being a type 1 diabetic for 24 years I am no longer a type 1 diabetic. On December 19th I received a gift of life from someone and I received a pancreas and a kidney from them and…
See More
666Bailey Deweese, Pauline Montgomery and 664 others
195 Comments
Like
Comment
Comments
View previous comments
The bird on a wire, as shown in the picture, is isolated from the other birds nearby. I have two very different scenarios in my life to explain my own isolation.
September, 1945
I was diagnosed with diabetes that month, when six years old, and there was very little information given by my doctor about my condition. We did not know any other diabetics, so we learned by trial and error in the months and years that followed. Test your urine, take your injection of animal insulin, don't eat foods containing sugar and don't play too hard so you won't have an insulin reaction. That was all the guidance we had back then.
There were no relatives, neighbors, teachers in my schools or classmates that knew anything about diabetes. I found it was best to not discuss my diabetes. I isolated myself from everyone except my family. That was ok, I had a good healthy life despite the overwhelming odds indicating that I might not live beyond my teen years. We did not know that, and that was a good thing! I was different from my classmates and I sat and watched them play to avoid having low blood sugar. My doctor called me brittle. I was isolated from my classmates, and they ignored me. I did not make friends in school.
My life changed in college. Some friends listened to my describing my diabetic life, and they sympathized, but they never really understood.
I finished college and became a math teacher. I married a wonderful lady in 1964 and we had two sons. I was no longer isolated! My wife understood my diabetes. That was so important in the years that followed.
I had joined the other birds on the wire. I had a family and many friends. There was no more isolation. Life has been great with diabetes for 75 years!
March, 2000
My wife and I have been retired for many years. The coronavirus is frightening. We knew that our being older made it necessary to isolate ourselves from the public as much as possible to try and avoid Covid-19. I am 81 and my wife is 76. We know our ages make us high risk if we have the Covid virus. We were scared to shop at our grocery store. My wife did not appear in public except to buy groceries. I have had many necessary doctor appointments for the past year, and I will continue doing so. My wife is very healthy, and she has seen our dentist, but she does not need to see any other doctors.
I received my first Covid vaccine shot today (Jan 21), and my wife will have her first shot very soon now. Perhaps we will soon be able to join the other birds on the wire, and socialize to some extent, while still wearing masks and maintaining safe distances.
Socializing with the other birds is good when it is safe to do so, but it is not so bad to be isolated when necessary, to avoid undesired complications.
26Chris Miller, Pauline Montgomery and 24 others
2 Comments
Like
Comment
Announcements ·7
Announcements ·7
Let me just remind everyone of the rules because lots of you seem to have forgotten.
Rule one
NO HATE SPEECH OR BULLYING
Make sure everyone feels safe. Bullying of any kind isn't allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated.…
See More
67Chris Miller, Courtney Aguirre and 65 others
1 Comments
Like
Top Posts
Top Posts
Lourdes Lopez asked a question
.
Been having some trouble the past 2 days. Long story short, was feeling low when my sugar was 91. Had a juice box and waited 15 minutes. Checked again and was at 89. Had 2 more juice boxes and even a PB&J without any correction. Blood sugar was only 102 after all that. I've been suspending my insulin on my pump, getting less insulin, covering less carbs. I have no clue whats going on and honestly its terrifying me knowing that even without insulin AND drinking juice/eating sn…
See More
1 Answer
Like
Comment
Comments
- Are you getting your period or on your period? Hormone changes can definitely affect sugars.
- Like
- · Reply
- · 2m
1 Reply
What are some good coupons or discounts for freestyle libre 14 day sensors and NovoLog flex pens?
I’m paying so much in insurance I can’t afford reg pricing for my meds. This is crazy. In NC.
I need help! Please! 
Like
Comment
Comments
My brave T1D baby has mastered giving herself insulin shots 
12/19/2017 she was diagnosed at the age of 7.

