Dumb Diabetes at Second Cup Cafe
Dear Dumb Diabetes
I thought of you in the most unusual place today - the coffee shop. Pardon moi - the cafe. This is where the whole event took place.
You see - I'm warming up to this new addiction of mine - lattes. Decaf Lattes. (Yup. I'm living on the edge. I'm dancing with an addiction to coffee flavored hot milk. If I master self-control I might progress to asking for it with caffeine.) Anyway, I stood for 60 seconds in front of a cashier at Second Cup who seemed not to be able to drag herself from the task of stacking 10 packs of individually wrapped cookies beside the till. Eight inches from me. She scowled, she grunted, and yes, she huffed. None of it at me, I think. All of it was at the damn cookies. (I can call them "damn" cookies because they weren't a variety I liked. You'd never hear me say that about a chocolate chip cookie. Never.)
In any case, after waiting 60 seconds and not having her take my order, I ordered anyway. She was right in front of me. I even put a "please" in there. I figured she must have heard because she range something up on the till and stuck her hand out to me. Quick as I am I figured she wasn't asking for a low five, a high five or a handshake so I gave the five I figured she wanted. Five bucks. I included a sweet "Here you go." She said nothing in return. She did hand me my change (wasn't much - I'm such a sucker for paying almost 5 bucks for this foamy milk and the opportunity to spend 60 seconds with such a flashy morning personality). Okay. I'm being trite. But as a customer I don't appreciate being denied the free perks - you know - the social niceties of "please" "thank you" and the response of "you too" when I politely wish someone a nice day.
Yes, yes. I'm getting to why I thought of you today Dear Dumb Diabetes. Patience.
So the thought crossed my mind during this transaction that perhaps the cashier was mute, deaf, miserably shy or spoke another language. But when her co-worker broke into a quick conversation and she answered quickly, with no accent but plenty of attitude (I think it soured the milk in my latte as she made it) , I clued in.
So THIS is where I thought of you, Dear Dumb Diabetes.
I thought, suppose this wench was diagnosed with diabetes - say -today. Suppose she was sitting across from my desk today (cause I teach about diabetes, I don't just have diabetes)instead of just across from the cafe counter. So I supposed this. And strangely enough, I realized I wouldn't think of her as a wench if she were my patient. I'd think of her as a person who needed help.
No, no. I'm not wishing diabetes on her. Especially not her. Some people just can't handle life. It's a chore, It's mean. It's nasty. it's overwhelming. But I coudn't help but think how much more nasty her life would be if this poor wench. . . err, woman. . . got diabetes. . Wouldn't it be like the straw that broke the poor camel's back, or in the case, the coffee woman's back? And wouldn't I want to help lift the weight of all that straw?
So today, my unpleasant morning start reminded me of you, Dear Dumb Diabetes. And when I saw patients who had you, Dear Dumb Diabetes, as an unwanted companion I tried to keep in mind my miserable coffee cashier. I tried to recognize how miserable or tedious or unpleasant other parts of these people's day might be. And I tried to offer ways to make life - with or without diabetes - more pleasant. I tried to smile sympathetically when they told me the stress of their daily complaints. Some smiled back.
I spoke more of stress management today. About the effects of stress on the body and blood sugars. About how the mind affects the body. I even discussed the research on relaxation strategies reducing blood sugars, reducing stress, improving well being. I discussed the role of stress in heart disease but mostly, the role of stress in messing with our abilities to manage day to day tasks. Like talking civilly to our spouses; like testing our sugars ; like making coffee for people when it's your job.
So, Dear Dumb Diabetes, I told my patients today to take a break from you and to ignore you - or to downgrade your importance. I told them to focus on feeling good because hey - that could help their diabetes. I did the same for my diabetes. As you already know since you got no "poor me" thoughts out of me today.
My words of wisdom today were this: Take a break and relax. Enjoy what you can enjoy. Have a coffee. (Just not at the Second Cup near my place).
Good luck, Good Health . . .and what the heck - tell me what peaved you off today about your Dear Dumb Diabetes.
Bev
(This blog is a companion site to www.diabetes-blood-sugar-solutions.com. Expert solutions for everyday life with diabetes.)
posted by Bev @ 11:24 PM
6 Comments:
very nice, diabetes can be a cross that just need to be kiss sometime.
It make you appreciate a good cup of green tea.
vince
Thank you for sharing that post and reminding me how important it is to reduce stress. I'm a lawyer and it is such a challenge to keep stress levels down, eat regular small meals. Ugh.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
MEDTRONIC MINIMED PUMPS REVIEW: TERRIBLE!
I have liked the pump itself and have had an easy time using it, however, It has had maybe 6-8 breakdowns in 5 years, but within 24 hours the broken pumps were replaced. This was an inconvenience and made me sick overnight and miss work, but, this is not what made me upset with Minimed.. I would have liked to have another one, however, I have had such trouble with the billing that I am unable to continue using it at all, in fact... I have considered calling the better business bureau.
You see about a year ago maybe a year and a half, I was getting bills for like 2 years earlier. For instance,(and I don't have exact dates anymore but) I would order, say, March, June, September, and December 2004, I would get the bill for March 2004 in December of 2006. Then in March 2006, I would get the bill for June 2004. I mean come on........ A big company like that should do better then that.... I would complain and complain, then they would say, I know this is frustrating and we will fix the billing in January, well.... when January rolled around they sent me the entire 2 years worth of bills all at once leaving me with this huge balance and then they shut off my supplies and wouldn't let me get any more. It took me about 6 months to pay all that money down to 0, and then, after that they would call me up and tell me my check was 3 days late on my payment... All I could say was, "well, at least your billing now." Good grief, this is the way they treat the people who pay their bills. Terrible. All I ever wanted from them was a bill so that I could pay, I have paid every bill that they have sent.
But things are improving, as of now, they are only 6 months behind on their billing, I have called several times, but to no avail. I am still awaiting June's bill. Sadly, I have to look for a new company with which to do business, and for a way to let others know about the bad and rude practices of Medtronic Minimed. I thought perhaps a blog could warn others of these pitfalls.
The most concern that I have received from any of the reps thus far was from the person who does the sales, I guess they wanted me to get another one of their pumps. I would have except their service was so TERRIBLE. Think twice, or maybe not at all about getting one of these pumps, the quality of the pump itself is not worth all the trouble of dealing with the people.
Hi Bev,
great musings. I came across this post because I was checking out your blood sugars website for URLs to info for a diabetic who had contacted me through my website (your-diabetes).
It made me think of a teenager who contacted me a little while ago to share her story about handling diabetes and I have to say her attitude really fits with what you've said.
She said diabetes made her into the strong person she is today and finished with "I love having diabetes and diabetics are 10 times cooler than regular people!"
I've never been called 'cool!' by a teenager before ;)
Carol Ann
Bev--Great post! I was diagnosed a month ago. I am a 42 year old mother of four, and a full time college student, and on August 3 I ended up in the student health center with cellulitis so severe they wanted to hospitalize me. It was the day before my daughter's birthday and I begged them to try treating me outside of inpatient treatment, and so I went through two days of IV antibiotics and a few weeks of oral antibiotics. They also told me my A1C was 10!!! YIKES!!! Instant diagnosis of diabetes. Very depressing!!! The worst thing was it amplified my anxiety issues, and so I was a mess for a month. The good news is that today I feel human again, happy and optimistic! My blood sugars in the past month have steadily declined from the 300+ level at all times to now in the 109-180 range. This has been very encouraging. However, I can't seem to get my fasting down to the <100. Any advice? I am really really determined, have made dietary changes, and am starting to walk more, and am taking metformin.
Bev, thank you for your site. It really helped me understand whole lot more!
I notice that the site was done up a while ago, but I still want to say a couple of lines to my dumb diabetes. :)
1. I absolutely hate my dumb diabetes! I hate it for being apart ofe since I was 16! I hate how it was hereditary!
2. I hate how I was on vacation with my diabetes for the past 10 years! I hate taking all those pills! I hate all the side effects! I hate how I ran away from recognizing of my condition. I also hate all those doctor visits! Ger! I also hate how my doctor wasn't that great. :(.
3. Now that I started insulin for almost a year. I hate that instant 25lbs! I also hate no matter what I do, it is extremely hard to loose because me and carbs and insulin goes into and endless battle! I hate hypoglycemia! I Lao hate hypoglycemia umawareness! Gah!
4. What I really hate is how non diabetics who doesn't see what I go through and makes inconsiderate comments!!!! Sorry I did not loose a limb, an eye, or anything visible that needs anyone to feel sorry for! But saying that it is just a simple and common disease just doesn't seem right!
5. I hate how dumb diabetes makes me gym daily for 1.5 hrs. Gave me this fire/fuel to challenge the impossible and start to bodybuild and change my whole lifestyle! I hate how I hate to loose and won't give up in finding ways o use less insulin and work hard on my diet! I hate how I have to eat healthy! Lol! :) Even though I am still chubby, at least I no longer gaining weigh.
6. I just hate this dumb diabetes.....$$$$$$$$$$!!!
7. Hate jabbing insulin and pricking fingers. Finger pricking - Out of bed. Two hrs after breakfast. Before lunch after lunch. Snack time. Dinner. Before work out and after work out and right before bed time!!!!! I have polkadot finger tips!
*breath*
I hate carrying a log book that logs every reading, when I take my meds and when I eat to what in eat.
Lol. I hate my dumb diabetes and also love it. I guess if it was for this dumb diabetes I won't be as physically fit and health concise. :) but instill hate this dumb diabetes!
Tsuki
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