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Not really a sentence you want to hear … ever. Gavin made this announcement today on the way home from school. I asked where he got that idea from.
Gavin: You have diabetes!
Well yes, I guess you’re right. I have a disease. But I really hate that word because it has a very negative connotation. He told me he learned that in science lab today as they watched some movie about germs.
A movie about germs taught my child that I have a disease? Now I’m mad. I told him that germs did not cause my “disease.” Navigating the afternoon school pick up traffic was not really the time to explain my “disease.”
A couple lights later I had breathed enough I suppose that I was able to ask, “What did the movie say about diabetes?”
Gavin: That it’s an example of a disease that people can’t get from sharing germs. What’s the word?
Me: Contagious?
Gavin: Yeah. It’s not contagious.
Me: Is that all they said about diabetes? Just that it’s an example of a disease that’s not contagious?
Gavin: Yeah.
Ok fine. Cancel the order to send a nurse educator to the science department! Still. Some days I hate being diabetic. Well, more than most days of not enjoying this “disease.” And some days I don’t want to talk about it either. Some days I don’t mind and I will wear my CGM sensor on my arm and turn myself into a little walking brochure of diabetes technology.
Today was not one of those days.
Today I am just grateful for the advances in diabetes management that I can be a mother of three. I certainly didn’t want to hear the exclamation, “Mom! You have a disease!”
I hear you there. I prefer, “You’re diabetic?” Of course the medical community thinks I brought the type 2 on myself. I am waiting for the day they discover that is not true but I won’t hold my breath for an apology from the doctor.
You really do need to wonder about the science curriculum in schools.Can you imagine how a child with diabetes in that class was made to feel?
I am so glad we are not contagious.
I am also glad we aren’t contagious. During the contagious part of the conversation I said that you can’t get diabetes from sharing a drink with me. Gwen said that they can’t drink Diet Coke! So young and so naive.
I still do want to know more about that movie. That really put me on the defensive. As far as I know there aren’t any kids with diabetes in the boys grades. But I’m with you, how would that child feel sitting through that lesson?
And I’m still annoyed that for as many people as diabetes touches, it is still such a widely misunderstood condition. I don’t quite understand why.
You have every right to ask to view the movie and have a discussion with the teacher and or school nurse about diabetes. Just because your children don’t have it it still affects their lives.