the upside to inside.

I have never had a good friend who has diabetes. Of course, I've met people who have it, but unfortunately, a genuine friendship never naturally developed. Until the OC, I really knew very few people with type 1 diabetes. It was weird and lonely. But now things are better because of the OC and blogging.

Recently, one of my good friends was diagnosed with diabetes. Such a hard thing to see someone I care about have to go through. I was glad to be a part of her early days of navigation through the tidal wave of information, new process', tools, techniques and changes. And she has been so brave and open and willing to do what it takes to adjust to all that diabetes means to her life now. I am moved by her grace and courage.

I'm also amazed at how different it is, to have a person who I can comfortably talk to about this life with diabetes, face to face. Already, there is an insider shorthand that she understands. It's almost errie to NOT have to explain all the details about timing or bloodsugars or food, when we're out to dinner or hanging out. I used to feel like being diabetic meant that I was no longer a part of the "normal people's party". But now, with my friend and all the people I know from the OC, I'm thinking that even though the diabetes "party" isn't a place any of us want to be by choice, I couldn't think of a better, braver, more inspiring group of people to be with if I tried.

Comments

[Megan]

I recently developed a semi-close friendship with a person who's brother, who she cares for regularly, has type 1. I agree, it was odd not having to explan things, but rather having her say, "Oh, you're 70, do you need a snack?"

[Bernard Farrell]

Currently I don't have any close friend with diabetes, but I do have work colleagues with it. And it is nice to be able to not explain stuff.

This is one of the reasons that I enjoy taking part in events related to diabetes, whether that's a sponsored walk/ride, or an advocacy event like Diabetes Day on the Hill.

At some stage you all get together to eat and then evryone gets to compare meters and paraphenalia and talk about things they've learnt. There's no shyness or awkwardly hiding things under the table. It's just GREAT.