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Diabetes in a relationship

DiabeticDrummer

DiabeticDrummer

Member
Messages
18
Location
Bishop's Stortford
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Me and my girlfriend have only been going out a few months, and I've controlled my diabetes well, but recently I had a day full of hypo's and she saw a different side to me. She understands that diabetes affects a lot of my life and my moods, but this was her first experience and I don't think she fully understands why I acted strange. This has lead me to fall back into my depression because I am head over heels for her and knowing I have upset her, has upset me and I'm scared that will make things more difficult.

I think my general question is, do you think having diabetes makes a relationship harder then normal at points. I'm not the sort of person to make excuses so I don't want to blame my condition for me being odd with her, but I don't want her to think I'm that sort of person.

I needed a rant more then anything, but any experience you can share would be welcome thanks :)
 
But it was your condition making you be odd with her! Why make her think it was you?

The key thing here is cimmunicatiom and education. My boyfriend didn't find out I was diabetic till a few months into the relationship and he has been great. Making me take my tablets, making sure I eat the right things and always asking how my blood sugar is.

He has so taken the time to read up himself so he knows what go expect and look out for. Luckily I don't have hypos bit if I'm out drinking he can tell when I need to go home etc even if I deny it.

Just talk to her. That way she will know the facts and know if she is strong enough to support you.

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Morning all! I think having diabetes can at times make a relationship harder especially with the sugar highs and lows and then of course the sudden change in behaviour! When I first met my boyfriend we went out drinking and naturally I didn't tell him so the next day was full of hypos and it was hard for him to understand why I was so irritable and tired! My mum told him in the end. He's more aware now of the "symptoms" and asks what my readings are etc but sometimes takes massive offence if I'm in a sudden odd mood!


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These guys are right, tell her about what happens to you when you have a hypo. Tell her what it feels like. Tell her to keep an eye out for you when you start to hypo, she might end up spotting one of your warning signs (people at work do it to me all the time)

Yes it can make relationships tough but if she is the one, a) shell understand b) she'll learn to cope with diabetese with you :)


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I was diagnosed while already with my boyfriend, I don't know if that's made a difference or not. But carb counts with me, I tell him my BG (he sometimes asks... But usually I announce it anyway. Makes me feel better to share it ) I haven't had a bad hypo yet but I know he'd be there for me when I do. He's had a steep learning curve at the same time as I did.

You need to help your girlfriend learn what to expect. I'm sure she'll be supportive once she has grasped the basic concepts at least!
 
DiabeticDrummer said:
I think my general question is, do you think having diabetes makes a relationship harder then normal at points.
Click to expand...


The answer is YES and NO.

In a lot of instances it will depend on how well the person with diabetes controls their condition and how they deal with it mentally, hypo's are not nice as we all know and no one can avoid them completely when we are injecting insulin into our bodies, if your girlfriend loves as you do her then she'll understand why your mood may change when your hypo, it's better to be open and honest in a relationship no matter what the problem/issue is.
 
Thank you for the replies, nice to have people to ask this to that understand :) I will talk to her more in depth about it, me and my friends joke about my diabetes which helps me act normally round them and lets them know it's ok, so I need to explain to her the more serious side of it that she doesn't see when I'm with my friends (and how she first meet me).
 
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