type 1 diabetic out on the dating scene

[novorapidboi26]

don't think i have actually been on a date where i didn't know the person on some level before hand,.....

are you advertising yourself online.....if so, you could put that on there so they know about it first...

 

[Dinkeroon]

Just thought I would add something here, it may shock some of you to what can actually happen.
Firstly I have been Type1 for 40 years.
In November 2012 I met a new partner and was upfront from the start with my Diabetes, even though he has a phobia of needles.
3 months later I had a horrific horse riding accident, I broke my back in 2 places, smashed a hip and had 2 internal bleeds.
He was phoned and came to the seen of the accident, it was him that gave the paramedics all the information they needed to know, my medication my dosages and anything else. He was an absolute saint about this.

Cutting to the next chapter, after a month in Hospital laying flat on my back I was discharged with Grade 1 pressure sores on my heels, I didn't know what a pressure sore was. Several weeks later my heels went black. While they were dealing with this I got sepsis. This all happened so fast that I didn't know if I was coming or going. The infection got into all my broken bones.
It ended up in a below knee amputation of my left leg.
I'm still to this day having problems with my legs. So be very aware how quickly things can change because of your health.
The new partner at the time is still with me and is my absolute rock 3 years down the line and believe me there has been some very tough times.

So what I am saying is people need to know in case you ever get in the position you cannot explain for yourself.
Be up front with your Diabetes, if people don't accept it more fool them, if they do and ask ;lots of questions tell them, you never know one day they may come to a Diabetics aid. Read everything you can lay your hands on and know your body inside out your specialist will thank you for it.
We all no that it's one of the top illnesses in the 21st centuary so the more that no about it the better.

 

[BrianInMidlands]

Hi Jessie.
Second - don't think you mentioned "online" specifically" did you ? But this will apply however you meet someone.
I'd echo the sentiments here - its something you live with but not the be all and end all about you (I'm guessing!)
I been out with a few women (I'm now married so no more dating!) and not one of them were fazed by my "drug habit" - as far as I remember I haven't had to go to the toilets to inject either !
But for a first date I might suggest a non meal setting so you aren't committing to too much time with someone whom you might find out you don't actually get on with - good strategy for anyone not just a diabetic.
All the best !

 

[johnbear2]

I do my injection in public if I am ever eating out.let people stare.if they ever stare when I am out,I usually hold up the insulin an ping it before injections.after all would a nurse treat someone in a toilet.if anyone says anything,just tell them it I'd aginst the disability discrimination act to be forced to inject in a toilet etc

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hi @jesse112 , I can fully understand where you are coming from, the dating scene, online, can be quite horrible. On one site, I did put on my profile that I did have a medical condition, I am it and active and it's no big deal. Not one guy messaged me, talk about shallow !! But a different story when I removed it, but even telling someone can difficult, because why pick me, when there are other ladies out there who could be very similar in tastes, distance, looks etc, but with no medical conditions ( I have more than one auto immune condition) ? I have met a couple of members who have said it's fine, no problem (and they have a mate or know someone with type 2 ) but it just fizzled out One guy, online, likened it to Aids/HIV, just numbnuts It can be soul destroying at times, especially being older as they may think I might not have much time left and therefore don't invest in a possible future who knows, but I am still fit and active.
I honestly believe that I will be on my own forever now.
But good luck and hopefully, one day a lovely girl will come along and embrace you and your diabetes with love, support and understanding.

 

[Dan87]

For most people I've been on dates with/gone out with it's been no big deal. I do always go to the toilet to do my injections etc though if it's someone I don't know very well, as I don't like to be seen as different, and can't be ***** with all the questions and occasionally people looking and wondering what it is.

I don't think many people really know how serious it is though, so to be honest don't know fully what they are taking on by having a partner with Type 1. Most people just think it's a condition where you don't eat sugar, and assume the injections are simple as you get used to them, not knowing that at times when you are out at a meal guessing at the number of carbs can be a bit of a shot in the dark. All the factors such as being very careful with illness, infections and the potential for complications will take people a long time to learn about.

I did read a doctor's comments in an article that he would 'rather have HIV than Type-1 diabetes', and once I got over my initial thoughts of 'I hope you die of aids', I thought about it rationally and it got me thinking. Although I wouldn't prefer to have an STD which is often considered dirty and would put a hell of a lot more people off dating you than having diabetes would, and want to live in fear of a cold killing me, I guess it relates to the point where 'no condition requires more of the individual than type-1 diabetes'.