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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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Dec. 2, 2011
Pet peeves for those with diabetes
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Having family with diabetes has made me more aware of some of the "pet peeves" they have. Here are a few that my family members have shared with me as well as some that I've gathered elsewhere.
- Ignorance — Those with the least knowledge about diabetes seem more likely to shout, "Are you supposed to eat that?" or "I thought diabetics weren't supposed to eat sugar?" or "How about a piece of fruit instead of that nice luscious chocolate cake?" Explanations seem to fall on deaf ears.
- Unsolicited advice on how to manage diabetes by people who think they know what you should do. They also feel the need to argue with your explanation.
- Doctor telling you that "sugar is poison."
- "Shooting up" jokes.
- "Horror stories."
- Over-worry from a lot of people — mostly concerned loved ones.
- Discrimination.
- Lack of consideration from others at work and at home.
- Whenever a person with diabetes does something that people do not agree with, they ask if your blood sugar is low.
- Spouses who leave because they can't handle your having diabetes.
- Having diabetes makes you feel that you're not good enough anymore.
- Spending money on diabetes supplies when there are a million things that you would rather spend your money on.
- Having a low blood sugar and feeling awful, being late for work or getting fired because of it.
- Needing a job that provides insurance.
- Hearing people say, upon being told someone has diabetes and is on an insulin pump, "Oh, she has the bad kind then?" Like there's a good kind.
- Comments like: "Hey, that's what my mother just died of. It's a slow death. You'll be lucky to make it 20 years!"
I'm sure that you can think of many more pet peeves and hope you'll share them.
So, how do we deal with them?
- Educate your family and friends. Let them know what kind of support you need, whether you need help planning meals and keeping track of your blood glucose or if you just want a little encouragement and understanding. My son taught his college roommate to administer a glucagon injection should he have a severe insulin reaction.
- Find a support group led by professionals.
- Connect with others on a reliable online message board monitored by a diabetes professional.
- If you have suffered discrimination, the American Diabetes Association offers educational and legal resources on the ADA website that can help you protect your right to fair and equal treatment.
Please feel free to share your experiences.
- Peggy
30 comments posted
July 3, 2009 9:46 a.m.
Pet Peeve: That all Type II diabetes patients are obese. I am not obese. All my life until, yes until, I became a diabetic (11 years ago at age 54), I weighed less than 125 pounds except when pregnant. My diet had always been healthy, no junk food, etc. Now I have this awful stomach which began when I started to take medication for diabetes. What a bummer! My legs and arms were always small; today they are smaller. My siblings (3 of them) have diabetes and they were also very small people who have gained excessive weight since they became diabetics. Big time TV Journalists are so prejudiced in their reporting on this "dreadful" disease. Most in their reporting insinuate that all diabetics are ignorant and uneducated about its causes. Another thing that has happened to me is that I now have blemishes and my skin was absolutely flawless, glowed and did not look my age and alll of this began about two years ago. I now have an insulin pump and for the most part have an A1C of 6.5 or lower. Thanks
- F. Morris
July 3, 2009 9:45 a.m.
Pet peeve - People who think because my husband is insulin dependent that our diet is limited. You just have to be more creative with the menus. Since we live in the country and have a garden we have a lot of ways we can go. Learning to adapt the old family recipes has made it much easier. Visitors, when they sit at our table will see no difference, even in the desserts, but it's there, and it all good for us.
- Pam
June 30, 2009 9:06 p.m.
What I love...everyone believing that only people who are "fat and lazy" get diabetes...regardless of family history of three generations dealing with it. A friend said to me, "My daughter needs to get her weight under control or she'll end up a diabetic like you." Sigh.
- cindi
June 30, 2009 5:32 p.m.
My pet peeve is people who eat whatever they want and manage their diabetes with insulin. I have two friends who say, "I shouldn't eat this but...I'll just take more insulin." I work for a home health agency and know how destructive their thought pattern is.
- Kathy
June 30, 2009 5:10 p.m.
My pet peve is reading an obituary in the newspaper that says,"Joe died after a long struggle with diabetes." Nobody dies of diabetes but from the complications caused by diabetes. The major one being cardiovascular disease. Life with diabetes doesn't have to be a struggle if you learn how the self manage and do the things that are necessary. Take your medication, test your blood sugar, eat healthy and practice portion control, see your medical care team for frequent checkups. Follow the simple rule, Do more of what works and less of what doesn't. (Livabetes Glucose Goddess) www.livabetes.com Florian (Type 1, 42 years and going for the Joslin 50 Year Medal)
- Florian
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