Luke O’Roark | Sports Staff Writer
Being a Type 1 diabetic for the past 16 years, I’ve been asked numerous, trivial questions about a disease that has altered almost my entire life.
Here are a few examples to help clear up any misconceptions:
Q: “So … can you not, like, eat sugar?”
A: Yes, I can eat sugar. Diabetes doesn't prohibit me from eating sweets like cakes, fruits, soda and artificial crap served at fast food restaurants. I do, however, have to be careful with my intake in terms of carbohydrates and nutrients. Being diabetic doesn’t necessarily define me as a person. I put my pants on one leg at a time like everyone else.
Q: “Wait ... so can I, like, pull on your insulin pump cord?”
A: Yes, you can pull it ... but please don’t. I need my insulin pump to stay alive and going hours without insulin could be severely detrimental to my health.
Q: “Have you ever gotten your pump cord stuck on something?”
A: Almost daily. If I’m not grappling onto someone’s backpack or jackets, I wake up every morning tangled in my cord.
Q: “Does pricking your finger multiple times a day hurt?”
A: Nope. Checking my blood sugar routinely throughout the day is essential for managing my diabetes. I need to know what my blood sugar is so I know how much insulin to give myself when I’m not eating. Pricking my finger is almost like second nature to me now.
Q: “Can I catch it ...?”
A: No, I’ve never given someone diabetes through direct contact. That would suck. Diabetes can, however, be passed down through genetics or heredity.
Q: “Instead of having an insulin pump or injecting yourself with syringes, why don’t you just drink it?”
A: Uh …. no. Insulin not only smells foul, but having too much insulin could affect my blood sugar. As a diabetic, it’s important to balance how much insulin is being used in your body. Pumps and syringes help measure how much insulin is needed to break down carbohydrate in your body and having too much, or too little, could trouble one’s health — physically or mentally.
Q: “(Pointing at my insulin pump) Is that your phone?”
A: No, sorry, my phone isn’t a sky blue, flip phone attached to my stomach.
Q: “Do you like having diabetes?”
A: Honestly, no. There’s never a day off from it and I wouldn’t give it to my worst enemy. With that being said, having diabetes doesn’t make me “special” or different. I have fears, ambitions and dreams just like everyone else.
Luke O’Roark is a sophomore studying journalism and a staff writer at The Post. Have any questions about diabetes? Email him at lr514812@ohio.edu or find him on Twitter at @Lukeoroark.
