08/03/2016
TEEN TOPICS – WEEK 54
Each week we ask our panel of Type 1 teens from across the country to answer questions about their diabetes. Here are their answers to this week’s question.
**To see all of the previous topics, please visit our archive at https://pbntype1teens.wordpress.com **
TEEN TOPIC #54: In the summer do you mind having your D-tech more visible? Do you switch off from a cgm or pump if you can't hide it under clothes or at the beach? If not, do you mind explaining when people ask about it?
Annelies (age 15)
In the summer, I don't mind having my devices visible. It's a part of me, and I can't really hide that. Although it can get annoying, I don't mind explaining because not many people know about what the devices are, or what diabetes really is in general and it ends up sparking a new conversation.
Ashley B. (age 16)
During the summer, I don't mind if any of my insulin sites or my CGM site is visible. It just makes for easier access in case something goes wrong.
Ashley C. (age 14)
In the summer I try and have it in my leg so I can give my arms a break. I also don't really care if people see it; I'm not self-conscious about my diabetes. I don't have a problem explaining my disease to other people, I actually love telling people about it.
Cameron (age 17)
I don't really mind having my stuff being visible because most people that see it already know I have diabetes. I don't mind explaining it when people ask me either.
Claire (age 18)
I don't have any of those things. However, when people see me dosing or checking my blood, they often ask what I'm doing and I more than happily explain to them.
Erin (age 17)
I am not on a pump or CGM, however in general I am pretty open with checking and giving injections. Unless a friend or person has asked me to not check or give insulin in front of them I do.
Ian (age 14)
I don't really like having my diabetes supplies visible, period. I don't care either way, pump or pens, I can manage to hide them quite well either way.
Jessica (age 20)
I have never been the biggest fan of having my pump and CGM showing while at the pool or beach, or even when wearing a dress, but I don't really have any other option. I could return to shots, but I don't. I simply live with it and accept who I am. It is a part of me and if people judge or don't accept that, then I shouldn't be surrounded by them. I do occasionally go on a hiatus from my sensors for a couple of weeks at a time in order to give my body a break. I never mind explaining my pump and what it is for, however, I will admit that I can get annoyed if I'm with friends at the beach and people ask me tons of questions when I just want to have fun. Nonetheless, I don't mind answering some questions or talking with a fellow T1D when in public.
Jordan (age 18)
It is not a problem to me whether or not my pump shows because it’s not like an embarrassing thing. The only problem I see in the summer is that when I take my pump off at the beach I have to make sure that I put it somewhere shady or else it will overheat.
Julia (age 15)
I don't really try to hide my pump or cgm from people in the summer or anytime really. I don't usually wear my cgm at the beach but other than that it doesn't bother me. People often ask me what my cgm is but I don't mind explaining.
Laura (age 17)
This actually doesn't bother me at all because I never really think twice about it. I think I used to be a little more self-conscious about it, but eventually accepted that it's something I need to survive and I shouldn't be embarrassed about it or try to hide it. As for the questions, they sometimes can get obnoxious. I guess it just depends on the time and day.
Lexi (age 16)
I don't usually hide my pump from anything. Most of the time when I'm out I just go to a friend’s house who already knows about it. There's nothing for me to hide and I would never want to switch from my pump back to shots.
Maggie (age 16)
In the summer I don't really mind if my "D-tech" is showing. It’s a part of who I am. I would never try to hide it because I believe it is a part of my personality, and so what if I have this thing attached to me. If anyone asks what it is I just simply explain, “Oh, I have Type 1 diabetes and it's my continuous glucose meter or insulin pump”. At Friends For Life (family diabetes conference) I got asked like 3 times what was on my arm so I just explained and spread knowledge about T1d.
Skylyn (age 16)
I don't change anything. I wear my pump year round. I wear it in a case around my waist almost all the time so it's never really visible; only when I am bolusing. No one really asks about it but if they do, I just tell them it's my pump for my diabetes and that's pretty much the end of explaining it.
Vanessa (age 16)
No, it never bothers me any time during the year for it to be seen. I am completely okay with people asking me questions about it because I like educating people on it.
Haley (age 14)
I'm MDI and I'm not using any D-tech right now, but if I were I wouldn't mind if people saw it and asked questions. I feel it would provide a great opportunity to educate people about T1D.
Maddy (age 14)
I really don't have an issue with my D-tech being visible. I don't switch off from my cgm or my pump if I can't hide it under my clothes or at the beach because then I can explain my devices and how they help me manage my diabetes better.
McKenna (age 16)
I wear a cgm, (Dexcom), and I don't switch between a pump because I do not have one. But no, I don't move it or remove the cgm if it's visible because I forget it's there most the time, it's like it is part of me. I'm perfectly fine with others knowing I have a cgm.
Christina (age 15)
Since I have gotten my pump, I have always continued to wear it during the summer months. I do feel self-conscious about my pump being visible, but I don't let that stop me from wearing it at places like the beach. On the rare occasion someone asks me about my insulin pump, I take time to inform them on what it is/does and about type 1 diabetes in general.
