Living with Diabetes

First date? Wedding night? 20th wedding anniversary? When did you tell your true love about your diabetes?

The Dating Game

"I told my true love about my diabetes on the second date. I felt it wouldn't be fair if I had a hypoglycemia reaction and might need his help," said Rita, from Hoffman Estates, IL. "I also wanted to see his reaction… We will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this September. We have four wonderful children and they are the best advocates for me and their friends with diabetes."

Alex from Owensboro, KY said, "I told my new wife on our 5th date. She responded with, 'I know you will fight type 1 diabetes your whole life, and all I want to do is help you win the fight.' So far, she has been a helping hand since we married on July 19, 2008, (and) with her help I believe I can add a few years to my life."

Till Death Do Us Part

"I told my wife before we married and informed her that she needed to understand my medical condition Anthonybefore we could marry," wrote Anthony, from Omaha, NE. He even included diabetes into his wedding vows with his true love. "For sickness and health. No matter what obstacles concerning our health are thrown our way. We will handle it, hand in hand together. There is no problem that will be too difficult to overcome. Because we will always face it together."

Happily Ever After

When Bronwen, from Woonsocket, RI was diagnosed with diabetes, Bronwenher husband was sitting next to her in the doctor's office. "I felt I was slammed in the head with a sledge hammer, my life changed in an instant... Speechless I turned to my true love Sean and said NOTHING. My heart broken I climbed into his arms and he just held me and assured me that we could get through it. We did, (and) 2 1/2 years later I have an insulin pump and run a diabetes support group for adults who suffer from mental illness and diabetes. My disease has given me the opportunity to help others and my true love continues to ask, 'Did you check your sugar love?'"

"We were married when I was diagnosed with diabetes. Neither she nor I was surprised as I was overweight Tyrusand had a sedentary life style," commented Tyrus, from Honolulu, HI. "Diabetes actually made our relationship closer as my wife joined me at meetings with a dietitian. She supported me as I totally changed my lifestyle by both exercising daily and using my newly learned nutrition knowledge to change my eating habits."

"Actually, my wife told me about my diabetes," shared Gustavo, from Naples, Italy. "I was on a work trip in United Kingdom, and before leaving I left blood samples for clinical analysis. My wife got the results, and the analyst told her I no doubt had diabetes and should be treated immediately. Now my wife takes care of my diet and I manage my medical advice and care."

first posted Feb. 5, 2009