Since type 1 diabetes is a significant part of your life, it will certainly play a role in your partner's life. Type 1 diabetes will add a new element to your relationships, so it is really important to lay it all out in the beginning and make sure you both are on the same page of understanding.
Through my past relationships, I have learned that most people are accepting of the situation and willing to take on the responsibilities of being in a relationship with someone that has type 1 diabetes. One, on the other hand, wasn't as accepting and willing to commit to a relationship that had an added, unknown element to it .. And here is the start of my relationship journey with diabetes.
When I was diagnosed with T1D, I was a senior in high school and was dating a boy that was a year older than I was. I understood that it was a weird and scary time for us both, but he did not help me in any bit or make me feel better about my situation.
I will never forget a comment that was made about him "catching diabetes" by eating a glucose tab (..as if you can just catch diabetes like it was contagious or something).
I asked him to try a glucose tab, which is literally just fast acting sugar, because I thought they were pretty good, and I wanted him to see how it tasted. His response to me was, “No, I don’t want to catch diabetes.” I could maybe understand if he was obese and didn't want to risk getting type 2 diabetes but no.
It was in the early days of my diagnosis so I was completely at a loss of words. I was angry, appalled, annoyed, and slightly embarrassed that this is how my boyfriend felt about me and how uneducated people truly are about type 1 diabetes.
After that, the comment lingered in my head for a while and I began to feel embarrassed around him every time I had to test my blood sugar or give myself insulin. I was new to this and I needed someone that would support me and learn with me on what I needed to do to stay alive. He never invested his time to understand how I was feeling or really understand what type 1 diabetes was. I also never truly felt he accepted me for who I was after my diagnosis.
We inevitably broke up shortly after that. It took me a while to realize that I shouldn't feel the need to 'shield' my boyfriend from my chronic illness or ever feel embarrassed.
Type 1 diabetes in relationships can be challenging but there are amazing people out there that will love you for who you are and be willing to take on this battle right alongside you.
Set the stage in the beginning - Explain your situation but don't overload your partner with information (This will come with time and will be a learning process for both)!
Don't settle - Find someone that will accept all of you and be there for you through all the highs and lows.
Be patient on your journey to finding the right one!
Thankfully, I have found my person.. but let's leave that story for another post!
xoxo Kaitlin