Dating with a Pump?

Has anyone ever felt awkward or out of place in the dating world due to your pump or CGM? Has anyone ever had a really bad or embarrassing experience with it? Does being type 1 come up on first dates or do you keep that inside as long as you can? How do you tell someone you are interested in that you have diabetes? These are all questions we will face at one time or another, well unless you are a nun or a priest then I guess you won’t ever date. But does having diabetes and or a pump have an impact on your dating life? I would love to get feedback on this.

Some of the diabetes equipment can seem bulky and noticeable at times, but I know several patients who keep it all so well hidden, if they don’t tell you they have diabetes you would never know. To me diabetes is not embarrassing. I am not afraid to talk about it (or blog about it….LOL). I don't even mind when people come up and say what is that thing on your arm, or something along those lines. I have no issues explaining it to anyone and I am super passionate about how great they are it’s hard to not accept it I think. I mean this thing changed my whole life. There is no way I can imagine not having it.

I have dated in the past with all of my machinery on. When I was younger I know I was not sure if and when to tell a guy I was dating about it. I used to worry they would not be attracted to me because of it or something like that. I got to a point in my life, however, where I just tell people right off the bat. To me there is no point in getting involved with someone who can’t handle it. It’s not like it will change or like there is anything I can do about it. It’s not going to go away and the alternative is to become a giant pin cushion with 5 or more shots a day (been there and done that and not going to go back). I mean in my opinion anyone worth having will accept you as you are, pump, CGM and all.

I have dated a few men who were terrified of needles, they were ok with the pump. I had one guy who freaked out about the whole idea of it. Most men don’t seem to care though. When I met my ex husband, before we go married we did talk about having kids and that it may be hard, but otherwise, I am just me. I have had patients who hated their pumps and felt awkward with it on, like it drew too much attention to them. And I had one woman who said it freaked her husband out so much he would no longer touch her, so she came off of it. I was like are you kidding me? That I could not understand, but Hey we are each our own person, free to make our own decisions right? It is not my job to judge anyone.

I think we should all wear the shirt above on every first date we go on from here on out! Normally, I don’t wear a giant sign or have a shirt that says “DIABETIC” but I don’t hide my sensor to just to get someone to like me. I am secure enough in my own skin (diabetes and all) to show people who I am. I am a type 1 diabetic and I have things stuck in me, this is my life and I am ok with it, hope you all are too. I would love to hear your comments and thoughts. Has anyone had a really bad experience on a first date?