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Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
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Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 14 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and Health Care Education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Metabolism at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a diabetes educator in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Metabolism at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
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Living with diabetes blog
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Oct. 10, 2009
To tell or not to tell: Diabetes and dating
By Nancy Klobassa, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Going out for a first date and wondering if you should tell him or her if you have diabetes? The American Diabetes Association offers some things to consider when trying to decide whether or not to tell:
- Dining: It might be easier to stick with your meal plan if your date knows about your diabetes.
- Hypoglycemia: What happens if you get low while on a date?
- Testing your blood glucose and giving self injections: Consider that you may need to test your blood sugar or give yourself an injection while you are out.
- Activity: If your date involves physical activity, such as sports, swimming, rollerblading, that would require more frequent blood glucose testing and a greater chance of getting a low.
When you decide to let your date know that you have diabetes, the explanation can be short and sweet. With a little planning ahead of time, you can concentrate on having fun!
Here are a few tips to boost your confidence:
- Plan ahead — Don't go too long without a meal or snack. Test your blood sugar prior to going out. Carry emergency snacks or blood glucose tablets in your purse or pocket.
- Injection — If you need to give yourself an injection prior to eating, an insulin pen is discreet and easy to use.
- Oral care — Blood glucose levels of 250 mg/dl or higher (13.9 mmol/L) are often accompanied by a fruity breath odor. Normalize blood glucose levels and have good oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth regularly and see your dentist twice a year.
- Limit alcohol — Alcohol can rapidly decrease your blood sugar level, putting you at great risk for hypoglycemia especially if you are on insulin. Test your blood glucose to help you decide if you should drink. If you do choose to have alcohol, limit the amount and have it with food. Drink only when your blood glucose is under control. Check with your healthcare provider to see if it is OK to combine alcohol with your diabetes medications. Alcohol, physical activity, and insulin all lower your blood sugar. The combination can be hazardous to your health.
- Medical I.D. — Always a good idea.
So, to tell or not to tell? Please share your experiences, good or bad.
8 comments posted
November 10, 2009 4:01 p.m.
well i have been with my current boyfriend eli now for three months. and on our first date he luckily already knew i was a diabetic . so he asked me as we ate dinner if i had checked my sugar and took my medicine at all today. But i think he got a wake up call just has serious diabetes really is. cause i had bought myself a new meter the one touch the one u code. and i had lost it. but he noticed i started acting not myself and became extremly dizzy and thirsty and just was not feeling well. i ended up misplacing the meter. and luckily he found it . and i checked my sugar it was way above my goal it was over200 houndred. he got very scared and thought i was going to die. i calmly told him im not going to die. and took my medicine . now we just make sure i eat better and have a snack depending on my sugar. latley it has been running between 90 to 140. my doctor wants me less then a 100 before meals and 130 to 150 after.
- chrystal hart
October 31, 2009 8:00 a.m.
I am a divorced, single father, raising three children for the past four years. I have dated three women over this time and have told them all on the first date that I am a diabetic. All three women responded with interest and would often ask if I had my glucose tabs, did you test, don't forget your insulin? This does need to be talked about if the person is someone that you will be on future dates with.
- Brad
October 30, 2009 9:25 a.m.
Insulin-dependent for 46 years & the I-can-do-it-myself type, I wasn't as open as I might have been about it. Now closing in on 60, still independent, single & a workplace trainer for medical emergencies -- I find I still need permission from professionals sometimes to do the right thing for myself. Now I wonder if I might have thought about dating guys with an interest in how this disease effects me...I'd been diabetic for 25 years before I'd ever heard about a partner giving his/her partner insulin. I was clueless.Wisdom tells me need-to-know sharing on that first date will speak volumes.
- Sherry
October 28, 2009 2:56 p.m.
I think each person should know himself or herself well enough to figure out what information you are comfortable sharing on a first date. Yes, if you don't want to explain why you are cutting all sugars and going "diet" on everything you eat or drink then let that person know. And if you are going out in public and are prone to have your blood sugar drop at times of stress or other activity you definitely want to let the person know that if you start acting differently you may need some assistance. In the 20 years that I have been going out socially, either on dates or with people I have just met, I will tell the people I am out with that I am diabetic for safety reasons. Afterall, the people you are dating/socializing with are supposed to accept you for who you are and diabetes is part of your life.
- Regine
October 28, 2009 11:18 a.m.
I didn't know my date was a type 1 diabetic and on the third date his sugar got low and I didn't know what was going on or what to do. I was familiar about type 2 diabetics but not type 1 and they are very different. We were out in public and I didn't know what was wrong with him so I went to a pay phone and dialed 911 and an ambulance came in the middle of a busy city, gave him glucose and within 20 minutes he was fine. If I had known to give him something with sugar in it, we would have been fine. So PLEASE tell your date about your diabetes and tell them what to do if something goes wrong! We've been together almost 8 years now so don't be afraid to tell someone about your health.
- Stacy
October 28, 2009 10:23 a.m.
I have always had positive experiences informing my date that I have diabetes. It makes me more comfortable throughout the date and usually the person I am with has a relative or a friend with Diabetes, so they are always more understanding than I would expect.
- Katja
October 16, 2009 8:50 p.m.
Great article!
- Carolyn
October 14, 2009 1:18 p.m.
If you are going to a date where eating is the prime activity I would mention diabetes. Otherwise I would wait until the relationship is becoming serious.
- Gigi
8 comments posted