My Dexcom has alarmed during a job interview, a first date, a funeral, a yoga class, and once — memorably — during a toast at my cousin’s wedding. Every single time, I had a decision to make: explain, ignore, or excuse myself.
There’s no perfect answer. But after years of T1D in public, I’ve developed a philosophy.
You Don’t Owe Anyone an Explanation
Let’s start here. Your body is your business. If someone asks about the device on your arm, you can answer as fully or as briefly as you choose. “It’s a glucose monitor” is a complete and sufficient response. So is “it’s a medical device.” So is changing the subject.
Some people are curious and kind. Some are intrusive. Some will say something wildly uninformed about diabetes (my personal favorite: “should you be eating that?”). None of them are entitled to your health history.
But Sometimes Explaining Is Useful
There’s a practical case for disclosure: emergencies. If the people around you know you have T1D, they can help if you’re having a severe low. That’s not a small thing.
I keep a “in case of emergency” note in my phone’s medical ID with my diagnosis, medications, and what to do if I’m unresponsive. I’ve also told the people I spend the most time with what a severe low looks like and how to use my glucagon kit.
That’s not vulnerability — that’s planning.
The Dating Question
I used to wait until the third or fourth date to mention T1D. Now I mention it earlier, usually casually, in a way that invites no particular reaction. “Oh, that’s my CGM — I have Type 1 Diabetes” and then back to the conversation.
What I’ve found: the people who respond with curiosity and care are the ones worth spending time with. The people who respond with weird pity or discomfort reveal something useful about themselves very quickly.
At Restaurants
I am not the person who interrogates every waiter about every ingredient. Life’s too short and the math is never going to be exact anyway. But I do:
- Ask about obvious hidden sugars in sauces and marinades
- Choose dishes I can estimate with reasonable confidence
- Front-load my protein and fat before the carbs if I can
- Pre-bolus before the food arrives rather than at the table (assuming I ordered something familiar)
Eating out with T1D is not a crisis. It’s just a slightly more complicated version of what everyone else is doing.
The Permission You Need
You’re allowed to check your blood sugar at the dinner table. You’re allowed to treat a low with glucose tabs in the middle of someone else’s presentation. You’re allowed to eat something specific even if it doesn’t fit the group order. You’re allowed to step away when you need to.
Your management doesn’t need to be invisible. It just needs to be yours.