10 Things I Want My Friends To Know

Here's another good one from www.juvenation.org:

10 Things I Want My Friends To Know

1. When I'm testing my blood sugar or giving myself insulin, please don't get grossed out or make a big deal about it.
2. Please stop telling me I can't eat something because there's sugar in it!  I can eat all the same things as you can, just in smaller portions and with a dose of insulin.
3. Just because I've had diabetes for a long time doesn't mean I'll ever get used to it.  Most days I'm fine, but some days my diabetes can still get the best of me.
4. I'm not going to die every time I check my blood sugar or experience a low.
5. You don't need to announce to everyone that I have diabetes.  I'll tell them if I want to.
6. Having diabetes is like a full-time job and can be exhausting, so please be patient with me.
7. Just because I have diabetes doesn't mean that I can't play sports and do all the things that everyone else does.
8. It's OK to ask me questions about my diabetes.  I want to help you understand what it's like.
9. I didn't do anything to cause my type 1 diabetes, and there's still no cure.
10. Diabetes doesn't define who I am, it's just something I have.

The funny thing about Maddie and her friends is that a lot of her friends feel like they have to look out for her or protect her from harm.  She really thinks it's sweet.  She loves her friends!!