Yesterday, after I squeezed my giant self through standing passengers on a crowded 1 train, I plopped into the sole empty seat I could find and heard the middle-aged man to my left pipe up:
Him: "What are you using?"
Me: "Excuse me?"
Him, excitedly pointing at my hip: "What pump are you using?"
Me: "Oh! The Minimed Paradigm."
Him: "Me too! Do you use the thing that comes with it? The one that tells your blood sugar?"
Me: "Their CGM? Not anymore. I did for a couple months and hated it, then I switched to the Dexcom. I LOVE my Dexcom."
Him: "A what?"
Me, pulling out my receiver: "My Dexcom. It's a different kind of CGM. I love it"....
In two stops and a brief walk together as we exited at Columbus Circle, I showed this stranger my Dexcom sensor site on my lower back; we discussed the benefits of CGM, complained about how hard it is to find a good doctor (me: "But I love my endo now!"), dished on A1cs, traded diagnosis stories (he's LADA, and was excited I'd heard of it), and bemoaned burnout; and finally traded emails so I could send him links on Dexcom and the fabulous Berrie Center.
I've lived in New York for a long time, and the city can often feel lonely and kind of isolating - you're always surrounded by crowds of strangers. But a PWD? Another member of the tribe? It's an instant connection, no matter how fleeting.
Him: "What are you using?"
Me: "Excuse me?"
Him, excitedly pointing at my hip: "What pump are you using?"
Me: "Oh! The Minimed Paradigm."
Him: "Me too! Do you use the thing that comes with it? The one that tells your blood sugar?"
Me: "Their CGM? Not anymore. I did for a couple months and hated it, then I switched to the Dexcom. I LOVE my Dexcom."
Him: "A what?"
Me, pulling out my receiver: "My Dexcom. It's a different kind of CGM. I love it"....
In two stops and a brief walk together as we exited at Columbus Circle, I showed this stranger my Dexcom sensor site on my lower back; we discussed the benefits of CGM, complained about how hard it is to find a good doctor (me: "But I love my endo now!"), dished on A1cs, traded diagnosis stories (he's LADA, and was excited I'd heard of it), and bemoaned burnout; and finally traded emails so I could send him links on Dexcom and the fabulous Berrie Center.
I've lived in New York for a long time, and the city can often feel lonely and kind of isolating - you're always surrounded by crowds of strangers. But a PWD? Another member of the tribe? It's an instant connection, no matter how fleeting.