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Type 3 diabetes: being a partner to someone with diabetes

I have Type 3 diabetes, my husband has Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, since 2001, February.

Living with type 1 diabetes isn’t easy. Extremely good diabetes management requires a lot of time and effort. So to make attack days better and panic free… for myself and my kids. We make sure that we don’t miss the Dr’s appointments, we write all our questions concerning diabetes down, and after he consulted with my husband, he consults with us.

We work as a team.

– Tshepang Sesinye

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3 Comments

  1. From Facebook (Diabetic South Africans):

    There is no reason for a type 1 diabetic to face any social stigma or have any self pity. They eat and live the way most of us should. I see no reason for loved ones of type 1 diabetics to label themselves as type 3.

    The ladies entry sounded more like self pity and a burden rather than supportive. My son is type 1 and I am not type 3, I am his mother first and fore most. Sorry not much compassion from my side but we have witnessed the self pity of ‘type 3’s (as it is put) where the type 1 is left feeling as though they are a burden ‘too much hard work’ for their family. Our son is a fantastic child that needs his sugars controlled and insulin injections – never a burden.

    – Roslyn Anne Shipton

  2. Miche Miche

    So curious about what help and information I might learn. My husband has been Type I since 14 years old. He never talks about I, doesn’t want anyone to know and has faced bias and different treatment at work. He has dealt with the stigma too as a coworker who did announce his diabetic condition was overlooked for positions in management because Mgmt feared the demands would be too much for that particular employee. My husband was glad he kept his diagnosis quiet. As a spouse and parent, the mood swings are something we endure. Recently I took 3 days to visit family and was stunned how carefree everyone seemingly was. It was this experienced that has cause me to search harder for help for my husband, myself and child.

    • Hi Michele,
      You’re not alone! So sorry to hear your husband has had a hard time at work because of his diabetes – that’s really quite ridiculous, don’t you think? Mood swings can be a daily part of life for many diabetics, but if there’s something specific you want to ask about or if you think they’re more severe than they should be, please email us at hello @ sweetlife.org.za and we’ll post it on this blog. You can ask the community anything, we’re all in this together. You can also join our Facebook page (Diabetic South Africans) to meet other partners of diabetics.
      Welcome!
      Bridget

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Sweet Life is a registered NPO/PBO (220-984) with a single goal: to improve diabetes in South Africa. We are funded by sponsorships and donations from aligned companies and organisations who believe in our work. We only share information that we believe benefits our community. While some of this information is linked to specific brands, it is not an official endorsement of that brand. We believe in empowering people with diabetes to make the best decisions they can, to live a healthy, happy life with diabetes.