Vacation from Diabetes

07/16/08 Living Well

The menu taunts me: Come on, just one plate of fried food isn’t so bad. Hey, when is the last time you had a dessert? Remember, you are on vacation. That last line could have been uttered by anyone I vacation with, not only the menu. I have already been asked a number of times if I will deviate from my diet this week. Many people living with diabetes face the same situation: Should I break in the face of such social pressure and avoid the discomfort of adhering to the discipline of self-care, or should I remain true to my health, in spite of the friction such a decision would cause?

The answer isn’t so obvious. I believe the issue boils down to quality of life versus the immediate benefits of tight control. My vacation life would be immeasurably smoother if I just gave in, ate the grease and sugar and tossed my meter into the recesses of my luggage. The people I vacation with would embrace my rebellion and surely grill up some delectable concoction in celebration.

Instead, to maintain my tight control I will have my apples, carrot sticks, nuts, and egg whites at the ready. If I want a small meal, I will make a diminutive salad. If I desire a more robust meal, then a heartier salad, and I will be content.

The one reason why I would even consider breaking from my restrictions is to avoid upsetting anyone’s vacation. Everyone looks forward to one week out of the year when he or she can be free. In no way do I want to detract from that realization. Yet, at the same time, I do not understand how I detract—unless the healthy eating habits my diabetes necessitates create a guilty conscience for someone eating less healthily. But that is never my intent. 

In the end it is a matter of principles. Will I sacrifice myself for the greater good and silently swallow all the harm to my body I know I am inflicting? Or will I stand true and demand that my vacation does not have to include a departure from care, regardless of how it makes others feel? Right now we are heading out for dinner, and I have my glucose meter with me.

Eric Devine, 30, has lived with type 1 diabetes since he was 12. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and two daughters where he works as a high school English teacher. Devine is an avid writer and is currently seeking publication of two Young Adult novel manuscripts.