In the Wild Bartender 

I met my friend at the bar in between our houses. I had my Dexcom in my arm that night and the bartender said, (but I didn’t hear) “you have the pod?” It’s a busy and loud Irish bar. Later as I was getting another drink from a different bartender, he asked if he could ask what was on my arm. I told him it was a continuous glucose monitor and he yelled over to the first bartender to come check it out. Turns out, she’s had diabetes for years, has a Minimed pump and hates the Minimed CGM. “I wore that thing one night and it kept me awake all night telling me I was high and I wasn’t!” We talked about diabetes for a few minutes until another customer needed a drink.  Bars are where I’ve had some of what I think are my scariest lows. When I look back on them later I can see how I wasn’t in real danger and there were in fact safe choices and sugar surrounding me. But between the lack of sugar and the increase in alcohol, obvious choices aren’t always so obvious. It was like a wave of relief washed over me in that instant. Not that I need to be taken care of. But if I say “my blood sugar is crashing. I need sprite now,” they won’t disregard my drink request in favor of someone buying alcohol. It’s the little things in life that make the difference between on edge and relaxing. I’m glad a local bar can give me that difference.