Of Temporary Basal Rates, Burgers, Bread Baskets & Friends Who Worry~

I met up with a large group of friends at a new bar/restaurant a few weeks back, and the minute I walked in the joint and saw the 8 inch high burgers( insert sex/meat joke here. Also, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID, ) and Belgium fries pass by on the server's tray,  I started a temporary basal rate of 30% - Because I was going to need it! 

More and more people were arriving and our party was getting better. We went from a table of eight, to 3 tables for 16+ people and we hadn't even placed our food orders yet. 

So a few of us that wanted to get on with the business of ordering decided to go ahead and order & get a separate check for the 5 of us. 

And I casually mentioned that I was on an increased temporary basal rate in anticipation of the burgers and didn't feel like waiting an hour before I placed ordered because: 

1. I was hungry

2. I was hungry and I didn't feel like waiting

3. I had taken extra insulin via my amped up temp basal rate.   

And that would be when my 2 friends immediately started to worry in stereo.

Friend A: Do you need food, because I could go grab some bread.

Me: No, I'm fine. My blood sugar was 170 when I tested a few minutes ago, I'm great!

Friend B: Are you sure? I could get you some orange juice. 

Me: Thanks, but honestly, not a big deal. Also, I have glucose tabs (Cherry Glucolift to be exact,) just in case.

Friend B: Here- I have a cough drop - it has sugar in it. 

Me: My cold is almost gone, but thanks.

Friend B: Not for your cold, for your blood sugar. 

Me: Oh... Ok. Honestly though, I'm not hungry, but thanks.

And then I took the cough drop from her hand and ate it, even though I really didn't want to, because I thought it would make my friend feel better. 

Small chit chat followed and Friend A excused herself and 5 minutes later she came back with a basket filled with hot bread and butter. 

Friend A: Hey - I got bread from the waitress.

Me - feeling guilty: I'm fine & you really didn't have to do that. I'm getting a burger and fries, I shouldn't eat bread, but thanks.
Sidebar: Turning down bread is so damn hard!

Friend A: I got it for me, not you. 

Me: OK, cool. But thanks anyway. Also, I know you got it for '"us," emphasis on "me." 

Friend A: I can't help it, I worry about you. 

Friend B: It's just how we are - we love you - we don't want you to go low or get sick .

The 3 of us had been friends since college, they'd known my sister Debbie and they were good to her. And there were days when they could deal with her being sick better than I could. These women (they were sisters,)  loved my parents and my family and I consider them family. 

And their concern made me grateful, happy and slightly sad all rolled into one. 

I was incredibly grateful for my wonderful friends. 

I was happy because having said wonderful friends who get and accept you - regardless of your busted pancreas are more precious than gold. 

And I was a slightly sad because I was the one who was making my friends worry - And I that made me feel slightly guilty. 

15 minutes later and 10 minutes before my burger arrived, I bolused for my food, including two slices of dinner roll. Not because I wanted to and not because I had to, but because the diabetes guilt was creeping in and I could tell that my friends were still a bit anxious.
And lets be honest, turning down bread is not an easy thing to do - AND IT COULD BE SO MUCH WORSE. AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!  

Diabetes guilt or not, good friends are gifts - And I am one lucky duck, indeed.