u/cer216

I personally do not like leash greeting with strangers and their dogs or even neighbors. I don’t do it with my own dog, and I’m not doing it with anyone else’s dog either. I know this might get mixed feedback from some. In my experience and opinion I find it to be an unnecessary liability and safety risk.

Does anyone else ever get push back from other dog walkers? I’m really not interested in a potential conflict, risk of leash tangles, physical injuries to myself or the dog etc. The risk is significantly lower if we just cross the street to avoid another dog on a leash. Just a wave or a nod is enough, why do some people try and make this a mandatory thing? I obviously am a dog person, it is precarious letting two leashed dogs merge.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how polite I say no thank you, people get offended if I don’t want to let our dogs sniff as we walk by. I’ve tried the direct approach instead saying “not friendly” with my own (overly friendly) dog, and get a side eye.

Yesterday, I had a person chase me and a dog down, literally. I turned the corner to avoid the person with the dog, crossed the street to get away, and the person yells and follows because their dog and the dog I was walking are acquainted. I said I am the dog walker and it is my policy not to have interactions with other dogs when the dog is in my care, that they can resume their relationship when dog is in the owner’s care. The message was poorly received.

The other dog walker proceeded to demonstrate even lower levels of intelligence, and began to yell my dog’s name as we started walking away. This same individual also is often seen walking their dog unleashed allowing it to run up to other people and dogs. I’m guessing this other walker is not used to people telling them no, and asking them to recall their own dog. This is a regular of mine, I am guaranteed to see this dog walker again.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is there a magic phrase or hand gesture to redirect other dog walkers. Saying no doesn’t work, and apparently neither does walking away. I just want to listen to my audiobook and safely walk my dog. No hard feelings!

I don’t know if any other parents with active children with type one diabetes have had a similar experience or not. Maybe even some adults with type one have experienced this themselves.

Sometimes my child leaves his phone behind and since he’s young the iPhone isn’t generally able to fit reliably into his pockets. He has a habit of losing data when we are outside or when he leaves his phone somewhere and walks away. I was considering a smart watch to help keep his Dexcom readings from losing signal when the phone gets put down or when he wants to run around and be a kid. I wish there was a way to attach his phone to him, but I figured a watch made more sense!

Everything I have researched seems unreliable and I read that FDA approval is required for an actual medical watch. What I’m looking for something that would work with his Dexcom so he doesn’t lose data all summer when playing outside, climbing trees etc.
I am not looking for a watch to check his glucose or anything just to connect and work with his CGM.

Can anyone recommend a smart watch that I can attach to his wrist to keep him in range for readings without having to lug his phone everywhere?

My child is growing up and starting to manage T1D more independently. He was invited to a classmate’s birthday party.

Majority of other kids were dropped off. Naturally my son doesn’t want to be in the minority and have his parents hovering. Before dropping him off we had a conversation in private about keeping the phone near by for Dexcom readings. Also calling us before pizza or cake for guidance on bolus, and the pump was put in activity mode. BG was picture perfect, diabetes management was great and no alarms or whistles went off.

I’m trying to hold it together right now because my motherly instinct mirrors that of an angry lioness. My baby came home and said he feels weird for having diabetes. Without going into a lot of detail, some other kid pointed him out and made unkind comments. My boy sat alone and felt excluded after bolusing for cake. In general my child is not into being the center of attention in the best of times. He is so outgoing and confident and it pains me to see him feeling like this.

I don’t want to step in, even though it’s tempting to message the mother of the child. I want to guide my child how to handle this situation. We can’t control ignorant people. Growing up is hard. Growing up with diabetes is another level. I wish more parents would teach their children how to be kind and if they have nothing nice to say not to say anything at all.

Has anyone here learned a positive way on how to navigate bullying and diabetes?