Hi! It’s Paloma and Gretchen! We were both diagnosed with diabetes around the same time, in different ways and places but somehow we still found each other. Had our pancreas kept producing insulin, we probably wouldn’t have had the chance to meet but here we are! Something we have in common is we LOVE to celebrate. Let’s all celebrate International Friendship Day together!
About Gretchen
As a young 23 year old, Gretchen was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while on a cruise traveling through Europe in the summer of 2014. She felt so frustrated, confused, and alone with no one to truly understand what she was going through. There was so much change happening, and she felt that there was no one to talk nor relate to. After searching the internet for answers, she found nothing. So she then turned to creating my own Instagram (@typeonetypehappy) and blog (Type One Type Happy) to share about her journey with diabetes to hopefully help someone else going through the same scary things and loneliness that she felt when first diagnosed. Gretchen wanted to create something that would inspire and empower people living with diabetes to continue to live their life to the fullest, accomplishing anything they want! As social media and the diabetes community naturally started to grow, she’s been able to make so many new connections and friends from all over the world, all experiencing all the same things together. It has truly changed her life, outlook, and even relationship with diabetes management. It is strange to say, but in some ways she feels thankful for the struggle because she would have never met her best friend/diabestie- Paloma!
About Paloma
Paloma wears many titles including *unofficial* Miss Arizona, The Bachelorette, Cat Mom but her favorite is Glitter Glucose. Paloma was diagnosed in 2013 and created GG as an alter ego to connect with people living with diabetes like herself. When she was first diagnosed she felt so lost and alone. It wasn’t until she connected with people like Gretchen on social media that she FINALLY felt like she belonged somewhere. Now on her social channels you can find her sharing her everyday life which includes fashion, beauty, dating, and fitness. Paloma brings you along for the ride with the overall goal to make life with diabetes a little brighter!
It Takes 2
1. What is your favorite thing about having a friend with diabetes?
Gretchen: I love being able to complain to Paloma and she just gets it. For me, my absolute favorite thing is teaching each other tips and tricks! Honestly, if it wasn’t for diabetes friends, I would have never tried a CGM because I was too scared. But once I saw a friend put one on and show me everything about it, I felt eager to use one and haven’t looked back since!
Paloma: I always feel safe. I feel like there's always someone who has my back no matter what. I’m low- here's a snack. I’m high- let's slow down. I had a great endo visit- high 5. It’s just nice knowing someone actually understands first hand.
2. Diabetes brought us together but the friendship is so much more than that. What else do you have in common?
Gretchen: That’s honestly the best part! We obviously connect with diabetes, but there’s so many things! Our love for country music, cute clothes, fun adventures, creating… just to name a few!
Paloma: I probably would have NEVER met Gretchen if it wasn’t for the commonality of diabetes! So for that, THANKS DIABETES! Now I have a partner to gossip with about our fav shows, a singalong partner, a work colleague, and overall just an awesome +1!
3. What are some tips on how to meet new friends with diabetes?
Gretchen: Try attending diabetes events, meet-ups, diabetes camps, etc! It’s a great way to meet new people because everyone is there for the same reason so it makes for an instant ice breaker. Secondly, make friends virtually. The diabetes online social media community is bigger than you think! People are always open to new friendships and diabetes connections, so don’t be afraid to slide into the DMs (that’s how me and Paloma initially met)!
Paloma: Be open about diabetes! You never know who might see or hear you.
4. What is your favorite low snack?
Gretchen: Gummy bears! But for lows in the middle of the night, I always want apple juice.
Paloma: Same! :) When I forget mine, I know Gretchen will have hers.
5. What's your most embarrassing or funny diabetes moment?
Gretchen: One embarrassing/funny moment was when I was newly dating a guy who didn’t know I had diabetes yet. So one evening, we were kissing and my CGM alarms were blowing up my phone. It was consistently alerting my phone that I had high blood sugar every minute! So it kept interrupting our romantic moment- Every. Single. Time. It got to the point where he said to me “Man, you’re really popular with all your text messages going off!” and I just said “Ya, I guess I am. You should feel lucky to be hangin’ with me!” *wink face* haha
Paloma: OMG, I’m laughing at Gretchens story! Mine also has to do with dating! I was on a first date and I wear my insulin pump clipped to the center of my bra. I didnt realize my tubing was hanging out of my vneck when the guy showed up. He saw my tubing and said “Are you wearing a wire?!” He thought I was with the FBI or something. Spoiler alert: we were not a match.
Even though living with diabetes sucks, one of the positive things to come out of it is the friendships we make. Having a friend that understands the struggles we all go through inside and out, is life changing. The fact that a friendship can come from a terrible diagnosis and blossom into a friendship where we can connect on so many other levels and similarities beyond just diabetes, really is special. It’s simple to say that if we didn't have diabetes, we would have never met- and that’s when I say that in this instance, I am thankful for our diabetes!
You can be our friend too by finding us here:
Paloma
Instagram: @glitterglucose
Blog: www.glitterglucose.com
Gretchen
Instagram: www.instagram.com/typeonetypehappy
Blog: www.typeonetypehappy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/typeonetypehappy
Twitter: www.twitter.com/type1typehappy
Tiktok: @typeonetypehappy https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMd77LJF2/
