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I wish that I could offer some comfort. I am very fortunate in that my wife and I are "Empty Nesters" and we both understand that the family gets sick, not just the individual.
I have out of control diabetes and my wife and I both have altered our lifestyles and eating habits which makes things much easier for me. Further, my wife is actively involved with my monitoring and asks every blood test time what my blood sugar is. She even calls me at work to ask.
It wasn't easy for us to jump onto the straight-and-narrow. It took a massive bilateral PE and a week of me in ICU to scare us both straight.
I like the classes idea. I suggested that to a high school teacher last eve that has concerns for one of her students. I suggested a "Home Ec" like setting using the magazine "Diabetes Forecast" as a teaching and study guide. Maybe the same sorts of groups could be assembled as social groups where diabetics or anyone else with any other health issues quorum together to fix meals, learn and socialize.
Replies to "I wish that I could offer some comfort. I am very fortunate in that my wife..."
Wow! Mark! Hang on to that wife of yours; she sounds like a gem. I am not so lucky, my wife is a workaholic and rarely checks up on me at all. Thanks for the suggestions.
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@mark_fugate Thank you for sharing here. I also was a Type I diabetic unable to control my blood sugars until I received a pancreas transplant. May I ask what type diabetes you have, how long you have had the diagnosis and how you have been advised to manage it? I agree that a group or class for diabetics could have many benefits in a community, but I also see some possible dangers. With no medical input a sharing group can lead you astray with "alternate" recommendations; and if led by a medical expert sharing may be limited and the group may become more like a college lecture. A balance of the two would have been best for me and drawn me in. Hopefully you can follow through and help your community begin something like this not only for diabetics but also for their friends and family.
I feel I must admonish you and your wife a bit. Your diabetes is your responsibility. It is good your wife is interested, keeps up on your condition and needs, and assists with daily management;, but it sounds like she may have taken on the role of mother/warden in your life. You need to protect your marriage by taking the lead in taking responsibility for your disease. Be forever grateful for her love and support, and be glad that in a crisis she knows how to help you; but day to day she should not have to worry about your behavior while you are away from her. I am sorry to scold you like this, but please discuss this with your wife and hopefully build a better life together. Blessings.