Diabetes and The Holidays: What’s The Protocol on Gift Giving?
With the holidays right around the corner, you might be wondering what to get that special someone on your list who is living with diabetes. Let’s face it, finding the perfect gift can be a challenge under any circumstances. But when you’re shopping for a friend or family member with diabetes, gift giving takes on a whole new level of confusion.
For instance, should you even consider giving someone a diabetes-related gift? Will they be offended or upset if you do? If you do go the diabetes gift route, what should you get? After all, a box of lancets or pen needles doesn’t exactly scream, “I think you’re someone special.”
In this post, we hope to help you answer some of these questions and clarify a few things to make your holiday gift-giving a little less stressful. For good measure, we’ll even offer up a few diabetes-related gift ideas that just might work for you. But first, let’s get into the dos and don’ts of holiday shopping for someone with diabetes.
Kids & Spouses – Let’s Go Ahead and Rule Them Out
There are some folks on your list that you just don’t want to give a diabetes-related gift to, and they tend to be those closest to you. Let’s start with little kids. Please do not get your young child, nephew, or niece a diabetes-related gift. Kids love the holidays because they get fun presents, and this pretty much rules out equipment and supplies necessary for effective diabetes management. Let kids be kids. Spoil them with toys and video games and all the normal stuff on their lists.
Next, there’s your spouse or partner. Again, chances are, a gift that revolves around diabetes isn’t the wisest choice. There are some possible exceptions that we’ll get into a bit later, however, for the most part a gift that assists with diabetes management isn’t the most romantic of gestures. Sure, you can drop a pretty penny on infusion sets even if you save big by purchasing them at Diabetic Warehouse, but it’s not likely to win you any holiday bonus points with your special someone.
It Depends on Your Relationship
Now that we’ve ruled out the no-nos. What about someone else on your list? Perhaps the most important variable to consider is the relationship you have with that person. Ask yourself a few questions. Are you extremely close to this person, spending a lot of time together as you might with a sibling or best friend? Do you often talk about living with diabetes and the challenges that come with it? Are you involved in this person’s diabetes management program? Or is your relationship with the person more of a casual friendship with diabetes not often a topic of conversation?
If you’re truly close to someone and intimately involved in that person’s daily life, it may give you more license to go the diabetes gift route. But in the end, it’s up to you to read the situation. While everyone living with diabetes is well-aware of the added challenges they face, many prefer not to be reminded of this during the holidays. On the flip side, others may appreciate the fact that you are concerned about their health and wellbeing. In the end, it’s a case-by-case, person-by-person scenario and it’s up to you to make the call.
Deciding On a Diabetes Gift
Okay, let’s say you’ve made the decision to get someone you care about a diabetes-related gift. Now, you have to decide which way to go. Do you want something functional? Something fun? Something foodie? Something personal? There are a lot of different options out there and we’ve put together a few ideas that might be worth considering for those PWDs on your list.
Medical meets Fashionable
Just because something helps with diabetes management doesn’t mean it can’t also be a totally cool gift. Here are two examples:
Apple Watch Series 7 & 8
Along with all the other bells and whistles Apple is known for, these watches also integrate with Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring systems. So, all those blood sugar readings show up right there on the wrist!
Medical ID Bracelets
Nowadays, these lifesaving emergency IDs come in all sorts of fashionable designs. Who said being safe and smart can’t also be stylish? Google “Medical ID Bracelet” and you’re sure to find a wide variety of choices.
Fun and Funny Gift Ideas
Does the person on your list have a sense of humor? Most diabetics do because if we couldn’t laugh at ourselves now and then, managing the disease would just become too stressful. There are a lot of silly diabetes gift ideas on the market, from T-shirts to coffee mugs to diabetic supply cases. Here are two quick examples:
I Can Do Anything Except Make Insulin T-Shirt
This fashion statement available for purchase at Etsy.com says it all.
Dead Pancreas Party Kit Supply Case
You can find this one on Amazon along with countless other options.
Lifestyle Gifts
If you’re close enough to someone with diabetes, you know that eating right, managing anxiety, and getting in a proper amount of physical activity are keys to controlling blood sugar. With this in mind, you might want to consider these gift ideas.
Gym Membership/Personal Training
Granted, you have to be careful with this one. Some people might feel insulted by receiving a gift related to their weight or fitness level. However, if you’re close to the person and have discussed the challenges of getting in better condition, it just might be a wonderful way to show you care. In fact, why not shape up together?
Meditation or Yoga Classes
Stress can make it harder to control blood sugar. Besides whom among us couldn’t use a little helping winding down from those busy days? Giving meditation or yoga classes might be just what the doctor ordered.
Conclusion
So, should you give a diabetes-related gift or not? The truth is, if you’re asking yourself this question and are having a hard time deciding, we suggest erring on the side of caution and going with a big, fat NO!
For the right person, a diabetes-related gift can be a great way to show how much you care. But not everyone feels the same about pigeonholing diabetes into the holidays. Think about it this way. Everyone living with diabetes has the entire year to worry about managing their disease effectively. When the holidays roll around, they just might want to enjoy them like everyone else.
So, if in doubt, go with a great gift based on personality and passions. You can’t go wrong there. Have a safe and happy holiday season.
We hope you found this post informative and insightful. At Diabetic Warehouse, we committed to helping those with diabetes manage blood sugar with a complete selection of testing and treatment supplies at prices up to 65% less than those found at most pharmacies and suppliers.
Visit us online to shop for continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGM), glucose meters, test strips, lancets, insulin syringes, pen needles, infusion sets and patch systems, as well as all your other diabetic accessories.
Diabetic Warehouse is a trusted supplier of diabetes care products and accessories. For more information and to explore a complete range of products, including glucose meters and test strips, insulin syringes, pen needles, continuous glucose monitoring systems, and more, visit www.diabeticwarehouse.org.
