If you have diabetes and want to find someone else who knows a thing or two about insulin, you’ve probably found that apps like Tinder, okCupid, and Grindr just aren’t the best places to message a potential beau.
Here’s a list of some online dating sites for the Type 1 romantics:
Diabetic Date
Diabetic Date is the most traditional website for going out with someone with Type 1. Features of the site include how-to dating articles and an “advanced wink system” (similar to poking on Facebook).
When you initially sign up for the site, you can enroll in the free, basic membership. However, flirtations are limited to winking at other online singles, so no chat or messaging. If you decide to pay the $6.95 monthly fee for the premium account to message a pancreatically faulty person back, you should be warned that Diabetic Date does not offer refunds, so don’t expect to see your money again.
The homepage is adorned with a slideshow of corny date jokes and tips. I don’t know that I’d trust their suggestions though; apparently, a gentleman should arrive on time, not incessantly message after a date, and not discuss his favorite sex positions. Great to know, thanks.
There are quite a bit of spam warnings, and account verification simply means having a valid email, so security is questionable. And though I suggest the site designers invest in a resident proofer to correct the surplus of typographical errors, Diabetic Date ranks as the Match.com for people with diabetes.
Diabetes Dating Site
The services that Diabetes Dating Site offers are spelled out pretty perfectly in their title, so props for being straightforward, but my immediate concern with the website was the seemingly exclusive targeting of straight men. There is a slideshow layout on the homepage of female-exclusive profile pictures, and if you go to the Browse section you’ll be hard pressed to find even one male profile.
There are zero security checks conducted on new members, so safety features are minimal. But the site admins review profiles so that no personal contact information or lewd text appears.
Similar to Diabetic Date, initial registration includes a free account that doesn’t include messaging, only “flirts”. But the site offers several premium account packages of varying prices and a 60-day money back guarantee if you are unsatisfied for whatever reason.
The website allows couples to enroll under a single profile, in case you’re looking to chat, make friends, or go for something….complex in number, I guess. They also have a camming feature so you can live-chat with people in a group or one-on-one. Honestly, I was too afraid to adventure into one of the chatrooms because I was getting an uncomfortable Chatroulette vibe. Just cam with caution, people.
DiaSingles
For any Facebook addicts out there, you can try joining DiaSingles, a closed group of almost 700 singles with diabetes, aged 18+, who want to enjoy an entree of mingling and chatting with a side of potential easy-access Facebook stalking.
The security for DiaSingles is pretty lax. I was approved as a new member within an hour of requesting to join. I didn’t expect to get a blood test in the mail, but my healthy pancreas and I were able to infect this “private” group faster than sunlight rendering a vial of insulin defective on a hot summer day.
What I found while scrolling:
-Memes about being single
-People posting what state they live in
-Awkward, unsolicited flirting in the comments section
This page is clearly about creating community and doesn’t appear to make any strides towards establishing romantic foundations. However, a group member did post a link to receive 80% off my next pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. So not a total loss.
Whether you have diabetes or no, the best advice I can give when online dating is to be safe and smart, and keep your expectations of finding true love low. If you find that things aren’t panning out, go offline and do what makes you happy first, and let the pieces fall where they may. That’s why I’ve stopped looking for my soulmate, Channing Tatum. He’s out there somewhere, he’ll find me.
The opinions discussed in this article are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the opinions of Insulin Nation, its staff, or other contributing writers. The author is also aware that Channing Tatum is married, but chooses to remain hopeful.
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