What do you wish people knew?

[Lampman]

The one thing that comes to mind, that applies to every one of us, is that we are all different. It is easy to place us in very few categories, but every single one has a slightly different set of problems, causes, and outcomes. Please, therefore, do not consider that type 1 or type 2 tells you what you need to know!

 

[Dixon1995]

You not fat is a pretty annoying comment for a thin T2 and for some others it's not all that kind when it's its implications are considered.
D.W.

That is terrible, we know that type 2 isn't JUST down to weight, I hate the generalising publics opinion to it, however it isn't always their fault as most aren't educated on both types.

 

[Hotpepper20000]

Natural sugar, Honey, maple syrup, fruit. Are not ok just because they are unrefined

 

[HSSS]

I'd rather call type 1 -Insulin Dependent Diabetes. I've always been led to believe that Type 2 is very different as in Type 1 the pancreas stops producing the hormone insulin. Type 2 ers still produce insulin themselves but for whatever reason it doesn't get through to reducing their BG in their bodies; possibly because T2 ers are overweight. I've had T1 since a child - 58 years to be precise. Both types should be taken very serious in my opinion. Good luck all sufferers !

But then some type 2 are insulin dependent too! I agree it would save a lot of confusion for the general public if the names weren’t so similar

 

[KK123]

But then some type 2 are insulin dependent too! I agree it would save a lot of confusion for the general public if the names weren’t so similar

Hi HSSS, to be honest I am not sure I am that bothered about the 'general public' outside of family or those that know us, being confused, what is new there?? I include all of us in that category of course (outside of our very own personal conditions). I am more concerned when those in the healthcare profession are confused! Even if the general public knew the difference between types would it make any difference to their prejudices, I doubt it.

 

[Circuspony]

I wish more people knew that type 1 was not a childhood disease and that more than half of the people with type 1 are diagnosed as an adult (over the age of 20).

I get quite annoyed when I read about doctors diagnosing people with type 2 because "they are too old for type 1" and then those people struggle for, sometimes, years to get their BG level whilst being told off by their doctors for not taking theri diabetes seriously.

Yes!! But actually if there's a top 10 of things people know about diabetes then can we start with the fact there are 2 types and they are different?

Totally fed up of being sent links to articles about low carb diets which will 'cure' me. I'm type 1 & if a flippin diet would cure my stuffed up pancreas then I'd be all over it

 

[Deleted Account]

can we start with the fact there are 2 types and they are different?

Sorry to be pedantic but there are more than 2 types.
I agree with your idea that we are not all type 2 and we are all different.

 

[Rylando88]

I’m sick of people saying to me “did you eat loads of sugar growing up” because I wasn’t diagnosed until I was age 10.
My BIGGEST hate though (and I’m sure I’m not the only one) is when people find out I have diabetes.... “is it the really bad type or the other one??”
I’m sorry, what?!?! I was completely unaware that there was only 2 types and they were defined as the BAD one and the OTHER one!!! Grrr

 

[Rylando88]

Oh and one more, “are you allowed to eat/drink that?”
Sometimes I wish I could give myself awards for not punching people when they ask me this.

It annoys me to a point of no return. Firstly because it’s so personal and condescending and secondly because if I wasn’t ‘allowed’ to have it surely I wouldn’t be because doing so would make me very ill or kill me?!?!

People need to have better access to educational and accurate information, I know there’s google and stuff but it can be hard knowing which bits of info are correct and trustworthy, there needs to be a place where anyone can get hold of the details about ALL types of diabetes and expand their knowledge!

 

[KK123]

Oh and one more, “are you allowed to eat/drink that?”
Sometimes I wish I could give myself awards for not punching people when they ask me this.

It annoys me to a point of no return. Firstly because it’s so personal and condescending and secondly because if I wasn’t ‘allowed’ to have it surely I wouldn’t be because doing so would make me very ill or kill me?!?!

People need to have better access to educational and accurate information, I know there’s google and stuff but it can be hard knowing which bits of info are correct and trustworthy, there needs to be a place where anyone can get hold of the details about ALL types of diabetes and expand their knowledge!

I so agree with you because this is the phrase that occurs most often. Would anyone say to a non diabetic person 'Can you eat that' etc. I suspect it is those diabetics who are fat that get this the most and if that was me I really would be angry. Do we all go around eyeing up fat people and asking them 'are you sure you should be eating that'!

 

[tesoro007]

Reading through the comments in this thread, I've been the recipient of most - if not all - of them There is no "good" or "bad" diabetes types in my opinion. I developed gestational diabetes at the age of 35 which didn't go away after the birth of my first child - not fat, heavy into exercise so extremely fit - it just came down to genetics in the end. So, when people ask, I tell them - it's all down to genetics; some are pre-disposed to developing diabetes so their environment/lifestyle may get them diagnosed with a particular type or they were born with a faulty gene expression for insulin resistance.

 

[Shiba Park]

Apparently it’s “diabetes month” in October and I’m thinking a blog post, something like 10 things you should know about Type 1 Diabetes. It will be aimed at friends, family and the general public - not HCPs or people with a diagnosis.

So, since I’m fairly new to this I thought I would ask you all. What do you wish people knew? What do your friends say that you’re sick of ignoring or correcting? What do you wish people in cafes or out in public understood?

I really, realiy, really wish doctors (and particularly specialists) could appreciate that some people really are very sensitive to insulin. Why is it OK that someone can be 1U=3g but 1U=30g is impossible? And questions of 'just how diabetic are you' doesn't build credibility! Hba1c beyond diagnostic levels and GAD antibodies in the emphatic range would indicate 'fairly'!

 

[Circuspony]

I really, realiy, really wish doctors (and particularly specialists) could appreciate that some people really are very sensitive to insulin. Why is it OK that someone can be 1U=3g but 1U=30g is impossible? And questions of 'just how diabetic are you' doesn't build credibility! Hba1c beyond diagnostic levels and GAD antibodies in the emphatic range would indicate 'fairly'!

I'm very insulin sensitive too. Trying to explain that even 0.5 unit can send me from the teens to hypo at times gets me 'one of those' looks from consultants

 

[n1ck]

...that manufacturers didn't really need to bring out 'Diabetic Foods'!! We can eat everything else that the 'normal' person eats!!