One of the biggest issues I find is the lack of understanding of Type 2 diabetes. Some people think it is 'mild' diabetes, others think that you are in danger of having 'hypos' at any given time, whilst we know that is not impossible with T2, many people just think its a 'given'. I am not even sure that family and close friends really understand it, to be fair I was no different until diagnosed myself. It was always some mysterious and rather strange, debilitating and nasty illness that other people had! Hearing about people who lost their sight, had amputations etc! This was not something I had to worry about :!: I think I was under the illusion that T1 was a lifelong thing, that started in childhood, and that I also (sorry to confess) was led to believe that T2 was much less aggressive. An elderly aunt had T2 and I was told that it was not so bad a T1 but that she had to watch what she ate! Also, being a rather slim 8 and half stone, and what I considered to be a healthy eater, in the believe that T2s are all overweight and eat 'junk food', how wrong was I.
Even more worryingly, I am willing to bet that many people that I have worked with, or have contact with in life are likely candidates or even unknowing diabetics themselves. I guess there is much more publicity needed on this subject, though I doubt with the current economic climate that the Government will do much towards this, even though it could save many thousands, or even millions on NHS Care. I do try to explain it to people, but it can get rather complicated and difficult at times as you see their eyes glaze over with boredom, and it does make me feel like a bit of an obsessive, so many times I keep quiet.
Just wondering how other T2s feel about this, or what their experiences might be?
Even more worryingly, I am willing to bet that many people that I have worked with, or have contact with in life are likely candidates or even unknowing diabetics themselves. I guess there is much more publicity needed on this subject, though I doubt with the current economic climate that the Government will do much towards this, even though it could save many thousands, or even millions on NHS Care. I do try to explain it to people, but it can get rather complicated and difficult at times as you see their eyes glaze over with boredom, and it does make me feel like a bit of an obsessive, so many times I keep quiet.
Just wondering how other T2s feel about this, or what their experiences might be?
Until you live with diabetes you can't know what it is to balance life to balance blood sugar. It's walking a tight rope every day.