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Advice please

L

Loobydoo

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Does anybody else with type 2 find that people aren't very supportive, and believe it's your own fault for having the disease? Maybe including relatives?
 
I don't think they realise how potentially dangerous it can be! It's becoming so common now I think they think its like having a headache.
 
Loobydoo said:
Does anybody else with type 2 find that people aren't very supportive, and believe it's your own fault for having the disease? Maybe including relatives?
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Often, yes. Has a lot to do with how it is portrayed in the media unfortunately. I find that having diabetes concentrates the mind to the point where I just ignore worthless opinions. Ignore them.
 
I don't really talk to many people in real life, but the ones I have haven't been critical. I just think if they don't have it, or have someone close who is diabetic, they won't understand, and probably aren't that interested.
To be fair I was probably like that too before I became diabetic myself so I don't blame them.
 
"you must be very mild" my best friend said, I'm sure you will be fine. Usually when I explain it people get it but still much ignorance about the condition.
 
I tend to not talk about it .. just if it comes up I declare I am T2 and change the subject. Don't want anyones sympathy or help with this. Its my problem not theirs
 
Loobydoo said:
Does anybody else with type 2 find that people aren't very supportive, and believe it's your own fault for having the disease? Maybe including relatives?
Click to expand...
Hiya, @Loobydoo.
It seems to me that your friends and relatives could use a bit of education! "The Diabetes Miracle" by Diane Kress is a very interesting book that I've just started to read. And if I've read it correctly, it explains that yes, lifestyle factors are a contributor to T2, but so is stress and so are genetics. If you take two people living exactly the same lifestyle, one with a family history of diabetes and one without, the one without will not get T2 diabetes.
Accepting that myself has made it a lot easier to come to terms with T2. Whether you then need to explain it to anyone else, or whether you can simply shrug off the uneducated, ill-informed opinions of others, well, that's another story...!
Hold your head high - YOU are on the right road!
 
Hi @Loobydoo
Yes all the time. But I just assume that they don't understand or are scared so it doesn't bother me. But you are a winner as there are hundreds of people on here who understand and are happy to support you. Ask any questions you have and there is always someone around to answer or give their support

Welcome
 
@Loobydoo - Hello. A lot of people seem to think we have brought it upon ourselves because of our lifestyle. I gave up a long time ago trying to educate people - and that includes my family members too.
 
You could use their ignorance as an opportunity to educate them - but (in real life) I tend not to talk about it as much as possible unless people ask because most non diabetics don't understand the realities of it and, mostly, they really aren't too bothered about finding out more.

I know that this kind of thoughtless attitude can be hurtful but we have to remember that while, for us, it's a huge part of our life, for them it's often just a transient topic of conversation probably forgotten in a moment.

All the recent media coverage about it being weight and lifestyle related hasn't helped at all as a lot of people of seem to think all of us can 'turn it off' if we drop a couple of pounds.
 
I don't ever expect people to 'be supportive'. I have found that just makes me constantly disappointed and left feeling let down. But I love it when they surprise me.

Whenever we get a diagnosis (lots of people on here have several) it is a very lonely and isolating time, but the only way to get to grips with it is to OWN it, and accept that getting on top of it is to become self reliant.

Easier said than done, eh?

And it can take months or years to get there. We have to learn, ask, test, make mistakes and go through ups and downs. But if you start out with the mindset that 'it is for me to deal with' then there is no disappointment if we don't get support, but a heck of a lot of delight when someone helps out of the goodness of their heart. I see this on the forum nearly every day.
 
britishpub said:
I think the best way someone can be supportive in many cases is to say nothing and just be there.
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Yes, be there - and be ready to listen when it all gets a bit too much.
 

I totally agree with this @Brunneria.
To cut a problem down to size I have to take control of it myself, which empowers me and shrinks the problem to a more manageable chunk. As far as diabetes is concerned, I accept that it's my problem and no-one else can handle it for me. That's down to me, so I just have to pull up the Big Girl pants and get on with it.
For me, support comes in the form of others' interest in how I am handling it. I don't expect support, because I know everyone has their own demons to fight. But it's very special when it does happen!
 
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