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Diabetes snobbery

I misunderstood the meaning of this thread, I thought it was describing general ignorance but if it’s implied that T2’s are thought of in a negative light by the world, definitely! I have even seen it here by T1’s but this place is generally way more enlightened. The sad truth is the world is fattist and T2 is regarded as a self enflicted illness, brought on by over endulgance. I would be banned if I expressed how Ignorant I find this :(
Fenn, a few years back as I hit “middle age.” I saw a DSN for the “usual.”
As I sat down she clearly looked me over. (Nay, looked round me.) & said, “well! You don’t look type two..”
“Neither did my dad,” I responded.

“Oh,” she said, “was he type one?” I seriously couldn’t make this stuff up..?

Then whilst chatting to a reasonably well known recording studio engineer & musician. (He worked with some big rock metal acts.)
He brought up the subject of his health? I mentioned I was “diabetic.” He then enquired, is that the good one or the bad one.”
(I still realy don’t know what that means?) But I did reply with,”none of them do us any favours.”

I’ve also been in bands with fellow T1s. had to sack one when other band members were experiencing irreconcilable attitude issues.

At the end of the day. This topic is about a customer encounter with an unprofessional shop employee.
There are “reasonable adjustments in the work place” for anyone with a condition.

But no “adjustment” for “that…” ;)
 
We are all different.Assumming those of us with Type 1 who do not follow the low carb diet are ignorant is also ignorant of the different variations in lifestyle and body.
I follow a "normal carb" approach with no complications after 20 years and a Hba1c constantly under 48. I have no insulin resistance or weight gain.

I have seen the memo and tried low carb. I found it more challenging to dose insulin FOR ME because I need to dose for protein at different ratios for different types of protein.

Please remember there are different approaches and no one approach suits everyone.
I do know that and said this was for me personally. It is also true that many diabetics haven't tried low carb because the orthodox advice is to dose for carbs. If you have an jba1c under 48 then congratulations as you are in a small minority of type 1s who meet that target and avoid complications! I suppose my main point is that for type 1s this option should be openly discussed with advice on dosing for carb less meals which I agree is counter intuitive.
 
There is a lot of ignorance around any type of diabetes.
Once, when I flew from Heathrow with my pump, I explained to the security that I couldn’t take the pump through the body x-ray, I was told that I had “chosen to have diabetes”.

Unfortunately, having one type of diabetes does not mean we instantly know everything about all types of diabetes. That is one of the things about diabetes forums - you have all taught me so much.
Gosh that's shocking :mad:
 
Medals are given ✻in recognition✻ of living with type 1 diabetes for over 50, 60 and 70 years ..awards are divisive ..hence my own condition falls into the category of 'working class' diabetes.
 
Just wanted a place to vent, as I have been stewing on this all day... (Warning: 1st world/middle class diabetic problem ahead)

I went into Waitrose this morning to see if they had any Liv Life low carb bread delivered, because I really, really, really fancied a turkey sandwich, and when I asked the assistant if any was due in, (empty shelf for the last 2 weeks ), the woman turned to me and said in a snooty way 'why would you need to be so desperate to eat low carb?' I only got as far as 'I have to, as I am diabetic...' when she butted in telling me she had been T1 for 32 years and had no choice about it, like she should have a prize or something, or was the only one allowed the bread!

I did manage to get out that actually I am T1 too and diet-controlled for now and want to postpone insulin for as long as possible', before she dismissed me with a 'come back when they open tomorrow if you want any chance of getting a loaf if they do come in'. (Yes, I know the carbs are about a third of a regular slice of bread, BECAUSE THE SLICES ARE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE SIZE but...)

So much for any diabetic camaraderie, she was nasty, and no doubt would be nasty, diabetic or not, but her attitude, as if her diabetes was 'more' than mine really 'd me off. I suppose as I only know a couple of real life diabetics, other than the lovely folks on here, I have been shielded from the masses, (didn't say the snobbery wasn't mine too!).

I am currently butting heads with my boss's boss who compares me to 'the diabetics she knows' and as I have been in non-diabetic range through sheer hardwork and missing out since soon after diagnosis, she says that's because I am not diabetic, so maybe I am just a bit 'touchy'.

Anyone got any great one-liners I can throw the way of such ignorance, rather than just being left slack-jawed and to fester for the next 12 hours or so!?

Moaning done - hope those of you, that have wanted to, have managed a turkey sandwich or two x
I hope you got your loaf of bread, she sounds like some of the toxic people I grew up with. You can make low-carb bread, you know. I am fond of baking and find it empowering, especially when I get to pound on it. So stress relieving. Luck to you with that nasty lady.
 
I have been described as "oh you are one of those?" - The said person also said some truly awful derogatory things that I obviously cannot repeat and they just could not be excused. I am very opened minded and generally good with people I have to be its my job, my bread and butter. However, I did ask her if at her spritely age her sugar levels were skew whiff as that could surely be the only explanation for her ignorance! She never asked for my services again! There was clearly no love lost :eek:
 
On a positive note, there are nice people too! I still remember, when at swimming, the joyful little girl who came skipping over and announced "You're diabetic! So am I!" She'd spotted my Libre Sensor, duly let me see her sensor and went on to ask, "Does your Mum watch your readings too?".
She was so happy you just had to smile.
 
There can be snobbery even between fellow T2s I have found, regarding meds, diet only, keto or low carb. It’s a very individual condition in my opinion, I know when I was on meds I sometimes felt like a failure, especially when you are doing everything possible and it’s not working. It’s not always as simple as diet, weight loss = good numbers or remission
 
There can be snobbery even between fellow T2s I have found, regarding meds, diet only, keto or low carb. It’s a very individual condition in my opinion, I know when I was on meds I sometimes felt like a failure, especially when you are doing everything possible and it’s not working. It’s not always as simple as diet, weight loss = good numbers or remission
I agree- for me the best way to deal with being a diabetic is one that keeps your levels in the normal range as much as possible and that you can sustain. Whether you go keto, low carb or medication it needs to be something you can do. I don't thinks medication is a failure as we human beings are so complex and we need to find things that work for us both physically and mentally.
 
I have encountered diabetes snobbery a few times. Sometime from T1 as in "I'm a real diabetic cos I need insulin" and from T2 as in "at least I only need tablets and not insulin' to a T2 saying that his is worse because it's harder to control with tablets. My view is tat they are all wrong as we all have a similar ailment. In fact I don't like being termed a "diabetic" as that is a noun. I am a person with diabetes - after all someone who frequently suffers migraines isn't a migrainiac and someone with angina has "angina" and is not an anginic!! But maybe that's my snobbery.
We all have debates - it's just that some have medication that others don't - and then there's those who have control by diet only. Are they "better" or 'worse' than the others? But
 
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