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Diabetic

E

Edwardia

Well-Known Member
Messages
49
I was wondering whether anyone else hates the term 'diabetic' ? I get really annoyed when medical types call me diabetic. I tell them that I didn't stop being a person when I was diagnosed T2 and that they wouldn't call an OAP a geriatric to his/her face or call someone with cerebral palsy a spastic.I do it until they learn

Does it bother anyone else to be called diabetic ?
 
No. It doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I am a Diabetic and I have Diabetes. It doesn't describe me as a person, just the condition.

There was a previous discussion here about this including a poll. The result was pretty conclusive that not many were at all bothered.
 
I personally don't care a jot, but it might interest you to know that Diabetes Uk now calls us "Persons with Diabetes.", or PWDs.
As long as I'm spoken to with good manners and no words are used which are designed to offend I simply don't mind.
Hana
 
Edwardia,

Well, I beg to differ with the above. I detest being called a 'diabetic'. I have heard this used on many occasions in doctors surgery's, hospital and in social circles. I have on many occasions corrected people when they refer to me as a 'diabetic'.

It is not that I am ashamed of having diabetes, this could not be further from the truth, but I am a person who is living with diabetes. I mean, lets face it, you don't call people with high blood pressure a 'hypertensive' do you?, therefore it is inappropriate and bang out of order!!!

I am Nigel, the same person that I was before diabetes, and do not wish to be categorized by anybody. I am no different to anybody else!

Regards

Nigel
 
I've been called worse by better people, Edwardia. :twisted:
 

Mmmm PWD,


Compared to this lot the word 'diabetic' is clear and unambiguous . I know which I want.
 
timo2 said:
I've been called worse by better people, Edwardia. :twisted:
Click to expand...

Yeah, me too!

However, difference being that these names are insults or slander, meaning to cause offence. I don't suppose people call us 'diabetic' to offend.

Regards

Nigel
 
Do feel free to visit our local hospital where the caring nursing staff refer to patients as "the appendix", "the gall bladder" and other affectionate terms :evil: To be referred to as a diabetic is almost polite!
 
I have diabetes, i am a diabetic.

As long as people don't refer to me as 'the diabetic', and that's the only way, i really doesn't bother me.
I don't use the term PWD because, as sue pointed out, it can mean a lot of things, and i have a few friends with other disabilities.

I don't mind being called diabetic, geek, bisexual, knitter....
Just as long as people don't think that's the only thing i am.
 
Plenty of views out there but what you have to ask yourself is, are you really really bovvered?
There are worse things to worry about, I know its not nice to feel labelled.
Lots of people have nick names but wouldn't want just anyone calling them by it.
I don't really care what anyone calls me as long as (like one or two others have said) they aren't rude, impolite or offensive. you have to remember it isn't you that has the problem in this situation it is the person doing the labelling.
A work colleague (who is organising our Xmas lunch) came to me the other day and said, " i've just been informed you are diabetic" now you could think, so what, (the actual menu was already up and I had chosen) this member of staff just wanted to make sure the menu was ok for me and that I hadn't chosen to try and fit in with it rather than what I would like. I thanked this person very much because I saw this as being very thoughtful. I wouldn't expect a menu change I would fit in or refrain from going. No hardship to me it is life, even if we are diabetic we can still have FUN.
Just think, while we steal ourselves away from eating all those lovely choccy, creamy, sweet laden things (because we should and have to) it can be fun when you see someone eating it and following it up with "I shall put pounds on eating this" are you bothered or do you smugly think, mm should be a little more restrained like me. G
 
Me, i eat the cake then go running with the dog
 
Thats actually quite an interesting question.

I don't mind being diabetic, and I don't mind being called diabetic.

What does drive me nuts is when someone says "hes diabetic" as if I should be carrying a sign saying unclean.

So I guess its the tone that some people use that I do not like.
 
Yep, meaning more than words irritates me.

I am diabetic, that's a medical fact, and i see no problem with it.
People use it like i have the plague, that i have a problem with.
 
Hmmm,

I got
"she's a compliant" the other day.

To me it sounded like good dog..or should that be good Partugese Water Dog? :mrgreen:
 
"I'm also not deaf" Works well.

Portugese water dogs are so cute !!

Got a Malamute myself, well, technically a Malamute lives with me. That's about as much loyalty as you get lol.

I'da been mad at that sugar.
 
A few years ago I was at a residential conference. As usual, we'd been asked for any dietary needs. When we arrived, those on special diets (for whatever reason) were given cards coloured according to the dietary need, which were to be put in front of you at each meal.

I found it quite embarassing to put my card out - whatever health condition I have is my business, and I might not want these colleagues (who I only see infrequently) to know about it.

But one lunchtime it was quite funny, because we found that all the people on the table with me had coloured cards (quite a variety of special diets!) Once we realised, we had a laugh comparing the different foods we all got.

We don't use that conference centre any more!

Lynne
 
 
Just back from seeing a nurse practitioner at GP surgery and after she had distressed me and I told her I was upset and wanted to go home I got "I haven't finished with you yet". My GP is lovely and with him I feel like a person and he listens to my concerns and I feel like I have a say. But the nurses, consultants etc seem to think they can just treat me like a non person.

Nigel hits the nail on the head when he says he's still the same person.

So maybe the word diabetic is my trigger point, but here are a few examples of the non person stuff

I have normal feet so far and I pamper them. Crocs,foot spa bath, lotions. Walk in to consulting room in low-heeled Salvatore Ferragamo shoes to see cardiovascular surgeon, he looks at my feet and says " Those aren't suitable shoes for the diabetic foot "

I'm in hospital with ecoli 0157 eating lunch and working on laptop, while talking to husband and parents. Nurse comes in,grabs fork outof my hand, pokes around on the plate and says " You're not eating enough carbs, you're diabetic,you need more carbs"

My GP on holiday,I have an appt with another GP who gives me a lecture abt not eating cakes,biscuits and sweets which I didn't eat even before I had diabetes.

Before I had diabetes I was deemed compos mentis enough to make my own follow up appt for blood test results. Now I get a letter through the post telling me an appt has been made for me.
 
Obviously these HCP's missed the classes on Equality,diversity, and the dignity of the patient !

Personally I would have told the consultant I have perfectly normal feet, the nurse poking about in my food would have had her head ripped off, verbally and the doctor would have been told in no uncertain terms that I know what to eat and what not to eat !

I tell them when I want a blood test and make my own appointments, I am not quite senile yet ! :twisted:
You have got to speak up for yourself, they have to involve you in your care not dictate to you.
 
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