Tweetypie
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 570
- Type of diabetes
- Other
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Spiders, control freaks, untidiness, ignorance.
Hi everyone,
I have been mulling over something this summer and it has left me in a dilemma about who I share my health condition with. Although I was diagnosed diabetic a few years ago now, I haven't told very many people, only close family and friends know. I follow a fairly strict diet to manage my diabetes and my new diet fits fairly well into my life (apart from breakfast which is more of a chore these days due to DP). I like my new diet and find it fairly easy to stick to - there are actually things I never felt I could eat before I found out I was diabetic, like cream, cheese and fatty foods for example. My partner likes the new diet too, and never complains about what I cook
. But, I find it terribly difficult talking about being diabetic with other people. For example, this summer, I reluctantly told a neighbour I was diabetic and that I control it with a low carb diet. We socialise fairly regularly with them, so it felt easier to explain my diet needs. But, since telling them, all I get is "oh no, you can't eat that, can you?", or "oh that must be really difficult, not being able to eat xyz"...and so on. At a barbeque I was invited to, someone even said to their partner, "stop eating dessert or you'll get diabetes". I feel totally overwhelmed by the ignorance of non sufferers that I feel reluctant to tell people I am diabetic.
What's everyone else's thoughts on telling people you are diabetic? How do you keep it to yourself when you have to avoid certain foods? To me, I see it no different to any other fad diet that most people are on at the moment. I see it as an intolerance to carbohydrates but most people don't get that either. I don't find it difficult eating a different diet and I hate it when people say I can't eat such and such because I believe I can, I just choose not to, just like many people choose not to eat meat. I am interested to know how others deal with this without feeling like an outcast, as I so often do. The last time this happened, I said to my partner, right that's it, I'm not telling people I'm diabetic any more, because people just judge and stereo type you and this upsets me greatly. But how does one follow a non conservative eating plan without explaining their health condition to others? How do you justify your food choices? I am stumped!
I look forward to reading your thoughts, thanks......
Tweety
I have been mulling over something this summer and it has left me in a dilemma about who I share my health condition with. Although I was diagnosed diabetic a few years ago now, I haven't told very many people, only close family and friends know. I follow a fairly strict diet to manage my diabetes and my new diet fits fairly well into my life (apart from breakfast which is more of a chore these days due to DP). I like my new diet and find it fairly easy to stick to - there are actually things I never felt I could eat before I found out I was diabetic, like cream, cheese and fatty foods for example. My partner likes the new diet too, and never complains about what I cook
. But, I find it terribly difficult talking about being diabetic with other people. For example, this summer, I reluctantly told a neighbour I was diabetic and that I control it with a low carb diet. We socialise fairly regularly with them, so it felt easier to explain my diet needs. But, since telling them, all I get is "oh no, you can't eat that, can you?", or "oh that must be really difficult, not being able to eat xyz"...and so on. At a barbeque I was invited to, someone even said to their partner, "stop eating dessert or you'll get diabetes". I feel totally overwhelmed by the ignorance of non sufferers that I feel reluctant to tell people I am diabetic. What's everyone else's thoughts on telling people you are diabetic? How do you keep it to yourself when you have to avoid certain foods? To me, I see it no different to any other fad diet that most people are on at the moment. I see it as an intolerance to carbohydrates but most people don't get that either. I don't find it difficult eating a different diet and I hate it when people say I can't eat such and such because I believe I can, I just choose not to, just like many people choose not to eat meat. I am interested to know how others deal with this without feeling like an outcast, as I so often do. The last time this happened, I said to my partner, right that's it, I'm not telling people I'm diabetic any more, because people just judge and stereo type you and this upsets me greatly. But how does one follow a non conservative eating plan without explaining their health condition to others? How do you justify your food choices? I am stumped!
I look forward to reading your thoughts, thanks......
Tweety
. Yes, very funny about the cramp - a real conversation stopper, not really anywhere you can go from that! My partner is totally oblivious to these things but I notice them a mile off. Good job I didn't tell him I was diabetic, who knows what little diversion he would have used for that!
