How open are you about your T2 diabetes?

Phaid said:

That might not go so well if you fall over and head kiss the floor when(and you will) you have a hypo. You need to tell at least the first aiders on site what to do if tthat happens.

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my readings are never low enough for a hypo, which I think is rare with t2 anyway.

Sadsac@21 said:

I was diagnosed t2 January 2024. Nobody I work with knows about my diagnosis. The only people that I have told are immediate family and my oldest friend.
At first I was hugely embarrassed by the diagnosis and I still struggle day to day knowing that I have this. Also I feel that it has nothing to do with anyone I work with. I don’t want to be known as the person with diabetes and everyone judging me.

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I don't understand why you would be embarrassed about this Peoples opinions are just ignorant though

Phaid said:

That might not go so well if you fall over and head kiss the floor when(and you will) you have a hypo. You need to tell at least the first aiders on site what to do if tthat happens.

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Been T2 for 17 years and not had a hypo yet.
So when will this hypo happen?

To answer the OP, I make no secret of my T2 because I don't care if other people judge me.
Socially, it comes up if I decline cakes and other sweet things.
Especially on group bike rides where "coffee and cake" is traditional.
It shouldn't really impact anyone else apart from making food choices for communal eating.
I am a slim T2, so not an obvious candidate.

I’m pretty private about mine too, I haven’t told my coworkers or wider circle, only family and a couple of close friends know. At work I just say I’m trying to eat healthier or cut back on sugar when I pass on cake or snacks, and most people don’t think twice about it. For me it’s easier that way, I don’t really want the constant “how are your numbers?” or people treating me differently. I figure if anyone asked me directly I’d be honest, but until then I’d rather just manage it quietly.

LittleGreyCat said:

Been T2 for 17 years and not had a hypo yet.
So when will this hypo happen?

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When your blood sugars go low I would Imagine?

Ok. Thanks for that.

I have told everyone I know and especially anyone who cooks for me, it never really occured to me to not tell anyone. My mother thinks I take it far too seriously - she is type 2 herself and can happily chomp on chocolate, cakes and sweets. I do have acces to her NHS records and can see that her last test showed 42 and her eyesight has never been affected, unlike mine.

Sadly my wife (now my ex) didn't take it seriously at all and would constantly cook carbs in every meal and moan when I kept having to say I just can't eat it. She was a bit controlling and just blamed me for getting it, whenever she was ill (complete drama queen) I did so much for her and when I get ill she did nothing for me, haha.

My friends and other family also know, and people do tend to ask questions and I'm happy to answer them all. People who haven't seen me for a while tend to ask why I've lost a lot of weight and I tell them I have a chronic disease, haha. Newer friends tend to not understand why I have got it as I am now the right weight but I don't have any problems explaining it to them.

If I still worked I would certainly tell them about it. I did indeed work with people with both type 1 and type 2 and no-one ever gossiped behind their backs or anything that so I wouldn't expect anyone to really. I think it's a good idea to let work know just in case of any medical issues that arise but I guess it does depend on your workplace - I used to work for the NHS and wouldn't have a problem telling them.