I think it depends in what era you were diagnosed. I grew up being called a diabetic, so I find it amusing when people coyly say "A patient with diabetes". It doesn't camouflage us!
Personally, I love how our language evolves.
There are words which used to be common but are now considered racist or sexist or homophobic. Although these used to be fine (and many people grew up with them), they are not considered appropriate today.
Describing someone as "a diabetic" is probably not the same level as using any of those terms but just because it was the correct language used, does not mean it will remain the correct language to use.
Today, there are many people who are happy to be described as "a diabetic" and, like you find "a person* with diabetes" amusing or strange. On the other hand, there are people who do not like this term.
Another thing I love about our language is how varied it is: how there are so many different ways there are to describe the same thing.
*I was intrigued that you used the example "a
patient with diabetes". Personally, I find "a diabetic" to be more acceptable in a medical scenario because, in that environment, their diabetes is the most significant thing about them. It is describing someone as "a diabetic" in a day-to-day scenario where having diabetes is less relevant that other parts of their character.
But now I am picking nits that are so small you can only see them under a microscope.
As I say, I love that we are all different with different loves and loathes ... I even use txt speak sometimes
