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Suffering!?

Sarah69

Sarah69

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,499
Location
Hethersett, Norwich
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Anything healthy!
I was in Specsavers today waiting for somebody and I was just looking at the large notice that says whose entitled to free eye tests. Down the list it said, suffers from Diabetes. Does anybody find this particular wording offensive because I certainly do. It would sound much better if it just said, has diabetes. I have diabetes I don't 'suffer' with it.
 
Interesting point Sarah.

I can see what you mean by this as I too find the "I suffer from" always has negative connotations, whatever condition/illness is being spoken about.

However there is also the other side of the coin, that some people do in fact suffer from their diabetes in that they suffer some of the very unpleasant side effects that can happen with this condition.

I'm type 2, I don't think I suffer with my diabetes at all. My daughter who is also type 2 did suffer some awful effects from her constant high sugars and became very ill indeed..she also felt constantly unwell.

I guess it depends on the circumstances.

On a different note..I wasn't aware that having diabetes entitled anyone to free eye tests (unless they are on relevant benefits). Have I got it wrong? :?
 
I suppose as I'm always well I didn't see it like that but as you say they are making it negative. I felt so angered by this after posting this yesterday I have written a letter to them. Yes you are entitled to free eye tests every year.
 
Hi Sarah,

According to my English Dictionary suffer is to 'experience pain or difficulty, experience (something unpleasant) and accept without dislike'.

I suppose 'experience something unpleasant' does come to mind when told we have diabetes so this could excuse them using the word Suffering......(not) :roll:

I don't find it offensive but do agree they could have just written diabetes without the word suffering being included, let us know their reply! :)
 
I have to agree with Nigel :thumbup: But:::::

Your diabetic Sarah, get over it - I mean that in the nicest possible way as until you do accept your diabetes you will never find any inner peace
 
I'd say 'suffer' is correctly used .. we constantly have to inject/control our diet because of diabetes and its not exactly easy or normal, and the complications are not pleasant. :? I'm afriad i have to agree with viv!
 
Just be glad that we dont have to pay for the eye tests or we would be suffering :!:


CAROL
 
I totally accept that I'm diabetic, but I don't personally "suffer". I get on with it. If you do feel that diabetes is something you suffer, that's a shame, and I totally respect your right to use the phrase "suffer from diabetes" about YOURSELF. But not about ME. Not all of us suffer. Given the friends I've made from this site and elsewhere, I'd say I've had some really interesting and good things come out of having diabetes, to be honest. But that's just my experience.

So yes, I do find it offensive that someone else is deciding whether I'm to be pitied or not.

And of course there are other serious things to worry about in the world, but actually, when you've had diabetes a while, and when you've had it from childhood or adolescence, that drip-drip-drip of people deciding who you are and whether you 'suffer' or not can really [expletive deleted] your head up. So I'm 100% behind anyone who makes a stand on this. And while you're at it - the DVLA form says the same thing, and that annoys me too...
 
I don't really understand why you're so offended by a statement that wasn't there to offend anyone. It's just a word that is used for any illness/disease.

Personally, I do suffer with my diabetes. I was very ill for the first 3 months, and now have retinopathy, and other diabetic problems that I have every day.

So, I could say then that if people said I don't suffer from diabetes, that could have offended me, and belittled what I have to go through.

Yes, we are all individuals, and react differently to our diabetes. Perhaps the sign should have said then: 'People who suffer, or don't suffer with diabetes'??

Helena
 
I do accept that I'm diabetic that has nothing to do with it!! I just don't understand why other people don't find this kind of wording offensive. Its like belonging to a club, there's a lot of we and us in posts like 'we can't eat pasta' I can speak for myself. So that sign makes me think that other people think awwww poor her 'she suffers' from diabetes. So a sign just saying has diabetes or just Diabetic would be better. I don't suffer. Thank you to Snodger for agreeing
 
I don't have a problem with the wording of the sign. Particularly as its aim was to help diabetics.
As a type 1, I suffer with diabetes everyday - even if I only suffer the inconvenience of having to test my blood and inject insulin.

However, I always keep in mind the fact that there are others out there suffering with far worse.
 
I don't find the wording offensive - the word that comes after "suffer" alters the context -

"suffer from" means (like Nigel said) subjected to - experience something -
"suffer with" means to feel pain of distress from something

being offended by something is an objective thing - you can't give offense only take it - so if it offends you Sarah69 then yes - to you it is offensive - but it may not offend others :)

For me I have diabetes, I am diabetic, I suffer from diabetes I suffer with diabetes (especially half an hour ago when everyone else was tucking into galic bread and pizza and I had bolognese sauce with a tablespoon of rice :wink: :lol: )
 
And Jesus said, "suffer little children.." - if you use this word in the correct grammatical terms, it can't be offensive at all. People say "I'm suffering from a cold" in the same way as "I have a cold", it doesn't imply anything worse by "suffering" rather than "having". I think we can be sensitive sometimes and read into things meanings which aren't intended.
 
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