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What are some of the best ways to tell people you're diabetic?

J

Jelaca

Well-Known Member
Messages
225
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have probably asked this before, but I have had diabetes since I was 10, and I am still having trouble telling people I am diabetic, I don't know why, but I just find it really hard to say. Is anyone else the same?

I have tried in the past to hint to people by getting out my blood glucose kit and doing a test in front of people, but they either don't notice, think its my phone or I panic at the last minute when I think they've seen and make it more hidden.. I have always had a problem testing/injecting in front of people. I've seen other people when I was at school just getting it out and doing it on the table. How could I get more confident in not worrying what people think/telling people?

Thanks
 
I have been T1 for 6 years and I was exactly the same until very recently. Only my immediate family and a few close friends knew I was T1 and it was mainly due to needing to make them aware of what to do if I was hypo that I told them about diabetes.

I was constantly going to the bathroom to inject or test my blood if we were out for a meal as I didn't want people staring or saying 'what's wrong with you?' Then having to have that awkward discussion and giving explanations about diabetes.

It was my diabetic nurse who changed my view on the whole situation. She explained that it is far from hygienic to be testing or injecting in a public bathroom and advised me that if people are rude enough to stare when I'm testing/injecting then I should stare back! It really is sheer ignorance on some peoples part, but in most cases I've realised that people are understanding, diabetes is so common these days that most people either know someone with the disease or recognise an insulin pen and glucose metre when they see one.

I hope that you're confidence grows the same way mines has, take care


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Aww thank you, that is true, i guess she's right about it being unhygienic.. it is hard though! I guess some people are naturally okay with telling people, but others like us find it harder.

It's not that I dont want people to know.. I actually really do because they're always so lovely and supportive and its interesting to tell people what we have to go through... I suppose I sometimes feel like I don't know how to deal with actually getting to the point of telling people if you get me?
Maybe its just me and im strange haha i dont know
 
I was a little shy of telling people at first but now I just don't care. If I need to tell someone due to a work related issue i.e. I have to refuse overtime or when discussing contract matters, I don't hesitate. They generally feel more uncomfortable than me

Other than that I only tell people when necessary , I also let gossip take it's course..........
 
I would only tell people if necessary that I have diabetes, otherwise I would mention it in conversation if the subject of health or diabetes came up.

You don't have to worry about what people think as there are something like 3.2 million diabetics in the UK and a possible 600,000 undiagnosed, no one needs to make a song and dance about having it, but just the same its not something that we should be ashamed of either.
 
Jab 200u of apidra into their arm and then explain what's about to happen to them.

Just kidding obviously.
 
well i'm type 1 for 6 weeks now, and i think the way is just be frank and up front about it, because they will probably be the 1's who help you if you have hypo...............and get a wrist band with 'type 1 diabetic' on, that should make it easier to let people know. you carn't help being diabetic, don't know what stigma you have attached to diabetes, but try and shake it as soon as possible. hope this helps
 
Spiker said:
Jab 200u of apidra into their arm and then explain what's about to happen to them.

Just kidding obviously.
Click to expand...
I am laughing so hard. I'm about a year of membership into the club and when I was first diagnosed I would slink off to the bathroom and 'shoot up' there as if I was an addict.

Now, I just pull out the pen and give myself a quick injection right where I am at as if it was no big deal. No one seems overly freaked out or so it seems - perhaps that is why I'm not getting asked out much lately - JK (-;


Sent from Runner2009 Burt
 
I don't know.. sometimes I feel like people will think its disgusting like when you test your sugars/inject, I'm so self concious about it and I wish I wasnt!
I also never liked at school when you would test, the teacher would think it was your phone and then the embarrassment would follow, of having to admit to the whole class what it is and them feeling awkward about it.. :/
 
its bad enough that we have to test and inject anyway, why hide away to do it...come out of the diabetic closet and just get on with it. you'll probably find that people will respect you more for it, then ask questions and want to know more about it, then there's no more problem, what do you have to lose eh!!!
 
Spiker said:
Jab 200u of apidra into their arm and then explain what's about to happen to them.

Just kidding obviously.
Click to expand...
For a type 2 who knows very little of type 1 medicines, would you please explain what would happen? I need a laugh and am sure I am about to all but wet myself when I find out the answer.
 

Congratulations @kim I've had virtually no rude people comment and a number of people come up afterwards and talk about their own condition - one person had told no one not even her husband for 20-years


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
you have ro remember that you didn't chose this to happen to your body and that injections and testing keep you alive! I found the easiest way to tell people was to drop it into conversation and then say straight away right ask any questions now! sometimes they are more nervous than you and just want to know about things so they can be more supportive! hope this helps!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I wear a bracelet so some people have spotted it and asked what it is for.

I've always found that people are just interested and wanted to find out more.

Of course I have had the odd person who gets squeamish and hates needles, but they've still found it interesting.

A bracelet could be a good way for people to find out. You could choose quite a subtle bracelet (I've got a silver one from medic alert) or a more in your face wrist band.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Runner wrote : one person had told no one not even her husband for 20-years"

Now that is truly sad
Having diabetes is nothing to be ashamed of, and while I agree that very few of us like to draw attention to ourselves, it really is unacceptable that we should feel we have to hide a away in a toilet to test or inject not to mention unhygienic as has already been said.

I test and inject in public though discreetly as I can ,( I don't bare my bum LOL ) Mostly people are just curious and may ask questions out of that curiosity that I'm happy enough to answer I've had a few experiences with needle squeamish folk, but I've never been " in your face " about it and it's their choice to look. It's my choice to manage diabetes the best as I can and also my choice not to have to use a toilet to do so.

Signy
 

For some reason I seem to remember that figure of diabetics diagnosed in the UK back in the early/mid 80's...?
It stuck in my mind because it was the same figure for the unemployed about that time too...!?

Though I was and always am lucky to be in gainful employment while a few of my friends were struggling..
& while still classing myself as one of "Thatcher's jilted generation " I only ever met one other diabetic rather briefly (an older guy) when his girlfriend blurted he was diabetic at a function & my mother looking at the pint he was nursing in his hand enquired "should you be drinking that"?
Though I was too young to drink alcohol at that time, I shared his pain.... We both winced at her comment.
 
Easy for me. I have lost so much weight that people ask me if I am ill. I just say yes. If they ask what is wrong I tell them.
 
Dee_licious1 said:
For a type 2 who knows very little of type 1 medicines, would you please explain what would happen? I need a laugh and am sure I am about to all but wet myself when I find out the answer.
Click to expand...
Well that is a massive amount of very fast acting insulin so quite possibly the non diabetic person would get to experience a hypo and see what all the fuss is about.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 

Yes it wasn't a good time in the early 80's if you were looking for work Jaylee, just the same I'm sure we had some good times back then
 
noblehead said:
Yes it wasn't a good time in the early 80's if you were looking for work Jaylee, just the same I'm sure we had some good times back then
Click to expand...

Crikey, yes indeed. I can't moan really... That era was what it was.. I wouldn't change nuffin'....
.... Well, apart from looking like a member of U2.!? :***:
 
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