Top 5 Annoying Things People Say

[jillsp]

In light of Deus' thread on telling his roomates about having diabetes, I thought this would be a good thread. Also, I read it on another forum and really liked it. What are the top 5 most annoying things people say to you when they find out you have diabetes?

Here are mine:

1. You can't eat that
2. I could never take shots (um, i'll bet you could if you were going to die)
3. You must be a really bad diabetic (when they find out I'm on a pump)
4. My aunt can control her diabetes on just pills....why don't you do that?
5. Don't fat people get diabetes?

[CiContention]

#2 is kind of cynical.

I don't like how people apologize.

"What's that for?"

"Oh, it's just a needle. I have to give myself a shot based on what I eat. It's no big deal. I'm a diabetic, but it's manageable. I don't mind."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

It tempts me to say, well, if you're truly sorry, $100 would help. Because sorry's don't do anything except exhibit unnecessary pity. We're not aliens. We're in fact as normal as the next guy. :)

[jillsp]

#2 is a bit cynical, but people don't think when they say something like that. Do they think I enjoy sticking myself? To say you could never do it is ridiculous b/c you would if you had to. Fact is, if you are type 1, you die without insulin. period.

I like the $100 suggestion.....if you are really sorry, then I would like $100! funny.

[Lex4153]

1. You can't eat that.

2. Oh my (insert grandmother/aunt/mother/best friend's uncle's wife's neighbor) has/had diabetes.

3. You can't eat that.

4. Ewww, I hate needles. I could never do that. (Ok, well, then you'd die.)

5. You can't eat that.

[spike]

In light of Deus' thread on telling his roomates about having diabetes, I thought this would be a good thread. Also, I read it on another forum and really liked it. What are the top 5 most annoying things people say to you when they find out you have diabetes?

Here are mine:

1. You can't eat that
2. I could never take shots (um, i'll bet you could if you were going to die)
3. You must be a really bad diabetic (when they find out I'm on a pump)
4. My aunt can control her diabetes on just pills....why don't you do that?
5. Don't fat people get diabetes?

I've only heard #1 to my face.

[jrcskb]

How about:

"I could never have that thing hooked to me all the time" (i.e. the pump)
and
"I thought you were on the pump? Why are you checking your sugar?"

I try to take these comments that annoy but are likely not intended to do so as an opportunity to educate.

[Stuboy]

i've only had diabetes for 10 days and i've already had "oh my nan has it" going on to say how she takes pills etc.

i haven't had "you can't eat that"... yet.

[camjen1]

I'd have to go with

1. Are you allowed to eat that?

2. Are you suppose to eat that?

3. Your not going to eat that are you?

4. Will that be good for you if you eat that?

5. You can't eat that can you?

[GregGolden]

THE most anoying one is:

Does that hurt?
........
......
........
..........
..
......
...


I just look at them because I've been asked that everytime someone sees me checking my bs.

[kgm0612]

I basically have heard all of the above mentioned.........but here are two more I'm going to add to the list.

My sister (a nurse) was eating french fries and offered some to me. I told her I couldn't have any because I was running high to begin with. She snapped and said........."It's a starch! You CAN have some!"

This past Sunday I was in the company of the in-laws and before eating dinner I tested and stated to my husband that I was low. My mother-in-law said, "Oh....you better take some more insulin then". I told her you don't take more insulin when you are low. Her comment to me was, "I don't know anything about diabetes". In the 3 years that I've had diabetes, she's never once asked a single question about diabetes.

Karen

[Keezheekoni]

1. So that means, um like, you're allergic to sugar?
2. So when you get the pump, you don't have to do anymore finger sticks, right?
3. (On my rediagnosis my mother said) Oh honey, is there anything I can do for you? (Yes mom, you could take back all your bad genes! LOL)
Pretty much have heard everything else, everyone else has said. :)

[middnite03]

No, I got the all time best......

"ohh, i'm sorry, but If we continue to go out, and we end up married, we might have kids that have diabetes, and I would not want that...."


Or the second best. while injecting in a restaurant bathroom one time....
a guy actually said to his son.. "see son, that’s why people who have diseases should not be allowed in public places, so they can not spread their sickness to others". (To which my reply was "see son I’d be more worried about being raised by an asshole more then having diabetes")

[grace girl]

I think I've heard all of those. The one that really bugs me the most is when I look happy, sad, angry, upset, smiling, laughing, coughing....BREATHING...and my mother says..."How's your sugar?" in a panicked voice. When I reply, it's fine, why? I get the knowing look and a nod as if I don't even know my own self.
Mind you I am a grown woman with a home and children of my own!
Living with my dad and his type 2 diabetes for 24 years has made her the resident expert....
I would like to state for the record that if I've just spent an hour in Walmart, my kids are driving me crazy and the check out lady was rude....my slight irritation does NOT mean that I have high blood sugar! It means I'm normal!

[Lex4153]

"Allergic to sugar" hahahaha! Laughing so hard at that one. Can't wait to hear someone say it to me!!:laugh:

I mentioned this in a post in Chit Chat but when I was in the car accident, the police asked me to check my blood sugar. I was 199, so I said, "I'm high." The police officers looked at each other, worried, before someone stepped in to clear it up that it meant my bloodsugar was high, not me. LOL

[am1977]

Yeah, unfortunately :rolleyes:, I've heard all those annoying things myself...

ALso

My grandma/aunt/cousin/etc. had diabetes and now is blind/lost a limb/is on dialysis...etc

You must have really ate badly to have gotten Diabetes? Did you eat too much sugar?!

:argh:

[Maya_Papaya]

Things my roommates have said to me since diagnosis 2 weeks ago.

1. "Don't shake hands, hold my hand or touch me....I see a blood spot! Dont touch my cat either!" Aka, if they just saw me test my blood sugar, despite the fact i wiped my finger and washed it, they're afraid i might give them a disease....gah!

2. "You're going to starve to death now if you eat like that. Loooook at this yummy chocolate bar, you know you want some."

3. "Don't expect us to not sit 2 feet in front of you and smack big macs in your face just because you want to eat like a bird now"

4. "Omg there's weird food in the fridge!"

5. "So now you wont buy us anymore 'normal' food?" (upon hearing my share of the food money goes to healthy food now)

6. "You blood sugar was normal all week, isn't it like loosing weight, you deserve a little treat now and then, let's go splurge!" ~grumbles~

[spring]

Yeah, most of these have been mentioned...

1. "Someone's mother let them have too much sugar as a child" (said with condescending all-knowing nod)
2. -sidelong stare- you shouldn't be eating that should you? (hah, generally this only makes me cranky if I'm low)
3. My Grandpa has that! Why don't you just take pills?
4. You know, that's proof of what's wrong with today's diet/lifestyle....
5. My diabetic (insert relation, friend, whathaveyou) can drink alcohol all they want and they're fine, why this one time.... (I mean, I know a lot of diabetics can and do but I'm unfortunately sensitive and even a tiny bit of alcoholic sauce on cake makes my number plummet after a brief initial rise)

[Keezheekoni]

My grandma/aunt/cousin/etc. had diabetes and now is blind/lost a limb/is on dialysis...etc
See now, this is very true of my family. Everyone who has severely not cared about taking care of themselves has lost limbs, vision, etc.

So now I have the perfect story for that...my dad's younger brother died last year of a pulmonary embolism after surgery to remove his gangrenous penis. What else was there to live for?! Note, I only tell this story to people who tell me that their "husband/grandfather/uncle/dad/whatever *never* has to check their sugar - all they do is take a pill or watch their diet. Why get blood all over from finger sticks?!?"...blah!

That usually shuts them up, and they can even check with my uncle's doctor and the hospital he was treated at, since he signed the HIPPA form allowing people access to his records. ;) He really didn't want anyone else to go through what he went through by not taking care of himself the way he should have. :( Feel free to use the story if you'd like, but it obviously only works if the person they are referring to is male! LOL

Oh, by the way, after telling this story to my husband's doctor at his last appointment, his doctor said, "I'm not even diabetic, but I'm going to start on metformin today!" He has us :rofl:

[blue_eyed_devil]

I'm cracking up reading these cause it's so true! I've had all of the above... and the classics
"you got the because you ate too much sugar eh?" or "you got that because you're - ummm - over weight/fat eh?"
I'm studying to be a nurse too, so every time i do a blood test i get the dirty look if it's a bit high... or any time i eat somthing like chocolate... oh the joys... they also question what i'm doing all the time and then say "that's not what we're taught..."

[Roy Gardiner]

Thank goodness, just this once, for English reserve.

No-one says a word, not after the first 'Oh dear' anyway.

[DeusXM]

The slightest moment you're not all sunshine and rainbows - "Do you need a Mars bar?"

On doing an injection - "Oh, are you ok?"

On eating a more sugary thing than normal - "You'll have to run about a bit now."

And my personal favourite, on my diagnosis, from my own mother who was trying to find something positive to say - "It's not a death sentence, it's a life sentence."

Cheers mum.

[Shocked]

I've heard most of these myself. The one that irritates me the most comes from my herbal loving wife if I have even a bite of cake/cookies/ice cream and that's you shouldn't eat that. She hates the fact that herbs quit working for me and now I'm injecting. OOO it just grinds her.

Most people that I'm around just ask if I'm on pills or shots.

[kidvid]

Yesterday my boss, who is leaving the company, was leaving the office with all my coworkers for a final lunch together. He quit taking me to lunch when he found out I was on a pump. As he walks down the steps with everyone else in our department he says "Last time Joe...you wanna go to lunch?" I say "**** ya, I'll go." Boss says with shocked look on face "Really?" I shake my head and say "Yeah, I'll go! I still gotta eat for chrissakes!"

Maybe my new boss will take a minute to learn a smidgeon about diabetes. If nothing else the simple fact we still eat!

[sugarfree76]

#2 is kind of cynical.

I don't like how people apologize.

"What's that for?"

"Oh, it's just a needle. I have to give myself a shot based on what I eat. It's no big deal. I'm a diabetic, but it's manageable. I don't mind."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

It tempts me to say, well, if you're truly sorry, $100 would help. Because sorry's don't do anything except exhibit unnecessary pity. We're not aliens. We're in fact as normal as the next guy. :)
YOU ROCK!!! It's the 'get rich quick' methodology!!! NICE!!

[amccrazgrl]

yeah i've heard all of those.
cant eat this/that
does it hurt
im sorry
my _ has diabetes
how can u be connected to that pump all the time
how is it connected

i like when they(family u dont see often) say lets go have ice cream you can't have that can you...i said i can have whatever i want i just shouldn't eat it...but can u have it.......i say yeah i'll just bolus for it :wavey:

[sugarfree76]

them:"You can't have that!''
me: "I guess not. let's do some heroin''

[Mich]

Yes, I'm betting we've all heard most of those (got to admit, Mr Honesty's thoughtless remark on future diabetic children did take the cake.)

I know I'm an ingrate for saying this, but boy do I hate to hear (usually at an elderly relative's house) "We're all having pumpkin pie with whipped cream but I made you some special dessert with no sugar."

This is usually followed by something bread-like that tastes like sawdust because there is no sugar or butter in it. It is also made with WHITE FLOUR. Yikes!

Of course, I politely have a piece.

Friends and relatives who know me better give me a tiny bit of the same dessert they are all eating, thank goodness.

Mich

[sydneya]

All of the above plus "I read or I saw at the health food store some herbs that will cure diabetes. You won't have to finger prick or give shots ever again." Then there is the favorite from my mother-in-law. "Oh, you don't have to worry about living longer than Ray. After all you have diabetes."
And that is coming from a sweet little 84 year old woman.

The only thing we can do is laugh. That is survival.

[kidg]

In the US (or at least in California), when there is a story on the news about diabetes, it tends to be in regard to Type 2. So all of the footage usually involves the "unhealthy" members of our communities waddling around or shoving their faces full of junk food. As a result, my favorite comment is, "But you don't LOOK diabetic". I'll take that one over all of the others anyday.

My favorite "annoying" comment comes from my mother EVERY time my parents come to visit. They are from the midwest where dessert is considered a food group and, therefore, usually show up for dinner with pie-in-hand. But it is no ordinary pie...oh no! This is a pie that EVEN I can eat because...it's a NO SUGAR ADDED pie! Time for a little extra Humalog so as not to disappoint them...

Several years before I was diagnosed, I dated a girl with Type 1 and, I'm ashamed to say, I was one of those people that struggled to understand whether that meant she needed insulin or didn't need insulin, whether sugar=kryptonite, whether she could only eat matzah, etc. Since I used to be one of "the ignorant", I tend to give them a break nowadays and I'm just thankful that they don't have a need to be as well informed as me. (Lucky bastards)

[parrotletzoo]

1. You can't have that. (dont tell me i cant do something)
2. It wont hurt you to have a little... (how about asking if I'd LIKE some instead?)
3. You dont LOOK diabetic. (I didnt know there was a uniform.)
4. Oh, you have the bad kind. (they're all the bad kind)
5. My second cousins ex girlfriend's grandmother's next door neighbor has it too! \(ooooooh, you understand me, now we must be best friends(

[June91]

them:"You can't have that!''
me: "I guess not. let's do some heroin''
:wavey: Thanks, used it today!

Q: "Do you HAVE to do that?" (fingerprick) A: "No, I'm into bdsm but my boyfriend's not around..."

And this from a friend: "You cheat at night, you sneaky thing, I SAW the candy by the bed!"

[DeusXM]

One of the trickier ones to deal with are questions of severity. I get asked a lot if I'm severely diabetic or just a little bit diabetic and of course the moment they find out I inject on average 4-8 times a day, they start to think of me as being severely ill. The best comparisons I could come up with to help them understand how 'severity' works was something like 'diabetes is a bit like AIDS. You've either got it or you haven't'. Unfortunately it doesn't paint a particularly favourable picture so I decided not to use that.

The other thing I always get is 'so does that mean your sugar is too low, or too high?', to which I reply 'both and neither.'

[HelenM]

My least favorite comment on meeting a friend a week after coming out of hospital was ' oh you must have been eating too much of our good French food!'
Poor woman she got a whole explanation in bad french of LADA.

At Christmas an elderly friend (who should have known better as she has a son with type 2) was really concerned that I should have a mince pie with everyone else, so she made a special one for me; one without the sugar sprinkled on the top! Oh well it was a time to take some insulin and prove the phrase 'I'm allowed to eat anything'

[Lynne1]

My fil and my Mom's friend's husband are both pharmacists. I find they say the most annoying things because they think they know all about diabetes and they don't.

1. My FIL was at work and a customer told him that they felt weak in the afternoon. He told them to drink some Gatorade and they'd feel better. :frown: OMG...that was my main symptom when first diagnosed.

2. My Mom's friend (pharmacists wife) asked what the prognosis was for getting off the pump. Argh! Ironically, the pharmacist is type II, but not on insulin yet. I don't know what they are thinking. Guess he doesn't know that the pump is an improvement over shots.

3. My Mom's friend told my mother that elevated A1Cs were diagnotic of diabetes. Not true! The thing is, my mother believes them not me.

4. My in-laws always get the 'no sugar added' apple struedel for dessert. It's got apples, raisins, juice and filo pastry...but no sugar! I could tell them that a carb is a carb til I'm blue in the face and they don't get it.

5. My mother has an obsession with what other people eat and she asks me about everything I eat to make sure it's ok. Meanwhile, she has no idea how to manage diabetes. What a pain!

[SueM]

Oh you must be bad then if you have injections
followed by all the things they think I should be doing or eating.

I'm very good, listen for a few minutes and then proclaim
in a very loud voice
"Thank God your not my Dr I now have a chance of living a normal healthy life"
Or
" When did you qualify as a diabetes specialist? don't call me I will call you".

[PeterL]

[QUOTE=DeusXM]One of the trickier ones to deal with are questions of severity. I get asked a lot if I'm severely diabetic or just a little bit diabetic and of course the moment they find out I inject on average 4-8 times a day, they start to think of me as being severely ill. The best comparisons I could come up with to help them understand how 'severity' works was something like 'diabetes is a bit like AIDS. You've either got it or you haven't'. Unfortunately it doesn't paint a particularly favourable picture so I decided not to use that.

You could always use one of my favorites - It's like being just a little bit pregnant!

[JasonJayhawk]

Man, this thread would be good to throw in the face of people who do this kind of thing. Maybe then, they'd see their silliness.

Of course, it wouldn't help those people who continue to not understand.

PeterL, I like your response. I'm storing that as a macro response in my brain.

[DeusXM]

You could always use one of my favorites - It's like being just a little bit pregnant!

Did think of that...on the other hand, people do make a distinction with pregnancy ie. you can be heavily pregnant.

[spring]

hah, all the ones I can think of are kind of negative.

Like dead! (I mean, the beta cells are sort of ... dead) You can't be mildly dead or severely dead. Dead is dead. (not the most positive connection of course but you know...)

[Jan2306]

The one that gets me is:
"My cousin/aunt/grandfather,etc/ has diabetes and they don't spend so much time trying to calculate everything"

My response is: Well I'm sure one day I'll have more experience too. But since it's been less than a year, it takes me awhile to figure things out. The conversation in my head of course goes more like "Well I'm sure one day I'll have more experience too. But since it's been less than a year, GIVE ME A F..... Break" :)

[Penny]

The one that gets me is:
"My cousin/aunt/grandfather,etc/ has diabetes and they don't spend so much time trying to calculate everything"

My response is: Well I'm sure one day I'll have more experience too. But since it's been less than a year, it takes me awhile to figure things out. The conversation in my head of course goes more like "Well I'm sure one day I'll have more experience too. But since it's been less than a year, GIVE ME A F..... Break" :)

That's the one that gets me. Or, my mother, aunt,brother eats anything they want to, and just take a shot. The last time, I asked what the relatives A1C was, and heard "Oh, they don't have one of those, they just take pills." I understand that not everyone knows about Diabetes, because they don't have to know, but you would think they would not try to tell you how to handle yours!

[Jan2306]

The one that gets me is:
"My cousin/aunt/grandfather,etc/ has diabetes and they don't spend so much time trying to calculate everything"

My response is: Well I'm sure one day I'll have more experience too. But since it's been less than a year, it takes me awhile to figure things out. The conversation in my head of course goes more like "Well I'm sure one day I'll have more experience too. But since it's been less than a year, GIVE ME A F..... Break" :)

[Linda57]

I dont know if this has already been posted, but when some people hear that I have D, they ask if I am diet or medication controlled, or if I have real Diabetes

...............feels real enough for me

[Funnygrl]

I spent this summer working at a non-d camp and kept my pump supplies in the health center there. I got some interesting responses from some of the nurses.

The first nurse was type 2 and took metformin. She wasn't feeling well one day so I told her she should test. "Oh, I don't need to worry about that- you don't go low or high when you take my kinda med."

I decided to ask this nurse what her a1c was. Her response: "Excellent- 9 point something." I almost choked. When I told her that was horrible, she said, "Oh, that must be wrong then, since the nurse said it was perfect."

Another nurse asked me if I had to wear the pump all the time, and still another told me about her neighbor who almost died cause he ate pie.

[Lex4153]

Wow. That's all I gotta say. That was a nurse???

I got some minor surgery done a few years ago, back when I was taking shots of Lantus and Novolog. The doctor told me to bring my insulin with me. Well, I forgot. The nurse said, "Well, what happens if you get low during the surgery?" "Umm, I wouldn't take INSULIN would I?" This was a nurse. Thought they would know some of this stuff?

[corwin]

In my short 5 months since I was dx I got almost all of the above, I guess I'm really casuall about testing\injecting whenever, wherever, around anybody. Another common one is "When are you going to be well enough so you won't have to inject insulin anymore?" to which I usually reply "When technology come up with a new treatment for a currently incurable condition". Many people really don't know anything about diabetes, but then again neither did I before finding out I have it. I take every opportunity to educate the masses.

[trailrunner]

Wow. That's all I gotta say. That was a nurse???

I got some minor surgery done a few years ago, back when I was taking shots of Lantus and Novolog. The doctor told me to bring my insulin with me. Well, I forgot. The nurse said, "Well, what happens if you get low during the surgery?" "Umm, I wouldn't take INSULIN would I?" This was a nurse. Thought they would know some of this stuff?
Well some us nurses do

[mom2b]

How about when someone who actually does know a thing or two about you and your disease says to you, "Have you checked your sugar recently?" just because you're in a cranky mood?

Or when people hear that you have diabetes and say, "there will be a cure for that in five years..." I've had this for almost 20 years, so technically, I should have been cured four times over1

Or:
"you can't give an injection through your clothing!!" Want to bet?

Or, now that I'm on a pump:
"How do you sleep/shower/go swimming/have sex?

Hearing someone has diabetes is like an invitation to ask way too personal questions. That's the most annoying part.

[Penny]

Well some us nurses do

I know you do Trailrunner.:) My young neighbor RN, started educating herself about the things she didn't know, when she found out I was Diabetic. She had not seen the pens, and read everything and explained to me what I didn't understand. She said she did not want to be caring for someone who had diabetes and not know everything about it. She is one smart young woman.

[Desmodus]

I'd have to go with

1. Are you allowed to eat that?

2. Are you suppose to eat that?

3. Your not going to eat that are you?

4. Will that be good for you if you eat that?

5. You can't eat that can you?
I love it when they follow up with things like ”What? You CAN’T eat that?!” seconds after yelling your list.

And off course the “So I fill you up with insulin if anything happens and I’m unable to make contact – right?”
Think I tried to explain the whole insulin vs. sugar the first 5 years to my friends. But my gf at that time got it right away. *Sigh* boys :p

[pinkytricia]

1. While dining out people are looking at me as if I'm a drug dealer ?
{ I keep all of my/hubby's pills together in one bottle in my purse} {7 different kinds of pills} :laugh:

2. Sorry, I only have water for you, everything in the frig. has sugar...

3. We can't eat there because Tricia's has Diabetes....

4. Did you take you medicine today ???? :nerd:

5. Stop eating that....!!! :dong:

[EdgyAuthor]

1. "We should be thankful that people get diabetes and other diseases because it helps the the rest of us appreciate that we don't." (Grr...)

2. "Oh my gosh, that's a huge pill!" (Ignorant people who think all diabetics take pills and assume the glucose tablets I'm eating are exactly that.)

3. "You can't eat chocolate."
"Yes I can!"
"My diabetic grandma can't. It ruins her blood sugar."
(Seriously, when will this whole "sugar is forbidden to all diabetics" seize?)

4. "Can I borrow your cell phone?" (Uh, it's a pump...)

5. "So what did you do that made you get diabetes?" (Again, grr. Not my fault, people!)

[David_S]

Christmas cookies were brought in to work.. a co-worker said to me and another type 1 who works with me, " Why don't you just take a shot and have some cookies? "

[tanyatype1]

My neighbour asks to see my pump, then he winces dramatically, shudders, and says, "ewww - that is sooo gross!!!" He's done the exact same thing repeatedly. I think he's trying to make me feel self-conscious and bad about myself. Makes me so .........fed up.:argh:

[marle1]

My mom keeps asking me how long I have to take needles for!!!!

[Jackets]

I play in a rock band around a lot of drug culture. Back-stage one night I gave warning to the guys in the other band:
"I'm a T1 diabetic, not a Heroin addict, so that's what this shot is all about."
"That's cool. It wouldn't even matter if you were [a heroin addict] anyway."

Musicians are so understanding.

[Tim_Roy]

I've only heard #1 to my face.

I've had lots of people tell me I must be a bad diabetic. Or that "You must have it really bad."

Oddly enough, several of them were Type 2s. Usually the kind that is barely clued in on what they have, let alone knowing anything about Type 1. As in, not the type of Type 2 diabetic that uses these forums.

[Tattoo azz]

Had all of the above.I think the worst one is when on the brink of having a hypo,everyone asks if your ok,you then get something sweet,check your blood and everyone tells you that you shouldn't have that,for the next hour or so while you're feeling crappy everyone continues to ask if you're ok.A quick story of when i worked at Butlins holiday camp,i used to go to the canteen for meals and do my injections there as well.The head chef walked up to me and rudely told me that i was no-longer welcome if i continued shooting up.Me and my friends were shocked at this so i promptly went back to my chalet,got 10 of my emergency syringes and went back to the canteen ,i stood on a table and stuck all 10 syringes into my stomach.When asked later by the camp directer why i did this i told him what had happened
and he appologised and said the head chef would be demoted immediately.RESULT!!!!!!!!!

[Stuboy]

i get "DIET??" alot usually...

strangely enough, someone said it to me the other night,

Me: "diet coke please"
Lady: "DIET???"
Me: "Yes... I am diabetic"
Lady: "... reallly??? Me too!!"

Type 2, dxd 1 year ago...

[princesslinda]

I was diagnosed Aug. 31 of this year, so I don't have the long history of stupid remarks some of you have heard...however, I have heard a few.
My favorites:

1) You have diabetes? I am so sorry. I watched my aunt/mother/father/brother die at a young age with this dreadful disease...but i'm sure YOU'LL do fine.

2) How long before you'll have to start insulin?

3) Surely one bite of cake won't hurt you...try it! (I always want to say "would you want ONE bite of cake)

4) I give everyone time I see someone taking donations for diabetes!

and my personal favorite

5) If you will just lose some weight you'll be able to go off meds and eat ANYTHING you want and not have to worry about it anymore. (would that it were that easy)

Oh well, guess we've all learned that sometimes saying nothing is best.

[orpy]

Oh, you're making too big a deal about it...you're so thin, you can't be diabetic...

[orpy]

I think I've heard all of those. The one that really bugs me the most is when I look happy, sad, angry, upset, smiling, laughing, coughing....BREATHING...and my mother says..."How's your sugar?" in a panicked voice.
This one REALLY gets me...everytime I try to express myself to my boyfriend, he does this...blames all my moods, opinions on my diabetes! I'm ready to leave him over this!

[mullyman]

Add this one to the list; yesterday we had our company Christmas luncheon; about 15 minutes before everyone was to get in line. My boss announces, "he certainly is glad he doesn't have diabetes on a day like today".

It took everything that I beleive in to not make a comment.

[DeusXM]

This one REALLY gets me...everytime I try to express myself to my boyfriend, he does this...blames all my moods, opinions on my diabetes! I'm ready to leave him over this!

Yeah, that's always a classic.

"Hi Doc, I've caught the bubonic plague."
"And how are your blood sugars doing?"

Actually though, what annoys me most is the whole chucking-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater that people seem to do when confronted with something that is bad in large amounts.

Ingesting lots of aspartame might give you a headache, and is dangerous if you have PKU. THEN ASPARTAME IS EVIL AND KILLING YOU AND THE FDA ARE LYING TO YOU! VISIT THIS VERY COMPREHENSIVE SITE AND BUY THEIR BOOK!

Eating lots of carbs will cause issues with managing your bg. THEN CARBS BE GONE FROM YOUR DIET AND NEVER TOUCH THEM AGAIN! BUY THIS BOOK!

Eating lots of fast food cooked in trans fats is bad for you. TRANS FATS ARE THE SPAWN OF SATAN HIMSELF! BANISH THEM FOREVER BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO KILL YOU! BUY THIS BOOK!

That's what bugs me more than anything else about this condition - it seems to bring out all sorts of people who leap to huge, dramatic extremes in everything, presumably because they're trying to duck out of their responsibility for their own health. And god forbid you ever suggest they might be wrong - if you haven't been to all those poorly designed websites and purchased every last money-grabbing pamphlet, you're killing yourself.

[MJM]

No, I got the all time best......

"ohh, i'm sorry, but If we continue to go out, and we end up married, we might have kids that have diabetes, and I would not want that...."


Or the second best. while injecting in a restaurant bathroom one time....
a guy actually said to his son.. "see son, that’s why people who have diseases should not be allowed in public places, so they can not spread their sickness to others". (To which my reply was "see son I’d be more worried about being raised by an asshole more then having diabetes")

Good on ya, middnite03.

[MJM]

i've only had diabetes for 10 days and i've already had "oh my nan has it" going on to say how she takes pills etc.

i haven't had "you can't eat that"... yet.

I reckon you won't have to wait long Stuboy

[Stuboy]

and how right you were!! This happens on a regular basis now when i approach the "treats" table at work... it's a table in the middle of our department with dohnuts, some chocolates and mince pies, etc, bought by people in the department FOR the department to help themselves... i go over occassionally when either im just feeling peckish, and can bolus, or when im heading for a low and go for a sweet (cadbury's roses, currently). Then the big voice comes "YOU CAN'T EAT THAT!" from one of the really annoying women in the deptartment.

She usually gets a reply like "watch me" or "I can eat what I like thank you very much".

[DeusXM]

She usually gets a reply like "watch me" or "I can eat what I like thank you very much".

I find in those situations, raising an eyebrow, looking the offender up and down, putting on a wry smile and then saying, "I don't really think you're in any position to lecture people on what they should or shouldn't eat," works exceptionally well.

Doesn't make you any friends, but then again I was also the person who when a co-worker told me, "Cool, well I'm off now," I said, "What, back to your ugly cave?"

I don't make many friends at work.

[Stuboy]

lmao... that cracks me up!

[pinkytricia]

DeusXM,

When an Englishman get's angry y'all sound so Intelligent and educated and all...

When a Southern get's angry I just wanna giggle...

This is not to offend any of my southern friends...

[Stuboy]

i think it's just the english way, rather than shout at the opposing person... if feels much better to make them feel stupid and/or put them down.

Gotta get one up on them that's for sure :D I think us english are good at taking sarcasm to the next level ;)

[sofaraway]

theres 3 of us at work who have diabetes, the other day we had a team building thingy and one of the things was eating malteasers, this women said "we can't do that one", I said 'Dunno about you but I'm doing it" and bolused after.

she always says "I can't have this or that" whenever goodies are brought in. it's annoying because she could have it if she wanted, she chooses not to, and people look at me and another girl like 'bad naughty diabetics' because we eat cakes and chocolates.

a nurse at work asked me

her "how many times do you inject each day"
me "normally 4, but can be between 3-6"
her "do you stick to a strick diabetic diet?"
me "my diet is pretty flexiable"
her "well thats why you have to inject 4 times a day, if you were stricter you could go onto only twice daily"

[Stuboy]

lmao... "yeh, twice daily on mixtard... thanks! make he live like i have no life why dont you..."

what is she a nurse in?

[sofaraway]

she's a nurse in community rehab.

we just had a man admitted and he's on mixtard30, and they say he's really unstable and has problems with hypos. My mission for tomorrow is to find out why he is on that ****.

[desert_reefer]

At my opthomalogist appointment he asked me how my sugars were and what my last a1c was, I went on to tell him I just started on the pump and I swear his heart skipped a beat and he looked at me almost gasping and said you must be real brittle. I literally laughed out loud and explained to him that fine tuning is always a good thing.

[desert_reefer]

I'll also never forget back in high school a group of us were at dinner and a friend of mine went to pass the salt to me and then grabbed it out of my hands and said "you can't eat that". :hmmmm2: once again another laugh out loud moment.

[trailrunner]

lately my response during the holiday season( because I can't count how many times I've heard this) to "You can't eat that!" Is iF You can abuse your body during the holidays why can't I? But what I really want to say is f@#$ Off.

[momtomadison]

Mother of a 7 yr. old type 1 diabetic.

While checking carbs at the grocery store-

Two ladies asked "Do you have her on the atkins diet? No, I have her on the
diabetes diet?

She'll probably outgrow that.

I could never give my child shots everday. Yes you could, if they were going to die.

I'm glad I don't have to deal with that. Like, since their kids don't have diabetes NOW, means your exempt. Don't think so.

And I hate every comment that seems to imply that type 1 is just like type 2.

Elizabeth
Mother to Madison - 7 yrs. old
diagnosed 8/04

[Injecto]

I've already had several of those mentioned, and add this one:

As said from a co-workder
"Oh, I'm so sorry you have diabetes. Don't worry, I know all about diabetes, my CAT has diabetes".

YOUR CAT? ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

[DeusXM]

I always enjoy meeting other people with medical problems at mealtimes. Once we went out for a meal at an Italian restaurant (all pizza and pasta, dead tasty!) and the girl I was next to made a big deal about the fact she was gluten intolerant.

"Gosh, that must be so difficult and such a pain to deal with," I sympathised as I stabbed some u's of Novorapid into my arm, right in front of her and then got on with my meal.

[Michelek]

1. You don't look diabetic...you're not fat.
2. (when ordering a food that one perceives I should not have)...you're not having that and "getting sick" on my time
3. That thing (pump) is hooked up to you all the time? With a needle under your skin? (with the "ew gross" look on their face)....I would never do that. I'd rather just inject....
oh yeah, cause 6 needles a day is much more pleasant? Dumbies!
4. What's that? An insulin pump? Wow, then you must have diabetes really bad?
5. MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE, and I know a number of you had said it....well my grandpa/grandma/uncle whomever has that....
they say it so nonchalantly like, yeah they have it, and just diet/exercise and they're fine. I don't know why you make such a big deal about it. That's how I take it anyways.

[EdgyAuthor]

3. That thing (pump) is hooked up to you all the time? With a needle under your skin? (with the "ew gross" look on their face)....I would never do that. I'd rather just inject....
I get that comment from somebody at least once a month. They seem to be just as weirded out when they find out that I also have to sleep with the pump at night.

[2high]

"Ooh... you don't look fat enough to be diabetic"

"You're diabetic. You should eat at regular hours." I KNOW I'm diabetic, and I'll eat when I'm hungry, thank you very much!!

"Can you do that in the bathroom?!?!" NO, I will NOT inject in the bathroom!! Can you eat in there???

"Wow you got D young... did your mum eat a lot of sugar when she was pregnant??"

"Diabetes?? Oh, you were born with that right??" "No, I wasn't, I was dxd at age 8" "Wow, you must have eaten badly as a kid!"

[DanG]

Some of these responses of people around us are really annoying, aren't they?

However, since we know these are common responses, why let people know what our health issues are all about?
I do not "wear my diabetes on my sleeve" so to speak. Nobody around me knows I am diabetic. I heard some of this type of talk many years back and vowed to remain incognito.
I don't think there is anything wrong with that - is there?
I think that if ya want to speak and show health issues, the wierd comments come along with the turf. Don't like the turf - get on away from the issues and the dummies.
I guess I don't like medical talk anyway - no medical talk. The whole community of health is a racket and would kill each and every bank account if they had the chance to. There is no hypocratic oath these days - it is hypocracy oath. They can let me die when they find me strung out - hey, we all go somehow someday anyway - why not now? btw, this is not defeatism - it is right up close and cozy with reality.

[EdgyAuthor]

It's not so much the responses that annoy me. It's when the people persist to believe that they're right with those assumptions even though I'm the diabetic and would obviously know better about the subject.

I do "wear diabetes on my sleeve." (Or, more accurately, clipped to my pocket, since I have a pump.) I like to educate people about it so in the future they won't be as ignorant. I do understand why one would want to keep their condition hidden, though.

[Funnygrl]

I do not "wear my diabetes on my sleeve" so to speak.

Me neither. I much prefer wearing it on the pocket of my jeans.

[DeusXM]

I agree with Edgy. Although I don't broadcast to the whole world that I have diabetes, I don't conceal it either.

I think the real problem comes from the fact that everyone seems to think they know something about diabetes and what they know seems to be based on how things used to be about 40 years ago. It's almost as if there was this big seminar in 1965 to which everyone was 'educated' about diabetes.

Think about it. When you meet someone with a major medical condition - cancer, MS, AIDS...****, even asthma if you like - what's the first thing you do? Do you start telling those people about their condition and how they should be treating it? Do you start speculating to them how they got it? No, you don't. Most people with any sense just sorta accept that the person they're dealing with has that medical condition. Occasionally they might even ask them a question, and that question won't be phrased in such a way to suggest that they already know something. Yet with diabetes, it's different. Everyone seems to think they're something of an expert and simply have to stick their oar in.

I don't mind as such, because it then gives me the chance to make other people look stupid, and I've found there's nothing more exhilarating than pointing out the shortcomings of others ( (C) Randall, Clerks). And on the plus side, either that person will learn a little more about diabetes, or be cowed by the withering contempt they receive from me that they'll learn to engage their brain before speaking.

[Ricros]

I get the you can't eat that at work all the time. They bring cookies and snacks. I tell them yes I can but I will only have one. Especially now, at Christmas time when they break out the Dannish Butter Cookies. One of my all time favorite holiday cookies.

I was reading this thread when I ran across the cat with diabetes and no more than ten minutes later did my aunt call and ask if her diabetic dog could eat certain things. I said I guess so but I am not a vet dietitian.

[saltcast]

I can't believe nobody mentioned this one:

A relative enters the house for a holiday gathering whom you've not seen for a year and the say to you: "How are you **feeling**? "

How the **** am I supposed to feel? I've had diabetes for 10 years, lead an active life, and manage it quite well ****it.

[Funnygrl]

I can't believe nobody mentioned this one:

A relative enters the house for a holiday gathering whom you've not seen for a year and the say to you: "How are you **feeling**? "

How the **** am I supposed to feel? I've had diabetes for 10 years, lead an active life, and manage it quite well ****it.
Omg, my old boss did that to me nearly daily as soon as she found out I had diabetes. Which also happened to be the day I got my pump.

I say, "Fine, thank you, and you?"

[trailrunner]

I hate that every time I see my parents or my sister ( they are all doctors) the first thing they ask is " how are your sugars?" LIke that is the only thing I got going on in my life right now. How about asking me " how are the kids? How's your running going?, or What's up with work?" Diabetes doesn't consume my life, it's just a small, small fraction of it.

[Laura71]

At a family picnic last summer, my great-aunt saw me giving myself an injection and said "Oh, so you're still doing that business". Sadly, I was too shocked to think of a suitable reply other than "Yeah", to which she replied "Well, I guess if it's working you might as well."


Might as well, indeed! I am rather fond of being alive, after all!!

[Tricia452008]

I agree with Edgy. Although I don't broadcast to the whole world that I have diabetes, I don't conceal it either.

I think the real problem comes from the fact that everyone seems to think they know something about diabetes and what they know seems to be based on how things used to be about 40 years ago. It's almost as if there was this big seminar in 1965 to which everyone was 'educated' about diabetes.

Think about it. When you meet someone with a major medical condition - cancer, MS, AIDS...****, even asthma if you like - what's the first thing you do? Do you start telling those people about their condition and how they should be treating it? Do you start speculating to them how they got it? No, you don't. Most people with any sense just sorta accept that the person they're dealing with has that medical condition. Occasionally they might even ask them a question, and that question won't be phrased in such a way to suggest that they already know something. Yet with diabetes, it's different. Everyone seems to think they're something of an expert and simply have to stick their oar in.

I don't mind as such, because it then gives me the chance to make other people look stupid, and I've found there's nothing more exhilarating than pointing out the shortcomings of others ( (C) Randall, Clerks). And on the plus side, either that person will learn a little more about diabetes, or be cowed by the withering contempt they receive from me that they'll learn to engage their brain before speaking.

i just have to say i love Clerks....im From NJ and a big Kevin Smith fan

[lilituc]

Christmas cookies were brought in to work.. a co-worker said to me and another type 1 who works with me, " Why don't you just take a shot and have some cookies? "

Huh, I would be happy if someone said that to me.

[Chris Graham]

First of all, I am pregnant. So, double the stoopid things people say to you. Last night we went to a party and the drunk hostess actually said "are you going to be ok...I'm just so worried...I've seen Steel Magnolias". Ha, ha, ha. I told my husband we needed to leave because she just wouldn't drop it!

[issysmommy]

Here are mine:

1. You can't eat that
2. I could never take shots (um, i'll bet you could if you were going to die)
3. You must be a really bad diabetic (when they find out I'm on a pump)
4. My aunt can control her diabetes on just pills....why don't you do that?
5. Don't fat people get diabetes?

I have always thought a good title for a book about Diabetes and the emotional effects (which seem to be almost worst than the potential physical complications) especially shame that isn't even grounded in facts would be, "You are supposed to eat that, are you?"

When asked this most the time I give them the 30 minute lesson on Diabetes in the year 2006 and how different it is from 1962 (the year they are basing their education on most likely).

You also gotta love when my sugar is low, "Do you need a cookie?" I always answer, "Yeah, if I want my sugars high in about 3 to 5 hours."

I even had my husband say at his Christmas party the other night to another pump Diabetic he works with..."Yeah, Brad eats sweets all the time too, honey"...I have to tell you, I looked at him and thought, "Oh, my goodness, you have absolutely no clue about my Diabetes."

Here are a few others:

When are you supposed to go blind?
I had an uncle, aunt, grandmother, etc. who had that and she was really bad, she had to take shots and eventually went blind and lost her legs...

Don't you just wish sometimes that Type 1 had a different label to explain that we don't produce ANY insulin at ALL nor will we ever even if we are running marathons and a "perfect" diabetic...

Oh, and for my final one: "I am a member of a company (multi-level marketing vitamins) and I can cure your diabetes if you would like to see about my vitamins." ---Uh, what...call the media...he found the cure...

[Fat Steve]

My Brother (knowing I am a Microbiologist/Pathologist) told me I dont have diabetes. He explained I just thought I had it.

Maybe he should test my insulin for me. hey - I'd give him sugar if he did. Sooner or later....

But the one that splits my side is those who just have a "little bit of diabetes". Thats like being slightly pregnant.

On a sick note - i saw a bumper sticker that said - "Drive how you like, I need your pancreas"

[issysmommy]

Oh and here's another...

"You don't look so good...are your sugars ok?"

Then I test...it was about 175, so I pumped...

"See, I just knew that you weren't doing ok."

Then later at Starbuck's...to the barista after I ordered a sugar-free vanilla, nonfat latte...

"You have to make sure that her's is sugar-free and non-fat because we don't want her having one of those diabetic fits in here..."

Which by the way...never had a diabetic "fit" other than wanting to run and hide or slap someone who says things like that...I'll show you a fit...

----------------

Then when I was about 13 at camp (non-diabetic camp) boy breaking up with me because he didn't want to catch diabetes...

----------------

"Oh, here is some flour-free, all natural cake...you can have that without having to take any insulin...you HAVE to try it..."

[issysmommy]

What's worse than ALL these replies are the ones that are not voiced (at least in front of us) but thought.

[issysmommy]

Oh...jsut remembered another one several years ago when I worked in corporate america...

Fellow worker staring me up and down at the copy machine. "Oh, I didn't think we were authorized to wear pagers during work hours."

I simply replied, "Oh, weren't not."

And never explained what my pump was....kind of fun to keep her guessing...she never spoke to me again...looks like I was the lucky one...

[ant hill]

What are the top 5 most annoying things people say to you when they find out you have diabetes?
Yeah i have some pet gripes like, went to order some chineise food and been refused to bieng seved and i said why? and the reply was that you are a diabetic and goes on about how that person colapsed and emeiatly called the ambulanceand so we all know that person has had a hipo and just needed a jelly bean. And the person came down to earth and said is that be all. :)

1. You can't eat that.
Gee, a lot of people still remeber of diabeties of old when the pork purified insulin was a breakthough. Now it's more synthersized or better.

Things my roommates have said to me since diagnosis 2 weeks ago.

1. "Don't shake hands, hold my hand or touch me....I see a blood spot! Dont touch my cat either!" Aka, if they just saw me test my blood sugar, despite the fact i wiped my finger and washed it, they're afraid i might give them a disease....gah!

It's amasing to see that peoples deceptions about the desise. :s:

[Nada]

Here's a a recent situation I encountered:

Emma, the woman my dh babysits for knows everything. She comes in one day as I'm looking for my carbohydrate book and says "You're not supposed to be eating carbs as a diabetic. My sister was a diabetic during pregnancy. She knows all about this stuff and did a lot of research". Okayyyyy, first of all, her sister had very mild gd. She didn't need insulin, she was totally controlled through diet.

I just said "Well, that's nice. I'm sure it worked for her". Then I left. In my head I was thinking... "Maybe you should go argue with the diabetic nurse, nutritionist, endocrinologist and hundreds of other ressources out there. Surely, they're all wrong and you're right".

She knows everything. About everything. :motz:

[LantusFiend]

1. People who tell me I can be cured. I'm in college and a classmate who's a nurse told me that if I excercise and eat right I won't always have to take shots. Even after I told her I have TYPE 1 and have no measurable insulin output! she insisted that she had friends with type 1 who went off insulin.
2. People who presume to know my future- tell me that if I take care of myself I'll never have complications. That makes me feel that if I do have complications (or go blind for some other reason) they're all going to say, Well, LantusFiend just didn't take care of himself, it's all his fault.

I don't really mind people who think I might be contagous, they're just ignorant. But two weeks out of the hospital when one of my brothers told another of my brothers not to eat a cookie I'd touched because he might get my diabetes germs, I lost my cool.

There are some people who never will deal with needles. I have a classmate with type 1 who can't deal with needles- that's why she uses a medijector.

[sbigelow]

I have gotten them all. My favorite is from my sister who said, "I think I am the same blood type as you so you can have one of my kidneys when yours go bad." I just said thanks.

[smaj611]

A boy asked me if there were any insulin snacks. I sai if there were insulin snacks i wouldn't have a tube attached to me 24/7 with insulin pumping through

[lennybruce]

my ex (we get along rather well) in a conversation w/ my sister talking about what I wanted for x-mas:

"he probably wants a new pancreas."

signed,

very happily single

[Emm]

Perhaps not as bad as most of the others on here... but I was talking to a friend the other day (Godfather to a T1 girl, and a friend of mine for years, thought he knew a bit about D...) he said "Insulin is a sugar, isn't it?

teehee...

[_em]

So off topic.. but what is MDI?

[Emm]

MDI = Multiple Daily Injections - for those of us on long acting and short acting insulins attempting tight control, basically. (as opposed to diet & exercise, or twice a day mix insulins, etc)

[trailrunner]

A boy asked me if there were any insulin snacks. I sai if there were insulin snacks i wouldn't have a tube attached to me 24/7 with insulin pumping through

Mmmmm insulin snacks, bet those are yummy:hahaha:

[Alene]

The best/ worst comment I ever got was when I was working with my Dad and one of the other temps was telling me about one of these herbs that he was taking to help control his blood-sugars (a T2). I asked him what it was because I had never heard of it and I didn't know much about T2... anyway he started going on about how great this drug was and that if I took it for about "err um... about 2 years," I could go off insulin and would be "cured". I tried to argue for awhile and then realized that there really was no point. The guy was just totally ignorant.

[_em]

MDI = Multiple Daily Injections - for those of us on long acting and short acting insulins attempting tight control, basically. (as opposed to diet & exercise, or twice a day mix insulins, etc)

Thank you. I feel better now that I can keep up a bit more. I'm like, '**** alot of people have this MDI!'

[Starlight]

Heh the festive season is baddd for me.

"Eat..have some cake.!!"
"I will, just abit later"
"Oh come on! Try it, its beautiful!"
"LATER!!!!"

"Would you like a coffee?"
"No thanks"
*makes me one anyway*
"Sugar?"
"No thanks"
*puts a teaspoon in*

Most people know I have diabetes but I think they want to send me to hopsital. Its like let ME decide what and when I will eat. Most of them are uneducated with the disease, so I just dont bother.:hmpf:

[tori~]

1 I guess it doesn't hurt you, your use to getting shots and pricking your fingers
2 your too thin
3 your too heavy
4 you can life a normal life though
5 she must not have taken care of herself