What do they think WE eat?

[kel4han]

Irritated by someone at work? We had birthday lunch today for a co-worker, and this same girl that is the know-it-all type, her dad "died of diabetes" etc etc etc always specializes my food, because she "knows I cant have that"
What the @#@# do these people think "WE" eat? It has to be the most annoying thing that comes along with diabetes. So, I go along, just smiles, and wont eat the "forbidden" foods when I am at work. Valentines day, she gave out chocolates, and told me she was soooo sorry she totally spaced giving me candy, and I could give it to my husband. Just a vent I guess. :mad:

[princesslinda]

I know what you mean. We had a drug rep lunch today with PIZZA!!! As a T2, pizza is not the best choice for me...yet all these people look when I bring my tuna to the table. Can't you have just a couple of bites?.....I always want to snap "would you enjoy lunch that consisted of only a couple bites of something." Or "My ______ is a diabetic and she can eat _____." Worse is when you're given the s/f candy and then everyone wants to try it, and then makes faces as it "just doesn't tast REAL." Gotta love the co-workers. When you're not so aggravated, it will actually seem a little funny. I think people think we get diabetes because we had a huge block of sugar in every room licked on it daily. But, going postal only gets you put in jail, probably not really conducive to diabetics there either!

[TenderVittleS]

Even if we weren't diabetic can we still choose to not like a food or just not be in the mood for a certain type of food. If I want it I'll take it and adjust, if I don't want it then leave me alone, ****!

[JediSkipdogg]

I think part of the problem is there is type 1 and type 2. THere is also the old way of diabetes and the new way. I'll compare the two.....

For type 1 vs. type 2. Type 1 can eat anything they want as long as they give the correct amount of insulin. If they want to eat a 12 inch pizza followed by a triple layer chocolate mouse cake they can. If a type 2 on oral meds only does that, they may be looking at running high for the next 2 days. That doesn't apply to all type 2s, but the majority.

Now, the old method vs. the new. Sugar? Friend or foe? 15 years ago a type 1 couldn't eat sugar. That was the enemy and the only known enemy. Now, we can eat all the sugar we want, we just have to compensate for it and eat it in moderation.

That's where the problems are and unless the person knows specifically what type you are and your treatment method it may or may be hard on you. For me, I just deal with it as each circumstance comes and tell people that for me it's fine.

[jeggeman31]

Valentines day, she gave out chocolates, and told me she was soooo sorry she totally spaced giving me candy, and I could give it to my husband. Just a vent I guess. :mad:

If I had a co-worker that did that, I would have ate the chocolate in front of her and told her to check on me in an hour to make sure I was not dead.

I had a co-worker try to tell me what I could and could not eat. She was on my back so much. It got to the point that when I seen her in the lunch room, I would go out take the food on her plate, throw it away and tell her she should not be eating that. After about the 2nd time of doing that she told me she now understood what she was doing and never said another word.

[HiImDan]

Believe me, I've heard it all. From the morons who say "drink it! I see you eating all the time"! (HUH?) to the same chuckeheads as you "oh, I'm so sorry! You can't have this, but I'll give to everyone else".http://bestsmileys.com/doh/1.gif I think my favorite was the dentist who said "I'd give you some gas but the LAST thing we want is a sleeping diabetic on our hands"http://bestsmileys.com/clueless/5.gif Felt like telling him "no, sir, we don't sleep. We stay up all night chanting and ringing bells"http://bestsmileys.com/thumbs/7.gif

[duck]

If I had a co-worker that did that, I would have ate the chocolate in front of her and told her to check on me in an hour to make sure I was not dead.


I would have done the same thing. Good thing Jim and I don't work together, we'd be like those two old codgers who sat in the booth in the Muppet Show, except we'd mock everyone who were ignorant about our afflictions.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v151/educk/forums/StatlerAndWaldorf.jpg

[xMenace]

They're two of my heros!

[cheryl]

I just tell people there are so many new medications for insulin I can eat more then I used to. People usually take well to that and leave me alone. But I have this attitude that no one really ever wants to put there two sense in when they meet me face to face, so I rarely get anyone telling me which way is best, I guess they think I'll bash their face in. It might be the ny accent I have or the Italian looks that scare I have no clue, but people get overwhelmed by me anyway....but I am always as nice as I can be in a stern kind of way.


Cheryl

[Penny]

Strange, but kind of opposite situation happened to me. [I] was reading labels on a box of Fiber1 breakfast bars, at the store. A lady asked me if they were any good, and I said I hadn't tried them, but they had too many carbs for me for a snack. She said they have less than 2. I was reading the box, and it said 28 for one bar. She said, "Yea, my class (she's a new type 2)taught us 15grams = 1 carb." I told her I would not eat them for a snack, because I usually only have 15 carbs for a snack, and try to stay around 20 for a meal. She proceeded to tell me I was wrong, it must be the "old" way of measuring carbs. Are they teaching new diabetics something different now. The CDE I had before the insurance changed was always trying to get me to eat more carbs. I barely keep in control with what I have now, if I started eating more I would never manage good numbers.

[LancetChick]

Strange, but kind of opposite situation happened to me. [I] was reading labels on a box of Fiber1 breakfast bars, at the store. A lady asked me if they were any good, and I said I hadn't tried them, but they had too many carbs for me for a snack. She said they have less than 2. I was reading the box, and it said 28 for one bar. She said, "Yea, my class (she's a new type 2)taught us 15grams = 1 carb."

When I was first diagnosed 20 years ago, we used the "exchange" system, where 1 bread or carb exchange (I forget what it was called) was 15g carbohydrate. I think the lady in the store is the one who is outdated!

[David]

She said, "Yea, my class (she's a new type 2)taught us 15grams = 1 carb."

I believe a better way for it to have been put is: 15grams = 1 carb serving. That's how the exchange system was set up and how many, especially those with Type Two are still taught. When I don't have the gram numbers, I sometimes revert to it when I have to eye food and make a guestimate.

David

[blue_eyed_devil]

try working in a hospital.

[v3xtr0n]

If I had a co-worker that did that, I would have ate the chocolate in front of her and told her to check on me in an hour to make sure I was not dead.


lol - I think that's a great thing to say! :five: They might ask the right questions after a statement like that and learn something!

Thankfully my co-workers and friends etc. have had it explained to them (many, many times) that everything in moderation is good!

I would rather be offered something and turn it down than not to be offered anything at all as that's just rude in my book.

The other thing that some people can't understand is that if they offer me something high in carbs I might reply "not today, maybe tomorrow" or "too late for that now as I've already eaten"!

[Stuboy]

I've had the same problem at work a few times. I've had the opposite too though.

Sometimes im concious of being high and get offered sweets and i really want to have one but i know i should, so i say no, if they ask why i'll tell them my sugar levels are too high to have it at the moment... next time i'll be fine and take one... my closer collegues are used to that now.

It's other collegues (whom i support with IT) that offer me sweets... one in particular... who is a TYPE 2 diabetic... she was confused once why i ordered a diet coke. After telling her i was a diabetic and couldn't (or dont) drink regular coke, she replied that she was a type 2. Next week came about, she saw me drinking diet coke from a can... "still drinking diet?".... "errr... yeh, im still diabetic!"

[HiImDan]

"errr... yeh, im still diabetic!"

LOLz! It's amazing how many people think you can somehow cure type 1.

[mg_2204]

I think part of the problem is there is type 1 and type 2.


Both types are sometimes fed up of people trying to police what they eat :) :) :)

Diabetes will always be a disease directly linked to sugar. Most people will always think that if you don't eat sugar you will be fine, no complications, no meds, etc. I am trying to make my peace with that. Because non diabetic people don't have to manage their blood glucose they have no idea what it's like. They don't have a clue about carbs, exercise, the effect of sickness on BG, they don't know much about insulin, about oral meds, some even think type 1 is the bad kind of diabetes and type 2 is the milder one... and they sure don't know what it's like to be us on a daily basis...!!!!

Perhaps those so called 'food police' should have a taste of their own medicine... :D

[princesslinda]

Marie: I love your idea of giving them a taste of their own meds....But, can you imagine how an obese co-worker would react to someone saying "Do you really need that, seeing as it would be healthier for you to lose weight?" I think people feel so comfortable speaking out to someone with diabetes..while they shove food in their fat faces and expect no one to notice or comment. Trully, what's the difference? Yes, Princess is aggravated today!

[Stuboy]

We should have T-Shirts made that say "Yes, I CAN eat that..."

[duck]

We should have T-Shirts made that say "Yes, I CAN eat that..."

How about "Who are you, my mom?!?"

[v3xtr0n]

One of the many things that people don't know about Diabetes is that 80% of the care we recieve is through self-care!

Each of us know which foods effect us more than others, we know how we feel if we have had too much (or too) little carbs.

Believe it or not, it's not the Doctors that are the experts but each of us are the experts when it comes to our individual Diabetes, as we live with it on a daily basis, 24hrs a day, 7 days a week and 12 months of the year for the rest of our lives!

There is no simple answer on how to control Diabetes which is why some people say that the information they got from their Doctor or from their Diabetes organisation (i.e. Diabetes UK etc.) was wrong.

In general the information is correct it's just that we have to taylor make it to our own individual requirements from the things we have learnt on our way.

If people realised that the vast majority of controlling Diabetes is through self-care they might start asking the right questions and find out that we can eat products containing sugar - but it has to fit in with our meal plans etc.

Hope that makes sense!

:)

[DeusXM]

Wrote this in another thread, really should get it printed out on business cards:

- Yes, I have to inject at least twice a day and then each time I eat.
- Yes, that means I probably inject 5-7 times a day.
- Yes, really.
- No, it doesn't hurt, and even if it did, it's not like I have a choice.
- Yes, I can eat that.
- And that.
- No, really, I can.
- I don't care if you say your diabetic gran can't. I'm not your diabetic gran.
- There's no such thing as 'a little bit' or 'severely' diabetic.
- Excuse me, but I think I'm a bit more of an authority on this than you.
- Any further questions please consult a medical textbook. I'm eating.

[dancingwithbear]

lol,

i like that deus. i have had this happen alot also. but i get a little mean about it and just tell them who ever it is realitve or co-worker friend dont worry i know what i'm doing. its my body more insulin more food.

[REDLAN]

When I used to use choccy bars to control hypo's and people would see me eating it, I once got asked how much I ate, and wasn't it bad for me...

"Oh no, up to 2 bars a day is fine..."
"...and it doesn't make me fat."

(actually eating choc to control hypos WAS making me gain weight - I've lost 5lbs just by switching to glucotabs - but hey it doesn't hurt to be a little smug in a team of people obsessed about diets and losing weight)

[duck]

lol,

i like that deus. i have had this happen alot also. but i get a little mean about it and just tell them who ever it is realitve or co-worker friend dont worry i know what i'm doing. its my body more insulin more food.

OT: Nice avatar of the Avatar...:D

[sweetcheeks]

Hehehe all you guys have really funny comments about co workers...

I've had one that bothered me and one that was so funny that I almost pee'd my pants lol


Ok the first one was my Trainer at work, i was sitting in the breakroom eating a sandwich, everything that i needed to eat such as bread, veggies, I also had mustard, and a tbsp of miracle whip.... as i was putting the miracle whip on my sandwich, she says well if your diabetic why are you eating that???......... DUH! its on my list of things I can have "in moderation" My simple response to her was "i can have it, just not overload my sandwich" That was the first time someone said anything to me, it bothered me, but i bit my tongue to keep from saying anything.


the 2nd time was my supervisor at the time, doesnt know even one thing about it, no family members had it, no frieds etc..

I told him for safety sake just in case kinda things, cause I was having some issues at work just after lunch and falling asleep right before i was diagnosed that affected my job performance. So I had to explain myself sorta thing.

I said "I now know why I get sleepy etc after lunch"
he says "why"
I said "I've got diabetes"
he says "omg, your just now finding out after all these years, why didnt they find out when your were born"
I said "You frickin retard! your not born with it! It just sorta happens!" and then i start dying laughing lol cause he's totally clueless... thank god he's no longer my supervisor lol




I can kinda understand NON Diabetics not knowing, but Diabetics not knowing is really really stupid, because diabetes is a disease that reacts differently to every person, so honestly every diabetic should know that its different for every diabetic and just share there experiences, thats why we learn alot and thats why we are all here on this forum to share our experience and get suggestion from others.

[dancingwithbear]

OT: Nice avatar of the Avatar...:D

i dont what to hijack but you to duck hehe.

[Gary_W]

About 3 weeks back I had the best comment I'd had in ages. Not food related, but I'll share anyway.

It was a mother of one of the other kids in our daughter's class. She's early 20's and a very nice person. I know her up to a point.

When she found out I was going on a business trip to Thailand, she decided to give me some advice in a very motherly fashion. It was 'You make sure you take your insulin!' I get the impression she actually thinks that I cannot possibly like injecting and therefore when I'm out of my wifes sight I'd avoid doing it...

I was so glad of the reminder because otherwise I might just have left it behind. Raging high blood sugar and possible hospitalisation in a country where I speak not one word of the lingo is obviously better than injecting.

But I guess this misconception is rife, hence the media attention around the inhaled insulin as a breakthrough (was I the only one to be completely underwhelmed by that?). For 99% of the people with diabetes, it is not the injections that are the problem and I speak as someone who was severely needle phobic before this turned up. But it is the part that Joe Public believes to be the worst bit because they cannot imagine having to do it. I think that the thought process stops there for most people hence the lack of empathy regarding the other aspects of our life.

Gary

[soremom]

I can understand that most people that are non don't know a lot about diabetes. That is understandable. But what I don't get is how they think it is there business to comment on it to me. Then when you correct them, at least how it affects you, they will argue with you. I just listen to them going on like you have got to be kidding me.

I usually get this at work. Most people there know someone with T2 that is on pills or diet. When they ask me if I can "eat that", I usually look at them a go "let's see, put it in my mouth, and then say yes I can." Watching their reaction is fun. Then I explain that I take insulin and can have treats if I feel like it. I just compensate. I still get that disapproving look but know I am right. lol

Kim

[HiImDan]

But what I don't get is how they think it is there business to comment on it to me. Then when you correct them, at least how it affects you, they will argue with you. I just listen to them going on like you have got to be kidding me.


Hear hear..

[belyro]

For 99% of the people with diabetes, it is not the injections that are the problem and I speak as someone who was severely needle phobic before this turned up. But it is the part that Joe Public believes to be the worst bit because they cannot imagine having to do it.
Gary

Hear hear!

[DeusXM]

Precisely. I've said it before and I'll say it again. There must have been some sort of global seminar in about 1967 when the whole world was told about diabetes and now everyone thinks they're an authority on it.

You wouldn't tell someone with cancer what chemo to undergo or someone with asthma how to use their inhaler. I've never known a condition like diabetes for having everyone else think they're such an expert on it because they've got a grandparent they see once a year at Christmas with T2.

What really bugs me (apart from the obvious 'are you allowed that?', as if there's some sort of law) is the belief that it's a case of injecting and you're done with it. Like you just have to have one injection of a set amount of insulin every day (or every week according to some people) and then that's it.

[HiImDan]

Well said, DeusXM. Love the sig, too...