I hate it when....

[Injecto]

when a co-worker decides to introduce me as a diabetic, and worse, to a HUGE gossip in the company:mad: . This literally happened 15 minutes ago while making tea. LIKE I'M NOT A NORMAL HUMAN in every other way. It's even worse because these people have known me for over 10 years and in the last 6 months I've been known as "the diabetic". It KILLS me that I've been so "downgraded" on the human scale. :mad:

Then I have to go into "protection mode", defending what I eat, listen to people talk about their diabetic third cousins and diabetic cats (Like I need to be compared to a friggin diabetic CAT), and realizing they know NOTHING about the disease. "no, diet and excersize aren't the only things to help me".

Sorry, needed to vent that one out.

*****compose self***** *******breathe*******

O.K. I'm good now.

I think I'm going to go and eat a chocolate bar covered in caramel dipped in full fat whip cream followed by a maple syrup chaser in front of her.....

Or, someone can just come over and we can go out for Wings and Beer...whose game? :beer:

[princesslinda]

I know what you mean. Today, a drug rep was going from office to office handing out bags of M&Ms and when he came to the door of my office (that I share with another person), a co-worked yelled out "don't given them candy, they're diabetics!" They drug rep stopped, peeked in the door and said "Wow, BOTH of you are diabetics." Reminded me of being in a zoo.

....And now ladies and gentlemen in this exhibit we have the seldom seen, very rare "Two diabetics working on computers, do not put your hands in their cages."

Actually, I wanted to run screaming from desk to desk, stealing all the M&Ms, then sit myself in the floor (still screaming, of course) and open all the M&Ms and begin sifting through them, picking out my favorite colors....just to see what they'd do!
:eek:

[belyro]

when a co-worker decides to introduce me as a diabetic, and worse, to a HUGE gossip in the company:mad: . This literally happened 15 minutes ago while making tea. LIKE I'M NOT A NORMAL HUMAN in every other way. It's even worse because these people have known me for over 10 years and in the last 6 months I've been known as "the diabetic". It KILLS me that I've been so "downgraded" on the human scale. :mad:



Welcome to the world of diabetes! :o

The cat thing is the worst. I've had that a few times. It kills me.

Don't think of it as being "downgraded" though....try to think of it as "upgraded"! Now we're more interesting! ;)


Actually, I wanted to run screaming from desk to desk, stealing all the M&Ms, then sit myself in the floor (still screaming, of course) and open all the M&Ms and begin sifting through them, picking out my favorite colors....just to see what they'd do!
:eek:

Linda, if you ever do this.....PLEASE capture it on tape and post it on DF. ;)

[HollyB]

That is really ignorant.

After you've calmed down with your chocolate bar, maple syrup and wings, I think it's worth asking your co-worker not to do that again. As in, "It's up to me to choose who I tell about my diabetes. Next time, just introduce me as a person...."

Alternatively, next time you have occasion to introduce your co-worker, you could try, "Oh, I'd like you to meet Ted. He has a persistent hemorrhoid that's been bothering him."

[Injecto]

I know what you mean. Today, a drug rep was going from office to office handing out bags of M&Ms and when he came to the door of my office (that I share with another person), a co-worked yelled out "don't given them candy, they're diabetics!" They drug rep stopped, peeked in the door and said "Wow, BOTH of you are diabetics." Reminded me of being in a zoo.

....And now ladies and gentlemen in this exhibit we have the seldom seen, very rare "Two diabetics working on computers, do not put your hands in their cages."

That is HORRIBLE to have happened, but the scenario you paint is actually rather funny.... :)

Actually, I wanted to run screaming from desk to desk, stealing all the M&Ms, then sit myself in the floor (still screaming, of course) and open all the M&Ms and begin sifting through them, picking out my favorite colors....just to see what they'd do!
:eek:

Now THAT would have made you look like a monkey in a cage....LOL

[nneighbour]

Next time someone does that. Just tell them all the good things about being diabetic.
1 - New instant family of other diabetics.
2 - You know the nutritional content of almost any food. Watch your dieting friends be amazed!
3 - You now have something else in common with your neighbour's cat other than the fact that you both hate your neighbour.
4 - Free glucose monitors!
5 - You are more aware of your body that they probably every will be.

[blacklightmike]

I love my wife dearly, but...

She was on the phone yesterday evening as I was preparing dinner, and referred to me as 'Mr. Diabetes'. I immediately objected, and she walked away, muttering something about me being in 'one of my moods'.

It really put me off for a while, and I know she meant well since the rest of what she was saying was complimentary toward my new regimine, but I later asked if she'd like me to refer to her as 'Mrs. Sinus Infection' to people on the phone.

That didn't go over very well, but it made my point. No one likes a stereotype, especially when it's your afflictions they're joking about.

[Stuboy]

today we had a new guy start in our department. and he saw me inject... "can't you just take pills instead?" (after learning im diabetic)'

NO!

annoying isn't it?

a WEEK after diagnosis, I was compared to someone friggin diabetic DOG! I was SO annoyed. She made out like it was no big deal because her dog was diabetic and he seemed fine. ******g b***h lol

[LancetChick]

Wow, I must be unusually lucky to never have encountered anything like that in 21 years of having this disease. So far, no one has ever thought anything of me shooting up, testing or eating whatever I want. If my diet were ever put under the microscope by a know-it-all, I'd feel horribly self-conscious! If someone introduced me as "the diabetic", I think I'd have a word with him or her, and explain that my medical records are no one else's business, and why announcing it is bad form.

[KritterMom]

In my office of 6 girls, only 2 of them are NOT diabetic, so we giggle at them!:D

[pinkytricia]

....And now ladies and gentlemen in this exhibit we have the seldom seen, very rare "Two diabetics working on computers, do not put your hands in their cages."

Actually, I wanted to run screaming from desk to desk, stealing all the M&Ms, then sit myself in the floor (still screaming, of course) and open all the M&Ms and begin sifting through them, picking out my favorite colors....just to see what they'd do!:eek:

Geez...Princess sorry about what happened today....but your pain has help me laugh and feel better....
Thanks for being there for me...Hun...* Multiple giggles *
Oiy...lol...you are my Hero

[Gary_W]

Then I have to go into "protection mode", defending what I eat, listen to people talk about their diabetic third cousins and diabetic cats (Like I need to be compared to a friggin diabetic CAT), and realizing they know NOTHING about the disease.

The conversation needs to go like this:

"You have a diabetic cat? That's amazing. And I'll tell you something that will really blow you away. I've got a really dumb dog and until now, that never made me relate to you...."

[Injecto]

The conversation needs to go like this:

"You have a diabetic cat? That's amazing. And I'll tell you something that will really blow you away. I've got a really dumb dog and until now, that never made me relate to you...."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :)

[sweetblood]

The conversation needs to go like this:

"You have a diabetic cat? That's amazing. And I'll tell you something that will really blow you away. I've got a really dumb dog and until now, that never made me relate to you...."

ill have to remember that one...if anything like that is said to me...;) im newly dxd,so that hasnt happened to me... its one thing to introduce YOURSELF as a person w d...but when someone else does it, it is degaring...as if your name is diabetes...

like...you could, if u have more than 1 health condition, say to introduce yurself...


"hi, im the touretty,asthmatic diabetic......

that would probably shut the peolple up who tend to intro u as if you r your condition....as if thats all we are...

we r more then thet...we HAVE a condition...whatever it may be...we r NOT our condition...we r poeple...

im try

[sweetblood]

oops...computers goin wacko....

[ant hill]

There is nothing worse that people telling you what you cannot eat. So like kit (2high) thread on FOOD NAZI is a good discription of what the genaral people think. So we are just like everyone else it just the fact that we have to look at what our BG's are and bolus if we have to. :cool:

[mzizgayle]

Aww yes, even at my small little company, I have had to hear that from one of the gals. I did tell my bosses only because right before diagnosis, I had a serious, but now funny, hissy fit and doctor said with diabetes if out of control can have the mood swings.

Well naturally Ms. Food Police at work, started saying 'can you eat that, can you have that for lunch", I got tired of saying yes, so when I saw her eating something that was totally so high in carbs, sugars I informed her...did you know the carb/sugar content in that can cause blah blah..Now she doesn't open her mouth....

Even our security chief has diabetes but not in control, decided to give me, the newbie some advice..I nicely said what was your fasting this morning out of curiosity, when he said over 200, I said come back when you hit 83 as I was and then give me advice...my boss loved that one, walked away laughing.

And my hubby, bless his heart also pulled the 'we have to shop for these items since my wife is diabetic' so I nicely said and yes hubby is allowed out of his cage once a week since he's an idiot out of control.

I do not feel I have been down graded, I think I have been upgraded, physicals in the past would be real quick, boy did I get a great one this last time lol. I don't really worry about being labeled, after all I am many labels - Besides I feel I am now a part of a great group of people and the "others" are just jealous.

[mg_2204]

when a co-worker decides to introduce me as a diabetic, and worse, to a HUGE gossip in the company:mad: . This literally happened 15 minutes ago while making tea.


Unbelievably stupid. Stupidity has reached a new level...

So let's say you would be missing a leg... you'd be introduced as the one legged guy??!? Or the artificial leg guy??!?! So you're just a disease I gather. I would have a talk with that person. Definately.

The very best to you.

[Mich]

It's all in the manners, folks.

These people have been around forever, and yes, they do say unthinking things. Since our brains are pattern-seeking, we tend to associate people with something we know about them. The very unimaginative people just latch on to a physical characteristic--so much easier to remember than a more interesting fact.

"This is Bob, he traveled through China on a motorbike last year while researching food preparation." is a lot harder to remember than "This is Bob, he is (diabetic, missing a hand, six feet seven...bla bla bla.)

I don't mind the intros that go like this: "This is Michelle, she is the diabetic I told you about who may be able to answer some questions since your daughter was just diagnosed..."

I do like Holly and Mike's approach. Subtly introduce the offender by a physical characteristic at the next opportunity.

Aha. Revenge is sweet.:whistling

[spring]

Yes, not a downgrade at all. Now you're a privileged member of a secret society. Like some kind of superhero/vampire/wizard. But without the magic, or the flying. Or just cool powers in general but whatever, some blood sucking is involved... :T

[sweetblood]

speaking of vampires...theres a book called sweetblood, by pete hautman where the main character theorizes thet diabetics r vampires. its ya fiction. im 32 but found it to be an interesing read...i try to stay young, so i read a little ya fic at times...but not just any fiction...fictio abt diabetes and other health conditions...when i want light reading...and a tearjerker

[Jill-O]

Oh, one thing I do not miss about working for a big company is the gossip. It was terrible at the bank where I used to work!!! Now it's just myself and my father (we own a financial planning practice) and our 3 administrative employees -- so there's not much gossip!

On the bright side, "they" wouldn't be gossiping about the situation if they were not interested and did not care. I know it is still annoying though.

[Scarlett]

I'm sitting here LMAO while reading the dialog-this is just too funny-can't take anyone serious due to "you can't FIX stupid!"

[xMenace]

I was recently at our local gas station/store, standing in line to pay, and a mentally challenged local who hangs out there caught sight of my pump: "You got a pager! Can I see it? Wow, dat's a cool pager! I never seen a pager like dat. Wanna see mine?" all in his usual loud voice. Whaddya do?

[princesslinda]

Um....show him your pager? ;)

[ant hill]

Aww yes, even at my small little company, I have had to hear that from one of the gals. I did tell my bosses only because right before diagnosis, I had a serious, but now funny, hissy fit and doctor said with diabetes if out of control can have the mood swings.

Yes that happened to me and did i lift the lid on the small hospital.

One day just doing my usual thing and i had a low of so much that i had to get something to eat and my supervisor caught me nibbling on some jubes and snatched the jubes from my face and then called the boss in and told her side of the story and when it came to my turn to the story i had interjections from my supervisor *****!!! and i let rip!. I was so off my nut the whole hospital was listening little did she know that i was a diabetic or the fact that she did know and thought that i was not allowed to have. There is so little of what a diabetic can have and to a lot of people who do not have a clue and think anyway they see fit and that is YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT scenario. The next morning she offered overtime and as soon that i herd her voice i hung up the phone! and left it off hook and enjoyed the day off.:proud:

[BriOnH]

Weren't you just recently advertising your pump to everyone at work? If you advertise your diabetes, expect inqueries, suggestions, and ****.

[Injecto]

Weren't you just recently advertising your pump to everyone at work? If you advertise your diabetes, expect inqueries, suggestions, and ****.

You are not directing this question at me are you? If so, the thread is a month old and someone just brought it back up. And, the topic was about being "introduced to someone" as a diabetic. Example: "Hey, Bob, this is Joe, he's a diabetic....". Has nothing to do with having a pump or even discussing the pump.

[BriOnH]

You are not directing this question at me are you? If so, the thread is a month old and someone just brought it back up. And, the topic was about being "introduced to someone" as a diabetic. Example: "Hey, Bob, this is Joe, he's a diabetic....". Has nothing to do with having a pump or even discussing the pump.

I beg to differ. I discuss wrestling and martial arts moves with my friends at work. Because I discuss and show someone some techniques I use, to fight, I was once introduced as a 'fighter'. While I would have rather been introduced as project manager at that moment, the fact is I brought that fight remark upon myself, becuase I discussed and showed people fighting techniques I use in MMA matches and that is how they related to me.

My point, whether it is relative to you or not, which it might very well not be, is that if you don't want people to introduce you as X, then don't act the part of it and dont show them the techniques you use to do it.

[ClaireZk]

a WEEK after diagnosis, I was compared to someone friggin diabetic DOG! I was SO annoyed. She made out like it was no big deal because her dog was diabetic and he seemed fine. ******g b***h lol

OMG! I haaate that! I'm normally pretty patient with people, but I can't stand it when someone tells me they know a diabetic dog, cat or grannie and feel like this makes them some sort of diabetes expert. It is so annoying. :hmpf:

[blacklightmike]

Addenda to this discussion:

I've been with my company for 21 years... after returning to work after a life-threatening hospital stay and 2 1/2 weeks out, I take my first phone call from the boss's wife. She never even asked how I was doing... no idle chat, nothing. I wrote it off... she's busy, she forgot. It's happened every time since...

Off the cuff one day, my boss tells me of a mutual friend of theirs who has breast cancer, and how both he and his wife agreed that it's a burden for them to hear about her medical issues when they get together, so they've asked this woman, who is their best friend, to stop bothering them about it... :eek:

Now, I understand... I didn't mean to be a burden on her by thinking she'd acknowledge my well-being, since it pains her so to be around sick people with nothing better to do than, well, relate their stories to good friends for support. My heart bleeds for her.

Same guy... comes into the break room this morning, just before I take my Lantus shot. Syringe in hand, diabetic kit on the table and hot breakfast waiting, I patiently listen as he describes his day off at the car show, blah, blah, Porsche, blah, blah, Beamer...

It goes on for ten minutes. I need to eat... I'm also trying to be polite because he's, well, squeamish. I finally say, 'would you mind just looking over there at that banana a minute', and he blurts out in an unbelieving tone, replete with a smarmy, holier-than-thou smirk, 'what, you NEED to take that NOW?'

Thankful am I, that they have had no children.

No diabetic pets, but I did have to hear the tale of his sister-in-law, though, who ironically is a T1 with a pump, and the horror she had to go through when the pump broke and she was forced to take syringes for three days! Bet she gets great support from this family...

I have little patience for small talk, especially with narrow-minded, elitist boobs...

[Jedi99]

I'm not surpised Mike there are alot of selfish people roaming this planet(Talk about the Sith).That type of person is not worth the time of day. Should be interesting to see as they both age and run into their own illness how many people they run to for understanding and support I dislike that type of person so much it tempts me to go to the dark side!!!! I think it is great how you dealt with it considering you have worked at that place for 21 years you would think that they would be as interested in your health and well being as the #$$@@ bottom line oh well that is how some people see the world only interested in $$$$$$. Sorry about the rant but this really bugs me.

[barbarac]

I have been through most of what I have read. I hate the statement I get "she really has diabetes bad because she has to take shots and everything", or hearing about people whose uncles "feet turned black and they lost toes", things like that. I think the worse was when our guidance counselor deciding she wanted I guess to cut the line at a gathering, starting pulling me along and saying "she's diabetic and has to eat now" to everyone as we cut to the front of the line. Might mention this counselor is also diabetic (Type II even though she doesn't admit it with her 140-150 readings--"just borderline". People can be so rude sometimes, and act like they know it all. It can get aggravating. I am usually a very easy going person and often don't speak up for myself, or I would probably have told most of my friends off long ago!!!!

[mg_2204]

Thankful am I, that they have had no children.

Indeed!!!

I was so disgusted at those people when I read your post.

God forbids, if that couple goes through a rough patch because of an illness, disease, etc they won't be able to pull through.

A very good friend of mine had breast cancer. She was married, happy, in love, and they were trying to conceive their first child. After the mastectomy her husband wanted to see what she looked like. Reluctantly she showed him. He never came back to see her in hospital. In fact he left. Took his stuff and disappeared. She never saw him again. Later she had to serve him divorce papers. That guy must have been just like your boss and his wife.

[Injecto]

I beg to differ.

I suppose we disagree. Being introduced to someone as being a diabetic is just the same as being introduced because of your skin colour or race, which I'm sure would rile some feathers.

I'm sure most would agree that being introduced because of a positive attribute (such as a "fighter" or "king" or "Miss Universe" or "they guy who cured cancer") would be much more acceptable.

A proper introduction, especially in a business setting, would be to introduce name, title, and function. After that a little something interesting and relevant "may" be brought up in the right circumstances.

I think I've made my point quite clear, no debate.

[blacklightmike]

Yeah, the boss and his wife are from another world altogether.

One more thought, this one closer to home...

My mom has been told she is pre-diabetic by her cardiologist and should start watching her diet. Like most of the health issues she's dealing with, she's in deep denial and won't listen to anyone, including me, about her situation.

Of course, realizing her own condition would also mean being conscious of mine, which she has chosen not to...

While leaving my house on Easter, and after I explained how well I was doing, she turned to me and said flatly, "Well, I hope you get better soon", as if I had a bad cold or something. Could this explain my support issues? Hmmm...