Inconsiderate People?

[jpearce]

Hello Lauren,

I know how you feel. I have no friends with D and the few family members that have D are type 2. I am the only type 1. None of my friends understand D every time I mention I that I have D they all assume I cannot eat anything sweet or starchy. When I try to say I can I just limit myself to how much I take and calculate the insulin they all get a weird look of confusion. I don't know enough about D to explain so I try my hardest to not mention the word I makes it easier on me. Maybe one day I will be able to answer the questions without getting annoyed.

Lauren, I wish the best for you and your MIL, I am not married or have children but I can imagine it must be difficult at times dealing with gossip and unfortunate events. I think you are right by trying to talk to her about the gossip! I know you will make everything work out!!! I am lucky as my boyfriends mom is a pharmacist and doesn't judge me by my D I am lucky to have her in my life

Have a great and healthy day everyone!!!

[ant hill]

I am not married or have children but I can imagine it must be difficult at times dealing with gossip and unfortunate events. I think you are right by trying to talk to her about the gossip! I know you will make everything work out!!! I am lucky as my boyfriends mom is a pharmacist and doesn't judge me by my D I am lucky to have her in my life

Have a great and healthy day everyone!!!

I also live alone and generally keep to myself, I am single and not married and don't see much of family because of their misunderstanding of diabetes and many other stuff.

[ciarak]

I know how you feel, I'm 17 and was diagnosed 10 months ago and i know how peoples attitudes to diabetes and what they think they know can be hurtful to both t1's and t2's, the week after i was diagnosed i went to tell the school principal and all she said to me was ''how did you manage to get t1?'' and ''how does it affect your drinking of alcohol?'' i was really upset with her attitude and have had a couple more run ins with her since then, i was told once if someone have a problem with your D, it's their problem not yours to worry about that's what i keep in mind every time i see her

[Peggy_TX]

These are the situations that the southern phrase "Well bless your heart!" was designed for.

Here's an example: "Well bless your heart! It's so SWEET of you to be concerned, but I'm SURE you've mixed up my condition with something you read somewhere. You're a DEAR to be so worried. I'd LOVE to give you a list of books to read. They're REALLY long and a little dull.... but my doctor and I are REALLY excited about how well my condition is responding to following my EXACT routine. Once you've read all the literature, I'd LOVE to go to lunch with you and discuss some of the newer studies. " And, with every subsequent encounter "Well bless your heart! I know those books are HARD, but I really don't think we can talk about diabetes until you've read them all..... It's so misleading if you try to take any portion of it out of context... but what about YOU? Do you have any medical conditions we can talk about?"

Good luck. Remember -- THEY have no power over how YOU feel unless you give them that power. *hug*

[SCC]

I love that one! Thanks for making me smile today.

[Kathryn10]

Hello all,
I am new to the forum and this is my first post. I've been a type 1 diabetic for 23 years and I hear this type of ignorant talk all the time! When people find out that I am diabetic they look at me confused and say "Really? Well you look healthy?" Or "but you're not overweight," "you're not old," etc. etc. I think the media has a huge role to play in the misinformation being spread, or rather, the lack of distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Everyone has a grandma or parent or relative that has type 2 diabetes and because of that they all think they know everything. I typically try to explain the difference to people who feel the need to insert themselves into other people's lives and spread this wrong information, but sometimes I just tell them to do a little research so that they stop sounding like an ignorant jerk.

[Steal]

Welcome, Kathryn. I will just say ditto.

[ant hill]

Hello Kathryn , I have been a T1 for 40 years and I know exactly what you mean. Your own family seems to be your worst enemy as they think that they have the right to what you should eat where as we can eat what they can eat!! You are amongst friends here.

[SCC]

I guess I'm a jerk, but I say that I am the "elite kind, type 1 - it is very different" if people do that to me.