Non Diabetics

Hi,

Just thought I'd put this out to see what other people had experienced.

I use Accu-Chek mobile, which if you don't know is a BG meter that doesn't use strips, but looks like an 90s mobile phone in design. I had it on my desk at work and someone came over and we were talking and she asked what it was I showed her and said it was a BG meter and I was diabetic, she didn't realise that BG changed and that having a few injections didn't just make diabetes better. I had to explain (felt the need to) about the yo-yo balancing act of being an artificial pancreas and keeping BG between 4 and 8 is blinking hard work, showed her the graphs on this site.

The only diabetes she had come into contact with was Type 2 where they had a few pills and tested once a day if they remembered, bit dif to DAFNE and a sporty Type 1, I do more than 10 BGs a day when doing a days cycling

What are other peoples experiences of non diabetics and there understanding of the issues. I hate it when you see something like 'Embarrassing Fat Bodies' and they keep talking about the risks of Diabetes due to being fat, I have never been huge, since cycling less so, but when I say I'm diabetic I know what alot of people must think! I wish Type 2 had a different name as we get the stigma for something that is managed completely differently.

Phil

Yeah know what you mean! I've had type 1 since I was 5 & never been fat/overweight! I'm 34 now! You get narrow minded or uneducated people that seem to think either a mars bar or dose of insulin will do the trick! Not knowing at the time which would be effective! You get asked silly questions- 'did you eat too many sweets when you we're a child'?

I've rarely known any other diabetics in person for most of my life (I was diagnosed age 5, now almost 30). They haven't really got any incentive to know unless they know someone with it, but even then, still common to fail to understand that there is a difference.

What has annoyed me more recently is working in an office full of weight insecure people, I get laughed at for being okay with going to somewhere like Greggs as a diabetic. Even after telling people that I only carb count for my meds, the assumption that I'm weight watching remains. Might as well be talking to a brick wall.

Another thing is explaining that the reason I don't want to visit a restaurant is because it is too carb guessworky. People think I'm on a diet (never have been, and never will be) or if I ask a restaurant if they have the nutritional information for their food, they answer like I asked "what is your healthiest dish". Example: https://twitter.com/chopstixuk/status/463749193858035712 They didn't even offer the per 100g. Great way to lose custom imo - and a great way for me to lose yet another socialising opportunity.

People and businesses don't care enough to listen. On the plus side, you know who your friends are more easily.

Hi Phil

I was diagnosed type 1 age 29 and had it 19 years now and like you I think type 2 should be named differently as we all know its related to poor and crappy lifestyle choices etc. I hate when people say oh I couldn't inject I'm scared of needles pffftttt (angry face) I just say oh trust me on this you would inject as fast as you could if your life depended on it. I usually get how come your Diabetic you're not fat grrrrrrrr. Sorry for the rant lol.

Hi everyone,

This reminds with funny situations i went through at work. I work as a preschool teacher and one of our lovely staff is at least thirty kg over weight. When any child brings in a birthday cake to celebrate with the other children and teachers, that staff would come to me and say "Oh Muna, I am sorry but you can't have this" but inside I laugh and wonder who shouldn't eat that piece of cake???? with my respect to all non diabetic over weight people.

Cheers

Hi everyone,

This reminds with funny situations i went through at work. I work as a preschool teacher and one of our lovely staff is at least thirty kg over weight. When any child brings in a birthday cake to celebrate with the other children and teachers, that staff would come to me and say "Oh Muna, I am sorry but you can't have this" but inside I laugh and wonder who shouldn't eat that piece of cake???? with my respect to all non diabetic over weight people.

Cheers

Muna I am a secondary teacher and staff say the same to me, I also get 'well should you be eating that?' if I am eating chocolate or a cake. It is so annoying as I have great control over my diabetes. But they all assume that that type of food should not be eaten by a diabetic! It is very annoying, on the other hand I have my mum who constantly says i must eat...she is scared of me having hypos (was having 4/5 a day now maybe 1 a month) without the extra eating.

Muna I am a secondary teacher and staff say the same to me, I also get 'well should you be eating that?' if I am eating chocolate or a cake. It is so annoying as I have great control over my diabetes. But they all assume that that type of food should not be eaten by a diabetic! It is very annoying, on the other hand I have my mum who constantly says i must eat...she is scared of me having hypos (was having 4/5 a day now maybe 1 a month) without the extra eating.

Thanks Vickyp. Yes, sometimes when I have hypos and start eating sugary food especially at work, I need to explain to other teachers the reason behind this...It is annoying.

I also used to have more hypos but since I attended the DAFNE program, my levels got better

Hi, also a secondary teacher. After a particularly stressful morning and an extra playground duty I realised I was going low and sent my nerdiest kid to the canteen to get an ANZAC biscuit (very sweet...great for hypos) only to have her come back with an admonition from the canteen convener saying I was not allowed to have one as I was a diabetic. Second message to the office..."get me an ANZAC biscuit or an ambulance". Problem solved.

Helen