Misconceptions Surrounding Diabetes

Dear Reader,

Many of us are familiar with the term “diabetes.” Social media has helped spread awareness and we hear about it in most conversations that have to do with sugar. Maybe you know someone close to you who has diabetes. Either way, it’s easy to confuse the true meaning of what it actually is. As someone who deals with diabetes daily, I decided to take a moment and write about the misconceptions that roam our society today.

There are two types of diabetes…

… Trust me, you’re going to want to take notes.

Not everyone knows, but there are actually several types of diabetes. Let’s focus on the two main types for now:

Type I Diabetes is an autoimmune condition that occurs when there is too little of a hormone called insulin in the body. This happens because our bodies attack the beta cells that produce insulin. Insulin is needed to turn what we consume into energy so that we can maintain homeostasis. Without insulin, our bodies would shut down in a matter of months, weeks, and (worst-case-scenario) sometimes even days.

The most common among them to have biased opinions:

Type II Diabetes is the lack of insulin in the body. Still, in this case, it is usually genetic, metabolic, or based on age-related changes in the body rather than being an autoimmune disorder. You hear about this one all the time. This is the type of diabetes we associate with our elderly family members, our overweight best friend, or an “end-all cure-all” diet and exercise routine. But this perspective is not a good one and it can be interpreted as offensive to a diabetic. We don’t want to offend anyone. Type II Diabetes can sometimes be reversed through diet, exercise, and strategic carbohydrate counting. Although a person may be predisposed for it based on their genetics. Sometimes the body ages faster than you would think and causes the pancreas to shut down and beta cells to lack production.

No matter which type of diabetes you or your loved one may have.. doesn’t matter. You should not feel like less of a person. It should not be standard to make jokes about a real, life-altering medical condition. diabetes is NOT your fault, even if the media makes you believe that.

By now, you might think I’m a doctor…

Nope. I’m just a normal girl, but I’ve had to study, learn, and observe the facts and stats that come with diabetes.

You see,

I am a Type I Diabetic myself. And no, I’m not “too skinny” to have diabetes. I am not “too young” to have diabetes. No, the insulin pump on my arm is not a nicotine patch. I can eat what I want. And I can live a normal life. You see, I want you to understand some common misconceptions because it leads to jokes about diabetes. They can be amusing, but our words have the potential to build someone up or break them down. AND I hope you choose to build others up, always.

Until a cure presents itself, I encourage you to educate yourself on diabetes. You won’t go into a “sugar coma” if you eat another piece of cake or a doughnut, but the person next to you fighting diabetes might. I have the potential of this happening every day. Maybe one of your loved ones does too. People really do die after rationing insulin because the prices are just too high. I’ll rant about the cost of insulin another time.

A Pet Peeve That Puts Frustration Up My Sleeve

And let me share another thing with you, most of us are very open to advocacy and educating others, but some of us are not. But that’s not your fault, it’s society’s fault. You will find people staring rudely at someone taking injections. Or questioning scar tissue and/or bruises from their painful diabetic treatments. Instead of staring at them, why don’t we do something different?

No, you don’t have to offer to help treat their condition. However, I would encourage you to remember that everyone is a different human being. No one is perfect, and that’s what makes us diamonds inside. We withstand all the pressure the world likes to push us with, not realizing it’s transforming us into diamonds. The most flawless person on earth is one who understands they have flaws and never hides them but opens them up to others.

Let’s make a difference starting today. Let’s wipe away the misconceptions so we can clearly see the actual facts about diabetes.

If you are diabetic or know someone with diabetes, please continue to learn about it. Please continue to talk about it! Take away the negative connotations and give people the real definition. Please, ask before assuming. Smile instead of staring. I understand that to some of us, seeing an injection is completely unusual; if you happen to look at the person taking the shot, smile. I guarantee you they would appreciate it coming from you. Think of the jokes and ask yourself, “How would I react to hearing this about a condition I am facing right now?” That will put you in perspective. That will put you in their shoes. Think before you make jokes and be aware of who you are around when you do so.

Sincerely,

People who have a sense of humor too, and odds are, we will laugh along with you!