"Try eating cinnamon, it will completely stabilize your blood sugars."
"If you don't ever eat honey again, you won't have to take insulin."
"Can you test my blood? I think I have diabetes because I am thirsty a lot!."
"You still have to test your blood sugar? I thought you had a pump?"
"Your blood sugars won't be effected unless you choose to stress about them."
"You're so good at managing your diabetes. I'm not so much. I just don't feel like it so I haven't taken my meds in a while."
"Do you want something to eat to bring down your blood sugar?"
Well, like you I'm sure, these are all comments that have been spoken to me by siblings, acquaintances, doctors, and Type 2 diabetics. Initially I respond frustrated, break down in tears or completely block it out to avoid the aforementioned.
I have given much thought to the ignorance of T1D to most everyone who does not have it. We have to believe most people comment in attempt to help, comfort or simply be right. Most of the time, let's hope they have no idea their ignorant comments strike us in the most vulnerable way. 24/7 we must focus on being a pancreas, while also being a person with personality, life, character etc. So, when such ignorance and to us, pompous words, are thrown our way, it is not merely food for thought, but a personal attack on us. Is it not impossible to take such words personally? I believe now, and am surprising myself by writing this, it is not impossible.
If I were not a T1D I can't honestly say I would know, not care, to learn much about it. I would though, feel I should share any "knowledge" (please note the sarcasm in the precious quotation marks) or hints that would benefit the well being of just about anyone I came across who has T1D. That's a hard perspective to take because I have ha diabetes for almost 20 years so the facts are ingrained in me.
Having takin shots and insulin in front of my siblings for years, I thought they would at least get it, but really I have had to re explain how Diabetes trends more times than I can count. If people don't want to understand they will forget, and that doesn't make them any less of a person, but it still serves to be a offensive to us.
For me its important to remember that the majority of people are trying to be helpful and do want to understand, so further educating them is key. If we let that frustration of being told the secrets of cinnamon and honey rule us, as a collective group, we let diabetes define us completely. Diabetes most likely (still holding the hope for a cure one day) always be in out definition, but it doesn't have to define us completely. Do you agree? I have to remind myself of this by asking questions such as:
"I'm fighting death by diabetes by choosing to work out today"
"I'm going to ignore that comment, even though it has been spoken by someone who has lived under the same rough for 17 years, because I know it is not true and I will not let diabetes rule me with frustration."
"This person means well."
To close, I hope you all leave encouragements and share on your own experiences and frustrations, as your sharing may be the relief and uplifting words to help another out of a very gloomy place, that most of us can say to "I've been there."
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