Type 1 vs Type 2 uncivil war

[BlueArmy]

Good Morning,

I am new to this forum and hope I am not going over old ground or opening up a sensitive issue here. Have been type 2 diabetic, or at least diagnosed as one for around 18 months now.

Last night I watched live at the apollo on the BBC and was shocked by the “diabetic” comedian who made a joke, and I recognise that it was a joke, that if you have type 1 diabetes there is a view that type 2 is not real diabetes “if you have done it to yourself”.

Last year I also had a civil conversation with a type 1 diabetic in a nightclub about diabetes for about 20 mins after I noticed her glucose monitor and got chatting about it, until I told her I was type 2 at which point she verbally attacked me with the most vile statements me personally and type 2’s in general. I don’t feel like i have done it to myself as every male in my family has it.

I guess the question is - does this sentiment exist more broadly in the community and what can be done to help change the perception in the community first, then society more broadly to stop it? At best its ignorance at worse discrimination surely?

 

[Drummer]

I simply choose not to notice. It isn't that important.

 

[Docb]

In answer to your question I would say certainly not round here. I do not think the membership would tolerate it let alone the moderators.

On the broader point you have got to recognise that the world is full of people and you are going to get a wide variety of prejudice or opinion (choose your own description) in that population. Just got to try and educate them, one at a time.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. I've been on the forums for years and never seen any of this negativity. Yes, it does exist in the community. It is true that T2s with excess weight may have contributed to the condition thru ignorance that our Western diet is not good. With an NHS that has promoted having carbs with every meal you can understand it's more to do with ignorance in the medical profession than anything else. Many on these forums do start to lose weight very successfully and hence their BS once they start the right diet. These comedians would do better to criticise the often bad diet advice from dieticians, nutritionists, GPs etc rather than the victims of this bad advice.

 

[BlueArmy]

I agree I am accountable to an extent for my own condition as I am a little overweight, although my father is not and has never been and my brother in law is stick thin and has a manual job and is also T2. I know I have brought it on earlier than I should have it (I am in my early 40’s my father got it in his early 60’s). I also know plenty of obese people who are not diabetic. I guess the first point is the wisest. Choose to ignore it rather than be offended by it and deal with each person who demonstrates ignorance on a individual basis.

 

[Inka]

I think you’ve been unlucky. I haven’t seen that here and nor have any of my Type 1 friends said anything of the sort or even hinted at thinking it.

 

[BlueArmy]

I am glad. Ultimately I wouldn’t wish either on anyone. Thanks for helping.

 

[grovesy]

I believe the divisons and other issues around how people manage themselves is more toxic on social media.

 

[BlueArmy]

indeed. I personally think social media is a modern evil and don’t use it, except linkedin. The documentary “The Social Dilemma” on netflix is worth a watch if you have time on your ha ds due to lockdown

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Was that Ed Gamble?

Ah the curse of the reruns. I’ve seen him speak at a T1event and he profoundly regrets that joke now, admits it was made out of ignorance and was stigmatising, and has learned a lot more about the wider world of diabetes since. But the reruns don’t let you forget eh!

I think it’s something like 40-60% of your propensity to develop T2 diabetes is genetic. Everything from your taste buds, the foods you are drawn to, the way your appetite and sense of fullness works, not to mention what your body actually does with the food you lut in it!

Unfortunately it is a sentiment I have come across online (though certainly not on this forum). Mostly I think it is driven by lazy negative stereotyping in the media (and the idea that T2 is somehow a ‘lifestyle’ choice). This can lead people to unhelpful feelings of either blame or shame... And for some people with T1 they see misconceptions about having ‘brought it on themselves’, which make them push back. Some even suggest changing the names to different things

Personally, when I first started visiting forums I suddenly realised how much I had to learn from people whose only BG management tool was the food they ate, and who had to be so much more self-controlled than I could ever be.

No one asks for a diagnosis with diabetes. And there is no place for blame or stigma here (even of yourself). I was really encouraged to see that specifically tackling misinformation, blame and stigma was a focus of work for Diabetes UK over the next 5 years.

We are here to support each other whatever relationship we have to diabetes. Full stop.

 

[helli]

Was that Ed Gamble?

Ah the curse of the reruns. I’ve seen him speak at a T1event and he profoundly regrets that joke now, admits it was made out of ignorance and was stigmatising, and has learned a lot more about the wider world of diabetes since. But the reruns don’t let you forget eh!

I assumed it was Ed Gamble and really glad to read that he now regrets the comment.

I have only recently come across him, find him a breath of fresh air and great that he is so open about his Type 1 diabetes.
Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to virtually watch the recording of Mock the Week. He was on the show and, not surprisingly, the topic of Covid-19 vaccinations came up. Ed got lots of playful ribbing about being a druggy and being used to injecting. This went on to how drug addicts and 12 year old Type 1 diabetics could help with the vaccine roll out because they have so much experience of injecting. I am suspect very little of it made it into the final cut.
I found it very funny but there could be others with Type 1 who could be offended by it. Ed took it all on the chin ... most of the jokes came from the other panellists.

Thankfully, I have not witnessed any diabetes type uncivility but I guess humour is individual.

 

[BlueArmy]

It was Ed. I also had a double whammy as I also had a pretty severe case of sleep apnea diagnosed post being diagnosed with diabetes as the NHS examined possible causes. First sketch was a long joke about sleep apnea and the joys of sleeping with a CPAP, then after that no voice guy then it was Ed. Good to hear he regrets it, the more shocking thing I guess was the audience reaction, you could tell it didn’t land that well although plenty of laughs still. Shame on the BBC for showing it again I guess, when I clicked on the show this morning via the iplayer to show my wife, they even had a pop up that warned it contained discriminatory references that may cause offence. Where do you draw the line I suppose. Frankie Boyle causes offence, but he still get’s airtime and so he should in a liberal free speech society. I was just a little concerned because of my prior experience if it was actually a thing in wider society, guess if Diabetes UK is investing in a broader education program is probably is albeit in a minority. Glad I could air the concern here and put it behind me - perhaps I will try and run the London Marathon like Ed did to support the charity’s work rather than being a snowflake about it.

 

[nonethewiser]

I believe the divisons and other issues around how people manage themselves is more toxic on social media.

Ah those keyboard warriors, saying things they wouldn't say face to face as they'd get fat lip & brought down peg or two.

Late 70's 80's working mens clubs pubs would have comedians making jokes about diabetes, heard so many over years, some funny not so funny, not easily offended so water off ducks back when not laughing.

 

[BlueArmy]

Totally agree. Unlike the 70’s though today many other sources of jokes are now correctly recognised as racist or discrimination, comedians have limited sources remaining. Unfortunately, fst people jokes, including stereotyping type 2’s as all being fat appears to remain socially acceptable. Wonder when the alcholics will get their turn. Comes down to your threshold for the offence really, or, if it leads to people being turned down for jobs etc because people sub consciously think it’s ok or develop a unconscious bias which has already been studied and proven. Whole can of worms I think.

 

[ajax]

..make a complaint to Ofcom.

 

[KARNAK]

Hi I've been asked many times when someone has found out I'm D, oh have you got the good one or the bad one?
I always say oh I don't know can you explain the difference please? followed
by let me get you a beer before you go to the toilet and congratulations on your weight loss.

Sorry about the pain in your feet and your erectile disfunction (men only) ladies would be foo foo valve disfunction, so sad.

 

[Sally71]

Whenever diabetes is mentioned in front of my daughter, especially in school and especially when it’s about type 2 and the obesity link, everyone always looks at her. So she points out that she’s type 1 which is autoimmune and nothing to do with diet, and everyone always says “that’s your excuse”. Sigh. It’s just not worth trying to point out the differences to some people!

(And yes, I do know that not all type 2s are overweight and that obesity is only one possible factor in it)

 

[grovesy]

I am beginning to feel with more publicity about it being possible in some cases to reverse Type 2 , that those that haven't will told they did not try hard enough !

 

[eggyg]

You should try being Type 3c! Folks just look at you and change the subject, and that includes a lot of HCPs!
@KARNAK when I was first ( wrongly) diagnosed as Type 2 one of my sister-in-laws said it was ok as I just had the mild type! She was very lucky I didn’t thump her there and then!

 

[AndBreathe]

To be totally candid, the worst diabetes-related prejudice I have witnessed and experienced has been at the hands, or should I say words, of T1s and medical professionals.

I am an atypical T2. Never carried much weight, and very slight now. I am fit, well and go about my everyday business discretely. I have been told I "don't look like a diabetic", I have been asked if I have it wrong, and even the Endo I see for another issue suggests I keep my eyes open for LADA, and I don't have any glucose dysregulation markers, or signs.

I must admit, when I have experienced this sort of thing (if I say I have diabetes, they assume I Iive with T1), I let them go along and get a few things off their chest. I find the resultant mortification is so much more effective that way. I just inform the person I live with T2 and excuse myself.

Like many prejudices, the most strident prejudice sometimes comes from the very people who should know better.

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe"


Edited to add: I don't think my Endo is an idiot. I just don't think he has much to do with T2 on a day-to-day basis, and those he does encounter are more difficult or very much more advanced cases than most.