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How do you feel about language?

If discussing diabetes in relation to yourself, family member or friend, what language to you use?

  • I am / they are a diabetic

    Votes: 10 50.0%

  • I have / they have diabetes

    Votes: 16 80.0%

  • I am / they are a diabetes patient

    Votes: 1 5.0%

  • I / they live with diabetes

    Votes: 2 10.0%

  • My / their condition

    Votes: 1 5.0%

  • My / their illness

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    20
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
D

DiabetesAnonymous

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi Everyone,

I am interested to understand how the public feel about the language used in connection to diabetes. It is frequently debated how we should talk about diabetes and the connection it has to a person and it has been highlighted that the language used may significantly impact the psychological wellbeing of individuals associated with the condition.
Do you get offended by any of these terms?
Please comment reasoning behind your answers and how you are connected to diabetes.

Thank you,
Diabetes love x
 
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Honestly I don’t really mind. I know for some people it’s an issue but for me the bigger issue is dispelling myths so people don’t assume me having diabetes means it’s my own fault.
 
Amberzak said:
Honestly I don’t really mind. I know for some people it’s an issue but for me the bigger issue is dispelling myths so people don’t assume me having diabetes means it’s my own fault.
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Pumping since 2015 too. Now onto my second medtronic and absolutely love it!
 
I also don't care one way or another, I tell people i am diabetic or I have diabetes, up to them how they take it I never hide it, Why should I?
Like @Amberzak I get annoyed when they think it is all about weight and sugar and when I tell them I am on a lowcard/highfat diet they get shocked and the usual comment is "you will get fat eating all that fat". I have given up trying to re-educate them. Ignorance is bliss and it suits some people to remain ignorant as far as I am concerned.
 
I just say I'm diabetic or have/live with diabetes and it's a condition. It's not an illness, I'm not a patient and one I don't like - I'm not a 'diabetes sufferer'. I'm 50 now - yes, yes I know you're thinking I don't look it :D but I generally say I'm a Type 1 diabetic because people (not just the general public but also those in the healthcare professions) just assume you're Type 2. What do they think happens to young Type 1's when they get older?
 
Vince_UK said:
I also don't care one way or another, I tell people i am diabetic or I have diabetes, up to them how they take it I never hide it, Why should I?
Like @Amberzak I get annoyed when they think it is all about weight and sugar and when I tell them I am on a lowcard/highfat diet they get shocked and the usual comment is "you will get fat eating all that fat". I have given up trying to re-educate them. Ignorance is bliss and it suits some people to remain ignorant as far as I am concerned.
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People remain ignorant about things they dont understand. Or things they dont want to understand. They have a preconcieved idea about it, and its easier to continue thinking that rather than re-educate yourself.
 
Amigo said:
Strangely enough I never discuss having diabetes with people other than on here. It’s just not made into an issue. I have a relative who bores for England on the subject and I’ve no intention of getting like that! 🙄
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I feel it’s important for the families I tutor to know in case of a hypo. It happens.
 
Obviously we morph into T2s, esp when the middle aged spread changes from a bike spare tyre into one for an excavator! - but hopefully that latter won't happen to you Matt and I think the test for men is whether the tummy has somehow turned itself into the landing area for the pole vaulters.

In any event it's useful ageing, because no longer is my every ache pain and ailment the fault of my diabetes, now it's just my age ........

Seriously I don't care, and I'm blowed if I'm typing 'person with diabetes' rather than 'diabetic', it's only an adjective for the state of a person's pancreas after all and never needs mentioning in the first place unless your tubing is on show and someone is curious - or they ask you what you'd like for dinner, or try to press you to have a cake or something.

I have suffered with/from it for some weeks, a month or two in 1972, but not since really - so it's inappropriate.

However I'm put in mind of some sarky comment I made one day at work about my mom 'finding something else new she was suffering from' and a colleague looked at me and asked 'Are you telling us that your mother enjoys poor health, Jenny?' - too blooming true mate - she enjoys it very much! I howled with laughter.
 
Amigo said:
Strangely enough I never discuss having diabetes with people other than on here. It’s just not made into an issue. I have a relative who bores for England on the subject and I’ve no intention of getting like that! 🙄
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So I'm not the only one, Amigo! I have told no-one except OH and offspring that I have diabetes, but my reasons are different to yours. I don't divulge the information because it is a big issue for me (as well as being no-one else's business), I also don't discuss any other health issues either. I keep it quiet because I don't want to be judged when choosing what I eat in public and also - almost ashamed to admit it - I have not got over my feelings of failure in probably contributing to my diabetes through my lifestyle choices. The forum is the only place I am open about having the big D.
 
trophywench said:
Obviously we morph into T2s, esp when the middle aged spread changes from a bike spare tyre into one for an excavator! - but hopefully that latter won't happen to you Matt and I think the test for men is whether the tummy has somehow turned itself into the landing area for the pole vaulters.
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Are you saying that T2 Diabetes is the result of weight?
 
trophywench said:
However I'm put in mind of some sarky comment I made one day at work about my mom 'finding something else new she was suffering from' and a colleague looked at me and asked 'Are you telling us that your mother enjoys poor health, Jenny?' - too blooming true mate - she enjoys it very much! I howled with laughter.
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Ha that sounds like my father in law. He loves being in ill health. I genuinely think he’s annoyed by the fact that I’m sicker than him.

Honestly out of my many ailments, it’s the diabetes I’d want taken away. But that’s because it’s so much work and I feel I’m constantly at burn out. My diabetes is a problem for me and feels like a daily battle. However, just like many of you, I still don’t like the term suffer from diabetes. I think it’s because it’s so negative. Like, it can be a real struggle and difficult to manage. But I’m not suffering. I think before insulin, the term was more appropriate, as it meant death. But not now.
 
trophywench said:
No of course not Vince! but there absolutely are many many people we may meet in the course of our lives who DO.
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Relieved to hear that
 
I’ve no problem in accepting that excess weight can cause diabetes in the susceptible. It’s more a scientific fact to me than a value judgement. The visceral fat around the organs especially the liver impedes insulin response (and yes I know slim people can suffer this too).
So many of us control our levels by losing weight and changing lifestyles that I find it undeniable.
It’s not always the only factor but weight will increase the chances especially if there’s also a familial link.
 
mikeyB said:
I have entirely the opposite problem. Go to the diabetes clinic in a wheelchair and everyone looks at your feet. I feel like getting a T-shirt made saying “It’s not the bloody diabetes”.:D
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Believe me. I have that too. I use a crutch.
 
Hee hee - been there done that on elbow crutches in December. No chance of getting suspicious looks at my clinic - the receptionist greeted me by name as I hobbled through the door and immediately asked me what on earth I'd done to myself!
 
trophywench said:
Hee hee - been there done that on elbow crutches in December. No chance of getting suspicious looks at my clinic - the receptionist greeted me by name as I hobbled through the door and immediately asked me what on earth I'd done to myself!
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I really dislike it when people say ‘what have you done to yourself’ when I use my crutch. As I use it pretty much permanently now to be able to walk without falling over. I usually respond with ‘life. Life happened to me.’ Lmao. 🙂
 
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