Dangerous.

[trophywench]

Well - it's rude to pass comment like that whether they're thin, fat or spotty etc - isn't it. Even if they are! LOL

 

[Janine]

From my perspective and experience, if anyone said to me that I had type 2 diabetes because I was fat, I would agree with them.

Yes, there is a genetic aspect to it as well, but a significant proportion of people can control their symptoms by losing the weight.

It is no coincidence that I was very ill when I was 20st. I was so bad that I lost weight due to severe insulin resistance and was eventually diagnosed with type 2 weighing 18.5st

Then, after sorting myself out, I weighed 14st and my HbA1c was in the normal range.

More recently, my weight has gone up to 15.5st and my HbA1c has deteriorated again and I am trying to get my weight down. I am due for another check up next week, so will see how I have progressed.

To sum up. Many people seem to suggest that having type 2 diabetes and expressing the symptoms that we see has nothing to do with one's weight. I must respectfully disagree with that assessment. But, of course, life is quite complicated and there is no one answer to this condition. Yes, some overweight people don't have type 2 diabetes. Yes, some apparently slim people do. But don't just make the statement that "my diabetes has nothing to do with my weight because I know someone who is overweight and they are fine".

I think that does a great disservice to those who can control their symptoms by losing the weight. We need to provide a clear and hopeful message to those people.

Rant over!!

Andy

Just to clarify. I said that I weigh more than I should. I am not extremely overweight. I also have family members with type 2 who are slim and never have been overweight.
My post was written to express my outrage at the insensitive remark. People show a lack of social skills when they make uninformed assumptions.
At no point did I say that my diabetes has nothing to do with my weight!!!

 

[Janine]

My mum was Type 1 from when I was quite young, so for a long time I thought that's what being diabetic was - taking insulin and weighing food. I didn't know there was another kind, because I didn't have anybody in the family who had it. I wasn't stupid, just ignorant. I don't think I was a complete pillock. You can't blame people for being ignorant. We all were before we got Diabetes of either flavour. Think on that.

I totally understand that some people are ignorant and don't have any knowledge of diabetes. There is no excuse for anyone to make remarks likely to offend or hurt someone's feelings

 

[Maz2]

That is not a very nice thing to say - your weight is your business, no-one else's. I was told last year I was at high risk and sent on a prevention programme. I was normal weight, dropped the carb levels and am now underweight and trying to put it back on whilst doing my best to eat healthily. My friend's hubby is underweight and diabetic and I have another friend who has been diabetic for 10 yrs and is not overweight. I blame the media for all this quite honestly.

 

[Janine]

Thank you to the people who made supportive and understanding comments. You actually made me feel better about it. 🙂 Some rather critical comments made me feel not very good.
Someone said to me once. "If you can't say something nice ...... say nothing"

 

[Jangles]

Hi Janine , I'm the same, I'm a bit over weight not very heavy or big but I'm also someone who has lots of family with diabetes. I've also had the comments from people I know such as "you'll be eating healthy now" , this from people who smokes heavily and lives on takeaways . I also got told "at least it's not the bad one" and "well what are you going to do about it" !. I'm not denying that my weight has been a factor because although I'm not extremely overweight I carry it on the middle but as all my immediate family have diabetes I think I had a battle on my hands to avoid it .

 

[Copepod]

At a family party last May, my brother in law's mother mentioned that I'd put on weight. Was I insulted? Of course not, as it was true. In fact, I'd noticed and was taking action. BMI still UK under 25. Perhaps a few more comments like that would prevent people getting overweight.

 

[Jangles]

At a family party last May, my brother in law's mother mentioned that I'd put on weight. Was I insulted? Of course not, as it was true. In fact, I'd noticed and was taking action. BMI still UK under 25. Perhaps a few more comments like that would prevent people getting overweight.

Might help some people Copepod , doesn't work with me I don't find those kinds of remarks helpful. They often are said in quite unfeeling ways, I had a remark said to me by someone many years ago at a time in my life where I had been under incredible stress looking after someone who later died. I could have done without their advice and it did nothing to support or motivate me.

 

[Andy HB]

Just to clarify. I said that I weigh more than I should. I am not extremely overweight. I also have family members with type 2 who are slim and never have been overweight.
My post was written to express my outrage at the insensitive remark. People show a lack of social skills when they make uninformed assumptions.
At no point did I say that my diabetes has nothing to do with my weight!!!

I wasn't referring to your post but rather to something I commonly see on this forum and other posts on this thread. I feel that people reading those posts do get the impression that diabetes is nothing to do with their weight when plainly, in some circumstances it is!

I am hopeful that most people understand the point that I was making and that when they make posts along the lines that I suggested, it is simply because they omitted the finer points regarding type 2 diabetes and what people can do to control it.

Please do not take my comments as a personal attack. That was not my intention. I am just trying to maintain a balanced approach when discussing what people can do to control their diabetes. That is all.

I probably should have posted my comment in a separate thread to not have given the wrong impression, though.

Andy 🙂

 

[Rosiecarmel]

At a family party last May, my brother in law's mother mentioned that I'd put on weight. Was I insulted? Of course not, as it was true. In fact, I'd noticed and was taking action. BMI still UK under 25. Perhaps a few more comments like that would prevent people getting overweight.

I think it in fact, might do the opposite. I know many people that get told they're fat and lazy and need to exercise. They then try to exercise, and get made fun of for "being a fatty at the gym" so they stop. And go eat sh*t food.

People lose weight for themselves and their own health. Personally I think commenting on somebody's weight is very rude. If a person is overweight and happy, good for them. If they want to lose weight, good for them. But it's nobody's business but theirs.

 

[Manda1]

As I have said before on here I have not found it helpful when others have commented on my weight and it did not spur me on to diet at all. In fact when I was going through a terrible time a few years ago and my friend took me to cafe Nero where I had a hot choc with cream and marshmallows and a complete stranger told me that he didn't think I should be having that as I was 'fat enough' I probs went home and ate the equivalent to my body weight in chocolate while crying into my pillow!!
Its not other people's opinions that we as human beings need its their support x

 

[Andy HB]

I think it in fact, might do the opposite. I know many people that get told they're fat and lazy and need to exercise. They then try to exercise, and get made fun of for "being a fatty at the gym" so they stop. And go eat sh*t food.

People lose weight for themselves and their own health. Personally I think commenting on somebody's weight is very rude. If a person is overweight and happy, good for them. If they want to lose weight, good for them. But it's nobody's business but theirs.

I think it all depends on the context, how the advice is given and who is giving the advice doesn't it?

An example of that is my elder brother came to visit me once. I was walking up the stairs and he said "Andrew, you're spreading!". His comment did not upset me for two reasons. One, he's my brother and I know that he cares about me (well, as much as brothers do!). Two, what he said was true. Three, (in true Monty Python, Spanish Inquisition style 😉 ) I used it as a mental boost to sort myself out when I was diagnosed with type 2 some time afterwards.

Of course, some busy body twerp telling someone else that they are "fat and lazy" is hardly a competent piece of advice! Others making fun of people trying to do something is also unhelpful. I don't see anyone here condoning that sort of behaviour! Indeed, when I see people working their cotton socks off to lose weight, my overriding thought is "Good for you!!".

Andy 🙂

p.s. For many years I was also very 'happy' with the weight I was. I thought everything was hunky dorey. Now, however, if I had the chance I would tell myself to lose the weight earlier. I would not have the damage to the nerves in my hands and feet that I now have if I had not let the type 2 diabetes symptoms develop. I am convinced that my diabetes symptoms would not have developed had I not been overweight. Not least because they reversed almost completely when I lost the weight.