I know what you mean, bev -- but I think that people *should* be more aware. I think *I* would be, that's the point. In fact, I know I would be. I deal with people in all sorts of situations day in and day out, and act as a pastoral point of contact for students with a huge range of issues. Sometimes those issues seem quite 'small' and 'manageable' to me -- but they don't feel that way to the student, and that's what matters.
To my mind diabetes is already an invisible disease. The huge majority of people who know anything about it seem to only know the negative, or the superficial 'it's okay because it's manageable'. Diagnosis *is* so difficult -- but I won't be shunted into a place where 'illness' is, taking comfort only from 'those who know'. This risks perpetuating and further medicalising something which is *part of life* -- not outside it. I expect every day people to show some sensitivity and humanity. Okay, this doesn't always happen, but I deeply resent the feeling that 'no one will understand so I shouldn't mention it'. It's up to me to take the risk of helping them to understand -- as I would expect them to do with something in their lives.
Saying all that -- I agree that people who have experience with diabetes tend to say the first things that come into their heads, and you can't blame them for that. But I think we do owe it to each other, just as people, to sympathise honestly and afresh. Just that action makes everything so much easier to take.
Okay, soap box over. Sorry. I'm hijacking.
To my mind diabetes is already an invisible disease. The huge majority of people who know anything about it seem to only know the negative, or the superficial 'it's okay because it's manageable'. Diagnosis *is* so difficult -- but I won't be shunted into a place where 'illness' is, taking comfort only from 'those who know'. This risks perpetuating and further medicalising something which is *part of life* -- not outside it. I expect every day people to show some sensitivity and humanity. Okay, this doesn't always happen, but I deeply resent the feeling that 'no one will understand so I shouldn't mention it'. It's up to me to take the risk of helping them to understand -- as I would expect them to do with something in their lives.
Saying all that -- I agree that people who have experience with diabetes tend to say the first things that come into their heads, and you can't blame them for that. But I think we do owe it to each other, just as people, to sympathise honestly and afresh. Just that action makes everything so much easier to take.
Okay, soap box over. Sorry. I'm hijacking.
