Is T2D serious or not???

[PhilG]

Hi there,

I am fed up of the way some people are reacting to my T2D, I have only told 6-7 people, and met another two that have T2D that I have been diagnosed, some of the reactions, really.

If anyone else say its only type 2, just take the meds, and carry on, or that just down to changes in diet. One guy at work actually said, well at least it’s not serious.

How do you deal with this kind of reactions? Assuming it’s not just me of course. I was quite disappointed, as I thought, and still do that it is a big deal, well to me anyway.

 

[Ljc]

Hi PhilG, Welcome. The attitude of some people eh. As you already know Diabetes of any type is serious , the trouble is they really don't know this. T2 in the beginning is often more forgiving than other types of D but we ignore it at our peril, literally.
As a long term T2 who does have some diabetic complications , I would find it very hard not to react in a very, very unladylike fashion .
My advise to you is, ignore what these people are saying, instead come here and have a rant. We all get it. Also come here and ask loads of questions, knowledge is power
How did you come to e diagnosed.

 

[Martin Canty]

Fortunately it has never happened to me, but if it did I would probably explain that "Diabetes if an incurable, life threatening chronic illness". Most people would probably get the point as the word "chronic", not understanding the difference between chronic & acute in medical terms.
Having said the above I would turn it into an educational opportunity, IMHO the more we get the word out there the better the chance of helping a growing number of D's

 

[Stitch147]

It's people's ignorance of the condition. I had a girl I work with say to me a while ago that she would like to be diabetic just for a week to cut out sweets and lose weight!!! I was so shocked.

 

[pav]

Hi Phil welcome, it's not only none diabetics that think type 2 is not serious, but some type 2's think if I ignore it the it will go away. Unfortunately as a long term type 2 it is serious and have been suffering from the the effects it causes. To add to it a lot of doctors don't understand the illness either which for me makes the battle harder in trying to get the right treatment.

 

[Ditto]

I wouldn't bother telling anybody, sometimes people with D think it's nothing ie my family!

I don't know the difference between chronic and acute, I'm going to have to google...

 

[trophywench]

It's people's ignorance of the condition. I had a girl I work with say to me a while ago that she would like to be diabetic just for a week to cut out sweets and lose weight!!! I was so shocked.

You know when you sometimes maliciously wish some ill or other to befall certain people?

Think you might have met a candidate ........ however - it really isn't worth expending such exaggerated feelings on such immensely stupid people. Save it, for someone you REALLLY hate! And for interest, in my whole life I've only met ONE I wanted that to happen to.

 

[john pardo]

Hi and welcome

 

[Ljc]

I wouldn't bother telling anybody, sometimes people with D think it's nothing ie my family!

I don't know the difference between chronic and acute, I'm going to have to google...

Hi @Ditto . Medically chronic means long term.

 

[Ditto]

Hi @Ditto . Medically chronic means long term.

That's me then, everything I've got is chronic. I presume acute means they have to rush you in on a gurney for a long wait in the corridor? 🙂

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome to the forum, it was a big deal for me as well.

 

[Manda1]

It was a big deal for me too and I had probs had it for a while without knowing as I had already lost some feeling in my feet at diagnosis . someone even said to me ' oh get over it ... Its not like you have something serious like cancer is it ?' Now I don't bother talking about it with others apart from my family who are supportive and with others on here. This forum has helped me not feel alone x

 

[Grogg1]

I'm the opposite and am so glad people don't go all OMG and doom and gloom on me when I tell them I have diabetes. I know it's a chronic condition that has to be taken seriously and I believe the majority of people I know do too but they don't make me stressed by their reactions, we just have a discussion on how I have decided to manage it. Many are interested in how I was diagnosed, my symptoms etc.

Two years ago when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer I found it very difficult to deal with people's reaction when they found out. The head tilted to the side, the pity they felt for me. It was quite overwhelming and while they didn't mean to give off a vibe of negativity that's what I picked up.

 

[Manda1]

I can appreciate what you are saying @grogg. I didn't want doom or gloom either I think i just wanted someone to realise that for me it was a big deal I guess. But thankfully it is something that can be managed and I am grateful for that x

 

[Grogg1]

I can appreciate what you are saying @grogg. I didn't want doom or gloom either I think i just wanted someone to realise that for me it was a big deal I guess. But thankfully it is something that can be managed and I am grateful for that x

Sometimes we all feel we are not getting the right support from family and friends. After I finished radiotherapy I went and fell and broke my leg. I was okay the day I did it and on leaving A&E but after visiting fracture clinic the next day the doctor there had scared me. He was hard to understand, was all "we will TRY and get you walking in 6-8 weeks" and "if you are falling, fall, don't stand on leg". I got back in car with crutches, zimmer frame and a number for a wheelchair and cried like a baby! My OH was like "it's not the worse news you've had" and just didn't understand why I was so upset. I know I was a pain for the next 4 weeks until I could see the end in sight. I stupidly over-reacted to a common accident but perhaps it was just me letting out how I had felt about the previous 6 months of ill health.

What I have been surprised about is how many friends have family with T2 diabetes but then again when people find out you have cancer they tell you about family they have who have been successfully treated for it. I was a bit reticent at first about saying I had diabetes but I am often in meetings which over run into my testing time but I'm now comfortable to tell meeting organiser I may excuse myself for 5 minutes to test and if others ask where I am going I say - though I think they assume I'm going for a wee!

Having diabetes is a big deal for me too but I'm facing it and dealing with it. My family are supportive and I'm trying not to let it rule my life.

 

[Martin Canty]

Having diabetes is a big deal for me too but I'm facing it and dealing with it. My family are supportive and I'm trying not to let it rule my life

Awesome spirit Grogg

 

[Grogg1]

Awesome spirit Grogg

I have to say I've been inspired from day 1 by people like yourself on this forum who have shown it is possible to control it with diet. There is so much good information on this forum and I would also recommend if anyone is dealing with cancer, either themselves or their family to head over the MacMillan community forum. Again an excellent source of support.

 

[Lilian]

Looking at the big picture the main thing is that you take is seriously. It is obvious that the people who decide type twos should not be able to test their BG also have no idea. But since when did the NHS consider a stitch in time can save nine.