Public opinion of diabetes

[Stoobey]

Hey All,

I hope everyone is well.

I'm coming up to two and a half years since diagnosis, time has flown by, it's been an odd journey, as when I found out I was T2 I immediately went into hermit mode, cut out bad foods, lost weight and got my blood sugar under control, I did start relaxing my diet at the end of 2019, but then in early 2020 covid hit. So, much of the last few years has been spent in lockdowns or under restrictions, I'm still working from home and have been since the start of covid.

With things opening up, I've had a few bigger social experiences this summer, which has been good, obviously I don't go around with a "I have Diabetes" T-shirt, but my good friends know, it's easier that way.

I find it interesting that people don't get it, the public opinion is that diabetes isn't a big deal anymore, does anyone else see this?

They don't get the low carb diet, they maybe know another diabetic who eats what they want (and lets medication deal with it), it's almost treated as a joke, oh he eats doughnuts and doesn't care, or the other comment you do hear a lot, you're allowed to treat yourself / take a night off.

Now I'm not being critical of anyone, it's your life, you live it however you want, but you do see stats that as many as 75% of diabetics could achieve remission, but then only 10-15% do reach it, half that for a prolonged period of time.

Do you think diabetes has been downgraded as a serious illness in the general publics mind?

For those who can low carb (and it's not very everyone, we all have to find what works for us), is it publicised enough, do diabetics understand the benefits it could offer? Not only low carb though, benefits of weight loss (again for those who can) and walking before or after meals...

Why are the remission figures so low? Or are those figures unrealistic?

 

[Drummer]

I eat a low carb diet and extol the benefits and how well I feel - but apparently it upsets some people.

Soon after diagnosis I did not speak up at the educational meetings I was sent to, then later on I saw one of the people who was there with me with one amputation below the knee one side and the other foot all bandaged up in a rubber protector strip. That was really quite distressing and I do still wonder if I had not allowed the so called educator to blether on unchallenged about eating potatoes and beans and having small servings of carbs the poor fellow might have kept his body intact.

 

[helli]

@Stoobey you pose an interesting question. I will assume you are talking about type 2 diabetes (although most people think all diabetes is the same thanks to the confusing naming).
I have observed some change in the perception of type 2 diabetes. It used to be a disease for life and there was no question of remission. This believe is changing amongst some people, especially when there are people in the media who have achieved it.
On the other hand, there continues to be the ignorance amongst the majority. For example, I see my mother in law enjoying her cakes, taking her metformin and thinking all is fine. As this is the most common view, I imagine the frustration when you are wanting to manage your condition with a low carb diet and being told that you can “have a treat”.
I wouldn’t blame the general public for having this view, diabetes doesn’t directly kill you like cancer, it’s the complications which may. Many doctors are ignorant (they think metformin is enough for type 2 and they think Type 1 is a childhood disease) so it is not surprising that there is little education.

 

[proudgran]

I don't think that there is a general opinion about diabetes. It seems to me that most people have no idea that it is a life threatening and lifelong condition. I remember as a child when someone was diagnosed with it people would call it sugar diabetes or sometimes just sugar(i.e. Old Mr Jones has sugar, He's been told not to take sugar in his tea and to stop the cakes). There was often more to that type of conversation usually ending up by wondering how much time he had left. In this day and age other things seem to be more significant-Aids ,Cancer etc. Diabetes has been relegated to a back spot in importance but it is now more common for people to be diagnosed with it than ever before. I don't tell people that I am eating a low carb diet because I want to beat diabetes. I tell people that I just want to eat healthily Its something people accept more easily.

 

[Stoobey]

I eat a low carb diet and extol the benefits and how well I feel - but apparently it upsets some people.

It's not for everyone, we all have to work out what works for us, but it worked for me, in combination with other changes. Walking around meal times seems to have a huge impact on my BS levels, one benefit of working from home is I can have shredded wheat with hazlenut milk for breakfast, go for a walk before I start working and when I test later, my numbers are around the same, in some cases they have even gone done 🙂.

I will assume you are talking about type 2 diabetes (although most people think all diabetes is the same thanks to the confusing naming).

Yes, sorry I abbreviated to T2, it brings back the memory when diagnosed a very good friend of mine asked which diabetes I had, the good or the bad one, which again shows the general publics perception of the condition.

Diabetes has been relegated to a back spot in importance but it is now more common for people to be diagnosed with it than ever before.

I agree, it does seem to have been relegated in importance, I was relatively young when diagnosed.45, so my view of public perception is perhaps distorted as it's not so common in this age group.

I don't tell people that I am eating a low carb diet because I want to beat diabetes. I tell people that I just want to eat healthily Its something people accept more easily.

I only tell close friends, with others it's the same, at least healthy eating is more common now, you're not looked at as some weirdo for ordering a naked burger, or replacing fries with veg or salad 🙂

While again I will repeat how we all deal with diabetes is a personal choice, not everyone can achieve remission, not everyone wants to achieve remission. looking at the figures I wonder if enough is done to promote it is achievable (for some).

 

[Sally71]

And then you get the type 1 experience - people just think that my daughter can’t eat sugar and that she will drop dead or something if she consumes so much as one biscuit. Which caused a few problems at kids birthday parties and so on, and she got very fed up at school when people would bring in sweets to share on their birthday and wouldn’t let her have one because they assumed she couldn’t. Actually she can eat them as long as she takes the appropriate amount of insulin, but many people just won’t listen! (All credit to a 10 year old lad who wasn’t even a particular friend of hers, but wanted to bring in the traditional birthday treats and actually asked the teacher what my daughter could have! If only more people were like that)

 

[helli]

Soon after diagnosis I did not speak up at the educational meetings I was sent to, then later on I saw one of the people who was there with me with one amputation below the knee one side and the other foot all bandaged up in a rubber protector strip.

I some times wonder if they intentionally place some newly diagnosed people with those who have obvious complications to scare us into doing something.
On the other hand, I probably wind others up when I run to the hospital (about 3 miles and very hilly) for my appointments and sit there in my running gear.
(Just editted to add, I may run but I don't believe I sweat profusely so I don't think I smell.)