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Saying the D word...

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C

CathyB

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
so I’m now four weeks into my diagnosis of type 2, so far it’s going ok and thanks to this forum, I think I’m getting the hang of it. So I have felt confident enough to start telling people, don’t get me wrong, I’ve not taken out a full page ad in the local paper, just when it felt right, I have shared....the variety of responses has been amusing and fascinating!!
My boss.....errr ok, so what reasonable adjustments are you expecting us to make?
My neighbour....oh no, you poor thing!
An acquaintance.......(looks me up and down and smirks) ahhh, well yes that happens..(raises eyebrows)
A friend....yeah but it’s not a big deal nowadays is it, not like it’s serious or anything?
Best mate....oh bu##er, does that mean I can’t eat cake in front of you cos you can’t have any?
😱
 
Welcome to the world of diabetes responses! I think I've had most of these and possibly more. There are usually biscuits and cakes in my office and they normally get put on the cabinet next to my desk. When someone asked why they put them there the answer was its a good place as I won't eat them all!
 
Stitch147 said:
Welcome to the world of diabetes responses! I think I've had most of these and possibly more. There are usually biscuits and cakes in my office and they normally get put on the cabinet next to my desk. When someone asked why they put them there the answer was its a good place as I won't eat them all!
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Hahaha unbelievable!
 
Yep -t that's where the stash was in my last office too - only behind me not Stitch LOL
 
Everybody's response to me was you better start looking after yourself a bit better

My response was no I don't have tablets to counteract it,then stopped taking tablets for over a year only last 6 months realised how serious it is
 
mikeyB said:
Quite a lot of folk know that I’ve got diabetes, but as I trundle around on a wheelchair, I’m thinking of having a T shirt printed with “Its not the Diabetes” for wearing in the clinics:D
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Like it,mikey
 
Well I guess I had better just get used to it then! I’ve had similar reactions of ignorance about my heart condition, people say things like “but you look so well”, or “but it’s not serious is it”. What is new is the feeling that some people assume it’s my own fault, like Ive done this to myself, that I refuse to accept! I went for coffee with a friend today, she asked how my numbers were going, when I said I was now down to between 6 and 7 so feeling quite pleased, she replied with oh your fine now then, that’s the same as me....I had to bite my tongue not to say that it had taken me a month of walking, completely overhauled diet and 2000mg Metformin a day to get there grrrrrrrrr!
 
It can't be very frustrating at times and it definitely shows people's ignorance towards that sort of thing. I still get "are you allowed to eat that?" And I just reply " yep! "
one of the most stupid things someone at work said to me was "I wish I could be diabetic, just for one day, so I wouldn't eat sweets and biscuits and lose weight!" My response to that was "no you dont, I wouldn't wish this on anyone! Just stop eating sweets and biscuits!"
 
Over the years, I've not gone out of my way to tell people. Some know - some don't. Those that need to - my office for when I need time off for hospital visits; my family etc. But I've got friends who will have no idea whatsoever.

I was diagnosed as a child and that was before I even knew most of them. I just don't announce it, but if it crops up in conversation, that's that.

I'm not looking for special treatment or anything.
 
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One of my Yoga teachers (who has a son who is T1)..... "But you don't look diabetic".... Thanks, what should a diabetic look like?
 
I still can't bring myself to say it out loud after all the years I've had it. My parents told me I couldn't tell anyone I had it as a child so I thought it was something I had to hide and keep to myself. Joining this forum was the first time I talked about it but I suppose that still doesn't count as actually saying the word!
 
A friend could not understand what I was worried about when I was diagnosed ' after all it isn't real diabetes' He seemed to think complications came with 'proper diabetes, when people are on insulin' !!!!! Told me to buck my ideas up and 'get over it' !!!!!
 
kentish maid said:
A friend could not understand what I was worried about when I was diagnosed ' after all it isn't real diabetes' He seemed to think complications came with 'proper diabetes, when people are on insulin' !!!!! Told me to buck my ideas up and 'get over it' !!!!!
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Nah, us fake diabetics have nothing to worry about.🙄
 
C&E Guy said:
Over the years, I've not gone out of my way to tell people. Some know - some don't. Those that need to - my office for when I need time off for hospital visits; my family etc. But I've got friends who will have no idea whatsoever.

I was diagnosed as a child and that we before I even knew most of them. I just don't announce it, but if it crops up in conversation, that's that.

I'm not looking for special treatment or anything.
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Dont get me wrong, I’m not looking for special treatment at all, I don’t need it as I am dealing with this the same way I deal with my dodgy ticker...on my own. It’s not about wanting anything, diabetes is now a part of my life, I’m not going to hide it or be made to feel ashamed by other people’s ignorance.
 
Flower said:
I still can't bring myself to say it out loud after all the years I've had it. My parents told me I couldn't tell anyone I had it as a child so I thought it was something I had to hide and keep to myself. Joining this forum was the first time I talked about it but I suppose that still doesn't count as actually saying the word!
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Flower I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to deal with this, it’s such a personal thing. No one should feel obliged to talk about it if they are not comfortable doing so. I am so pleased you feel safe here to talk about it 😉
 
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