1. “I could never be diabetic; I hate needles."
Unfortunately, a fear of needles does not actually prevent diabetes. I’ve been afraid of needles my whole life. I once tried to kick a nurse for coming to give me a shot. But, somehow, I still ended up getting diabetes. Once you’re told that you have to take shots and stick your finger if you want to live, your fear of dying kind of overtakes your fear of sharp objects.
2. "You don’t look diabetic.”
I’ve actually had to ask people what they mean by this because I didn’t know that diabetes was a visible disease. It turns out, diabetics are supposed to be old and overweight (according to people who aren’t diabetic). Just to clarify, Type 1 Diabetes is normally diagnosed in children and has nothing to do with the amount of sugar you eat or what you weigh.
3. “You can’t eat that!”
I have an insulin pump, and I got one so that I could eat whatever I want, whenever I want and be able to give myself insulin for it on-the-spot. Unless you’re my parent or my endocrinologist, you don’t know what my diet plan is and you don’t have the authority to tell me what I can and can’t eat.
4. “Can diabetics drink?”
I always get confused when people ask this, because the only thing that directly affects blood glucose levels is the intake of carbs and the intake of insulin. Alcohol itself doesn’t affect diabetic people any differently that it affects everyone else. Alcohol gets tricky with diabetics when it has a high number of carbs, but as long as you can remember to give yourself insulin, you’ll be good to go.
5. “Please don’t do that in front of me, it’s gross.”
I cannot stress this enough, PLEASE DO NOT TELL SOMEONE WITH DIABETES THAT STICKING THEIR FINGER OR GIVING THEMSELVES INSULIN IS GROSS! I understand that some people get nauseous at the sight of blood, but please don’t tell me that you think it’s gross when I do what I need to survive. Odds are, if I’m testing my blood sugar in front of you, it’s because I don’t have anywhere else to go. If you can word this politely, I’ll gladly turn out of your line of vision.
6. “Do you have to go get insulin right now?”
I get asked this a lot when my friends want to do something and I need to go back to my room to get insulin. When you say things like this, it implies that your need to have fun is more important than my health. I understand that it’s inconvenient, but I do have to do it right then, unless I want to get sick (and possibly die).
7. “If I had diabetes, I’d probably kill myself.”
Not a lot of people say this (because it's obviously really rude), but I have heard it before. This is, by far, the most insensitive thing that has ever been said to me. Diabetes sucks, but it hasn’t made my life completely worthless. A life full of insulin shots, finger sticks, and hospital visits is still a life worth living, in my opinion.
