Firstly, I am going to start off by saying if you are this person please read until the very end because chances are every diabetic in the whole entire world hates you. Obviously I know not everyone is highly educated on this disease that is actually very common among people of all backgrounds; but I think it's time that someone with the disease educates some of the extremely stupid people in this world who truly have no common decency for diabetics.
To start off, I have had diabetes for about eleven years. It has been a struggle fighting to keep a steady blood sugar. Also, these past eleven years I've heard some ridiculous comments and questions people have made about me having diabetes. I grew up with diabetes through elementary school, middle school, and high school. So I most certainly know how annoying it is for people to comment on anything I eat. Not to mention, every diabetic hears this over and over every school year, every job they have, any sport they play. It's basically a ritual for us to have our answers to every stupid joke, question, and comment ready.
"How did you get diabetes? Maybe you shouldn't have ate so much sugar before you got it!"
Well alright. Diabetics HATE this. Mostly because this has zero fact to it whatsoever. Growing up, I was the healthiest kid. My kind of snack was carrots and ranch to dip them in. Still to this day I love vegetables dipped in ranch. However, Type One Diabetes isn't about avoiding sugar necessarily. I can still go on late night candy runs to the gas station, I can eat my candy, I just have a little handy dandy thing called insulin that helps me when I eat candy. Although, from any doctor you'll hear to avoid sugar, and treats. But as a diabetic, I know I can eat sugar; as long as I am doing my insulin for the treat I am eating. So if you are someone who has always thought your friend has diabetes because they ate too much candy, please stop thinking that.
"Are you kinda chubby because you have diabetes?"
"It's okay that you are kinda fat, you have diabetes!"
"You have diabetes? You don't look fat.."
Firstly, shut up about someone's weight whether they have diabetes or not. If you really have the nerve to tell someone that they're fat because they have diabetes, or that you are shocked someone has diabetes because they aren't fat then I think you should not talk because I actually hate you. In other words, you're completely rude and have no common sense if you actually say that to someone with diabetes. I am 5'2 weighing around 130-145, I also have a friend with diabetes who is about 5'4 and weighs probably around 105 pounds. Diabetes does not mean diabetics are fat. Look at it this way, a cancer patient who hasn't gone through chemo yet tells you they have cancer, would you laugh in their face and tell them there's no way they have cancer because they are not bald? Also, every diabetic that hears those words come out of someone's mouth does not only think you are an absolute idiot, but it honestly hurts our feelings. So thanks for that!
"Can you eat that?"
Excuse me? Who are you to ask me if I can eat what I am putting into my mouth? I didn't know you were there to police me. Although, some diabetics are also allergic to other food, but that isn't caused by diabetes. I have a diabetic friend who cannot eat gluten. Anytime I ate any kind of bread or noodle in middle school I swear people thought I was going to die, just because they thought since me and her both have diabetes that I can't eat food with gluten in it just because she couldn't. Certainly, if you are unsure about what diabetics can eat just ask. But going straight to the "can you even eat that?" is a bit aggressive for a lot of diabetics. At least I know for me.
"It could be worse right?"
"Hey, I mean you don't have cancer."
Haha yeah you're right, aren't you? I'd take diabetes over cancer any day. But the thing is, I have what I have. I am entitled to complain, cry, and say anything I want about a disease that I have and you don't. Please do not tell me it could be worse, if you don't have diabetes yourself. Please don't compare my disease to cancer; when they have nothing in common with each other. Also, us diabetics would really appreciate it if you just didn't say anything about our diabetes that relates to us having it the easy way out because, you have no idea how I am feeling or what this disease is like.
Sincerely,
Every diabetic out there
