It was recently brought to my attention that there are many ignorant and misconceptions going on about Type 1 Diabetes. After talking to a few of my friends that have Type 1 Diabetes and seeing first hand how ignorant some people are about the topic, I decided to make a list of things people with Type 1 Diabetes only are tired of hearing.
"Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are the same."
Ummmm, no. They most definitely are not. Type 1 Diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas stops or does not produce enough insulin. This occurs when a person's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Only 5 percent of people are diagnosed with with Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes are believed to be caused by genetic factors and environmental triggers. Type 2 Diabetes is when the body does not use insulin properly, and causes the body to need more insulin to help glucose enter cells. At first, the pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it, but over time it is not able to keep up and cannot make enough insulin to keep the blood glucose at a normal level. Type 2 Diabetes is believed to be caused by genetic and lifestyle factors.
"Adults can't be a Type 1 Diabetic."
Type 1 Diabetes is also known as juvenile diabetes because it mostly common in children, and sometimes adults between 18 and 20 can be diagnosed with it. However, this does not mean that adults older than 20 cannot be diagnosed with it as well. Approximately 1.25 million children and adults in the United States live with Type 1 Diabetes.
"Oh, your kid has Type 1 Diabetes? Don't worry, she'll grow out of it."
No, children do not just grow out of it if they are a Type 1 Diabetic. There is no magical diabetes fairy that comes the day you become an adult and magically makes your pancreas start producing insulin again. It does not work like that. Once a child starts taking insulin for their Type 1 Diabetes, they will continue to take it the rest of their life. This myth comes from the fact that children who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes may see an improvement in their blood sugar levels after puberty or with lifestyle adjustments. However, that is not the case for children with Type 1 Diabetes.
"Diabetes is not that serious."
This statement is one of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard. First of all, diabetes is a very serious disease that can lead to the loss of sight, kidney failure, nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, and many other serious health problems, including death. Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Having diabetes can also double your chances of having a heart attack.
"You'd get rid of your diabetes if you just lost some weight and watched what you ate."
First of all, there is no cure for diabetes. Once diagnosed with diabetes, you have it the rest of your life, there is no "getting rid of it" no matter what type you have. Now, Type 1 Diabetes may go into a "honeymoon period" where it seems like it goes away for a couple of months to a year, but it comes back. When a person is first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, 90 percent of their insulin-producing cells have been destroyed, but the body is still producing some insulin. However, eventually the rest of the cells will be destroyed and the individual will be completely dependent on the insulin injections. Even people with Type 2 Diabetes do not get rid of their diabetes by losing weight. Type 1 Diabetics who lose weight and are physically active may discover that their blood glucose levels return to normal, however, that does not mean that diabetes just disappears. For both, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics, changes in eating habits, weight loss, physical activity, taking insulin and other medications like you are supposed to, will control diabetes and make their risk of developing diabetes complications decrease.
"You're a diabetic, you can't eat sweets!"
This is one of the most popular beliefs about diabetics. People tend to think that since diabetics have problems with their sugar levels, they can not have sugar at all or that they can only have artificial sweetener. This is not the case, with any type of diabetes. Diabetics can eat sweets, however, they have to watch how much sweets they eat and eat it with other foods. Artificial sweeteners increases insulin resistance and hunger, therefore replacing your normal sugary foods with artificial sweeteners or non-nutrient sweeteners is the worst thing a diabetic can do.
"You're not taking care of yourself if you have to use insulin."
This is one of the more popular beliefs among older individuals. They believe that having to use an insulin pump or injections in order to control your blood sugar levels means you are not taking care of yourself. This is not the case at all. When a person is diagnosed with diabetes, it means there body is not producing insulin. With Type 1 Diabetes, there is nothing to prevent this from happening or curing it. Therefore, it does not matter if the person exercises, eats healthy, and loses weight, they still need their insulin.
"You can't play sports or do any strenuous activities if you are diabetic."
This one blows my mind completely. Individuals have no problems telling diabetics to just exercise to get rid of their diabetes, but also turn around and say well you cannot do any strenuous activities or sports because you're a diabetic. You cannot get anymore contradicting than that. Physical activity such as sports, are important for everyone, not just diabetics. However, individuals and children especially with Type 1 Diabetes are strongly encouraged to exercise.
"I don't want to catch your diabetes."
If I was able to insert an eye-rolling emoji here, I would. Diabetes, of any" type, is not contagious. It is not like a cold or the flu, you can't get it because someone sneezes on you or kisses you. The causes of diabetes are unknown, but scientist believe that Type 1 Diabetes is caused by genetic factors and environmental triggers, such as a virus. Diabetes is also not genetic, the autoimmune gene is. The autoimmune gene that they have inherited from their first degree relative is what makes them more susceptible to diabetes.There is no specific diabetes gene in a persons body though.
"You're gross, pathetic, and lazy because you're a diabetic."
When I hear individuals say this, I have the desire to look at them and tell them how gross and pathetic they are for being judgmental, and how lazy they are for not doing research about a disease they want to criticize others for having. Individuals with diabetes are not gross, pathetic, or lazy. Nor are the people who do not have diabetes better than them. It is so easy to be judgmental about illnesses and diseases we do not know that much about, and rude comments like this need to stop.
"Why don't you just go to the bathroom to give yourself your insulin shot or do it at home before you leave?"
It may be just me, but I honestly see nothing wrong with someone giving themselves an insulin shot at the dinner table. They did not ask to become a diabetic, nor did they do anything to cause them to be one. Giving yourself your insulin before you leave your house will not only risk you bottoming out your blood sugar and getting sick, but also be ineffective because it will have worn off by the time you eat. Having to go to the bathroom to give yourself an insulin shot is crazy. Public bathrooms are unsanitary and have no space. The needle that has your insulin in it has to go inside your body, and no one wants to lay that needle down on an unclean bathroom sink then stick it into their stomach. That is just gross.
"You'll look like a drug user if you give yourself your insulin shot in public, or carry around all those needles."
A friend of mine was telling me, how one day when they were out eating dinner with their family, they took their insulin shot like they was supposed to before eating. Well, not ten minutes after that they were being accused of doing drugs. Unfortunately, we are living in a time where this is not uncommon. You see all the time on the news of people overdosing in public bathrooms, parking lots, and the sidewalk. However, saying a diabetic giving themselves their insulin shot is like a drug addict shooting up is a very judgmental comment that is unnecessary and just rude. Type 1 Diabetics did not tell their bodies to stop producing insulin, and they did not do anything that made them have it.
Type 1 Diabetes is a topic that is very misunderstood and because of this, it leads to people saying unhelpful and rude advice. We, as people, are so quick to jump to assumed conclusions about what we think causes an illness and what can prevent them that we do not take the time to research the true causes of them. Also, we are so quick to assume that every type of disease is the same as the other. That is not always the case. Type 1 Diabetics around the world are tired of hearing your ignorant "helpful" comments, that come from what you assume will help. Instead, do research, and spread awareness of the disease. All these comments, come from assumed things about Type 1 Diabetes. This problem is something that can be caused, by simply bringing awareness and encouraging research about the disease.
