Five things NOT to say to someone with Type 1 diabetes
I’ve had Type 1 diabetes for just under 2 years now. It’s a condition you have to manage and think about every day, and some days it can be a real pain in the ass. But, I have learned to live with it.
As it requires me to monitor my blood glucose, there are a series of things I sometimes need to do in public. This can range from injecting insulin, scanning my libre sensor, doing a finger prick test, or even scoffing a handful of jelly babies to correct low blood sugar. Naturally, this invites intrigue, leading to conversations and questions about my condition.
That’s not a bad thing, and I’ll always be happy to chat with people about it. However, diabetes has a lot of ill-conceived perceptions. Most people don’t even know there are two distinct types of diabetes, meaning confusion is rife.
Type 2 diabetes is a major health crisis within the UK and is a highly complex condition, caused by a multitude of factors. Because of this, a lot of things are thrown around about how to ‘cure’ or help it.
These are sometimes directed at people with Type 1 diabetes, even though it’s a totally different condition.
Below are some things that don’t really make sense to say to someone with Type 1 diabetes.
1. Did you get that from eating a s*** diet?
Now, this is probably the most common question I’m asked when people learn I have diabetes. Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t get diabetes from having a s*** diet. Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disorder, meaning nothing I did had an impact on me developing it. I’ve always been more on the sweet-toothed side, but that isn’t why I got diabetes. In fact, science doesn’t fully understand what causes the development of Type 1 diabetes. It’s a mystery!
2. I’ve heard that juice/special diets can reverse it?
Ahh, thanks for that. I hadn’t actually thought that only drinking guava juice for a year will treat me. Do you have anything I can do about my in-grown toe-nail? Maybe eating only carrots for a year will help with that?
This is always a funny one, mostly because I feel like you wouldn't say it to people with other conditions. If you meet someone who has a bald head, you don’t tell them what will stop them from being bald. Unless you actually have a cure for it, which you probably don’t.
I’d just avoid this one.
3. Should you eat that?
Why, has it gone off? Is it poisoned? In short, I can eat what I want. Type 1 diabetes means I administer my own insulin depending on what I have eaten. If I want to sit down and eat a whole cake, I can and will. One of the good things is you can actually eat what you want, and my diet post-diagnosis hasn’t overly changed.
There are certain things I avoid eating/drinking, but this is because it’s easier to manage my blood sugars without them. Orange juice is a good example, or Haribo tangfastics. Although I could eat them, I don’t want to. But a good dessert? Let me at it.
4. Drinking alcohol isn’t good for you, surely?
Well, it’s probably not good for you either? This one came from a man I’d never met before, who was quite drunk. He spoke of his friend who had diabetes and that his friend had been warned to stay away from alcohol by his doctor. I mean, alcohol isn’t really good for anyone. Anyway, it was good to hear how I should manage my health from him, and after 10 minutes or so he stumbled away, took out a cigarette, and lit it…*face-palm*.
There are certain things you need to do while drinking with diabetes, but we’re allowed to enjoy a drink as much as the next person.
5. Finally, a good thing to say/do
Alright alright, maybe there are only 4 things NOT to say, but I thought it would be good to mention what to do. If you notice someone injecting insulin, doing a finger-prick, or scanning their libre/glucose monitor, there’s a good chance they have Type 1 diabetes. Just let them get on with it. If they want to talk about it they will, but they probably don’t want any attention drawing to themselves. If you do want to ask, do it in a conscientious way, and definitely don’t say anything from the 4 things above!
