Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Diabetics are treated badly by the public and healthcare staff

114 replies

lookluv · 15/11/2025 22:45

I have been a type 1. since the age of 3 that is 50+ yrs.

I am now in my mid fifties and have a few complications which is hardly surprising - no one is perfect. This week I have had full frontal utter rudenss from nursing staff about my diabetes.

I ended up in ED for the first time in my life with a diabetic issue which I think is pretty good going. I was told, Did I realise my problem was self inflicted and if I ahd kept better control then this would not have happened.
I spoken to like an idiot, patronised and listened to someone talk toa student infront of me as if I was an inconvenience. she said - "what you ahve to remember is most diabetics do not get it is their fault and they just do not do what they are told.

I got asked if I knew how to test my blood sugar?
Did I know what a CGM is?
How bad was my control? - not how good my HbA1c is, which is 6.5 ish usually

In the end I lost it - pointed out that at the age of 3 I did not choose to become a diabetic and not all of us were self inflicted and they should think before they opened their judgemental mouths.

No I did not have good control as a child and teenager because we used to test our sugar by taking 5 drops of piss and 10 drops of water and dropping a tablet in to see what volour it went. I remember blood testing coming in where you matched the blue and green colour on a bottle. I remember when very expensive machines came in and gave you a reading in about 6 mins on a good day.

I do know my mother was given 2 glass syringes and 6 stainless steel needles and told her that was her lot for me and to boil them to make them sterile.

Sorry rant over - I have had a gutfull of judgement this week.

.

OP posts:
Morningsleepin · 15/11/2025 23:29

Flowers8989 · 15/11/2025 23:14

I have a type of genetic diabetes called mody and i would say 90% of type 2s are self inflicted through diet....

Edited
Show quote history

I live in the type 2 diabetes capital of the world and nearly all of it here is caused by coca cola

Ponoka7 · 15/11/2025 23:28

Flowers8989 · 15/11/2025 23:14

I have a type of genetic diabetes called mody and i would say 90% of type 2s are self inflicted through diet....

Edited
Show quote history

You can say what you want, it doesn't make it true. While some people do get it via diet, it's very prevalent in rice eating cultures and it isn't always possible to prevent it. In those cultures it adds to early death rates.

Original poster
lookluv · 15/11/2025 23:19

Not judgemental but it is a very differrent disease to Type 1 - easier to manage, more options and most research done into it because it mkes bog Pharma loads of monies.
The fe Type 1 diabetics thev had no new treatments since 1921 when Banting and Best discovered insulin. Different modifications and methods of delivery but all still requiring injections.

GLPs have shown quite clearly the link between food consumption and type 2 control - something which is not the case for type 1 diabetics. Not judging but the diseases are very very different -

OP posts:
Flowers8989 · 15/11/2025 23:14

Goldeh · 15/11/2025 22:59

There's a tendency I think for people to presume all diabetes is self-inflicted when, in reality, none of it is. You cannot "give" yourself diabetes and I wish this harmful stereotype would get in the bin whee it belongs.

For years, DH has had various medical problems written off as "that's down to your diabetes" when really it's been down to other things but as soon as medical staff see 'diabetes' on the file they just presume that's the cause for everything.

I have a type of genetic diabetes called mody and i would say 90% of type 2s are self inflicted through diet....

TheignT · 15/11/2025 23:13

You're very judgemental about type 2
I used to work with a lovely man, slim, keen golfer, healthy diet. He developed type 2, it was hard to manage and he really struggled. Not his fault any more than your type 1 is your fault.

Original poster
lookluv · 15/11/2025 23:11

Leeds2 - May 1970 it is a long journey!

OP posts:
Original poster
lookluv · 15/11/2025 23:10

most epoples first thought when they hear the word diabetic - is overweight, eats too much own fault!

OP posts:
Original poster
lookluv · 15/11/2025 23:09

Sorry - non medical people react when yu check your CGM, adjust your pumo, inject your dose of insuling discreetly - you should hear some comments.

OP posts:
echt · 15/11/2025 23:06

I'm not sure of the role of the public in treating diabetics badly.

Original poster
lookluv · 15/11/2025 23:06

Not just me then - having to explain I am Type 1 not type 2 etc to justify myself is really irritating me as apparently I am too old to be Type 1 anymore!!

I started putting on weight and feeling very tired during covid which was put down for 18 months as me being a fat diabetic - actually it was my thyroid packing up. Has taken me 18 months to shift half of it which would not have gone on if I had been treated iike a human being as well. No it was not my diabetes but part of the autoimmune spectrum that is type 1DM.

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 15/11/2025 23:03

OP, I could've written your post.

Diagnosed, aged 4, in 1970.

Goldeh · 15/11/2025 22:59

There's a tendency I think for people to presume all diabetes is self-inflicted when, in reality, none of it is. You cannot "give" yourself diabetes and I wish this harmful stereotype would get in the bin whee it belongs.

For years, DH has had various medical problems written off as "that's down to your diabetes" when really it's been down to other things but as soon as medical staff see 'diabetes' on the file they just presume that's the cause for everything.

SpanThatWorld · 15/11/2025 22:55

My husband is diabetic. Every time he goes into hospital for anything else, someone looks at the food supplement he takes on dietitian's advice and says "Well, that'll push his BM up."
Well, no it won't because it's low carb (maybe read the label) and, even if it did, he's been managing his insulin quite competently for over 30 years.
And then they'll try to change his insulin regime

Gettingbysomehow · 15/11/2025 22:49

I totally agree. Im an NHS podiatrist and I've seen some appalling rudeness from medical staff in general to diabetics and jobs being lost because there is zero flexibility for their appointments.