Why do people say stuff like this?!

[PleaseStopExplaining]

Within the last month I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It’s going to be fine, I managed to reduce my blood sugar significantly between the blood tests. Almost enough to avoid diagnosis. My GP thinks I don’t need meds now and can probably reduce it further with more dietary changes.

But my god the number of people who are determined that I mustn’t make the changes, telling me cutting down my carbs is extreme. That I must keep eating chocolate or drinking fizzy every week because “you need a treat.”

This came about after I had an ambulance for unrelated reasons and they checked my blood sugar. One friend told me type 2 diabetes is an invented disease and I should have refused to have my sugar checked by the paramedics.

I think they think they’re helping but my god it’s just making it harder

They obviously don't care about your health. Well done to you for making the changes which can't have been easy. Keep well and look after yourself and ignore the stupid comments.

Are they also unhealthy / overweight? Sometimes, when people are afraid or don’t want to face up to their own health problems and poor lifestyle, they try to discourage others as well. If you’re making changes and your health improves, they can’t keep pretending they’re perfectly fine and nothing needs changing because it’s too hard or wouldn’t work.

Just change the subject whenever it’s brought up, say you’re going to follow your doctor’s advice and have noticed yourself feeling much better and seeing results already, and don’t get into arguments with them over it.

What @ComtesseDeSpair said. People don't like facing up to their own unhealthy lifestyles.

I've noticed when dieting people often try to coerce you to eat junk & undermine your choices, because it makes them more comfortable & not have to face their own choices. Its similar with alcohol too if a non-drinker of a group.

Very weird to want to deny paramedic blood test when surely focus should be on friends health. Not knowing doesn't change the condition does it and carrying on as if doesn't exist can come with some terrible outcomes. Perhaps they just aren't very knowledgeable on the condition & attitude will change with education.

Glad you've been able to reverse type 2 with diet management and hopefully can maintain without need for medication for long as possible.

Thanks for the virtual support and encouragement. It hasn’t been easy but I hope long term it will be worth it.

@ComtesseDeSpair yes also overweight but not as much as I am. Prior to my diagnosis one them (family member) would tell me she was very worried about my weight and health on the phone then half an hour later when I dropped shopping in be all “Do you want cake?”

@PurpleM you make an interesting point about how people react when you do something different to what the group is.

Oh yes, you get the thing about carbs all the time. Even my diabetic mother doesn’t understand! And then my neighbour had her bloods taken by a paramedic- 23. But they were lying according to her.

I did a no sugar diet a few years ago. I never told anyone. If we went out for a meal I’d just pick the lowest sugar dessert (like plain ice cream) saying I felt full, and picked at it until it had mostly melted. People didn’t seem to care/notice as long as I had something!

And yes it is to stop themselves from feeling guilty for not being strong enough to eat healthier themselves.