to not admit to being a diabetic ?

[LondonNovice]

I am a diabetic and have been for more than two decades.
When I was first diagnosed the general feeling seemed to be that I had a medical condition which I was unfortunate to suffer from.
Now attitudes have changed and hardened. A diabetic now seems to be viewed as someone who has brought all of their health problems on themselves by not leading a healthy lifestyle and that they could be cured if only they would follow the correct diet.
I now feel ashamed to admit to being a diabetic.

I'm a Type 1 too OP and your worry had never crossed my mind. As long as close family and close friends and people at your work know (due to hypo risks) then I really wouldn't worry. Have you got good control with your blood sugars?

The very fact that people are asking if you are type 1 or 2 shows that people think one is not your fault and one is.

It isn’t wrong to state that for some type 2 diabetics, the reason they have it is partly due to lifestyle. That is absolutely not the case for type 1 diabetes.

I don't get why it has to be treated almost like a competition, though. Apart from the fact that they won't have a clue as to whether you possibly could have avoided or delayed its onset, why are people just waiting to judge you?

You see and hear of it a lot in the T1D 'community' where people feel the need to state emphatically that they have TYPE 1 diabetes, ergo it isn't their fault. I remember reading a letter once from somebody very upset that T2D couldn't be given a different name to prevent those with T1D having to be 'besmirched' by the association.

Aside from the fact that 90% of people with diabetes have T2, so if either 'group' were to get to 'keep' the original name, it would obviously be them, with T1D sufferers having to find another name, it just seems like horrible scapegoating to me. Instead of deflecting criticism on to what you believe to be a more deserving 'culprit', why not band together and stick up for and support each other? Present a united front to challenge the accuser rather than effectively ganging up with them against what you both perceive to be a 'less worthy' sufferer.

I've recently started in a new job and felt that I had to make people aware because of the hypo situation as I mentioned above. I know that people can suffer from hypoglycaemia without being diabetic but is it to the same extent as it can be by injecting insulin ?

It’s perfectly normal to tell your workplace so they can help you if you have a hypo.

Only fairly stupid people judge diabetics, whether type I or type ii. I wouldn’t worry too much about their opinions.

The reason I feel I have to tell more people that I really want to is because of the hypo risk.

You could just say you suffer hypoglycaemic episodes without going into why. You can have them independent of diabetes.

The problem with that, though, is that, whilst most people know that a hypo can kill somebody with diabetes, if you mention 'hypoglycaemic episodes' to a lot of people, they might just equate it with when otherwise-healthy people have been energetic and are experiencing a bit of low blood sugar - the sort that will make them temporarily feel a little light-headed but nothing that could do them serious harm.

You know: the same kind of people who think that serious food allergies are being a bit of a fussy eater, depression is being a bit sad sometimes and nerve problems are worrying a bit if you have to make a speech.

Some folk develop type2 diabetes through no fault of their own. Alas, the media suggests it’s because you’re a ‘fattie.’
Many folk develop diabetes when they’re older, just because they’re older... their pancreas is slowing down with age.
Some T2 are younger because of lifestyle. Some are diagnosed as such because life sucks.

My control is reasonably O.K but not A1.
There is a woman in work who keeps going on about Michael Mosley and his diet plan to cure diabetes. She really seems to think that I could reverse my diabetes if I followed his plan. I did try to explain that it wouldn't work for me.

I've recently started in a new job and felt that I had to make people aware because of the hypo situation as I mentioned above.

Of course, there's the small added risk that, if people take matters into their own hands instead of waiting for the medical professionals, there's a chance they could make matters much worse if they know you have it.

There's a widespread belief narrative about insulin-dependent diabetes, backed up by appallingly-irresponsible storylines in more than a few TV medical drama series, that goes:

1. T1 Diabetics can get seriously low blood sugar, which can kill them;
2. T1 Diabetics have to take insulin every day, otherwise they'd die;
3. Therefore, if I witness somebody apparently having a hypo, I need to find their insulin and give them a whacking great emergency dose to save their lives - a bit like you would with an epi-pen.

Granted, it's not the most likely scenario that they'd find your kit bag and manage to figure out how it all goes together, but it's still a potential worry. On balance, you're much better telling them, though

There is a woman in work who keeps going on about Michael Mosley and his diet plan to cure diabetes. She really seems to think that I could reverse my diabetes if I followed his plan.

Ugh. She's probably also the sort to tell stammerers to "just calm down, breathe and think about what you want to say."

Infuriating know-it-alls.

I think you just have to say to her "that Type1 and Type2 are different in that Type1 cannot be reversed so what she is telling you, although helpful for people with Type2, isn't relevant to your situation". She's obviously just trying to be helpful but without knowing that Type1 & 2 are different. I only told my workplace because they treated themselves daily to cream cakes and sweets and couldn't understand why I kept refusing!! Good luck in your new job btw.

I am a manager on a ccu unit in one of the top London hospitals . I have been diagnosed with pre diabetes and am extremely fit and health conscious!Ignore the judgy comments...people can be very ignorant!!

The women at work needs to either do a fair bit more "research" about the benefits of fasting on diabetes, & discover that it only benefits people with T2, or preferably keep her nose out of your business.

Gotta love people who think they've discovered a simple cure to your significant life changing illness. Like the person who suggested I just drink more water to resolve my chronic pain. The one that has paramedics taking me to hospital because it frequently looks like I've had a stroke. Who knew, water, I never thought of that.

The medical profession is considering adding several different types of diabetes for classification purposes. I hear you, OP—I’m sick of people thinking type 2 is purely a poor lifestyle disease or something that afflicts only the obese.

I had gestational diabetes five years ago, and since then have gone as high as 6.0 on A1C tests. Two weeks ago I decided to go keto, after having been Paleo for four years. I can no longer tolerate even low GI foods such as sweet potato and raspberries, which I only ate sparingly anyway.

I’m 5’7, 8.5 stone, and know that I’m up against it when it comes to fighting off genetically predisposed diabetes. I have PCOS, too, and the insulin resistance issues related to that condition haven’t helped.

Gotta love people who think they've discovered a simple cure to your significant life changing illness.

Ah yes! Turmeric seems to be the current magic bullet.

I’m type 1 and never tell anyone unless I absolutely have to, most people treat you differently once they know, they won’t admit it but they do.

There is a woman in work who keeps going on about Michael Mosley and his diet plan to cure diabetes. She really seems to think that I could reverse my diabetes if I followed his plan. I did try to explain that it wouldn't work for me.

If some people at work already know, You might as well disclose fully and maybe educate some people in the process.

Do they @loulouscandi? In what way - I only ask as I don't think I've encountered this. I must admit I don't broadcast it as the people who I think need to know already do.

I've had 2 GD pregnancies. My second pregnancy I was insulin resistant by 2nd trimester. No amount of insulin would control my sugars even though I was carb and dairy free.

I'm likely to get diabetes when I'm in my 40s. No matter how hard I try, I'm more likely to get it regardless of my lifestyle.

My hba1Cs have been ok and I monitor my sugars regularly even though I'm currently non diabetic.

There is so much crap information spouted about type 2 diabetes. Some cases are lifestyle related and some cases are not.

*Gotta love people who think they've discovered a simple cure to your significant life changing illness.

Ah yes! Turmeric seems to be the current magic bullet.*

I've had someone who wouldn't stop going on about how I (type 1) just need to drink buttermilk with lime juice and cinnamon for breakfast (yuck, right?). He has type 2 himself and does this. I asked him how his levels were and they were terrible. I don't know why he is advising this since it's not helping him either and his body is actually still making some insulin.
I'm still waiting on someone advising me turmeric.

I agree about a lot of ignorance among people. Tbh I am a bit tired of educating everyone so let a lot of it slide.

I’m type 1 and never tell anyone unless I absolutely have to, most people treat you differently once they know, they won’t admit it but they do.

Very true. And even if they're genuinely trying to be kind, they'll keep bringing you those nasty 'diabetic' jam and chocolates (who knew that food could suffer from diabetes?) that taste terrible and give you awful stomach ache and a Grand National's worth of gallops.

....And they often treat you like a child, asking if you're 'allowed' something that they're offering around, outright declare that you 'can't' have something or passive-aggressively ask, when they see you eating something, if you 'should' be having that. All especially infuriating if you're having a hypo and have deliberately got yourself something sugary, that you may not even really fancy having, but nevertheless still need.

Both of my grandmothers were type 2 diabetics, one had a leg amputated due to complications, neither however were overweight but both in honesty did have quite a big sweet tooth. Would people really judge an elderly woman if they knew she had diabetes because she ate too much sugar? If yes, get a bloody life.

I believe in a lot of cases there is a genetic component involved and I think it is shameful to judge anyone for any medical condition, be it physical or mental or whether lifestyle choices have played a role, people should just mind their own business.

OP you should feel no shame whatsoever, you only feed the stigma if you allow it to affect you.

Some people are more likely to get type 2 diabetes through family history or their ethnicity (eg south Asian/Indians are more likely to get it if they Are 25 years or older and have a BmI of only 22 or more - hardly overweight territory!)

So it’s not all about lifestyle