Type 1 Diabetes is NOT the same of Type 2!! It is a SERIOUS medical condition and is NOT caused by lifestyle!

[TIDMum]

Just had the Sky guy here to upgrade internet speed and he asked about DS's glucose monitor alarm going off so I said he's a Type 1 diabetic. He was asking if it was a care alarm then said 'oh so not that serious, just for the blood sugar reading'.

He then said that his wife was Type 1 and we had a little discussion about her GM and what type of insulin pump she's on (which she doesn't actually have!) and he then said 'I blame diet and alcopops really'.

It then became clear his wife was Type 2.

I said 'oh right, I blame COVID actually because you know it's an autoimmune disorder?' He said 'oh right' then was quiet while he finished his work.

DS (age 16) heard this as he was walking past.

DS said he's an idiot but this really annoys me.

I can't count how many times over the last 4 years since his diagnosis, people have started talking to me about their sister, aunt or neighbour having 'Type 1' when it's actually Type 2 they're talking about. He had the teasing at school about too much sugar as well.

I really think if you don't know what Type 1 diabetes, shut up and don't talk about it tbh.

AIBU to get pissed off about this? I can't think of any other serious medical conditions that are mistaken like this.

Hence the problem, even though T1 and T2 are the most well known / prevalent.

I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️ My 16 year son is T1 and it’s my worst fear, such a horrible disease.

I think you are being ott and self absorbed. Funnily enough not everyone is across your child's medical condition. Clearly it's very difficult for you and your child but you are also being incredibly dismissive towards people coping with t2d which whilst a different illness can also be very difficult to manage with a range of causes.
I'm a carer for someone with complex multiple health issues including v poorly controlled epilepsy which can be life threatening. Do I advocate for them and support the raising of awareness of their difficulties - yes. Do I expect everyone to understand it all and jump on them because they don't-no.

Anti psychotic medications cause t2 diabetes.

Spot on, blueskydreaming. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are serious conditions and one kind should not be trivialised over the other, neither should the “blame game” be applied to anyone with Type 2. Making hurtful comments is neither helpful nor appropriate.
I also think making a complaint to SKY regarding the comments from the engineer is completely unnecessary, but that is just my view - disagree if you wish.

I mean to the OP about “disagree if you must”, not you, blueskydreaming.

Yeah I agree that would piss me off. People are stupid snd uneducated about it. Type 1 is a terrible condition to have to manage and cannot be compared to type 2. At least you managed to educate him somewhat.. although probably quite difficult to educate someone like that.

Type 1 is really different and much more challenging to manage. With life threatening complications on a daily basis. Type 1 is much more serious. This is a fact.

I'm heartbroken 💔, it's an awful disease. I still feel like I should have been able to protect my lovely son. and wish every day that it was me and not him. Thank you for your kind words.

I could have almost written Petunias post myself my dad has been a Type 1 insulin dependenf diabetic for well over 40 years. During all those years he’s injected himself 4 times a day, every day and tested his blood by finger pricking before each injection (so he can calculate how much insulin he needs) and also whenever he feels that his blood sugar is too low and he’s at risk of a hypo, or it’s too high.
Unless it’s a condition that affects you or a member of your family most people have no idea how difficult it can be to keep blood sugars well controlled, or what the consequences of having diabetes can be even when control is good. Sadly the Sky engineer’s lack of knowledge about the different types of diabetes and his perception of what causes the disease are all to common - when dad was first diagnosed he says that several of his nursing colleagues told him that he must have eaten too many sweets when he was younger, and they weren't joking!
It’s undoubtedly true that in the last 40 years things have become easier for those who require insulin, but without that insulin, no matter how blood sugars are monitored or insulin is administered, the type 1 diabetic would be dead within days. It’s a sobering thought and makes some of the comments above seem somewhat ridiculous.
We all worry about our children but to have a child with type 1 diabetes no matter how old they are brings with it additional worries and concerns which those of us with healthy children shouldn’t underestimate.

Type 2 can be fatal too, if not managed - fact.

Yes it's a very serious condition, and unfortunate that people don't understand the difference between type one and type two. The only thing I can suggest (though I am sure that you will have done this already if your son is old enough) is that you explain to your son exactly which type he has and how type two is less serious and many people mix them up, through lack of education and experience.

Type 2 is not less serious though. Look up information on both types on the NHS website. Both are life threatening if not controlled.
Both types are serious conditions.

I don't think alcopops referred to your son. More his wife?
I think most people who don't have a diabetic immediate relative, know or think much about the difference, or care, honestly. You were hurt by his statement, and sorry for that. Let it go, it wasn't a judgement against you or your parenting because he doesn't know you. Just forget the man who means nothing to you and everyone else who offends you - because they don't know you either.

I have T2, I can control it through diet thankfully.

my best friend has T1: she would die without insulin

they aren’t the same thing; and I can understand why you’d be a bit pissed

Imagine trivialising the latter scenario!

The people I know who developed T2 were fit and healthy before developing a serious and life threatening condition (that often requires ICU admissions). Then they were treated with horrible toxic drugs. Then as a result of those they developed T2 diabetes. They now have to manage the diabetes and the original life threatening condition together.

That's no minor inconvenience

My kids have life threatening conditions too that require constant management, that makes me more supportive of what others are going through, not less.

This is an interesting post as I have just seen ‘father of daughters’ do a whole reel about his daughter with type 1 and promoting a video that’s about to drop of him in conversation with an England rugby player - also type 1 talking about a new campaign 🧐

Sorry. I was actually replying to @Yerroblemom1923 . I don't know how I went wrong there.

My dh has type2 and needs to take medication some people with type 2 need insulin
My son has type 3c and has no pancress at all and is treated as type1 but with the added complication of needing Creon.

Exactly! Plus lots of people are a bit thick and have a poor understanding of many things, it’s not exclusive to diabetes! For example, I find people’s ignorance concerning melanoma and non melanoma skin cancer particularly annoying. However, I know this is irrational and people can’t be expected to know about conditions that have never affected them.

I don't know anything about type 1 and 2.
My immediate family don't have either.

I know my elderly mother was pre diabetic some time ago and she's managed to ward it off with a change of diet. She has underactive thyroid and is overweight. So I'm assuming T2 can be life style related..

My DH's mum died from the disease about 30 years ago. She was advised to have her lower leg or legs amputated and refused. She died soon after that. This all happened before I met DH. He has no idea what type his mum had, which surprised me. I'm guessing the diabetes wasn't managed very well. This to me, indicates how serious this disease can be.

I think any diabetic in this age is 'lucky' to have information at hand via the Internet to manage the condition.

Along the same lines as people don't get post chemo fatigue, they just say oh yes I'm really tired too, nope it's not tiredness it's relentless fatigue that sleep doesn't help. Give up explaining ..
maybe write cards out explaining type 1 and just hand one to the person next time

I would say people are calling you judgy as your very thread title calls T1 “SERIOUS” as though T2 isn’t and you seem to think all T2 is caused by poor lifestyle choices.

I hear ya- when you have a six year old rushed to the emergency department in their very first DKA it’s bloody scary and you don’t want some idiot assuming it’s cause you had their sippy cup loaded with Coca-Cola since before you weaned, but as others have said lots of people are simply lacking that health literacy and yoU have the choice there to either hate the world (achieve nothing but a tension headache and an amusing MN thread), educate them or choose to move on.

Fun fact- did you know the word diabetes has its roots in the Greek language meaning ‘to pass through’ - as in the excessive urine that characterises both conditions?

Another fun fact- there’s also Diabetes Insipidus- which is totally unrelated to insulin and the pancreas at all, but still involved in excessive urine and also a very SERIOUS CONDITION.

Aren't you an angry little pickle.

Type 2 can also be genetic. It's not always about lifestyle. I think you need to educate yourself, your ignorance is showing.