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.

You missed - Medication.

When drs prescribed me life saving medication for my condition (a rare autoimmune condition) they told me it would almost certainly mean I developed T2 diabetes. I really didn't want to take the medication but it was life or death. By some stroke of sheer luck I didn't develop diabetes. But most people I know with my condition have developed it as a result of the medication. I would like those who insist on describing T2 as "self inflicted" to explain to me how that is the case here?

But also as a society we know that a decent percentage of the population are on antidepressants. Often those who have had hard lives or experienced trauma and grief. We know many antidepressants can cause weight gain. Yet we persist (as a society) in judging people who gain weight. It's fucked up.

And I am "lucky' I guess that my reaction to trauma was anorexia which elicited sympathy whereas my brothers reaction to the same trauma was to overeat which elicits from so many scorn and disdain. He's an amazing man who gives so much to his community and family yet so many people make a snap judgement when they see him (and for the avoidance of doubt he doesn't have T2 and diabetes despite being very overweight since his teens- which shows how much luck and genetics contributes)

It's tedious and depressing to see T1 people cast all kinds of blame around like this instead of helping the fight to correct ignorance about all forms of diabetes

Also our family has a condition (which we’ve only recently discovered) that has T2D as a side effect. My sibling has the full blown condition, my mum and myself have the T2D. My sibling’s consultant advised them to tell me to get tested for both the condition and T2D, and here we are. I’m 4th generation T2D and my teen is aware that they’re at risk. Always been a healthy eater and active. There have been a couple of periods in my life that I’ve been slightly overweight despite this, then would lose weight without trying to. This apparently is a symptom. I have to be careful with not losing too much weight as this has a negative effect on my hba1c.

@SeriousTissues sorry to hear that. I know what a shock it is to realise there's a genetic factor.

NimbleTaupeTiger How dare you come here with your common sense. 😀
Seriously, great post though.

And while we’re about it……. even if we are talking about the main sub-type of type 2 which occurs in people who ARE obese, can we also get with the program on the science of obesity?

It is becoming abundantly clear that there is a huge genetic factor in obesity. It needs the right (or rather, the wrong) environment to bring it out, in the form of highly palatable high calorie foods with addictive potential, like the ones which are all around us, cheap, abundant, highly promoted. There are cues to consume them everywhere. Some people are more susceptible to those than others, and when they give in to the pressure, some are more likely to gain weight.

None of those are a choice.

If you are susceptible on both fronts, it really takes superhuman effort to avoid becoming obese. Once you have, reversing that is even harder than avoiding it in the first place, for good biological reasons.

Let’s stop blaming people for not being able to do something which the vast majority of people are unable to do.

Where has anyone on this thread said people with type 2 for whatever reason should be ashamed.

What those with or with a family member with Type 1 , particularly children have said is they get annoyed with people thinking Type 1 is the same as Type 2 and the diseases are totally different aetiology and managing a child with Type 1 is an extremely stressful 24/7 experience which you never have control of and never know when disaster will strike - which it does in a way that does not affect those with other forms of diabetes.
For those whose lifestyle has caused them to develop DM, then they have no comprehension of why these people with an alternative do not do something to remove the disease and the statistics show that over 70% of type 2 DM is related to lifestyle choices - not all but the majority.

Big Pharma bring out new ways of treating some forms of type 2 diabetes all the time. Since Banting and Best discovered insulin in 1921, Type 1 diabetics have not had any progress, Pumps and monitors still require needles and 24/7 control but there is no big monies to be made in type 1 management. There are about 300000 type1s in the UK and 4.5 million type 2s. The finances state target the masses not the minority.

CGMs have been around since 1999 in various formats. Until 2022, if you wanted to use one to control your type 1 diabetes then you paid for the privilege yourself. Circa 200GBP per month and more initially. For those ancient Type1 like me then 2 glass syringes and 8 stainless steel sterilisable needles were what you were supplied with. Disposable needles and syringes you had to buy yourself but metformin and glicazide were free! Progress in the world of Type 1 is slow and never simple. Even pumps and loop systems do not stop you dropping low or going high and need constant monitoring.

My life since the age of 4 has been a battle with this disease to do things that others take for granted -going for a walk, climbing a few flights of stairs all needs planning and consideration, every meal, what I eat and what I drink, sleeping needs a plan to ensure it is safe. When we are told that our disease is self inflicted and lumped in a category which has more multiple alternative treatments and is less demanding it is annoying - being called a liar by health ignorant health professionals.

I do not remember being "normal" and have total admiration for my parents who in the early 1970s managed to keep me alive without CGMs, blood testing strips but a wing and a prayer and a distinct lack of sleep. Thank you Mum and Dad

I understand it would be galling for a T1 to be told their disease is self-imposed.

It is also galling for a T2 to be told the same, including those who are obese. Because the clear implication is that their obesity is self-imposed.

That’s really what I’m trying to say. Yes, many T2’s disease can be put into remission, through intensive lifestyle change. But that is NOT easy. Being vigilant over every eating decision, planning for social situations when you don’t know what food will be provided and when, resisting the urge to eat something appealing which everyone else is eating and which is being urged on you, but which you know will have bad results for you…. Having to pay if you want not only a CGM but any BG testing equipment and supplies at all, to help you figure out which foods do or don’t work well for you. And dealing with constant ignorance and prejudice about your body size, as well as your disease.

It’s not life threatening in the immediate way that T1 is. But it is deeply, deeply wearing to live with.

It’s absolutely nothing like an alcoholic comparing themselves to your non alcoholic liver disease. Because T2 is not always down to lifestyle, but it’s often the first conclusion people jump to and you’re judged for it.

They don’t need more ‘labels’ - it’s the same disease, and I don’t understand why you don’t understand when I’ve explained it to you in detail.

The type of diabetes he has is exactly the same form of diabetes - type 2, which can be caused by diet and lifestyle. That’s one cause. There are other causes for exactly the same disease which are not related in any way to diet or lifestyle. The causes can be genetic, age related or in some cases by simply by having other diseases that raise the risk - or even the treatment for certain conditions.

Having certain autoimmune diseases can significantly raise the risk of type 2. Rheumatoid Arthritis for example, causes insulin resistance, which is a major factor in the development of type 2. Simply having the condition raises your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 23-50%. If it’s treated by corticosteroids that raises your risk even further.

And there is a form of type 2 diabetes, sometimes referred to as type 1.5, which is an autoimmune disease in itself - the immune system attacks insulin producing cells causing blood glucose to rise. Many adults who are initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes actually have it. Again, nothing to do with lifestyle or diet.

I’m just chiming in. I don’t know how many of you listen to this podcast but I thought people on here might like to listen to this episode.

ms.podbean.com/media/share/dir-d7ihm-3187c000

They should be called different names. They are entirely different!!

Hopefully they will change the name.

Yes my DH has RA and people often like to tell me about their elderly relatives with “aching joints”. Drives me insane when I see how much he suffers with it.