Diabetic. What did you just picture? For most people, the word conjures up an image of a middle aged, overweight person who eats poorly and never exercises. Is that what you saw in your head? If it was, let me tell you about real diabetes.
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Is this who you pictured? Maybe he even said “diabeetus” when you pictured him
How does one explain what real diabetes is? If you don’t live with it, it’s impossible to understand. Yet everyone believes they do. They take snippets from tv and movies, ones that make diabetes jokes and poke fun at the diabetic who brought it on themselves, and they think it’s accurate to real life.
I was reading one of our favourite bedtime books: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and I was inspired.
A real diabetes moment
And everyone at the party…
Will be thinking to themselves, “no wonder he has diabetes. He can’t even limit himself to one slice of cake.”
Those people who drain a 51g carb specialty coffee every morning, guzzle a 43g carb bottle of pop at lunch, and inhale a quick 54g carb energy drink for that 2pm pick me up, will think that he brought it on himself.
They will believe that he should have eaten healthier, like they do.
That if he would only watch what he eats, he could simply reverse his diabetes.
Did you know…?
- T1D is an autoimmune disease. There is no way to prevent it.
- No cure exists for type 1 diabetes. (No, your daughter’s friend’s second cousin did not cure their T1D with cinnamon and okra water).
- T1D doesn’t discriminate. While many are diagnosed as children, it can happen at any age, to any race, and any body type.
- Type 1 diabetics need insulin to survive. They cannot take a pill or change their lifestyle to go off insulin.
- T1D is a lifelong condition. It cannot be reversed and no one is going to grow out of it.
- Type 1 diabetics can eat whatever anyone else eats. In fact, they often need sugar in order to avoid a seizure, a coma, or a hospital visit.
- Food is not the only thing that affects blood sugar levels. When someone with T1D is calculating their carbs and insulin, they also have to take into account exercise, stress, weather, and many other variables.
- Type 1 diabetes is not the “good kind” or the ‘bad kind”. There is no good kind of diabetes.
Let’s try again: Diabetic
Now what do you picture? Is it still the middle aged, overweight, unhealthy person? Or is it more like this:
T1D looks like me. This is what real diabetes looks like.
Happy Carb Counting!
~ Leah
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Becky says
I loved this post! It’s so true!
Leah Hooker says
Thank you Becky! 🙂
Christa says
What a great article and explanation!
Leah Hooker says
Thanks Christa!
Angie Johnson says
I love your message. My husband has had T1D for 42 years. He’s healthy. He has pumped for 20 years, ever since I threatened our insurance with a lawsuit. As the wife of a spouse with T1D, I know a lot of what you live with. Since it’s not my child, I’ll jump to the conclusion that it’s much harder for you. Knowing all I know about it, and I’d venture to say you and I are experts, if not doctors… knowing all I know, I’d be very crushed if it had been my child. Despite all the good science and health care, no one would sign up for it. As our Ophthalmologist has told me – “There is a special place in Heaven for wives and moms of those with Type 1″… bless you and keep up the good work, Mom. 🙂
Leah Hooker says
Thank you for commenting Angie! I’m so glad your husband was able to get a pump, they really make a huge difference. I can only hope my son will end up with a spouse who is as caring as you are! Wishing all the best to you, your husband, and your family. 🙂
AgnesT1DMoM says
love this and will share.. my daughter is T1D just past her 2 years and now 6 months pumping 🙂
Leah Hooker says
Thanks Agnes!
cbs says
As a HUGE fan of “If you Give a Mouse A Cookie” series, I am tickled pink with your version!!! All so true, and all so sad.
Good work!
Douglass Oldaker says
By reviewing this information, you’re taking an important step to learn about diabetes and how insulin controls the disease to help you live a healthier life.
marp says
hi!!!!!
I just found your article. its amazing and clear.
I’m diabetic for 6 month- age 20.
I’m sure going to show the above poem to my family and friends!
Liah says
I love your stuff. My mom was a Type 2 educator for our local hospital when my son was Dx Type 1. I now try and educate people on both. I have a friend who is Type 2. He’s a marathon runner and in great shape. His doctor tried to Dx T1 because he could not believe this man was T2. I think it’s horrible that for many just saying I’m diabetic can be embarrassing.
Carb Counting Mama says
It drives me crazy that doctors will diagnose like that just based on age, or lifestyle, or weight. Especially when there are definitive tests they can do to figure out which type it is. I don’t know a whole lot about T2, but I’m really not a fan of throwing another disease under the bus just to make T1 seem better. They are both awful to have to live with.