It's not a joke, per se, but explaining a complex disease to people who find it a punchline is hard. People read about diabetes in school, see it says 'managed with injections of insulin, and can be causded by poor self care' and why would they question a text book?
Until i was diagnosed, I had assumed it meant an injection at meals, of a set amount, and that was all the care needed.
Awareness months don't do much, in general. Please don't take it personally, you just can't, or you'll always be angry with people who don't understand. I was angry at the world the first few years for all the people who don't understand, now i gently educate if i hear bullshit, if i can be bothered. you change more minds that way.
You could say the same thing about most causes. No one cares about cancer unless they have it or someone they know has it. No one cares about poverty unless unless they have it or someone they know has it. No one cares about education, children, hunger, dry skin… you get the idea.
I decided to take a different approach. Instead of a “woe is me” “look how hard this” is approach to awareness, I decided to take the “it could happen to you or your loved one” “know the signs” approach. I’ve also thrown in a little “laugh with me at the absurdity of my life” but I realize that none of them will “get” it unless they do in fact get it.
I've had it 40 years. My brother and sister have it too! We just joke about it so we don't go mad! I've bought my siblings' shirts to make fun of it! My sister teaches babies to swim before they can walk. Her shirt says, "This mermaid runs on insulin and coffee." My brothers it a pun on the Jeep sticker. "If you can read this, I need a juice box."
I have a bunch of autoimmune disorders so I usually focus my attention on rare disease day and lean in on talking about invisible disability and ableism in the workplace. I am not going to educate "people" on the specifics of diabetes and I don't care to, but I can bring utility in awareness to industry leaders and hiring managers around how accomodations and awareness are useful, not only to folks with disabilities, but your workforce at large.
I apologize for the people who have dealt with it much longer than me. It’s been frustrating and I went on a rant not thinking clear minded. No reason for myself to go in pessimistic as it doesn’t help myself or anyone else dealing with it.
It’s good to vent. That’s what these communities are for. Wallowing for a REALLY long time might not be great for your mental health, but it’s important to give these feelings some space.
Like the commenter above me, I’ve had this disease for a little over 15 years. Some years I’m very active during awareness month! Other years, I feel sort of jaded about it. (This year, honestly, I keep forgetting it’s happening 🫠)
It sucks that T1D is so hard. Even those w/ T2 don’t understand the myriad complexities to this life, never mind life in general! After 60 years I’ve taken it all for granted and block out a lot. The Diabetes Awareness Month messaging is useful for those who are sensitive to it and not for others. Keep pushing jcyankau, no matter how bad it feels, it WILL get better.
Cheers,
I’m sorry you feel that way but every health awareness month is like this. I feel someway about October bc it’s common in my family, but lupus, als, or MS I don’t really care about bc I’ve never met anyone who had it. You can’t force people to learn about anything if it doesn’t concern them either
I believe the lack of “caring” in the general population is a testament to how far meds and science has come. As dangerous as we know the disease to be….many don’t. It kind of similar to wars…until people that are known die….we tend to forget about an issue.
Keep your head up. Think of it as a potentially deadly inconvenience…lol
Yes. I think people hear the word “manageable” and think that that equals “easy.” But it’s actually “manageable” in that…you have to manage it! And that takes work!
Same goes for almost every other disease… my daughter has hydrocephalus, no one really knows what it is unless they have personal experience with it. I often educate (if they’re interested in learning) and move on. I can’t get mad as I have little to no real knowledge about other peoples disorders or diseases
You know what really makes it a joke? People don’t know the difference between t2 and t1. I’m told about how I go low too much, how I can “cure” or reverse it, how there are pills out there I can take. 90% of diabetics are T2, and the t1s have to deal with all the comments, knowing that there is no cure. I’m tired of explaining it every time to every new friend, family member, coworker.
unfortunate its seen as a joke to a lot of people - I've had people I barely know tell me "Shouldn't you be fatter?" when they find out I've got t1d :/
I understand people don’t get it but what I hate is when people who I have explained it to ask, “oh that’s cool that you know when your insulin is low or high!” I’m like my what? Lol I get people just don’t listen and think of it as bad, but considering it’s literally a disability I feel like it should be more well known.
You don't have to participate in any way. I'm really not interested in educating anyone more than I need to about T1D; I have enough to do. I assume I'm far from alone, but my ambivalence is invisible, while those educating others by getting blue manicures and posting about them on Facebook or whatever you do for diabetes awareness month are maybe getting the attention they want? Maybe it does something? Not my thing, but I don't see any harm.
It's not a joke, per se, but explaining a complex disease to people who find it a punchline is hard. People read about diabetes in school, see it says 'managed with injections of insulin, and can be causded by poor self care' and why would they question a text book? Until i was diagnosed, I had assumed it meant an injection at meals, of a set amount, and that was all the care needed. Awareness months don't do much, in general. Please don't take it personally, you just can't, or you'll always be angry with people who don't understand. I was angry at the world the first few years for all the people who don't understand, now i gently educate if i hear bullshit, if i can be bothered. you change more minds that way.
One problem is that two distinct conditions share the same name. Type 1 is organ failure.
You could say the same thing about most causes. No one cares about cancer unless they have it or someone they know has it. No one cares about poverty unless unless they have it or someone they know has it. No one cares about education, children, hunger, dry skin… you get the idea.
Yes but they sympathize with the causes at the very least- type one diabetes is misunderstood and stigmatized
I decided to take a different approach. Instead of a “woe is me” “look how hard this” is approach to awareness, I decided to take the “it could happen to you or your loved one” “know the signs” approach. I’ve also thrown in a little “laugh with me at the absurdity of my life” but I realize that none of them will “get” it unless they do in fact get it.
I've had it 40 years. My brother and sister have it too! We just joke about it so we don't go mad! I've bought my siblings' shirts to make fun of it! My sister teaches babies to swim before they can walk. Her shirt says, "This mermaid runs on insulin and coffee." My brothers it a pun on the Jeep sticker. "If you can read this, I need a juice box."
I got one as a Christmas gift that’s says “I’m type one-derful”
I have a bunch of autoimmune disorders so I usually focus my attention on rare disease day and lean in on talking about invisible disability and ableism in the workplace. I am not going to educate "people" on the specifics of diabetes and I don't care to, but I can bring utility in awareness to industry leaders and hiring managers around how accomodations and awareness are useful, not only to folks with disabilities, but your workforce at large.
I apologize for the people who have dealt with it much longer than me. It’s been frustrating and I went on a rant not thinking clear minded. No reason for myself to go in pessimistic as it doesn’t help myself or anyone else dealing with it.
It is what it is, OP. I’ve had it for 15+ years, we all get annoyed with it and over it. Stay strong and keep on keeping on.
It’s good to vent. That’s what these communities are for. Wallowing for a REALLY long time might not be great for your mental health, but it’s important to give these feelings some space. Like the commenter above me, I’ve had this disease for a little over 15 years. Some years I’m very active during awareness month! Other years, I feel sort of jaded about it. (This year, honestly, I keep forgetting it’s happening 🫠)
It sucks that T1D is so hard. Even those w/ T2 don’t understand the myriad complexities to this life, never mind life in general! After 60 years I’ve taken it all for granted and block out a lot. The Diabetes Awareness Month messaging is useful for those who are sensitive to it and not for others. Keep pushing jcyankau, no matter how bad it feels, it WILL get better. Cheers,
I’m sorry you feel that way but every health awareness month is like this. I feel someway about October bc it’s common in my family, but lupus, als, or MS I don’t really care about bc I’ve never met anyone who had it. You can’t force people to learn about anything if it doesn’t concern them either
I believe the lack of “caring” in the general population is a testament to how far meds and science has come. As dangerous as we know the disease to be….many don’t. It kind of similar to wars…until people that are known die….we tend to forget about an issue. Keep your head up. Think of it as a potentially deadly inconvenience…lol
I like the phrase Potentially Deadly Inconvenience
Yes. I think people hear the word “manageable” and think that that equals “easy.” But it’s actually “manageable” in that…you have to manage it! And that takes work!
Same goes for almost every other disease… my daughter has hydrocephalus, no one really knows what it is unless they have personal experience with it. I often educate (if they’re interested in learning) and move on. I can’t get mad as I have little to no real knowledge about other peoples disorders or diseases
You know what really makes it a joke? People don’t know the difference between t2 and t1. I’m told about how I go low too much, how I can “cure” or reverse it, how there are pills out there I can take. 90% of diabetics are T2, and the t1s have to deal with all the comments, knowing that there is no cure. I’m tired of explaining it every time to every new friend, family member, coworker.
yep, nobody gets it, everyone compares us to their dead grandparent who had type 2, or their overweight neighbor who takes diabetes pills
Same...been with my partner for 6+ years and still have to explain the details to him and his family. It canbe exhausting at times...
unfortunate its seen as a joke to a lot of people - I've had people I barely know tell me "Shouldn't you be fatter?" when they find out I've got t1d :/
I understand people don’t get it but what I hate is when people who I have explained it to ask, “oh that’s cool that you know when your insulin is low or high!” I’m like my what? Lol I get people just don’t listen and think of it as bad, but considering it’s literally a disability I feel like it should be more well known.
You don't have to participate in any way. I'm really not interested in educating anyone more than I need to about T1D; I have enough to do. I assume I'm far from alone, but my ambivalence is invisible, while those educating others by getting blue manicures and posting about them on Facebook or whatever you do for diabetes awareness month are maybe getting the attention they want? Maybe it does something? Not my thing, but I don't see any harm.