Peers and Diabetes
Throughout adolescents, it is easy to feel like you do not fit in. With Type One Diabetes, it is even easier to feel alienated from your peers because of your chronic illness. Diabetes is not only a disease that you have to live with forever, but it is also a disease that people can sometimes see if they are around you for awhile. People see you check your blood sugar, wear your insulin pump, and hear your CGM beep because your blood sugar is low. These visible signs cause people to constantly ask you questions about your disease...
Does that hurt?
What is on your arm?
Why do you have to poke yourself so that you bleed?
Do you have Type 1 or Type 2?
Were you born with it?
Can you eat that sugar?
Although these questions often feel repetitive, diabetics answer them honestly day after day in order to make the people that are around them more aware of the disease that they battle. Having people that are more aware of the impact of diabetes helps make it easier and safer overall for diabetics.
Another thing that socially diabetics have to face, is people that act like they know it all in regards to diabetes. These are the people that have good intentions, but honestly they have no clue what they are talking about most of the time. People tell us what we are allowed to eat, and they even give us advice on how to "cure our diabetes." These "helpful" peers have diabetics interest at heart, but they often can do the opposite and cause diabetics to resent their disease and feel like no one actually understands. I do not know how many times I have been personally told that I should not eat "this drink" or "that food" because of the amount of sugar in it. When actually, my doctor encourages me to eat a normal diet that any other person would eat which includes as much sugar as I would like. Even fat jokes that deal with diabetes can be frustrating and hurtful to diabetics without meaning to. People do not realize how frustrating and belittling it can feel to hear a simple, stupid joke that groups all diabetics including Type 1 and Type 2 into the category of obese overeating people.
Even though it often can be frustrating feeling like no one understands what you are going through, overall most people are very accepting of the disease. People typically do all that they can to help you as a diabetic. Usually, they offer you food and check on you if you are having any extra complications such as hypoglycemia. In general, everyone understands that you can not get rid of your disease and are helpful for when you do need those extra accommodations.
Does that hurt?
What is on your arm?
Why do you have to poke yourself so that you bleed?
Do you have Type 1 or Type 2?
Were you born with it?
Can you eat that sugar?
Although these questions often feel repetitive, diabetics answer them honestly day after day in order to make the people that are around them more aware of the disease that they battle. Having people that are more aware of the impact of diabetes helps make it easier and safer overall for diabetics.
Another thing that socially diabetics have to face, is people that act like they know it all in regards to diabetes. These are the people that have good intentions, but honestly they have no clue what they are talking about most of the time. People tell us what we are allowed to eat, and they even give us advice on how to "cure our diabetes." These "helpful" peers have diabetics interest at heart, but they often can do the opposite and cause diabetics to resent their disease and feel like no one actually understands. I do not know how many times I have been personally told that I should not eat "this drink" or "that food" because of the amount of sugar in it. When actually, my doctor encourages me to eat a normal diet that any other person would eat which includes as much sugar as I would like. Even fat jokes that deal with diabetes can be frustrating and hurtful to diabetics without meaning to. People do not realize how frustrating and belittling it can feel to hear a simple, stupid joke that groups all diabetics including Type 1 and Type 2 into the category of obese overeating people.
Even though it often can be frustrating feeling like no one understands what you are going through, overall most people are very accepting of the disease. People typically do all that they can to help you as a diabetic. Usually, they offer you food and check on you if you are having any extra complications such as hypoglycemia. In general, everyone understands that you can not get rid of your disease and are helpful for when you do need those extra accommodations.