Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marie B on April 7, 2012 at 11:26am

hey Tyler, have you ever seen this video on "The Diabetes Police"? there are some good tips and it's pretty funny too.
http://www.tudiabetes.org/video/583967:Video:116061

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Permalink Reply by karen on April 7, 2012 at 11:47am

Yes Tyler, It does drive me crazy. Good for you for not being disrespectful, it gets tiresome but try to remember that folks mean well and they are simply ignorant. Don't make a new job of trying to educate everyone.

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Permalink Reply by LadyD on April 7, 2012 at 12:17pm

Absolutely, people think that they are being helpful when they are not. I used to just shrug it off because I like you did not want to be disrespectful; however, their behavior is disrespectful to me. I politely let them know that I am in control of my diabetes and that I take the proper precautions to make sure that I take care of myself and though I appreciate their concern it is not warranted. As for the I know someone with diabetes I just ask them if the person they know is type 1 or type 2. Most of the time they don't even know there's a difference to which I inform them that there is. I just treat them as if they don't know any better, address it, and move on. I'm sure it will continue to happen and I will continue to put them in their place and get them out of my business. I stubmled across something like diabetes etiquette online a while back, it was a chart of how to approach people living with diabetes I thought about printing it and handing it out in these situations. In the end do whatever is comfortable for you.

Best Luck

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Permalink Reply by Marie B on April 7, 2012 at 12:39pm

LadyD, that etiquette card is here
http://behavioraldiabetesinstitute.org/resources-diabetes-informati...

Mike also has another good video on how to deal with your family during the holidays, with the feasting etc.

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Permalink Reply by LaGuitariste on April 7, 2012 at 12:48pm

I think it's worse when you're young, Tyler. People love to pass on their "knowledge" to young people -- even when they have no idea what they're talking about. I guess it's a good and natural instinct to want to help young people rise up to their full potential, but sometimes people can be VERY overbearing -- even to me and I'm 55 and 80% silver-haired!

I try to remember that their intentions are usually good, even if they are ignorant and seem bossy. Usually I'll just smile and not respond. There's not much point in arguing with them, is there? I just smile and do what I want to do.

If they get really pushy I just say, "I prefer to work on things like this with my diabetes team, but thanks for your concern." or "I have a dietician I consult about my diet, so please don't give it another thought."

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Permalink Reply by tyler on April 7, 2012 at 1:22pm

thanks guys I knew it probably bothered everyone . I work at chic-fil-a and they were passing out little bite size pieces of their new brownies ,they all said no you cant have one dont you know you can lose your limbs or go blind if you eat a brownie . My mom said next time they have anything like that I should just get one like everyone else does and pop it in my mouth before they can say anything LOL
When I got off I bought one and started eating it while they all just looked at me .Lady D said when you ask if it is type1 or 2 they donr even know .

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Permalink Reply by LaGuitariste on April 8, 2012 at 4:04am

Yep, they don't know.

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Permalink Reply by Baby Tee on April 8, 2012 at 4:48pm

You could also ask how many carbs are in the sample. Probably less than 4, depending on what you consider bite sized. That isn't too bad. Should you also avoid all fruits? A banana usually has around 30g carbs.

They mean well, so try not to bite their head off, even though you feel like knocking them out. Yeah, we all hear it. When I was 12, this lady at church kept telling me that if I drank herbal tea every night it would cure my diabetes. She was totally well intentioned, but not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

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Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on April 8, 2012 at 3:41pm

I get so frustrated with this. I usually say something like, "Well, you probably know about type 2 diabetes, and I have type 1 and that's actually a completely different condition. I appreciate your concern, but I've been dealing with this since I've been a toddler, so I'm ok. Thanks." That response alone usually shuts people up. However, if there is any mention of cinnamon or Halley Berry, what is said next is probably not appropriate for this forum.

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Permalink Reply by tyler on April 8, 2012 at 3:55pm

LOL mybustedpanreas I think I am going to use that line !! And I have heard those 2 words I was like what has Halley berry got to do with this LOL ,then my mom told me .

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Permalink Reply by LadyD on April 8, 2012 at 4:43pm

Actually, that was one of my mother's questions to my endo after diagnosis. "Well what about Halle Berry?" I give her a pass, being a mom to 2 teenage type 1 daughters would have made anyone grasp at staws.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Wittman on April 8, 2012 at 4:16pm

There seems to a push in this country by conservatives to allow citizens to shoot first and ask questions later. I hope that never goes through to become the law of the land and the norm of action, because I think I would kill a lot of people. My standard line is: "Thanks for your concern. I know what I can and cannot have and have chosen accordingly. What would you like to know about the nutrition on my plate?"

I have a co-worker who reminds a few of our clients: "If you don't stop eating/drinking that, you are going to catch diabetes." So far, i have held my tongue on that one, but it is becoming increasingly difficult.

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