I’ve considered making this post for a long time. Please reblog so I can get this message out.
I have Type 1 Diabetes. I’ve spent half of my life living with this disease, constantly having to have needles (5 per day if you don’t have the pump) test my blood sugar. And living in shame.
Now I’m going to make one thing clear, there are two types of diabetes.
Type 1 and Type 2, simple right?
But most people don’t know the difference.
Mine is were I just got the disease, it is what most children get. It was not my fault I got this illness, I did not over eat, I didn’t over work my pancreas. No one with this type did.
Type 2 is the one you guys joke about, saying stuff like “Oh if I eat this I will get Diabetes” But you see, most people think they are the same thing (Type one and two)
But, unfortunately, they are named the same thing, so people don’t get the difference. I don’t want to say ‘I have diabetes.” because I know the first thing they will say.
“You don’t look like you have diabetes! We would you do that to yourself?”
I constantly wish that people just knew, but I know that’s not how things work. But next time someone tells you they have Diabetes, stop. Listen. Don’t judge off the bat and be careful what you say because others may be listening.
Saying stuff like “That persons totally going to get diabetes.” Or “Wow! I’m going to get diabetes if I eat this!” Is the same thing as joking around and saying you have depression or ADHD when you don’t.
This is a life threatening illness, if I don’t get the medication I need I will die.
This illness is expensive, every year my parents loose thousands paying for everything I need. And when I’m living on my own I’ll have to do the same.
I’ll have a high risk pregnancy.
Drinking is even more dangerous.
I’ll fall into a coma or die if I don’t constantly watch my blood sugar and treat it.
My chances of a heart attack, lung disease, having to get a limb amputated and other things have increased significantly.
Thousands die every year because of this.
But yet all this disease, to most, is a joke.
