tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921328832838010683.post6557998586610854970..comments2022-05-20T02:17:41.193-07:00Comments on The Odd Duck Out ._c-: StereotypesNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06909597803703850020noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921328832838010683.post-53717349505114336062013-08-08T21:50:59.134-07:002013-08-08T21:50:59.134-07:00Anonymous, you bring up a point I didn't menti...Anonymous, you bring up a point I didn't mention, but which is very apropos. NO ONE should be eyeballed to establish their diagnosis. I was formally diagnosed at age 44, and because of that, it was assumed I was T2. But the ironic thing is that I was NOT obese, and I did not respond to the sulfonylureas at all, whereas insulin has worked just fine for me. I am also not greatly insulin resistant. But still, there are medical professionals who just assume I'm T2, because of my age (I'm now 65) and my greatest fear is that I will be hospitalized and they will withhold insulin thinking I'm a T2. This fear is realistic, because it already happened once, and the results were not pretty. And as a result, I'm deathly afraid of hospitals if I'm not mentally competent to be in charge of my insulin.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909597803703850020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921328832838010683.post-75442134660953639472013-08-08T16:54:16.991-07:002013-08-08T16:54:16.991-07:00Now, when I came into that pre-adolescent stage al...Now, when I came into that pre-adolescent stage all the way to adulthood, that's when I could have used some of that attention. But eyes were turned the other way. And especially when I not only became an older and thus my disease became more silent and less worthy of attention, then I became larger. That's when I needed the most help. When I looked like a type 2 patient, got mistaken for one all the time. Of course I didn't deserve sympathy, I must have done something to deserve my disease. And this brings me to type 2. I am not a 2. But I look like what someone would envision the stereotypical type 2 looking like (except a bit younger). And for all I know I would be one if it weren't for type 1. Haha confusing enough? But now, I am the least deserving of anyone's sympathy because of how I look. So I empathize seeing the disdain for type 2's and knowing how unfair it is. You know much of why I became the way I am? Because I had no support for diabetes when I needed it most. So to spite my mean doctors and neglectful family I harmed myself with food. So yes, I created the monster I am. I suppose if that makes people think I deserve this mess, then that's them. I know I now have the choice not to use my past as an excuse for the here and now. And I struggle with that daily. But my unhealthy coping stemmed from the negative reactions from a disease I never asked for, a family I never asked for, and a situation I never asked for. Guess what, we are all the same in that way. Each and every one of us. We struggle, and most of us don't deserve misery even if people see it as self-created. And even so called self-created misery has a story to tell behind it. One that, if people actually listened to, would make them cry and feel like a horrible person for ever being so judgmental. But the book cover isn't shiny and pretty, so they throw it out before they ever hear it. So that brings me back around. Yes, the face of diabetes is not being shown with its true diversity even within the groups that supposedly represent us folks with diabetes, who are very much so such a diverse group. And that is because they are trying to gain sympathy, because that is what brings money. But honestly, we all could use a bit less sympathy and a lot more togetherness, support, acceptance, and understanding. Even if it means some people don't give money. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921328832838010683.post-88328631352341433562013-08-08T16:53:55.456-07:002013-08-08T16:53:55.456-07:00Great post, awesome you brought this up, said it w...Great post, awesome you brought this up, said it well. Type 1 diabetes is not a disease of the young. Not unless you were living in the 20s when the only type 1's you saw were children because they did not have life saving insulin and never grew up. Today, adults are diagnosed with type 1 all the time, and guess what, kids grow up. Very fast. But Kids get sympathy. Poor little kid with diabetes they suffer so much, is the message that is trying to be portrayed, because it gets attention. Kids in actuality need the LEAST support. They need a lot of support. But the least out of all diabetes groups in my opinion. Parents of children with diabetes, now THATS a group that could use some caregiving the caregiver stuff. Young adults, going through one of the toughest transition periods of anyone's life, then add to it they have diabetes and they left the coddling pediatric world to be dropped smack into the cold cruel adult world of judgements and endocrinologists. Your not cute or cuddly anymore. We can't blame your hormones. So therefore, we blame you. You will be judged. Or adults, already sure of who they are and in the prime of their life (20-40s), being told all of a sudden they have diabetes and will have to change everything they ever knew. Now or die. I was a child with diabetes. I didn't need everyone everywhere being like oh thats so sad that little girl has diabetes and oh, she's so brave she takes shots wow even I cant do that. I didn't feel brave. I didn't feel like I deserved extra sympathy. Yes sometimes I got very frustrated and could have used more support and understanding. But it became my new life and I adapted. Children adapt really well, they are resilient. And a lot of how they cope and think of their situations are how those around them do. Ever seen a kid fall down? First, they haven't decided whether to freak out or not. What do they do? Look straight to their parents...The reaction you see turns out quite different depending on the look on their parents faces. Not on the intensity of their injuries. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921328832838010683.post-48470788858993153422013-08-08T04:39:40.785-07:002013-08-08T04:39:40.785-07:00Duck, I agree with you. I once wrote to a diabetes...Duck, I agree with you. I once wrote to a diabetes mag about it, and in the next edition, their cover photo showed a grossly obese woman in a bathing suit. One extreme to another.<br /><br />What gets me is that all the photos show people smiling. Especially common is one of those slim gray-haired couples smiling as they fix colorful salads. Sometimes they're running up a deserted beach. How many people actually run on the beach? And are there any deserted beaches anymore?<br /><br />But I suppose if they showed fat people sobbing as they jabbed their fingers and ate salad while their friends were having pizza, no one would buy their magazines. I don't either anymore.<br /><br />Gretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17019921800841883073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921328832838010683.post-33893701071895311042013-08-07T20:01:58.132-07:002013-08-07T20:01:58.132-07:00Hear, hear!Hear, hear!Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17834360422359513050noreply@blogger.com