Thursday, January 8, 2009

D-Myths Lesson 1: People With Diabetes Are Sick

Fact: People with diabetes are fine. Period. End of story. I explained this in a detailed manner already, but let me explain some of the ways this irks me.
Allow me to introduce you to MWMF, or Mom's well meaning friend. The sweeter they are, the more they hurt. (Omg, I just realized that awful pun. Excuse me.)

MWMF #1: It's so sad to see a young girl like you having to deal with these terrible medical problems. It mamish breaks my heart.
SD: Drop dead.

MWMF #2: Oy, your poor daughter is sick with diabetes!
SD: Drop Dead.

MWMF #3: Oy vey, it's so sad that your daughter is so sick but at least it's only juvenile diabetes so she'll outgrow it soon.
SD: Drop dead.

MWMF #4: Wow, you are so accomplished even though you are sick.
SD: DROP DEAD.

Ok, I know I shouldn't be wishing for such sweet (:-p) well meaning people to drop dead so often, so I came up with a better solution. Encourage Mom to become a hermit. So far no progress on that front, but I'll let you know....

So, to sum it up: People with diabetes are not sick. People with diabetes simply need to work a little harder to stay healthy. Telling people with diabetes that they are sick will result in nasty wishes heaped upon your sweet (:-p) head.

Stay tuned for more diabetes myths....

11 comments:

Originally From Brooklyn said...

Some people equate the dependency on any substance as a sickness. To them you would be considered sick, as would anyone who takes a sleeping pill to get to sleep every night, As would every old person on prescription drugs, as would a person addicted to heroin.

To them they are equating diabetes with the dependency on an external source of insulin as a source of the sickness and not any condition that you may actually have.

tembow said...

ROFL

Something Different said...

Well then under that definition, I would call them sick, based on their dependabce on external sources of intelligence.

Originally From Brooklyn said...

I couldn't agree with you more. And for that matter food or anything else that is external. Though these are the same people that run the federal government and make illegal drugs illegal. They use logic like the type I mentioned.

thinking... said...

I agree with tembow!! that post had me rolling!!!! well-meaning ppl can be so entertaining sometimes! (After the fact, of course)
;)

Anonymous said...

I so get this, I have a different autoimmune disease (hypothyriodism) and have had people treat me like an invalid once they found out. I actually had someone blurt out once "How long do the doctors give you to live?" when she found out i was "sick." People are just so misinformed. All I need is to take one itty bitty pill a day and i'm fine as long as go for my bloodwork a few times a year. I am not sick.

Something Different said...

Tembow and thinking- do you realize it's by life your laughing at? ;)

CIB- I have an explanation but I will have to put it up as a post cuz it's too complicated to post here now....

CM- hashimotos? How long do they give you is HILARIOUS! Makes you wonder if there is actually intelligent life in the world....cuz don't sound like there is any on earth.... Personal question- you don't have to answer if you don't wanna- does it affect you in shiduchim?

Anonymous said...

People just tend to stay away from anything medicine related, like they are scared that by knowing they are more suceptible to it.

As for shidduchim, I can't help you there because I'm not dating yet. I do wonder how hashi's will effect it. I'm actually trying to put together a booklet of relevant info so at the right time, I can give it over so he can get all facts correct which may scare some guys off, but i am not very articulate and would definatly botch it up.

Something Different said...

CM- it's a great idea. I need to go get my yearly blood test, where they test for various other autoimmune problems, including hashi's and celiac (both of which are quite common in people with diabetes) so if I have any of 'em I'll let you know- I'll be first in line for a copy....
But seriously, can I help? I'm so lucky that there is an organization to help with shiduchim...when I get there.
Is this something people know about you? Or do you keep it a secret?

Anonymous said...

well the booklet is in the very begining stages. It's more of a middleage condition, so I am having a hard time finding detailed info on hashi's that's not geared to women over forty. When its done anyone can have a copy, and i hope you never need it.

Everyone with an autoimmune disorder is more prone to any of the others, so you might end up helping me ;)

As for shidduchim, I just not "in the parsha" yet. I was brought up not to marry young and 20 is still condsidered young. I'm not really worried. I know people will reject me because of it but I'm ok with that.

As for people knowing, my friends all know. My good friends sometimes even tell me to get my levels tested based on my behavoir (i wish they would come out with a instant TSH/T4 tests). I use to be very open about, probably too open. Recently, I started being more private about it because I felt it was starting to define me instead of being one small part of me.

Something Different said...

That's weird that the info is geared toward older ladies. Email me at justablob[at]gmail.com and I'll tell you where you may find info on it.

I also hope I never need it, but I'm gonna let you know in bout a week....

Have you ever had your vitamin D level checked? They say
Low vitamin D levels make a person more succeptible to autoimmune diseases. (Btw, mine was dangerously low....!)