But You're Not Fat!!

When I started telling people I was diabetic, I began to notice a theme in people's response. It usually ran along the lines of "you are the last person I thought would get that!" "But you're not heavy." "If you had eaten better, maybe...." "But...really? Are they sure? You don't look like you would be diabetic."

People. Type I. Type II. MAJOR difference. Type 1 cannot be prevented. It can't be cured. The cause is unknown (although there are theories). Your immune system just goes wacky. Stupid immune system. Type 2? COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Whew. Glad I got that off my chest.

I don't blame people for not knowing, I mean, hey, why would they? I didn't know until I got diagnosed, because looking up differences in random diseases was not really one of my favorite pasttimes. (It is now, though.) Approximately 90% of diabetics are Type 2, and most of the stuff out there is for them, so assuming my diabetes can be managed with diet and/or pills is not an unfair assumption.

So, I'll just tell you -it is not managed with diet or pills. It is managed with shots, 4 times a day, and carb counting at meals. Maybe one day I'll get a pump, or pens, but the shots are working just fine for now. It is managed, though, and I'm grateful beyond words that it can be. I have no desire to go blind or to lose random limbs. I do look forward to the day when it is just a pill, or when a cure is found, and diabetes is a distant memory. Can you imagine? One day I'll just be sitting around, eating whatever I want, saying "Remember when I had diabetes? That sucked."