Agree @A DiabetesTeam Member that even at present Type 2 is seen as one of those diseases, like lung cancer in a smokers as the "patients own fault".

They "must" have followed a crappy lifestyle and ate total crap or they wouldn't have Diabetes IS the prevalent belief.

I have personally heard that comment a number of times when I have informed a Dentist or some other professional (that needed that information for some kind of history).

Many have said "You don't look like a Diabetic" and it's safe to assume they are basing that on the only real (trait) that is visually evident - I am nowhere near overweight - I'm 6'1" tall, weigh right on 170 lbs so my BMI is in the lower 20's (22.8).

Our society equates Diabetes, at least Type 2 with being Overweight or more specifically Obese.

But given that even diabetics themselves are more than "poorly educated" in their own disease and the overwhelming majority don't even want to know - they simply want the Doc to write a script and make it go away without them having to lift a finger to help themselves, it is tough to call out the "wider society" for their preconceptions.

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A Diabete...

Hi guys,
Since both parents passed almost 30 years ago, and all my siblings were diagnosed diabetic many years ago. I am the oldest of 8, so I knew it was just when, not if I would be diagnosed diabetic.

In fact bloodwork ordered and the first A1C in my life showed diabetes. I read the results a four days before my pcp appointment. So I was prepared with arguments to give me 3 months without medications. She gave me a shot at my plan and I am still without diabetes medications.

Baby steps. I can do baby steps.

@A DiabetesTeam Member that's true. Just about all of us here were not exactly kind to ourselves and shoveled no end of crap into our system.

But so does half of the population who eat every bit as badly, same crappy lifestyle, same overweight issues.

And that's what likewise baffles the researchers as well. 50% of the population is just as bad or worse then what the majority of us were yet only 10% get diabetes.

Eventually they may find "what they have that prevented it" or "what else we have" that allowed it to develop.

I was no different - had astronomical risk factors due to family history but still ate like crap, skipped meals, constantly ran on 3 or 4 hours sleep etc

The Doc used to say to me "if you simply start eating better you can probably delay the diabetes you are likely to get".

I always thought "why should I live like a Diabetic to simply delay for maybe a couple years becoming Diabetic" - if it's going to "get me anyhow" I decided I was going to chow down on Pizza and Chocolate Donuts while I still could 🤣

While the majority don't think they will ever get diabetes (if they even think about it at all), I spent the dozen years before I was diagnosed "expecting to get it anytime now". So my perspective was/is quite a bit different.

And I have never seen Diabetes as some kind of handicap to living a totally normal life, because in my family having Type 2 is "normal".

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A Diabete...

I have recovered from other things. This is just another chance to apply some simple principles,and deflate the ego surrounding food now

I was surprised because there is no history of diabetes in my family