"They all look the same to me!"
Years ago, this was a common observation regarding people of a different color skin, different national origin, or different ethnic origin than one's self. While it's no longer "politically correct" to say so, the phrase still holds a grain of truth. When I'm not actively involved in a community with a large multiethnic Asian population, I forget the distinctions between the different peoples of China and the southeast Asia; when I'm not surrounded by West Indians, I lose the ability to distinguish a Jamaican from a Barbadian. Heck, at this point I'd be hard-pressed to differentiate an Arlington Massachusetts accent from a Charleston one (yes, they are that different)! To those inside, or actively involved with, these communities, the differences are as distinct as the physical appearance of a tall, blond, blue-eyed ethnic Scandinavian man is from that of a short, dark, ethnic African woman.
Or between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
To those who have not been affected by diabetes, or who have only known people with Type 1, or with Type 2, "all diabetes looks the same". Every person they know who has diabetes has to take insulin, or has to limit sugar intake, or has to take pills, or something that does not affect those of us with the other major type of diabetes (or any type of diabetes that does not fit the mold of "Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2, or Gestational" -- including people who have surgically-induced diabetes and those with monogenic diabetes (MODY)). Without having been exposed to more than one major type of diabetes on an intimate basis, they have not seen (or had cause to learn) the fundamental differences between the way each condition affects the body, and to what degree medical science and technology can mitigate those effects.
This is certainly one of many reasons for the myriad stereotypes (and pervasive lack of what we consider "appropriate information") in the mainstream media.
Just as previous generations associated certain foods with specific national cuisines -- and let's face it, for many of us "Chinese food" still brings to mind stir-fry over rice, and many of us still think of "Italian food" as including pasta topped with some sort of tomato sauce -- many people still associate "diabetes" with certain diets (no sugar, no sweets, no sauces), ingredients (artificial/non-nutritive sweeteners), and behaviors. But just as the growth in the numbers of ethnic Chinese in the United States has sensitized us to the differences between Cantonese and Szechuan cuisines, the growth in the numbers of people with all types of diabetes will eventually sensitize our non-diabetic compatriots to the differences between us.
Until that time we need to be patient, and educate.
Great post on an important topic Brenda. Fighting the stereotypes surrounding the different conditions that are lumped together under that generic label diabetes is a constant battle. We all do need knowledge, patience, understanding and acceptance to see each other clearly. We all share a common goal, a happy, long and healthy life. We share the same dream that someday we will see diabetes as a footnote in medical history. When we learn to listen to those different than us we can come together in common cause to make the world a better place to live in.
This post was certainly an accurate commentary on diabetic stereotypes. You would be amazed at the confused look on people's faces when I tell them I have diabetes, only for them to say they have a friend or relative with diabetes who controls it with diet or oral medication, only for me to turn around and say, yes but "I" have type 1 diabetes.
It's like they have no idea what I'm talking about. Their confusion is further compounded when I show and describe to them my insulin pump, at which time one of two reactions occur:
(1) they are astounded at how so incredibly much more "serious" my diabetes is than everyone else's and tell me how sorry they are for me, even though I am healthy and kicking; or,
(2) they have that deer-in-the-headlights look on their face because they had no clue what I was talking about.
So YES, that is when I patiently educate them, though I think it's important to mention I have to keep my explanation within two or three sentences or else they usually get overwhelmed or bored with an unexpected lesson in diabetes that they (perhaps) never wanted to know. In that case I simply have to leave them be or talk about something they find more interesting.