Perhaps one of the absolute worst parts of having diabetes is putting up with the expectations of others. When someone hears "diabetes" they expect to see you eating "right" all the time, avoiding sweets all the time, and worshipping your body all the time.

We all know that just doesn't happen. We are human. Everyone needs a break from the chains that bind us.

Over the last week or so, I have found myself defending a person I never in my adult life thought I would defend. My incredible half-sister told me recently that her mother has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. With a sister and a mother with diabetes, she is, naturally, completely freaked out that she's next. Not to mention scared for our health and our future.

I've spent quite a bit of time explaining to her that, at this point, genetics is the only thing she has going against her. And I've spent just as much time explaining that an occasional food splurge is not going to kill anyone.

I felt like I was defending all people with diabetes when I said: Learning new eating habits is one of the hardest parts of diabetes. Especially when everyone around you is eating "freely" and you're stuck eating salad. Not to mention that you don't always feel the direct effect of what you're eating. So it's easy to say "I feel fine, I can eat whatever I want." when something bad doesn't happen right after you eat.

We've talked here about how diabetes is an almost invisible disease. About how it can be difficult to get support when few of us "look sick." It can be invisible to each of us, too. Diabetes complications are often intangible for years. So learning a new lifestyle with few immediate, tangible drawbacks is psychological warfare at its best.