Okay, I will warn you up front that this post is a total rant and has no other substance besides the fact that I need to let off some steam. I am also looking for some of you who have dealt with this annoying stereotype.

As I was minding my own business here at my desk the janitor comes up to me and asks me if I have to take shots everyday. I realize that he was listening to a conversation I was having with a co-worker about insulin and so on. A total eavesdropping moment right? So I answer, "nope." And totally leave it at that.

He says, "Oh you got off of insulin. That's good. Just a diet now or pills?"

"No I have an insulin pump."

"There is a gal in another office I clean that has to shoot up every day." Then he does it. He does this sort of motion with his right hand towards his left upturned arm. As if he is shooting up heroin or something right into his vein! (READ MORE)

Having diabetes has many challenges as we all know. Exercising, eating right, checking our blood glucose levels, taking medicines, seeing doctors regularly, and so many more that I cannot even think of. We are busy bees.

One thing I have found as a major challenge is not losing my cool with people who maybe don't understand this disease so I would like to clear up a few things.

1. Not all people with type 1 diabetes are thin.

I am on a weight loss program right now and frankly, the only time I have ever been thin in my life was the year or so before I was diagnosed and was losing weight like crazy.

2. Not all people with type 2 are overweight.

This one drives me nuts. It is true that weight loss can help your chances of not getting diabetes but there are other factors too. I think of my uncle who had lung cancer but never smoked a day in his life. Same sort of a thing.

3. People who take insulin are not out of control. (READ MORE)

Yesterday I wrote about how my endocrinologist assumed I was a type 2 simply because of my current weight.

Today I want to tell you why this is such a problem.

When I went in to see my doctor I wanted to talk to him about using Symilin in my diabetes regimen.

He agreed that it may help with postprandial spikes and possibly some weight loss.

(See yesterday's post for the play by play)

He had his nurse bring in a Symilin pen for me to take home and also gave me a prescription for some more pens. (READ MORE)

On Friday I had an appointment with my endocrinologist. I was looking forward to talking to him about some new ideas I had thought about especially Symilin.

When I told him he was very receptive to the idea of trying Symilin and thinks it may help with some weight loss.

"Most type 2's don't have a problem using Symilin. I have subscribed it often," the doctor said to me.

"Oh but I am a type 1," I tell him in the nicest voice I can muster since I know why he said what he did.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am just fat." I had this same discussion with his nurse the last time I was here and I thought then that at least it wasn't my actual doctor saying something so stupid. (READ MORE)

"Dad, am I going to get diabetes?"

This was the part I was dreading. I knew this question was going to come up but how do I respond? Do I tell her about my fears. How I do not know how I could live with myself if you had this terrible disease? Do I mention the fear she may have to live with for the rest of her life? Should I mention how she may not but her future kids could get it? How should I respond? (READ MORE)

Rant beginning. Prepare yourself.

Call me sensitive. Say I'm soft. I don't care.

I was having lunch with a new friend today and a friend of hers. Apparently, my diabetes had not been discussed at all before our meeting. This is, in and of itself, a good thing. But.

During lunch, friend of new friend - who works in a local Primary Care Doctor's office processing insurance claims - started into a rant about unhealthy eating, obesity, diabetes, and the havoc that diabetics and the like reak on our healthcare system. Ugh. (READ MORE)