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.

First off type 1's have to take insulin pretty much from the get go. And many type 2's use insulin to better control their disease. It is not a "last resort."

4. Insulin Pumps are not like oxygen tanks.

I wrote that one especially for a family member that I said those words to. She shouted , "Oh my God George is your diabetes that bad!?" upon discovering that I used an insulin pump. I explained that is was not as if I was in terrible control but that I wanted to try a different way of control and managing my disease.

5. People with diabetes can eat things with sugar in them.

This one always comes as such a surprise and rightfully so. I remember thinking and actually attempting to never eat anything with sugar in it. Little did I know it was the carbohydrates I needed to watch. We need not go without, we just need to go with a plan to manage.

Like at the beginning of this post, it is not easy dealing with all of these challenges especially the silly stereotypes. We just have to use every opportunity we can to educate. The more we can inform people the better.

Maybe we can put an end to D-Stereotypes once and for all!

I would love to hear from any of you who have ever experienced any stereotypes other then the ones I have mentioned. I just listed some of the ones that drive me the most nuts!