Diabetic Recipes
thinkroni
I've been reading "Psyching Out Diabetes" off and on. Each chapter is devoted to a different emotion that commonly affects diabetes management. So far, I haven't had an epiphany. But it is nice to hear what some diabetics struggle with in their diabetes growth and how those outside are affected.
One of the topics in the "Anger" chapter is about terminology and labels. What is right: diabetic or person with diabetes? The great debate!
Personally, I like diabetic. It's simple. It's easy. It provides a convenient way for me to define that portion of my life. I don't feel it limits me or labels me. It doesn't make me feel judged or disabled. It's like being called brunette, blue-eyed, tall, or pale. Simply an adjective.
I've heard that people get offended by this term, but I've never understood why. And I've never understood why their emotions should affect my speech. If I want to refer to myself as a diabetic or my fellow people with diabetes as diabetics, why shouldn't I?
The book actually takes the same stance that I have. It isn't a matter of terminology. It's a matter of how you approach the words psychologically. If you feel that diabetes can label and define you, you'll be offended. But if you move past that, you won't care what people call you.
I'm curious to know who is actually affected by these words. What do you prefer: diabetic or person with diabetes?
It is a great question, and one that I've seen posed before. Personally, I don't have a problem saying "I'm diabetic". You are right that it is simpler than "person with diabetes". Plus, people know what it means, it isn't confusing. The negative argument - that I've read - is the comparison to 'alcoholic', but I don't think most people will make those kinds of connections.
A guy is sitting in a bar, getting drunk, taking to no one in particular. He points to a retaining wall across the street. Says, "I built that wall, and a dozen more, but do they call me 'Henry, the Wall Builder?' No." He points to the street outside and says, "I laid those bricks, thousands of bricks, but do they call me 'Henry the Brick Layer?' No, they do not." He gestures widely, and takes a long draft of his beer. "But you &$#% one lousy goat..."
I drive a Honda; I'm not a Honda Driver. I use a Mac, but I am not a Mac Guy. I have type 1; I am not A Type 1.
I don't have any problem with referring to myself as a diabetic - it's not like you go up to people and introduce yourself as "hi, I'm Dale, and I'm a diabetic" - but if & when it comes up in conversation, I don't find it offensive. I'm a runner as well, and similarly, I don't introduce myself as a runner, but if it comes up, I refer to myself as a runner.
Whether I like it or not, I am a diabetic, and I guess I'm one of the fortunate ones who doesn't feel pigeon-holed by it - it's just another part of who I am that I deal with on a daily basis.
Here's where I draw the distinction: I'm diabetic, I'm not *a* diabetic. I have diabetes; therefore, I am diabetic. I am not offended by the "d" label -- which does not mean I'm not offended (or more honestly, *shocked*) by *other* labels... mostly because I'm unfamiliar with them and have rarely heard them used. Now, I might be offended by the "d" name if I were in denial...
I do not take offense to any of the terms. they do not define who I am or determine any helath or personal outcome on any given day... In other words, it may be to our advantage as
"Personswith diabetes", "diabetics","diabetic" People, as Lindsay suggests, to self-define ina a psychologicaly and smotionally sound manner. That way it won't make any difference WHAT we are called; "A rose by any other name smells just as sweet.", could refer to diabetes nomenclature. Say we are called Roses We ARE sweet and red( blood, which we deal with constantly ), we can have thorny issues to deal with, most roses return year after year ( as is the permanency of diabetes), yet Roses have been regarded as the most beuatiful flower for centuries.
So call us ROSES (LOL) It is all in YOUR OWN perception.....
Doesn't bother me at all. Call me diabetic, call me a diabetic, call me a person with diabetes - that's all fine. It's just one of the many word that make up who I am. Wife, knitter, daughter, friend, neat-freak, diabetic, etc, etc, etc. However, the debate does make me hesitate using the diabetic word for fear of offending another person with diabetes.
Karen
But... being a runner is pretty universally recognized as a good thing. I would love to introduce myself like "Hi, I'm Andrew - I'm a millionaire." The chronic illness is a little different.
I have a friend whose daughter has Down Syndrome. Do not make the mistake of calling his daughter a Down's baby, and god help you if you use the "r" word.
I understand it is a personal choice; and as people with diabetes we want to control everything we can! Yet at the same time, think about the environment you live in - if you lived in a consistently negative environment that verbally abused people because of their body shape or their chronic illnesses, would you feel the same? And before you say "well get out of that environment", let me remind you that kids/teens can't choose what state they live in. Realize that saying "Hi I'm a diabetic" in Alabama, for example, implies obesity, being unhealthy and unable to take control of yourself. For someone with type 1, it's hard to take negativity 24/7/365. Instead, I would rather be known for ME than having type 1 - I won't hide diabetes, but I'm not going to set up an expectation as a "diabetic" for people to judge me by.