Sunday, January 15, 2006
TYPE 1 DIABETES
I first want to make it abundantly clear that this site is devoted to people with Type 1 Diabetes. There is a huge difference between Type 1 Diabetes and (the other illness, which should be called and is called in some small Medical circles, Insulin Resistance Disease). As "We" all know, Type 1 Diabetes has a different etiology, different prognosis, different complications although the "other illness" does share in some of the same complications, different methods of treatment. In this too, the only similarity is the taking of insulin. There are many other "Differences", such as motivation and identity with the illness. People with Type 1 Diabetes are usually more motivated and more fine tuned in identifying the illness as an addition to many other things that make up "who they are". This is not political correctness, but common sense. It is unfortunate that the vast amount of people within the Medical Community have not yet made that distinction. Go to any hospital in any city and you will hear people with Diabetes referred to as "The Diabetic". Not only are they in error in doing this(people are more than their illness), but they are usually referring to the other illness (Insulin Resistance Disease aka Type 2 Diabetes). To respect ourselves, NEVER refer to who we are by our Illness(Diabetic), Whenever anyone in the Healthcare community calls us "Diabetic", we should correct them by saying, "I HAVE DIABETES, I AM NOT A DIABETIC", If they do not understand this, it is time to look for a new Healthcare Provider. Remember, that you are your own best Doctor when it comes to taking care of your Diabetes. Who knows your Body/Mind better than you?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- BetterCell
- New York, New York, United States
- I do not give up my Autonomy,especially to the Medical Profession. Passionate, Creative, Able to see Beauty within Simplicity, I Am Not A Diabetic, rather I have Diabetes (there is a big difference between the two on many levels).Type 1 Diabetes since 5 years of age. Belief in G-D
2 comments:
Thank you Ellen for sharing that with me. I also developed Type 1 Diabetes as an infant at the age of 6. Because of what I had seen in and out of hospitals as well as having worked in hospitals myself leads me to this conclusion. I do agree that the complications are awful in both types of Diabetes, however, I really feel that there is more leeway and flexibility in the course and management of "Insulin Resistance Disease". We both, I am sure agree on many things rather than disagree. One particular thing that we can agree on is the difficulty in finding "good and knowledgeable physicians" who really know and like what they are doing as well as in having "time" for their patients. I look forward to more comments from you.
I use the word "diabetic" to describe myself, and I don't correct people who call me that.
In my personal opinion (and this is just how I view the word), it is the same as saying "Christian" or "brunette" or "female." I am not "the one who believes in Christ" or "the one with brown hair" or "the one with ovaries." To me, those are all very cumbersome ways of saying something that could easily be summed up in one word. I don't know why diabetes has the priviledge (or perhaps curse) of not only being a noun but also being an adjective, but there you have it. An adjective to describe my condition. How convenient. Of course, only an idiot would relegate me to one adjective. I'm not simply a "brunette" or a "Christian," but that doesn't mean these adjectives are any less meaningful or useful. Diabetes, considering how much effect it has in my life and the role that it plays in my decision-making, has an enormous impact on "who I am" and I think it would be naive to think you can just box up diabetes and throw it in a corner.
That said, being a diabetes advocate and speaking, relating and dealing with thousands of "diabetics" each year, I appreciate the fact that not everyone likes this label. Therefore, in almost all of my writing, I use the term "people with diabetes." Sometimes I slip up and sometimes on my personal blog I just say diabetic.
I feel that we use thousands of labels to describe ourselves, and that the reason diabetic is such a negative one is because of the negative connotation it has.
We could debate til we're blue in the face about which one of us is "right" or whatever, but mostly it's personal choice and the point of my post is to say that, well, not everyone has the same feelings as you. But you are more than welcome to have them. :-)
Post a Comment