If you’ve been dealing with diabetes for any amount of time, you’re probably highly aware of just what a pain it (and people’s reactions to it) can be. The struggle is real, and if you know how awful the following seven scenarios are, wave your test strips in the air!
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Dealing with the awkward stares when you announce that "It’s time to go shoot up."
Diabetes terminology unfortunately has some overlap with that of drug use, and it can make for some uncomfortable situations when people aren’t in the know. Sure, you may be feeling a little high today, but that doesn’t mean you can recommend a good weed dealer, and you really wish that people would stop asking. -
Politely ignoring unsolicited diabetes advice from well-meaning friends.
Reading the Wikipedia page on diabetes does not turn a person into a medical expert, but you wouldn’t know it judging by the number of people willing to offer advice after doing just that. Even though they probably have your best interests at heart, it can still get annoying after awhile. And you might just pull a muscle in your neck if you have to nod, smile, and say, “Thanks, I’ll have to keep that in mind,” one more time. -
Listening to secondhand diabetes horror stories.
Getting unsolicited diabetes advice may be bad, but it’s nothing compared to hearing about someone’s great uncle or fifth cousin a thousand times removed who lost a foot or sustained some other injury because of the disease. You’re aware of the potential dangers of this condition, but you really wish that others would become aware of the fact that you’re doing everything in your power to prevent them. -
Practicing nonviolence towards people who think they are your self-appointed diet police.
You know you’ve hit the unhelpful friend trifecta when people give bad advice, tell you horror stories, and decide to offer a running commentary on your dietary choices. Unless you’re a complete diabetes newbie, you’re probably intimately aware of the sugar levels in the foods you’re eating. When they ask, “Are you sure you should eat that?” for the hundredth time, just remember that a simple, “Yes,” gives you the moral high ground that doesn’t come with a lengthy prison sentence. -
Celebrating office birthdays without looking like a jerk.
It’s an unwritten rule of the office that if you decline cake too many times, you must be some sort of crabby killjoy. Unless you’ve made your condition known to your coworkers, there’s always the fear that they assume that you fall into this category. You don’t want to come off as rude, but at the same time it would also be nice to not go into shock in your cubicle. You’ve turned politely declining food into an art form. -
Pretending that you enjoy sugar-free candy.
It may be your only option if you’ve got a sweet tooth, but no one in the history of taste buds has ever enjoyed sugar-free candy. In addition to manufacturers sucking all the joy (i.e. sugar) of their products, they replace it with the most heinous synthetic sweeteners known to man. And these aren’t always the most agreeable with your digestive tract, to put it politely. -
Dealing with uncooperative health insurance companies.
Sure, your doctor may recommend testing your levels three times a day, but if your insurance company only covers the supplies for one, there’s not much you can do about. It’s almost as if health insurance is about making money and not about helping people…
