diabetes jokes Archives - The Diabetic Journey

…Not the love for the needles, insulin injections, finger sticks, and blood.

But love as in compassion, empathy, and understanding for those battling diabetes.

Society has made diabetes such a shameful word. While patients with heart disease and cancer are showered with sympathy and compassion, people with diabetes are often criticized and mocked for assuming they caused it themselves.

The negative perception has a profound effect on how those living with diabetes are able to manage. The misconception that eating too much sugar causes Type 1 Diabetes (an autoimmune disease), contributes to many cases of misdiagnosis and sometimes even death.

Even the fact that Type 2 Diabetes (insulin resistance) can be contributed by eating unhealthy, excessive weight, and inactivity; that’s not always the case. Genetics can also play a role in Type 2 Diabetes, and even significant lifestyle changes may not always help manage the disease.

Diabetes has become a “shame and blame” game. It’s easier to place the blame, feed into what the media says, and make jokes. Leaving those living with diabetes to feel ashamed of their own disease.

But it’s very difficult to overcome the stereotypes with this disease.

For instance, I spent much of my childhood struggling with the fact that I had Type 1 diabetes. I went to school and I felt embarrassed by having a disease others didn’t understand and made fun of.

I wouldn’t check my blood sugar or take needle injections in public. I would get stared at and was teased for taking “drugs” when this drug (insulin) was the only thing keeping me alive.

Years later I started informing more and more people I met about my disease. For many, I hear it was the first time they have ever heard of Type 1 Diabetes. Many also assumed that eating too much sugar caused my diabetes. But I kept pressing because I starting realizing that knowledge is power.

It never occurs to people that diabetes can happen to anyone, at any age. That diabetes can happen even if you eat healthy and exercise. Most of the world isn’t informed on how life-threatening and deadly this disease is. I’m lucky I’m here today, and thankful I was diagnosed in time. I for one didn’t know what diabetes was before I was diagnosed either.

Now reflecting on this issue after a decade, I realize that the stigma hasn’t changed.

I’ve spoken with many in the diabetes community. Half are against the jokes and understand the dangerous repercussions. While the other half feel it’s important to not let what others say get to you. That even if we push, nobody will understand the disease anyways.

But I believe if we’re going to fight everyday, we should fight to make our life and other lives better in any way. The more people know… the more research being done… the more money being raised… the more access to devices and resources… the more awareness being spread about the issues and struggles many go through everyday.

We fight a battle that many don’t understand… but why do we have to fight it alone?

If we don’t push… how is anything going to change?

The stigma has to end.

Where is the love for diabetes?

Diabetes Isn’t a Punchline To Your Joke

For as long as I’ve had diabetes I’ve been battling the stigma associated with this disease. Even though diabetes has been around for such a long time, it’s still a hard wall to break down.

The ever so common assumptions:

Sugar causes diabetes

If I eat this — I’ll get diabetes

Diabetes is caused by being lazy, poor diet, and from being inactive.

All of which are FALSE

These assumptions place blame and guilt on those that could have never prevented getting the disease in the first place.

Yes, there are two different types of diabetes. Type 2, which the body isn’t producing enough insulin and diet and exercise play a role in management. But with Type 1 Diabetes an autoimmune disease (which I have) my body doesn’t produce insulin at all. There is nothing I did to cause it and there is no cure.

So this week on World Diabetes Day I came across a post by a popular food Facebook page (not mentioning names) but they posted a video named “The Diabetes Pizza”. My first thought was “oh this must be a nice healthy recipe”. WRONG. It was a video showing the toppings and ingredients that included things like: candy, bacon, and unhealthy food choices.

I was astonished that “this pizza” was representing diabetes as a punchline. Yes, I have a sense of humor and can enjoy a good laugh. But really, on World Diabetes Day of all days? Kind of ironic! It wasn’t the joke that bothered me. I get it. It’s the underlying message for others not aware of diabetes. This is diabetes awareness month after all. Diabetes is not a joke or a laughing matter.

Say for example someone is not aware of diabetes and starts experiencing symptoms. Their first thought might be — “it can’t be diabetes because I eat healthy and I’m not overweight”. These stereotypes and misconceptions can inhibit someone’s perception of this disease and delay diagnosis which raises the risk of complications or death.

I went ahead and brought it to the attention of the diabetes community. Where one parent of a diabetic thought it would be a great idea to post memes and awareness facts on their post to get the message across and many other diabetics and family members soon followed. Yes, it seems redundant and pointless to some. But if at all it can save ONE life, that’s at that really matters.

The post was later taken down the following day, not sure as to why. But regardless, I think that was one small victory in our favor. Not because someone posted something funny about diabetes, and we just didn’t like it. But because we had a voice for diabetes. We raised awareness for a disease that is serious, life-threatening and affects our lives everyday.

It could have easily been a day where someone told a joke about diabetes where many are the brunt of the joke. But instead, it was a day where we stood up for our disease and risen above the stigma.

Happy Diabetes Awareness Month!

Let’s End Diabetes Stigma!

Tag: diabetes jokes

Where Is The Love For Diabetes?

For instance, I spent much of my childhood struggling with the fact that I had Type 1 diabetes. I went to school and I felt embarrassed by having a disease others didn’t understand and made fun of.

I wouldn’t check my blood sugar or take needle injections in public. I would get stared at and was teased for taking “drugs” when this drug (insulin) was the only thing keeping me alive.

Now reflecting on this issue after a decade, I realize that the stigma hasn’t changed.

Where is the love for diabetes?

Diabetes Isn’t a Punchline To Your Joke

Sugar causes diabetes

If I eat this — I’ll get diabetes

Diabetes is caused by being lazy, poor diet, and from being inactive.

All of which are FALSE

Happy Diabetes Awareness Month!

Let’s End Diabetes Stigma!