Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2

I've gotten used to non-diabetics giving me a confused look when they find out I'm a diabetic. My brother joked with me after being diagnosed saying "When I found out from Mom & Dad I thought, 'but she's not overweight.'" My normal description goes something like this: "Well, I'm a type 1 diabetic, which is also known as Juvenile Diabetes. I have cells that are attacking my pancreas as opposed to type 2 diabetics (the majority of diabetics) whose pancreas has kind of gotten worn out." It's a ridiculous description of both diseases, but it's about all people can handle who have no real idea what diabetes is. I sometimes go into more dept about how type 1 diabetics have to take insulin all the time since their pancreas in the end will stop working all together, and type 2 diabetics can take oral meds and diet/exercise to improve their diabetes, but not get rid of it all together. Most people just don't know.

I read the article on Martha's site about the woman who is working with her kids to get them not to eat candy & junk food. Her heart is in such a good place, trying to keep her kids healthy and teach them good eating habits, but it is frustrating that she didn't do any amount of research on diabetes to determine the difference. This doesn't make me angry so much as annoy me. But then I think of the plethora of diseases that I have no idea about, that I may possibly refer to in an incorrect way sometimes without knowing. Granted, I'd hope I would double check my facts before sending a letter to the editor... but still!

I'm lucky that it is me with the disease and that I'm not a parent of a young type 1. That's what probably scares me the most, thinking of little kids who face this. I'm an adult and can figure all of this out on my own. I know the risks, I know what I have to do to keep it in control, I know how to explain this disease to those who don't understand it. I'm just so impressed with all the parents to face this everyday for their child.

It does frustrate me to see friends who have a family history of type 2 diabetes who are overweight. I want to shake them and say "I know it's hard to loose weight, but it's much more difficult to deal with diabetes and try to get healthy after the fact!" But I bit my tongue.