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• May 8, 2013 5:52 a.m.

  Maybe I'm lucky or I'm not around many jerks because no one has ever said anything ugly to me. I am fat, too. All my relatives have T2 so I knew I would get it. It probably would be best for me to lose weight but I don't think diabetes will go away. I am active and walk every day. I am just happy not to have had a bad experience with someone so ignorant and hateful.

  - tracy

• May 8, 2013 3:49 a.m.

  stating that t2 is not inherited..people stating that you must eat to much or not the right items...not exercising..i was very active and ate right..i just found out im t2...i guess i was pre a few years ago and wasnt told by my dr..i have always been a go go person so stating that we are lazy and eat 6000 calories a day so we must have wanted this is ridiculous...know one wants this or asked for it..im still doing the right things and was told i have t2...i found out that i had/have family members that had or have it.. the only time my numbers have been low is when i was sick and didnt eat at all... if i dont eat i get headaches and feel like im going to get sick and get the shakes...but when i get that way and poke my finger my numbers are still not where they need to be...this is hard to control...so anyone who thinks this is easy and we asked for it needs to do more research... not everyone is the same and not everything works for everyone...we all have to find what works for us...

  - tamara

• May 8, 2013 1:20 a.m.

  Too right about the name calling...given my family history , both types on both sides of the family, PCOS, thyroid, fibroids asthma(read cortisone ). What my Dr said was very apt when I was diagnosed type 2 - 'it wasn't a matter of if, but when.' now I work to control it, but, the one thing I loathe is self righteous individuals daring to presume THEY know ANYTHING a out another persons private health concerns, you dont, so beware of being so high and mighty, because it might one day be to YOU a doctor says those fun words. 'you have diabetes'. It is an all consuming awful devil of a thing, but it isn't cancer, or MS or any number of things that are far worse, so I count my blessings and my toes and get on with it.

  - Ruth

• May 7, 2013 2:34 p.m.

  It's comments like Susie's that are irritating. Name calling doesn't help. Also it would be nice if all dieticians were on the same page. Each one gives different advice and if I followed some of their directions my BS would be sky high. We have to learn ourselves what works for us. I don't talk about my diabetes to anyone because it's none of their business and I don't need their advice. That goes for my daughter-in-law who we call the "food police" because she is in everyones face no matter what they eat.

  - Ferne

• April 13, 2013 1:05 p.m.

  My boyfriend of four years (we started dating in our 60's) has diabetes type 1. We will be spending the rest of our lives together,and I want it to be a long time. I haven't been hugely involved in his eating habits, which are very good so no need for concern, but his numbers are all over the place lately. He is working with his doctor and adjusting meds as needed but it seems to take so long to get consistent results. I want to help, but I have a tendency to get a little obsessive about projects that I am passionate about. And I don't want this to be a negative in our relationship. I don't know much about diabetes, so I am reading up on it. I am a bit hyper vigilant right now because I just lost a very dear friend from grade school to diabetes complications. He was my age. Yikes. My question: What is the best way that I can become involved and supportive without affecting our relationship in a negative way?

  - Lianne

• February 20, 2013 1:23 p.m.

  Lisa: regarding your friend who has a child with diabetes: If she is a good friend of yours she would probably appreciate your asking a general question about how her child with diabetes is doing.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• February 20, 2013 1:19 p.m.

  Jesus: You need not fear insulin. When you body doesn't make insulin or make enough insulin than a person with diabetes may need to start on insulin. Many people with diabetes use insulin to control their blood sugars. We advise that you request to see a diabetes educator and have a heart to heart talk.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• January 18, 2013 11:54 p.m.

  Hi I need advise about taking insulin my doctor insist in me taking it but I've been told that insulin is bad for the health so please help anyone thanks

  - Jesus

• January 3, 2013 7:06 a.m.

  Well written post. I must say that you have shared a very informative as well as detailed guide on misconceptions regarding Diabetes. Would love to share this information with my relatives as well. Thanks for the post.

  - Mandy

• November 13, 2012 5:34 p.m.

  I just learned from a friend that her 5 year old child has Type 2 diabetes. They are a private family so I want to be respectful. She apologized for crying and we spoke briefly about how all of "us parents" stick together and support each other. She seemed to be comforted by the conversation, however I don't know to proceed. Do I wait for her to bring it up again, should I generically ask how everyone's doing?? This is a first for me, I don't want to offend or overstep, but I want her and her family to know I care...advice please.

  - Lisa

• July 4, 2012 2:45 p.m.

  Hi - Great Site. I have never been told what I could/should do to quickly lower my blood sugar when it is too high. Of course I know that if it is very, very high, to go to the emergency room. But what can they do to quickly lower it. I know they monitor you for heart attack, stroke. etc.. What can I do to not have to go to the ER. Thanks

  - Daniel

• December 8, 2011 11:35 p.m.

  My pet peeve is medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, especially in hospital settings, who either know next to nothing about diabetes or who only know information that is dangerously outdated. It's especially galling to have hospital staff throw up their hands when they find out that you have a pump and try to take it away. I had that happen when I had a stroke...they switched me to shots and within 18 hours my bg, which had been 120 when I went in, went up to 285. And years ago a nurse insisted I take insulin before lunch because my blood sugar was 126 and "you HAVE to treat it!"...NO, I didn't have to treat it, as my NPH insulin would have kicked in right after lunch and if I'd taken more insulin before lunch I would have gone into insulin shock. I wish all hospital staff were required to take in-service courses on diabetes at least once or twice a year. Ruth

  - Ruth

• December 7, 2011 9:02 p.m.

  So much of the Oz advertising and publicity makes those of us who have Type 2 feel guilty about it as though it was our fault that we got it as most of us did not have any control over our genes and may have sacrificed our personal well being to hold down stressful jobs and/or spend hours and hours sitting at desks, gaining weight and getting little exercise.

  - Ellen

• December 3, 2011 6:29 a.m.

  5 uncles died as a result of Diabetes and I am pre- Diabetic. Senior center in Pennsylvania serve food that promotes diabetes. I now eat at home watching my diet and exercise. No place to check my blood glucose like I did in California at the Senior center once a week for free.

  - Albert

• February 12, 2011 9:55 a.m.

  Thanks for this!!!! I've been having a really tough time lately and this had me laughing through my tears! ;) I loved the "shooting up" jokes and "horror stories"..... Soooo true! hahaha Thanks again!

  - Lauren

• February 10, 2011 10:27 p.m.

  My pet peeve is when people assume all diabetics are obese or lazy and 'deserve' the disease (or that it is their fault). My significant other recently was diagnosed with Type II diabetes at a time when his weight was in the normal range. He was a college athlete who led a relatively sedentary life in his 20's. He was diagnosed at age 32. Many books and advice on diabetes involves telling people to exercise and stay at a healthy weight to avoid becoming diabetic. But that's not the whole story. Most overweight people never become diabetic... and there are diabetics who are not overweight. I dislike the judgmental tone of so many people (including doctors and health care personnel) when it comes to discussing this disease.

  - Karen

• October 28, 2010 4:27 p.m.

  My pet peeve is diabetics who blame everything wrong in their lives on their diabetes. I usually don't even mention that I am diabetic, I just let them prattle on in their self pity. What a miserable life.

  - Louise

• October 19, 2009 1:44 a.m.

  My doctor said that if I didn't cut my suger down in five years I would be a Diabetic; heres the problem 1 every thing just about has sugar in it of one kind or another 2 my doc. did not give me even a sugestion on what foods I should eat etc and 3 I have cancer on my moms side of the family and in mom, and I also had colon cancer and breast and lemph node cancer. Now how am I to do anything about the suger problem when I cannot add sweetener to my recipes with out causing cancer in my body???

  - Joyce

• October 6, 2009 8:44 p.m.

  Healthcare reform should not only address the obesity epidemic (both in adults and children), but should also take into consideration the rising epidemic of dental disease. Diabetes attributed to obesity is also impacting dental health, gum disease in particular. We lack access to affordable dentists in this country. There has been widespread increase of dental caries in children. As focused as we are on cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening, in the United States, the aforementioned dental issues need at least equal attention. We need to contact our local congressmen so that dental care is included in the Obama healthcare reform plan.

  - SoCal Dentist

• August 13, 2009 12:37 p.m.

  Pet peeve People with T2 telling me a T1 what their blood sugars are. Mine are all over T2‘s seem to have perfect blood sugars, to me. I do not what to here it.T1 and T2 are completely two different diseases. T1 for 35 years A1c 6.8.

  - Kent

• July 29, 2009 9:29 p.m.

  my husband has type 2 diabetes for a couple of years he has nerver complained befor about his toe befor,its the toe next to the big toe,he has a red circle around it and its sore.he has complained a week or more of joint pain in his toes. does anyone ever get this system ? with diabetes? or is this normal? any replies will be appreciated thanks dian

  - dian

• July 23, 2009 1:58 p.m.

  Good grief, Rose. How long have you been carrying that negativity around? Relax. There are people in this world with certain opinions, you can try and reason with them but if they have their own problems - let it go. This world will never be ideal. You can only control your own reaction to the situation (who hasn't heard that?!). There are people who contribute to their own health problems and that is what Rich was trying to say. It's just like AIDS - not everyone has brought it upon themselves - like innocent children or raped women or men. Just as it is with diabetes, some bring it upon themselves by not living a healthy lifestyle and some just get it no matter what they do. Our society has become ultrasensitive to any perceived nuance of discrimination or criticism.

  - mike

• July 23, 2009 9:20 a.m.

  My last comment, I did not mean that those that get diabetes particularly Type 2 are unhealthy. It is just finding ways to stay we are not as healthy as we would like to be so we are trying to change. Like the smoker or someone with a drinking problem that wants to change.

  - Rich

• July 23, 2009 9:13 a.m.

  I have been a diabetic since 15 years old and now 43 years with diabetes. My control is great. Have not had the major problems associated with the disease. Following a lifestyle that watches my diet, nutrition, exercise, insulin and blood sugar has kept me in control. Up to 1998, I did fixed doses of NPH and Regular which worked but hated it setting my body clock around meals. Have done carb counting adjusting regular insulin. One problem that I have found is reacting to a high > 300 with a correction bolus. Look at the meter reading as one point in time that contantly changes. Wait for the next reading and act when necessary. The fear of that one high signals fear of headed down the road to kidney, nerve, eye and other problems. NO! NO! Remember Wait for at least 2 readings before a meal before acting on a high. Would love an in person support group to talk about methods of controlling diabetes. Does anyone thing Diabetes should be named something else that doesn't sound like death? Some name that describes it as a metabolic disease of the endocrine glands that is controlled with a healthy lifestyle with or without insulin.

  - Rich

• July 14, 2009 9:48 p.m.

  My pet peeve is self-righteous Type I people who think that ALL people with Type II DESERVE it. No one deserves this disease. I was diagnosed at 32...while I have been overweight and mostly sedentary, those weren't the only factors - most of my paternal relatives have Type II as well. I am now eating well, exercising daily, and have my A1C down to 5.8 - but I will be dealing with this for the rest of my life just like the people with Type I.

  - Rose