Trust. Open Communication. Understanding. I can’t overemphasize the importance of these behaviors when you are living with, taking care of, or just know someone with diabetes. The last chapter of my book is about this very topic.
Ask questions! Find out how the person with diabetes feels about living with the disease, managing it, food, health, and your role in all of it. Ask questions and avoid judging. We know that many judgmental comments originate from lack of knowledge, but it’s so much more effective (and less relationship threatening) if others just ask questions and gather information rather than make comments or judge.
Avoid using questions like, “What did you eat/do?” or “Why don’t you just…?” Perhaps exchange them with questions like “What does that mean?” or “What will you do now?”
We really don’t expect anyone who doesn’t have diabetes to have any idea what it’s like to live with this 24/7 disease. We just hope you’ll give us the benefit of the doubt: trust that we are doing our best to take care of ourselves, understand that at times we will make unhealthy choices (and we get to own those choices!), and love us for the people we are and not the disease that we happen to have.
A huge thank you to all those who care for and about people living with diabetes. It’s not easy for you, either!