Today is Diabetes Alert Day. Everyone knows someone with diabetes, but millions of people who have diabetes don’t know they have it. So the person you know with diabetes may not even know!
Unfortunately many people who are at risk for diabetes (or already have it and don’t know it) are reluctant to find out because
- they are embarrassed
- they are ashamed
- they are afraid
It’s time to take the shame out of diabetes. If you have or are at risk for diabetes, it’s not your fault. There are many factors involved with developing diabetes, and most of them are not things you can change (like your genes, for example).
Fear is understandable – you may have heard scary things about people who have/had diabetes; you may worry about what changes are in store; you may fear that people will shame you.
My hope for the future of diabetes care is that professionals will put a stop to the shame that has gone with diabetes for so long. I also hope that with this bring a new mindset for the general public.
But in the meantime, don’t hurt yourself by staying uninformed. If your blood glucose is elevated there are things you can do to lower your risk of developing full-fledged type 2 diabetes, or at the very least delay its onset. And knowing your health status can prepare you to take better care of yourself going forward.
Please consider getting checked for diabetes if you have any of the risk factors. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. There is no shame in advocating for your health. You are worthy of a full, happy, and healthy life. Take the first step today!