I saw a post on Facebook that says, “Type one diabetes, not caused by eating too much sugar or lifestyle.”
I immediately (and somewhat frantically) typed this response: Type 2 diabetes is also not caused by eating too much sugar or lifestyle. There are at least 11 factors in the body (most of them non modifiable) that lead to type 2 diabetes. Please stop the stigma, blame, and shame around diabetes (all types) once and for all. We all need to keep sending the public this important message.
I didn’t post it (there) for at least a couple reasons: 1) I don’t like to engage in discussions like this on social media. It’s rarely productive. 2) I didn’t want to make the person who posted it feel bad.
However, I do want to say that messages like this are incredibly short-sighted. They contribute to the stigma, blame, and shame that surrounds both types of diabetes and even worse, it pits people with one type of diabetes against people with another type. Don’t we all have enough to deal with? Can’t we use some solidarity?
I realize there are people out there who desperately want the names changed so that their type (or their child’s type) of diabetes is seen as different from “the other kind.” However, there is research showing the possibility that all diabetes is related on some level. Some scientists say it’s just a continuum and we all fall somewhere along it.
No one brought diabetes on themselves; no one deserves diabetes. Diabetes is no one’s fault. Instead of working against “the other side,” let’s work together for good. It’s time for all people with (type 1, type 2, gestational, and everything in between) diabetes to stand together for change.