The Diabetes UK theme this year is ‘striking out the stigma’ as many people living with diabetes (all types) have experienced negative comments/attitudes.
My son is 5 years old and like any other child that age, he loves running around at the beach, playing football, making a mess and winding me up. He has also been living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for the past 9 months.
What makes life harder isn’t just the carb counting, sensor/pump changes, or interrupted sleep. It’s the stigma that still surrounds diabetes—the assumptions, misconceptions, and comments that remind us how much awareness is still needed.
Let’s start with some misconceptions:
- T1D is an autoimmune condition. It isn’t caused by eating too much sugar.
- Insulin is not a cure, it is a way to manage the condition. There is currently no cure and people do not ‘grow out of it’.
- Management isn’t as simple as just giving insulin. It is about timing, amount and considering the other factors that influence glucose levels.
- People living with T1D can still play sport and to a very high level, it just takes a lot of management.
- Yes, they can eat chocolate and sweets.
Focusing on possibilities
Only this week at Roland Garros it was demonstrated that a person with T1D can play tennis for over 4 hours and win a grand slam title. To the best of my knowledge, Alexander Zverev is the first person living with T1D to win a singles grand slam title. My son was watching with me, shouting “go diabetes man” at the TV; what a great thing for him to witness.
Yes, he won’t be able to join the military or go to space (at least currently), but he can become a pilot if he wants to as that is now possible.
It is about looking past the T1D and seeing him as a child. Instead of limitations, looking at what is possible.
Diabetes is a hidden disability
Just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t having an impact. Every meal, every activity, every illness and every growth spurt can affect blood glucose levels. The decisions are constant, even when nobody else can see them.
I remember one of the first times that we ate out as a family post-diagnosis, it was in Wagamama’s when we first went back to be under the care of Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He was still injecting as an insulin pump hadn’t been fitted at that point. When it came to the point of giving insulin, as parents we had the discussion about whether we should take T to the toilet to inject. I’m glad we didn’t. Yes, there were a couple of young girls sitting down the other end of the table that looked over but why should T have to hide something that keeps him alive.
I am choosing to talk only about T1D as this is what T is living with but stigma exists across all types of diabetes, probably even more so with Type 2 Diabetes. If you are interested in finding out how to support friends or family diagnosed with diabetes, check out this poster.
One Million Step Challenge
This year, I have signed up to the One Million Step Challenge with Diabetes UK. Not only to improve awareness of the condition and raise money for Diabetes UK but to also improve my exercise levels. Over the past 9 months exercise has taken a back seat for me and I do minimal (other than running around after T). Therefore, this challenge is multidimensional. Any donations, big or small would be greatly appreciated via my donation page.
Final Thought
This Diabetes Awareness Week, help us strike out the stigma. Learn the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Challenge misconceptions when you hear them. And most importantly, see the person before the condition.
My son is not defined by Type 1 diabetes. He is a football-loving, beach-running, mischievous 5-year-old who just happens to live with it.
L x
Beyond The Numbers 
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