Besides being a member here, I also follow a few diabetic groups on Facebook, some based in other countries even. Today I had a very unpleasant experience with one of those groups, and felt the need to share it here, maybe get some advice.
It was an FB group of people that mainly follow a low carb diet, based on Dr. Bernstein’s book. So far so good, as I too follow said diet with great results so I have that in common with other group members. It all started with a post by a young, newly diagnosed T1D member asking a question about insulin management. Many responded giving advice including me, however one person in particular asked for her C-Peptide results, saying she could completely wean herself off of insulin using a strict 0 carb diet. Now, to make this clear, this conversation was not in English and the word he used for “weaning” has a strong drug/alcohol, somewhat negative, connotation. The same person saying this went on another thread in which a mother to a newly diagnosed teenage daughter asked if going low carb could help her daughter avoid having to take any bolus insulin once her honey moon was over. He left a very similar comment, saying her daughter can wean herself off completely as well. He then used an example of some boy who managed to do so. I think he left a couple more similar comments like that in different posts by people relatively new to the game with either T1 or T2.
Now, I have no desire to know if you agree or disagree with this person. We both got into a pretty heated argument over there which frankly just drained me. All I wanted him to do was to stop using that word “wean off” in regards to T1D and insulin. This year will mark my 30th as a T1D and I’ve been dealing with people’s misconceptions my whole life. People thinking I did this to myself, that I don’t eat right, confusing T1 and T2, not understanding that carbs are sugar, suggesting all kinds of snake oil to cure me, and the list goes on. That person, himself a diabetic (I think T2) just got me to be very emotional over it, and I hate feeling like this. I hate that another diabetic is using language that pins the blame on diabetics. I hate that he’s “spreading the word” that all diabetes is curable if you just catch in on time. The worst part was that while most people sided with me, there were a few that sided with him. Nobody really understood my point that using language like that is dangerous.
Now I’m feeling tired, angry and sad on the verge of tears. It’s especially hurtful because I’ve been feeling so good lately with my diabetes and its emotional aspects. I’ve connected with other diabetics in my local community and online, and been feeling very empowered and positive. This whole thing made such a dent in things. Am I overreacting? Why am I so emotional over this?