Everyone at work knows I’m a diabetic. Everyone knows I have a pump. Many think they know what I should or shouldn’t eat.
If there’s a cake, I will eat some (maybe not a huge slice, but I will eat cake.) If there’s cookies, yeah, I will eat one. If there’s donuts, yes, sometimes I do have a donut. Most know not to tell me what to eat or what not to - but some will make comments. So I (maybe not so) politely tell them I can eat whatever I want, and I move on. I have never once had a major BG issue at work, and I have been there over a year. But this keeps happening. I don’t find it funny at all, in fact it’s gotten to be old.
That’s a frustrating and difficult situation. The best you can do is provide simple explanations that controlling diabetes is about balancing food with insulin and exercise and there are few foods make this balance impossible. Tell them that it’s personal thing and there’s often significant variability from person to person and day to day. Perhaps the use of the word “personal” will alert them to the fact that they may have stepped over a social line with you.
It’s maddening that the general public is woefully ignorant about diabetes and their understanding is often based on one or two facts or observations they have made. They often get type 1 confused with type 2. And then they want to tell you their diabetes horror stories!
The best you can do is repeated attempts at simple communication and understand that they will mostly never really get it. You need to find a way to not let this bother you. It’s just the way it is and you have more important things on which to spend your energy and attention.
[quote=“palomino, post:1, topic:47018, full:true”] Everyone at work knows I’m a diabetic. Everyone knows I have a pump. Many think they know what I should or shouldn’t eat.[/quote]
How many coworkers are there? I don’t know why everyone would know these things. I bet my purse that there are folks eating cake, cookies, donuts, who have dietary restrictions and such. Do your coworkers know their medical history and offer advice? You could try to educate everyone at work, but that is not your job…and if this is something that makes you uncomfortable at your job then you could reach out the HR and ask for “Help”?. I wonder why folks pay any attention to what anyone put’s on their plate at all. I have never had this trouble in my work place(s). And if someone did suggest that my plate was not healthy for me, I would say “My plate is none of your business, but thank you for sticking your nose in it” - and walk away. This topic just never ends, here are some other discussions (including this one):
For me, the situation is almost the opposite. I don’t eat any kind of refined sugar or honey or maple syrup or molasses, etc. And, periodically, friends or co-workers attempt to convince me that I should have just a little bit…for whatever celebratory reason they deem fit
So, I refuse again and again–as kindly as possible so as not to hurt their feelings because I am turning down their offer/gift.
I guess it just takes all kinds of us to make the world go round, right?
I live in the Middle East where Type 2 diabetes is a major problem. As we all know the management of Type 1 and Type 2 are vastly different - but it seems that the general public are ignorant to that fact (at least that has been my experience here). So i also have the constant comments on my dietary choices (eating a piece of cake at office celebrations or having a small piece of dark chocolate after my lunch). What I have found a very effective way of dealing with it is instead of being rude and going for the “mind your business” approach is instead to take 15 minutes or so and explain broadly what the difference is between Type 1 and 2 and give them a general understanding of the management “styles” of the two. This not only prevents them from making further comments on what i put in my mouth but also creates awareness for the disease that i deal with everyday. This has also encouraged them to choose more “diabetic” friendly desserts when they bring treats for birthdays etc…there is now always some sort of fresh berry dessert and cheesecake rather than chocolate cake. Educate rather than get annoyed and you might find that it makes you life a little bit easier.
