I deleted the blogs I’ve written because I’m tired of the grossly exaggerated and nasty responses I’ve been receiving.
I stand to my point that people need to take responsibility for their actions, I believe 100% that this is a manageable disease and one that can be taken care of through hard work and dedication.
While every diabetic has their own battle, and each case is different, I will never respect people who carry on wanting to “kill themselves” (even in a joking manner) or literally waste their energy on feeling helpless, as if the world was taken from you, because of this disease.
I have had type 1 for over 15 years. I’ve had ups and downs but after my first year of diagnosis I vowed to never ever feel sorry for myself again. While I was diagnosed at 8 years old I shared a room with dying premature babies and cancer patients. Watching them suffer is something I will never forget, and being able to go to work, have friends, eat good food and enjoy life is something that many people in this world cannot do.
There are far worse illnesses out there and children and huge populations of people who live with death sentences.
As a diabetic there is always a possibility of complications but we are not faced with death every second of every day. Comparing these diseases puts things into perspective. Most diabetics need wake up calls - A1C numbers are almost always blamed on external reasons, weight gain is blamed on the disease not on the habits of the inflicted, etc.
The harsh reality is that many of you need to seriously look at yourselves and evaluate what you can do better. Being emotional and upset and whatever else you want to be is fine but complaining and not changing your habits is not.
I did not do anything so terrible to receive such absolutely horrible things some of you said. The tone in my blog was aggressive and harsh, I’m a New Yorker and that’s part of my style when I write about something I feel strongly about.
I stand behing my post 100% - As I repeatedly stated, I never put anyone down and criticized anyone. I was speaking generally and was not for one second cookie-cutter. Many of you think I’m insensitive, ignorant and what have you, but I’m not.
I graduated from a top school, with top grades, working in an absolutely electrifying industry making my own money living with a wonderful husband at the cusp of New York City’s Financial Center. I also do a tremendous amount of volunteer work HELPING diabetic children and other economically unfortunate families. I am the last person on earth who is insensitive - I am realistic and it was through my own experiences that I had to “own up” to this disease and take responsibility and action, not to mention 100% dedication.
I don’t feel sorry for people who choose to live in despair over this disease and I don’t and won’t feel sorry for people who won’t make changes in their individual behavior.
If you only have nasty things to say, don’t post. Comments are welcome but personal attacks are not.
No need to justfy yourself to anyone!!! Dont worry
I raise my cookie to you
We hear you, but how are you going to help then. What steps are suggesting. Should back yourself up some more, maybe we can learn something. Till then I’m complaining diabetic, which us funny cuz I whine to no one, I use words to express how I feel instead. My cookies are done, time to eat thrum. Nobody said I can’t p bolus for cookies…
Sorry that your blog went downhill. I stopped reading when I saw the slashing. Like postings anywhere, if you don’t like what you’re reading then stop reading.
I can agree with some of your thoughts but then I have to disagree also because Diabetes sometimes involves other diseases/conditions including Depression which can set a Person up to lack motivation and strength to start or continue something.
You’ve had Diabetes for 15 years and you’re going strong. I Love to see that. Congrats! 
Did you know that some Diabetics take 20years to find acceptance of their disease? Some Never do. The initial hurt and betrayal of their bodies or guilt even, is just a shock that they have to block out to protect themselves. We all operate in different ways.
That’s Wonderful that you graduated and have a Good job with a bright future. Some People here have learning disabilities, some were pulled out of school early, some were traumatized and never returned or just stayed lost in their low self-esteem which was Very devastating to them. Some just dropped out cuz it wasn’t cool and now they regret it. Some grew up poor with alcoholic Parents, many have lost their jobs, have no insurance, can’t even afford basic stuff. You know all the stories. They are all Good People like yourself and they are People with Diabetes, like yourself.
This is their Community as it is yours and mine. It is a Community where we ask questions, learn, support, laugh, show compassion, give sympathy, cheer and…belly-ache, if we want to. Some just like to complain. A few like to shock and awe to get a conversation going and to get other People’s reactions. But NO Spammers allowed!!
I like your attitude. I read a book once called from Good to Great. Has nothing to do with diabetes but all to do with how a company goes from becoming good to great. The one thing that sticks in mind with this book is in order to become great you have to talk about the harsh truth and bring it out to light. I am a type 2 and I did see that my lifestyle played a big role on what happened to me. I chose not to whine and moan about it but accept the hard truth that part of the weight gain and the life of excess caused some of my problems and in order to make things better I had to realize the truth about how I got to this point. So my wife sometimes gives me a swift kick in the pants and its not pretty but it does get me out of my ruts and gets me moving again.
So things that I learned is making excuses does not help and holds me back. So i welcome all comments, both good and bad because in some of those comments some truth comes out and a way to help to achieve goals.
Rebi , it is too bad , you had to go the route of " deleting " . I am still somewhat upset , that someone else did that recently as well …I put my time in to respond in my simple way , how diabetes has effected me, how I am living with diabetes almost 30 years etc. etc. I sent a message to one on the admins on TU team that time .I hope some action will be taken , that this is NOT possible .
This is your blog …if people don’t like , what you write : the choice one has is NOT to respond …I am learning and have chosen not to respond to some …I talk to myself and say out loud : Do Not Get Hooked Nel .And one still has a chance to undo , what one has responded to, if one so desires…As in real life : one can keep one’s mouth shut .
Be well …
Thanks, Nel and Wil.
I had to delete the blog because people were trying to kick me off the site. Literally over 1 blog?! I feel like I can’t even speak here anymore. Part of how I communicate and part of how I’ve helped people in the past has been through tough-love. I didn’t disrespect anyone directly or purposely.
I am sorry that your blog and you got attacked. I have had to do alot of tough love… but, what I have always noticed about tough love… when it worked was when they saw how much I cared. Friends have also learned that I will always tell them truth weather they want to hear it or not.( Friends)
It is all about perception. Our perception comes from our past experiences. So much of who we (general) are in in what we(most not all) do. It is hard to a humanbeings instead of humandoings and when what we are doing… is or can be seen as wrong/not enough. There will always be the could-a of should of’s. We all just need to stop shoulding all over our selves. There will alway be large% life that we can not controll… we only thing we can controll is how we respond to it. How? by being seekers of knowledge, understanding, and when that % of life happens hope for wisdom. It will always be that % of life that show us and others who we really are and what we really believe.
Some years ago, I lived in New York and took writing classes at the HB Studio on Bank Street. It was great fun; I enjoyed every minute of it. Later I wrote short stories and other things in different styles for my own amusement. I do think I understand where you are coming from. You say the tone in your blog was “aggressive and harsh”. I believe you could very easily write honestly about things you “feel strongly about” in softer tones, a style more appropriate to this social website. Good luck–I look forward to your insights in the future.
I have read your blog and I shared many aspects of your view. The tone was strict to the point and as a German I am used to a more confrontational conversation style. On the other hand I very much applaude to the TuDiabetes forum for choosing a more reflected and intermediatory way of exchanging different standpoints. It is just a waste of time when people just react because they feel offended by the tone. In your case it also ended in personal attacks and we as a community should not allow this to happen. We just exchange our thoughts by the written word and this makes us very equal in a way: young and old, newbie and pro, T2 and T1, male or female, pumper and MDIer. As a downside we get less feedback about the real intention of the person that is writing. This gives both sides greater responsibility. So I am looking forward to your next blog entry - but please with peperoni 