Not your fault

It can be really annoying when people get confused between type one diabetes and type two diabetes or just refer things as diabetes. It might not seem like it matters to other people but it can be really upsetting to people who have diabetes. They wouldn't like it if they had diabetes and got comments from people saying stuff like its your fault your diabetic because you ate too much sugar or you cant eat sweets because your diabetic...

Last week, I was in a French lesson and we were learning how to say what we eat and how often we eat it. The lesson starter was matching the French words to different parts in your diet, for example carbohydrates, dairy, meat, protein... The teacher gave us about 5 mins to finish the starter, I wasn't very good at it as I am rubbish at French. Then the teacher started going through the answers so that we had it in our books to use later in the lesson. After the teacher had finished going through the answers she started asking the class questions about what would happen if we ate too much or not enough of certain foods. She told the class that if you eat too much food with lots of fat in it would cause heart disease and high cholesterol which would lead to heart attaches and strokes. She then told the class that if you eat too much sugar and carbohydrates you would get diabetes.

The whole class looked at me after she said it. It made me feel really upset and annoyed because now the whole class (apart from my close friends) thought I got diabetes because I eat too much sugar and carbohydrates. They were all going to think that it was my fault that I got diabetes and that I caused it because I didn't look after myself. I really didn't want to go to school the next day as I was scared of what people might say to me.The thing I didn't get diabetes because I ate too much sugar and carbohydrates, I got diabetes because pancreas doesn't produce insulin anymore so I have to check my level and give myself insulin every time I eat.

I know it can be really annoying when people get confused with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. I have had so many people think that I got diabetes because I eat too much sugar, didn't eat a balanced diet and other things like that. Some people think it is my fault that I have diabetes because of something I did or didn't do. The truth is it isn't anyone fault that they have diabetes. Always remember you are stronger than you think!

 

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes

It can be really annoying when people get confused with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. I have had so many people think that I got diabetes because I eat too much sugar, didn't eat a balanced diet and other things like that. Some people think it is my fault that I have diabetes because of something I did or didn't do. The truth is it isn't anyone fault that they have diabetes.
I thought I would write a post about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, I know its not like my normal posts but I really want to make sure people are aware of the differences between the two.

What is type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells in the body have been destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin.
Type 1 diabetes means that the body cannot regulate blood glucose levels on its own. Glucose is a type of sugar which is a source of energy
It is a chronic condition that stays with people their entire lives
It has a life long impact on those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and their family
People with type 1 diabetes rely on multiple insulin injections or an insulin pump
Type 1 diabetes is mostly commonly diagnosed before aged 25 but it can happen at any age.
Type 1 diabetes affects about 400,00 people in the UK, 29,00 of them are children
Type 1 diabetes can happen to anyone and is not caused by anything that the person with type 1 diabetes or their parents, did or didn't do

What causes type 1 diabetes?  

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body's own immune system attacking and destroying the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas
The  triggers of this 'autoimmune response' are currently unclear. Scientists think that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors
Some of the genes involved are now know to scientists. Identifying possible environmental triggers is an active area of current research.

Type 1 diabetes....
...isn't caused by eating too many sweets or the wrong kinds of food
...isn't caused by being overweight
...isn't the same as type 2 diabetes
...doesn't mean you cant eat sugar

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is caused by the cells in the body becoming resistant to insulin
Type 2 diabetes is more common in people who are overweight or obese but this is not the only cause for the condition
Type 2 diabetes is rare in children and young people, it affects approximately 500 young people in the UK, although that number is rising.

Myths and facts about diabetes

Myth: Taking insulin cures diabetes.
Fact: Taking insulin keeps people with type one diabetes alive, but does not cure the disease. While progress toward finding a cure has been substantial, there is still no cure for diabetes.

Myth: Diabetes is caused by obesity, or eating too much sugar.
Fact: While obesity has been identified as one of the “triggers” for type 2 diabetes, it has no relation to the cause of type 1 diabetes. Scientists do not yet know exactly what causes type one diabetes, but they believe that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Eating too much sugar is not a factor.

Myth: People with diabetes should never eat sweets.
Fact: Limiting sweets will help people with type one diabetes keep their blood sugar under control, but, with advice from their doctor or nutritionist, sweets can fit into their meal plan, just as they would for people without diabetes. And there are times when sweets are a must: If the blood sugar level drops too low, sweets, juice or soda can be the used to raise it, and prevent hypos.

Myth: You get type 1 diabetes from making unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Fact: People with type one diabetes didn't do anything wrong. Doctors believe the cause of the disease is a combination of genetics and some external environmental trigger (but not junk food or lack of exercise).

Facts
- Type 1 diabetes affects 400,000 people in the UK, enough to fill Wembley Stadium more than 4 times over.
- Over 29,000 children in the UK have type 1 diabetes – you would need 70 jumbo jets to take them all on holiday.
- Worldwide, 78,000 children (aged 14 and under) develop type 1 diabetes each year.
- Finland has the highest rate of type 1 diabetes in the world
- Today we know of more than 50 genes that are associated with the risk of developing type 1 diabetes
- An hour of research into type 1 diabetes costs around £60. Every bit of research brings us a step closer to finding the cure.
- On a global level JDRF has dedicated over £1 billion to research into type 1 diabetes over the past 40 years.
- The word 'diabetic' in Hungarian is 'cukros', literary translation would be 'sugary' or 'sweet'.
- The Spanish word for pump (as in insulin pump) is the same as bomb. Not good for flying!


I hope you have found out some interesting facts from reading my blog.By the way please like my new a facebook page for my blog so that you can find out when I update it, suggest ideas and give me feed back. If you ever want to ask me any questions about diabetes, want to know anything or just want to chat you can always message me. Always remember you are stronger then you think.