Diabetes: would you be open about it?

It’s good to be back, Vincy family! I hope the past few months have treated you all well.

To start our new series as we head into this latter part of the year, I want to ask you all, how open are you about living with diabetes?{{more}}

A few months ago there was a bit of a social blitz in the US because one of their state representatives for the Miss USA contest chose to wear her insulin pump visibly outside of her bikini during the swimsuit competition. She received quite a bit of publicity and it started a national conversation about how people are either open or more reserved about showing/talking about their lives with diabetes.

I personally don’t think either approach is necessarily BETTER than another, and it is quite personal. Many of us choose to keep our health information private unless necessary to share. It may have nothing to do with shame or embarassment, but sometimes it does. Similarly, some of us choose to share our health information willingly and openly, for multitudes of reasons, some of which can actually not be good ones.

So, how comfortable are you with sharing information about your life as someone with diabetes? Why do you share information and what kind of responses do you get from others? The answers to these questions may be different if you have Type 1 diabetes versus Type 2, are young versus older, if you use insulin or not and if you have any complications from diabetes or not. There is a certain bonding that happens between people when they share history of the same type of experience, including diseases or illnesses.This alone can help cope with some of the stresses that can be a part of living day to day with the experience. I do encourage my patients who are newly diagnosed to talk with others who have had diabetes for a longer time. Most often than not, they tell me it helps to talk to someone who has “walked in their shoes.”

Until next week, stay safe and healthy Vincies!

Anita Ramsetty, MD endodocs@endocrinehelp.com

Medical Director Endocrine Care Group

www.endocrinehelp.com

Tel: 843-798-4227