Re: illterate people

Is it just me or does it drive you crazy when people think they know everything there is to know about diabetes! I was at the pool today and this lady was talking to me, and she was going on saying that if you dont eat sweets as a little kid you wont get diabetes, and if you get the flu, and dont take care of it in time you will get diabetes. and she was also saying that diabetics aren't suppose to swim, or play any sports because we will get sick to easy! and that we cant have ANY cokes, not even like diet coke, sprite zero or any diet drinks!!!! it drives me crazy!!!!!!!

How do y'all feel about people like this lady that was at the pool!!!?

There are stupid people everywhere.  ------  people who think they know everything.  Take it with a grain of salt----or sugar--and consider the source

Wow.  One thing I can't stand is stupidity.  Had that been me it would have taken all that I had not to launch into a huge lecture demonstrating her ignorance.  Next time just place her back under her rock so the scary outside world can't interfere with that stellar line of thinking.

it drives me crazy as well. i had someone tell me that gastric bypass would help get me my pancreas back. haha! if that worked i would have done it years ago when i was soposedly fat. and the water diet or whatever its called. i've heard all sorts of things that are rediculous.

this is (kinda) off subject, but i had a kid in my school think that i was doing illegal drugs when he saw my pump. he was serious about going to the pricipal and telling him that i ws doing drugs too.

Personally I don't see stupidity as not knowing something. Especially if they aren't diabetic themselves, we can't hold them accountable for knowing everything, or anything, about it. If they don't live it, first off, where is the opportunity to learn about it going to come from? I believe that's one thing we as diabetics can do, offer them the correct information. If they choose to accept that, Kudos to them. If not - it is their choice to continue or discontinue spewing such misinformed "facts" to anyone with ears.

While I understand how frustrating that is, we have to be patient with those kind of people. I don't think they're "illiterate," per say, so much as uninformed. Perhaps we are the ones to inform. But they're just learning. If they don't try out the information they've previously recieved, how else will they know it's wrong? I believe their intentions are honest.

Just take a deep breath and try to put yourself in her position. Did she know you were diabetic, anyway? Did you correct her on this? I honestly don't believe people are stupid if they don't know about this disease. Perhaps we are just smarter. And any who, it's like a little kid learning to talk or walk. They'll get it eventually; they may mess up a few times and get it wrong, but they're learning. Just be patient, offer the support and help, and beyond that it's out of our hands. It'll work out someday :)

Melanie, I've had someone tell me that too, and it is rediculous.

But I also agree with Alyssa that while they say things with out knowing, maybe thats the way they learned about it. The best thing to do in that situation is just to correct the person and help them gain a little knowledge

I've run into some people like that. Up until I met this woman, I didn't see that side of many people. However, a few weeks ago she and I were discussing heritage pride (random!). Somehow that led to a discussion about raising awareness for diabetes.

She was entirely offended, and proceeded to let me know that. There were a million things pouring from her mouth, none of which made sense - from claims that it's emberassing to announcing I offended her. Shrugs. I honestley believe she was type 2 - which, to me, explains why she would be offended if people knew she had diabetes (because, in a way, the disease was by her hand, and continues to be so should she not choose a lifestyle change and then the possibility of remission. She also fit the physical persona of type 2, I believe).

Some people just don't understand, I suppose. But one of the best things we can do is present the correct information and shrug their bad attitude, etc.

Its not stupidity it is unawareness about the disease. If there were more programs and better awareness about diabetes, especially the differences between type 1 and 2 we all wouldn't get so frustrated with people. I agree with Melanie that we have to educate as many people as we can. Even if it seems annoying at least 1 less person will be misinformed.

I somewhat agree with you.  sometimes we are put in positions due to circumtances that we learn more than we ever wanted to.  When one is diabetic or a family member of a diabetic, we are put into the position of Having  TO LEARN. Be fore that, we just learn from limited exposure.  Experence is the greatest educator.  some people are also just plain insensitive.  We need to show compassion and understanding for the underinformed and consider where they are coming from.

What a great time to educate someone

Very true, I agree with all of this. And then, if they choose not to recieve the information and then move forward applying it, telling otheres, etc. then while it is disappointing, it has been taken out of our hands. At least we've done our part.

Hey, that would be kind of an interesting post - how many people did you inform about diabetes today? Something along the lines of that, maybe.

The name of the post is "Illiterate" people which means they can't read. Maybe the name of this thread needs to be uninformed people? We can point them to the educating others group on Juvenation to learn more about diabetes. What do you think?

I think yes!

In the case of the OP's person in question it is more stupidity and ignorance rather than being ill informed.  Her first example I'm sure we have all seen and heard, the eating sweets leads to diabetes thinking.  That is misinformation.  Her other two statements are outright stupidity.  I don't know if the OP corrected her on any of her statements or if the woman just rattled off her wisdom without interruption.  The misinformed ask questions after they have been corrected.  The ignorant do not.  We have all experienced both. 

After sharing with my friends that my 5 year old grandson was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so many of them attributed it to diet!!  it was shocking to receive these comments from apparently very intelligent and well educated people.  i think the misinfo epidemic is out there and we all in cluding JDRF need to continue to work on passing on the correct info.