No One Knows/We keep it a Secret

You should never be ashamed of an illness, look at all those who smoke, they don't hide the fact they smoke. In fact they demand to have the right to smoke. You should demand the right to be able to take your sugar levels, and medication, in public or in private. I don't mind seeing a woman nursing her baby in public, but many persons can't deal with it. That is their problem.
My son has special needs, I don't hide him away, I take him out in public and educate people about my son. I am very proud of him. So please don't feel ashamed or guilty for something you feel you did to yourself. Trust me there are many people out there who are like us who don't have diabetes, and if the way you feel guilty about yourself were true, they would all be ill too.

You go girl!!! Tell em like it is Marla…Debe

Thanks everyone; We are still going to keep up the work. Last summer 2006 I used to get him to walk 2 miles before work, 5am, and 2 hours after work, evening. But then I got sick. Maybe we will start wheelwalking. lol

Thanks everyone for all your information; I do need to get a health alert card, that is certain, and tell a few close relatives,too. Thanks for all the caring replies, very thoughtful of you. luv:->)

Today, I am going to start out by telling my closest (in proximatey) about my illness and how she could help; luv to all

That is a great first step. YOu will find it gets easier as you go. Good job

Well, after todays first doctor visit after diagnosis, and the outcome of AIc was 6.9 as opposed to 9.9 a little more than 3 months ago, and all his chlorestoral, blood pressure, heart meds, everything working so well and not to mention an average of 20lb, weight loss. I am going to shout to the rooftops. Thanks friends; I love you all. Claudia

GREAT job, Claudia…Keep up the good work. Lanore ;-)

Great Job:)

There is absolutely no reason to be ashamed about your diabetes. But it has only been 2 months and you will get more and more used to having people know. But until you do, please let me suggest this…carry something in your wallet that says you are a diabetic or wear a dog tag on a long chain so if, God forbid you have a health crisis, people will not think you are having a stroke or heart attack and can treat you for your diabetes. I've had experience with both these situations with my husband and thankfully the medics were smart enough to look for medical information.
As for me, I don't care who knows. I even tested in the lunchroom when I was working (after asking if it was OK) and have taken my Byetta shot in restaurants (I turn myself away of course). I pray everything works out well for you.
Take care and God bless.
Phyllis

It is a personal option. However, I told my family and friends and they were more supportive than I had ever imagined. Thank God I had; because I had an episode that if my friend was not informed to what to do, I could not imagine to what else could've happened to me.
Tonya

I used to kind of feel that I failed in life when I first found I was diabetic. I knew better, I didn't change anything to prevent it…so I felt guilty for a long time about it.

Now, however, I see how much I have changed my lifestyle. I see how far I have come without the help of meds. I see how much weight I have lost…so I use these things to share with people how diabetes has changed my life. FOR THE BETTER. I am kind of like John in that way. I strive to show people around me that my life really started after I was diagnosed, it didn't stop.

So no, I don't keep it a secret. I don't tell everyone I meet, but I am not afraid of "relating" to people with it and sharing.

Also, as many have said, how will people know how to help you if you cannot help yourself if you don't tell them what to look for? I don't suffer scary lows…yet. I have not had a life threatening high…yet. But it is foolish to not be prepared, so give those you love most, the information they are going to need to help you.

If I didn't know the signs of a low, I would not have known what to do to help my mom recently. She was not so bad she couldn't do for herself, but I got her what she needed and kept her up and got her sugar up. It was scary, I could only imagine if I found her unconcious and didn't know what to do.

I spend time with my husband and teach him how to deal with things for me. He helps me and we learn together. I make him a part of my control and it makes me feel safer.

That is your choice but telling others may open support that you didn't have before. Also if others know they can get you the right kind of help if needed.

I am just not sure that we want to face it yet; it has only been 2 months, I guess we just think it could be contained and no one will have to know;
luv:->)lilmarm

Why do you feel you have to keep it a secret? It is nothing to be ashamed of in the first place. You can not give your self diabetes.
I think the more people know about you the better they can help you if you were to have trouble of some kind. I tell everyone. Lanore :-)

Well, I probably don't even have to say this, because you all know me and my big mouth…LOL I tell everyone that will listen that I'm Diabetic, and to be honest proud of it. It is this disease that forced me to take control of my health and become not only a better person for it, but obviously a much healthier one besides.
As most know, I compete regularly in Tae Kwon Do competitions. I do this to show people , (including diabetics), that this disease does not have to be the once thought to be "death sentence".

Even if you "did do this to yourself", that does not mean you cannot do something to control it. Take pride in the fact that you are here sharing with us who understand, and that you ARE doing something about it.

You certainly are no "Second Class Citizen" because you have Diabetes, and you are an inspiration to many of us here with your encouragement and comments in all the discussions.

((((HUGS)))) John

John,

I just love your outlook on diabetes and share the same feelings. I think you hit it on the nose.
Hugs,
Lynda

Hugs to the puppies for me!

I totally agree with you John. I tell anyone who will listen and it's making me a healthlier person by making me watch what I eat instead of eating anything and everything. I'm losing weight which gives me more energy to keep up with my daughter(she's a handful).

I heard that high sugar (or maybe its low I don't know which) can make you seem drunk to other people. True or not I don't know.

I have actually seen someones blood sugar drop so low he was swaying back and forth and about to fall over. I was about to call the police because I thought he was drunk. Next thing you know he was laying in the middle of the parking lot at my work having a seizure. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen. He was our delivery guy when I worked at Eckerds. After the ambulance left and he was ok,he came inside to thank me for call 911 and told me that he hadn't a low like that in about 20 years and it hit him very quickly. Thank god he wasn't drving at the time. This is one reason why I check my blood sugars often.

I understand your hesitency to disclose your Diabetes. Somehow when illness strikes we need to blame someone or something for our misfortune. And then when we can't we blame ourselves.Diabetes is a personal matter. So is any disease but look how brave it was for those women early on who dared to go bald due to their chemo..Yes cancer is a private disease.But taking it out of the closet reduces the fear and society can accept what it doesn't fear.There was nothing that those women did to be afflicted with cancer no more than anything you did to get Diabetes. Disease is the lot that living creatures have to bare. Fortunately we live in a country where the greasy wheel gets the most attention. It was those Diabetics who came before us that got the insulin pumps.the continuous monitors,etc. They weren't afraid to say this is a lousy disease and there must be something better we can do.And lastly it can be a very dangerous and possibly life threatening if you keep it secret. Embrace your disease. It's easier to deal with if you face it head on. Good luck and blessings…

I do not feel ashamed that I am diabetic. I never have. It's not something that I did to myself. I am very open about it with anyone who asks me about it. It's a great way to educate people. I am also very open about my hep c. If I can help prevent even one person from contracting hep c or spreading hep c than I have helped a million.(that's probably not worded right but you get what a mean) Education is the key to survival.

Well, I guess I am still getting educated because I do not know about complications like diabetic coma, Thanks
:->)lilmarm

I think we are all still being educate. I, for one, have learned so much about diabetes since joining the site. Can one person ever really know it all. God bless this site.

I agree I have learned so much from all the good people on this site. I'm so glad I found all of you.

I would be afraid not to tell someone I was typell. What if your sugars go to low and no one knows what to do for you. You could go into a diabetic coma and die. I don't mean to sound scary but you should tell some one.

AMEN!

May I just say first off that you DID NOT give yourself diabetes, so don't think that. There are many reasons that we get this disease besides our lifestyle. It could be genetics or environmental.
I was overweight, but I also have a family history of diabetes and I served in Vietnam where the Army has taken responsibility for all service personnel with type 2.

Also you have to let people know. I tell everyone, and I wear my med alert bracelet. How would people know to help you if you started acting strange due to high or low blood sugars? I am not ashamed of my diabetes. I have diabetes, it doesn't have me.

I let all my friends know I am diabetic. It could mean a matter of life and death for me.I want them to be aware of my condition at all time.

I do want people to know all my conditions. I wouldn't want to down out in front of anyone and some think I had a heart attack and start CPR on me when all I needed was some sugar.(LOL) Who knows they could give you broken ribs by doing that…Debe

Firt of all, diabetes is not something you did to your self. It has never entered my mind not to let others know that I'm type 2. Most of my family deals with it, and a good many of my friends and acquaintances. We try to encourage and support each other - watch out for each other. We share information and tips and just generally get if off our chest when we're going through a bad time. I think you need a support system, and it does you good to support others at the same time. Don't dwell on it and talk about it constantly, but certainly do not keep it to yourself.

I don't keep mine a secret. Why? I would rather feel safe in case my sugars drop then at least someone would know what to do. My job knows, as do my family and friends.

I agree - depending on how bad you are, it may be dangerous for nobody around you to know about it. You don't have to tell everyone you meet. If you work, it would be a good idea to tell one or more co-workers. Better that someone knows so if you are low and shaky, they know how to help.

This isn't something you did to yourself and nothing to feel ashamed of. Just take care of yourself, hold your head high and be proud of who you are.

It is a personal choice but I don't think it is a good idea to keep it secret. I hid it from friends and family for awhile but found that they are all very supportive. The 1 friend that wasn't is no longer a friend. When we go out my friends try not to tempt me too much. LOL