This is a bit of a Type 1 rant, but I have a question I’m hoping other people with Type 1 can help answer: what can we do to clarify the fact that Type 1 diabetes cannot be reversed by changing your diet? Over the past couple days, I’ve had a number of very well-meaning people suggest that I learn more about raw food and its abilities to cure my diabetes. I appreciate their concern — but it reflects a misunderstanding of what this disease actually is. Namely, I don’t have any islet cells. I cannot make insulin. You can feed me all the zucchini “lasagna” you want — I am not going to be cured till someone figures out a way to a. get me more islet cells and b. keep my body from knocking them off again.
I don’t mean to sound like a hater — really, I don’t. (God knows, this is far better than hearing from people who write me comments saying that having diabetes is my fault.) I also think that eating more raw food, as long as it’s focused on vegetables, not fruit and sweets, definitely can help control your blood sugar — not necessarily because the foods are raw, but because there just aren’t many carb-y vegetables that we we eat uncooked. But in terms of curing my diabetes, the unfortunate truth is that cooked, raw — it doesn’t matter. My problem is in my pancreas. And while I try my best to eat healthy foods (oftentimes raw), there’s only so much my diet can do.
I tried to educate them on T1 versus T2….
“Oh, you must think I have Type 2 diabetes. Diet helps with that. I have Type 1. It’s really different…my cells that produce insulin are just plain gone and diet’s not going to bring them back.”
It didn’t work, but it sounded good…
Uhhh, I get it. I hate that!!!! Story of my life.
While I am a type 2, I can hear you. These people do not understand what the differences are between type 1 and type 2 or 1.5 and never will. There are so many people that feel we can cure ourselves if we just will listen to them. Until they actually have to walk a mile in your shoes, you need to ignore them politely unless they just won’t shut up. I am on insulin because of resistance and the fact that oral just does not afford me any control plus I do not like the side effects of some of the oral medications. My pancreas does produce some insulin so I am thankful for that, but I do not want to completely exhaust what capability it does have. Thanks for the post. People that don’t pay attention need this reminder from time to time.
Bob
Wow. Other than one very distantly related family member, I have never had to deal with that nonsense. I think, sadly, when confronted with such staggering levels of ignorance, it’s kind of like bailing out the Titanic with a teacup. I mean, where do you even begin with somebody who is so misguided? However, I would be sorely tempted to smile and say, “Yes! I’m so hopeful about the therapeutic possibilities of raw food for curing type 1 diabetes. Such a shame that it appears to be completely useless against ignorance.”
As for this –
(God knows, this is far better than hearing from people who write me comments saying that having diabetes is my fault.)
I am speechless.
I’m active on the CSL community forum and they asked me to write up my story after a cleanse we all did. here is the link: http://crazysexylife.com/2009/diabetes-meet-my-green-juice/
i had very positive responses from people, but of course there was the inevitable comment about being able to cure my diabetes by going raw. I was tempted to respond, but thought i’d just sound defensive or angry. Victoria Boutenko is big in the raw world and claims her son’s type 1 diabetes was cured by a raw diet, but it is pretty obvious he was a young Type 2. I read an interview with him where he described a pretty unhealthy diet preceding diabetes and weight loss after going raw, none of it fits with type 1. So yes, it is annoying that she encourages this misunderstanding. As does the movie about curing diabetes in 30 days, they really should identify that it is type 2.
I’m with you, raw food is healthy and I try to include some in my diet. But even if we starved ourselves all day we would still need insulin. this comment is too long, I guess the overall message is that I feel your pain!
Michelle S.
Frankly I have had very similar experiences and honestly believe that the time has come to name Type 1 and Type 2 something unrelated to each other. I was diag’d with Type 1 in my adult life (age 37) so saying “Adult-onset” or “juvenile onset” has no meaning either.
I am at a loss as to what names they should be but also believe that we will one day find there are subsets of both Type 1 and Type 2 (there is already Type 1.5 and Type 3 referenced in MSM from time-to-time…sometimes, depending on what description they use, I fall into the Type 1.5 category – try explaining that one to someone!).
Possible names (tongue slightly in cheek):
Autoimmune diabetes / Pancreas Interuptus
Non-autoimmune diabetes / Insulin-producing diabetes
I’m on board with the above comment that the names need to be changed. Type II has taken over the diabetes discourse in the world, and so I think it would be better if we just gave Type I an alternate name.
My most frustrating experience with this as of late was getting my flu shot, a middle aged male nurse technician giving the shot saw that I had put diabetes on my release form, and said to me – “oh, I’m pre-diabetic. I really have to watch what I eat to keep my sugars in check.”
Oh really? you’re in the health field and don’t know the difference? But it gives a small picture of what we’re up against.