You can't eat that

I've read on a few different diabetic forums where parents, mainly mothers, of Juvenile Onset diabetic children/young teens, get really upset at family members or close friends who wonder why their child are allowed to eat cake, candy... things that contain sugar.  Especially when the parents, again generally the mother, has told them the child can eat those items with no problem.  They honestly believe that person is being mean or just doesn't get it.

I think parents need to remember a few things.  Most family members and friends aren't living with diabetes on a daily basis.  The media doesn't cover juvenile onset or type 1 as much as they do type 2.  So most people don't realize that juvenile onset/type 1 and type 2 are not the same disease.

When I was diagnosed, back in 1965, there were not as many type 2 diabetics running around.  Nor as many of us Juvenile Onsets either.  If a kid had diabetes, they were not suppose to have sugar because it could raise their blood sugar rapidly. 

Remember parents of children in the 21st century, WE DID NOT HAVE PUMPS OR HOME GLUCOSE MONITORS.  Generally we had one injection of insulin a day.  We tested our urine for sugar.  If your family members/friends are in their 40's or older, that is what they were taught or heard.  It is extremely difficult for them to hear that your child can have whatever they want because they have a "pump" on their body.

Have you really sat down and explained to them that your kid pushes a button that puts the insulin into their body so they can eat the sugared item?  That they or you are checking their blood sugar levels regularly, or they have a CGM?  That it won't kill them even if they have the extra sugar?  Have you mentioned to your family and friends that there are plenty of juvenile onset diabetics out there in the world, that never had a pump and don't have any complications and had sugar every day? 

You need to remember that if you don't live with this disease, you don't understand it.  Getting angry because uncle Joe or your best friend Amy thinks your risking your son or daughters life isn't because they think you're a bad parent, it's because they don't understand anything about being a diabetic or living with one.