I have to admit that I did a bit of a "rage comment", sort of like a rage bolus- on this New York Times article. I tried to read it through the eyes of the average, non-diabetic person, and thought it did a poor job of separating Type 1 and Type 2. And maybe I was more angry about some of the comments on the article or just the general lack of understanding. Hence the rage comment by "insulin dependent"...

• 95.
  July 2nd,
  2008
  3:06 pm

  Writing about Type 1 and Type 2 as if you can control them in the same manner is so misleading- just because both involve insulin and a myriad of complication does not make them the same disease. This article continues the media tradition of lumping the two together. Being a Type 1 Diabetic is like being a non-smoker diagnosed with lung cancer. Most people you reveal your diagnosis to assume you brought it upon yourself.

  The common thinking goes, if you don’t want lung cancer, don’t smoke! So if you don’t want diabetes, don’t eat so much sugar/just lose some weight! It’s hard to deal with the silent judgment and open ignorance that is placed upon me because of the word ‘diabetes’. This article makes a distinction between the two early on, but then goes on to generalize that diabetes can be managed with ‘lifestyle changes’. I could work out for hours each day and be 20 pounds underweight and I would still need to inject insulin and check my blood sugar at least ten times a day. And after years of diligent self-care, my body will likely end up ravaged by this disease.

  I’m not saying that anyone deserves Type 2, but I certainly did not deserve Type 1, at 12 years old. And I would like a little respect.

  — Posted by insulin dependent