People often assume that persons with diabetes all have the same experience. But from early symptoms to the diabetes diagnosis to managing diabetes, everyone has a unique story.
Diabetes is a condition that comes with specific symptoms, risk factors, and treatments. Yet every individual who’s diagnosed follows a different path.
Everyone Has a Unique Diabetes Journey
Although over 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), each one has a unique diabetes journey.[i] One person may have type 1 diabetes, while another may have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Individuals who have type 1 diabetes may have been diagnosed as children. Some people with type 2 diabetes aren’t diagnosed until late in life. A person with type 2 diabetes that started at age 50 will walk a different path than someone who’s had type 1 diabetes as long as they remember.
For some persons with diabetes, they’re already familiar with it because a family member had it, while others may have no family history. In certain cases, lifestyle changes alone may help, while other people require medicines to manage their diabetes.
The bottom line: there’s no two people who have the exact same diabetes journey.
Realize Trial and Error is Part of the Process
When you have diabetes, it’s easy to compare yourself to others. Maybe you ask yourself, well that person has diabetes and doesn’t have to take insulin, so why do I? Why doesn’t diet and exercise alone help me manage my blood sugar? Why didn’t the first medicine I took work for me?
It’s important to realize that trial and error is part of the process. Everybody responds differently to lifestyle changes and medicines. What works for one person may not work for you. Sometimes it takes some time working with your care team to find the treatment plan that helps you best manage your blood sugar, and every person’s treatment plan looks a bit different.
Remember Everyone’s Path is Different…Be Kind
Sharing your journey with others can inspire them, and it’s helpful to find support and community among other people walking a similar road. But what you have to remember is that everyone’s path is different. In that light, be kind to others who have diabetes. Share your experiences and challenges and things that work for you, but recognize that their road has its own twists and turns.
Sources
[i] https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab_1
https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/lessons-from-the-diabetes-journey/
https://www.uabmedicine.org/-/a-diabetes-success-story-and-how-to-shape-your-own-journey
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Medical or nutritional information on the mySugr website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a physician or health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
