Should You Share Your Diabetes Diagnosis with Others?

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you will have to decide if you want others to know about your condition. Outside of your immediate family, you may have reservations about having a diabetes conversation with friends and colleagues, especially those who do not understand what is diabetes.  

Your reluctance to have a diabetes conversation may come from concern over being judged about your weight or improper eating habits, such as consuming too much sugar, which can increase the risk of getting the disease.  While some people may imply that you are at fault for getting the disease, others may convey pity, which can make you feel ashamed.  And some who do not understand the cause of the disease may offer unsolicited advice based on something they read, which has yet to be verified.

At a time when you are grappling with lifestyle changes, you need to be positive and maintain your self-confidence. Opening yourself up to others to have a diabetes conversation can be risky because the response may reinforce your own negative feelings and put you on the defensive.  Trying to explain to others what is diabetes may add to your stress and anxiety.

Build your support group

While you are not obligated to let others know about your condition and explain what is diabetes, there are reasons for a diabetes conversation with family and close friends so they know what to do if you need help. Here are five things you can ask of your support network to help them manage your condition.

Become knowledgeable: You might suggest one of your support team attend a support group, where both you and your friend or family member learn ways to cope with the disease and the feelings that accompany having diabetes.

Attend doctor’s appointments:  Invite someone who is helping you manage your condition to attend a doctor’s appointment with you. The more they understand about your condition medications and potential problems; the more they can help you when an issue comes up.

Encourage healthy eating: Your support team can be part of your decision making when it comes to healthy eating. This does not mean you are encouraging someone to hover over you at mealtime, but it will help if your network understands what your best meal choices are.

Participate in exercise or other outside activities: Exercise can be more fun when you have someone to do it with. Your friend or family member will also benefit if they join you in exercise activities. If not exercise, someone may want to participate with you in an extracurricular activity – card games, joining a volunteer organization or helping at community events – to keep your spirits up and your attitude positive.

Be encouraging and positive:  While you are doing your best to maintain your daily diabetes management regime, you may suffer setbacks at times. Let your support team know that you value encouragement to stay on track, although nagging may cause guilt and discouragement. You look forward to positive suggestions and advice.

How to have the “diabetes talk”

When you are ready to have a diabetes conversation about your condition with others, whether to build your support group or to avoid awkward social situations – such as at dinner parties when there are foods you cannot eat – here are suggestions for going about it. [1]

Suggest a familiar place:  If there is a place where you always meet, suggest going there to talk. The conversation may be easier to have if it is in an environment that is familiar and comfortable.

Explain what is diabetes: Explain what having the disease means for you and the changes you will have to make in your lifestyle. Answer their questions. You may find having more than one conversation will help them understand the full scope of how things will change for you and for them, if they are close.

Keep it simple:  Keep the explanation and terms you use simple. For the first conversation, do not talk about the potential complications of the disease, such as heart and kidney problems, neuropathy and retinopathy.

Be clear about how they can support you:  Discuss the various ways they can provide support to help you manage the disease or come to your aid if you have a problem. They may offer ways to provide support you had not considered.

Who you tell and how much you decide to share about having diabetes is up to you. The advantage of telling others is to build a support network to help if you have a medical problem and boost you up when you feel down. Just make sure that the people you bring into your circle are the ones who can provide the support you need.