Q: A lot of people think that I fed my daughter too many sweets,
and that's how she ended up with diabetes. How do I deal with
uninformed people, and what do I say to those who don't
understand that type 1 diabetes is different than type 2
diabetes? A: Many people's experiences with diabetes is limited
to knowing an adult with type 2 diabetes. So it's little
surprise that a significant number of people simply don't know
very much about type 1 diabetes or the differences between the
two conditions. Still, when an acquaintance or family member
asks you a question that seems to imply you gave her too many
sugary foods or did something else to make her sick, it's easy
to feel defensive. As the father of a child with type 1
diabetes, I know firsthand how hurtful these questions are. In
my role as a doctor working with families affected by the
condition, my best advice is always to be prepared. If you're
confident in your own knowledge about diabetes, it becomes much
easier to quickly diffuse awkward comments. In f