Opinion : Diabetes is not a punchline

Jasneh Sasan

The disease that kills nearly 2 million people annually, according to the World Health Organization, has turned into the subject of inappropriate jokes, jabs, and jests. Despite impacting nearly 500 million people across the globe, many refuse to acknowledge the gravity of diabetes.

Unlike most cancers, cardiovascular ailments, and aging symptoms, diabetes is often caused by lifestyle issues such as sedentarism, inadequate nutritional intakes, and overconsumption.

Because of this, many associate the disease with fatness, laziness, and gluttony. They consider diabetes a “self-imposed” disease, creating a sense of intolerance for diabetics.

Perhaps this misconception stems from a lack of understanding surrounding the complex ailment. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1, in which one’s pancreas does not produce insulin, and Type 2, in which one’s pancreas produces less insulin due to insulin resistance. Neither type is curable, but Type 2, in some cases, can be reversed in its early stages to limit the disease's impact on the patient’s body.

Many scientists call Type 2 diabetes a “slow poison” which, if gone untreated for an extended period of time, can cause muscle and organ damage as well as neuropathy, kidney diseases, vision loss, chronic heart disease, and much more.

Despite being one of the most deadly diseases in the modern world, diabetes has turned into the butt of jokes. It’s always, “Don’t eat too much sugar, you’ll get diabetes.” or, “I had a slice of cake and now I think I have diabetes.”

Society has created a stigma around the disease without even understanding its nuances. Contrary to popular belief, diabetes isn’t caused by eating too much sugar, nor is it caused by eating in large amounts. In fact, the cause cannot be attributed to one or a few lifestyle choices. According to the World Health Organization Many factors are involved, and several gene mutations have been associated with a higher risk of diabetes.

Diabetes isn’t a reflection of bad lifestyle choices, and it certainly isn’t a punishment for bad choices. Despite this, people are quick to blame diabetics for their own suffering, especially if the diabetic is overweight.

Because of this, many diabetics live in the shame of their diagnosis— or worse, blame themselves for their condition.

According to DiaTribe, a diabetes research center, diabetes stigma can have negative impacts on diabetics’ mental and physical health, sometimes even resulting in higher blood sugar numbers. Some diabetics attempt to hide their condition by skipping meals to forgo taking their Insulin or oral medications before mealtimes.

Diabetes, contrary to popular belief, isn’t merely a physical burden. For many, the mental battles prove to be more daunting challenges.

Diabetics are often forced to take full responsibility for their condition-- managing their weight, prioritizing physical activity, and practicing restrictive eating. Daily blood glucose checks can be difficult, daily spikes amount to failure, and uncontrollable lows seem to appear at the most inconvenient times.

So no, diabetics don’t want to be told they should’ve gone to the gym more often, they don’t want to be lectured on their eating habits, and they don’t want to be guilted for cheat days.

The only way to fight diabetic stigma is for people to understand that diabetes isn’t “eating too much sugar” or being “too fat.” It is a serious medical condition that takes as much of a mental toll as a physical one.

Because of this, it is vital for communities to stop perpetuating incorrect stereotypes about the disease. Inappropriate jokes, pitiful glares, and unwarranted dietary advice creates a suffocating environment for people who are already battling a very complicated ailment.

Most importantly, it’s necessary to realize that diabetics are not at fault for their condition, nor are their families or friends. Diabetes is much more complicated than an unchecked sweet tooth or a penchant for snacking.

So, let's settle the diabetes debate: it's not a joke—stop treating it like one.