Annoying Things People Say to People With Diabetes

They mean well most of the time, but here are some of the stupidest things we’ve heard about diabetes.

  1. My grandma had diabetes. She lost her leg, then she died. (Thank you, that’s inspiring!)
  2. Did you just eat a lot of sugar and get diabetes?
  3. It can’t be that bad, you just need to watch what you eat, right?
  4. Are you going to go blind?
  5. Did you used to be fat?
  6. You shouldn’t be eating that. Aren’t you a diabetic?
  7. What can you eat?
  8. Just stop eating sugar
  9. Thank God I don’t have diabetes; I love sugar.
  10. Are you low? (Whenever you’re eating anything)
  11. Is it contagious?
  12. “I literally ate so much bad food today- I’m seriously going to give myself diabetes”
  13. You’ll die if you eat sugar, right?
  14. You have diabetes? You don’t look that fat. (Gee, thanks….)
  15. You take insulin? Oh, you must have the bad kind of diabetes. (Really? What’s the good kind?)
  16. Your child has diabetes? Did they get it because you fed them too much candy?
  17. Oh my god, can you eat that? You can’t eat that!
  18. That’s the disease that causes you to lose your legs, right?
  19. I heard you can cure that with diet and exercise. (Great, that sounds so easy!)
  20. So you just have to avoid sugar, and you’re okay, right?
  21. Why don’t you get a pump that just manages it for you?
  22. My friend’s daughter has one of those pump things that just manages it for her.
  23. Are you allowed to eat that? (Is it your job to police me?)
  24. You just have to take insulin sometimes, and you’re okay, right? (Yup! It’s that simple.)
  25. They say __(any random food)__ can level your blood sugars.
  26. Your kid has diabetes? Well, at least he can grow out of it.
  27. So you just have to, like, manage it and you’re fine? (Yup, except the “manage it” part is kind of huge!)
  28. You have diabetes? But it seems like you take such good care of yourself?
  29. You need to exercise more and you can cure it.
  30. Well, it’s your fault, right, for eating too much and not exercising?

About Scott K Scolnick

Scott has had Type 1 Diabetes for over 41 years. In his professional life, he has worn many different hats. He has worked for two pump companies for over 12 years.  During this time, he did talks around the country on dealing with the Emotional Impact of Diabetes.  In 2013, Scott had the opportunity to be a subject in the Beacon Hill Study, in Boston, using the Bionic Pancreas.  In 2015, he joined Boston University and was working in the College of Biomedical Engineering where he worked with Ed Damiano and his team on the Bionic Pancreas. Scott now works as the Director of Professional and Clinical Sales for DarioHealth.


Medical Disclaimer
The articles provided on this website are for informational purposes only. In addition, it is written for a generic audience and not a specific case; therefore, this information should not be used for diagnostic or medical treatment. This site does not attempt to replace the patient-physician relationship and fully recommends the reader to seek out the best care from his/her physician and/or diabetes educator.