I couldn't agree more. More 14 year old type 1 daughter suffers from the people around her every day. The comments I get are " do you feel guilty you fed her all that junk and made her sick" or just the other day a sport teacher said to her after finding out she was diabetic in front of the class " wow you are so skinny your not overweight at all you look so healthy" she gets so angry with these comments. I think a big problem is advertising it's all negative.

I completely agree. It infuriates me to see a news article referring to diabetics as a "generic" term for people with diabetes. Typically, the stories are revolving around Type 2 diabetics. Which is what fuels the ignorance of those who think everyone with diabetes developed the disease from a poor diet and lack of exercise.

meagan, I got 10 brothers and sisters and iam last to the baby and noone told me that my mother was a type 1 and died of a heart attack right before my eyes my dad never had a ortopsie to find out what she passed away from until i 48years old and i got the bad news that igot it and then people in the family said oh ma was type 1 and i said to them thanks for the info now that iam sick.

I got Type I diabetes at age 31 -I was very slim, on a macrobiotic diet for nearly 2 years, and did lots of walking in the country. Everyone always asks me if I ate lots of sweets, and I always say almost every woman would have Type I Diabetes if that were the cause!

I see that two of the comments here already play the blame game, shaming Type 2s and saying, "oh, my kid's not one of *those*. *Those* people are the bad diabetics who brought it on themselves." First of all, we are as deserving of being called "people with diabetes" instead of seeing us as only a disease as any Type 1 is, and secondly, we didn't bring diabetes on ourselves either. Genetics plays a large role in Type 2 as well as Type 1. I think the blame game needs to stop all the way around and that the public should be educated in the fact that no person caused their own diabetes.

I agree with this article.
However, have a look at the cartoon on the email that accompanied this article - a person on a treadmill motivated by a candy cane. I've grown to try to avoid looking at the cartoons posted by Diabetes Health.

I was diagnosed 12 years ago with T2. I was embarrassed to tell anyone because my T1 cousin said anyone who gets T2 is because they're fat and lazy. Mine was caused by undiagnosed PCOS. So it's not just the media spewing falsehoods, it's also the discrimination of T1s against T2s. I used to visit a message board and the T1s were always making comments that T2s caused their disease.

Type 1 Diabetes needs to be renamed. Associations with Type 2 diabetes are inevitable, thanks largely to the media (cafeteria sign case example above) or lack of education in the general public. Auto-immune diabetes may be a better choice of name because I think any kind of wide-spread educational campaign will be pretty useless at this point. Also, celebrities or public figures that also spread incorrect information with regards to the causes or treatments of Type 1 Diabetes (case example is Halle Berry) also contributes to the ignorance that surrounds this disease.

I have been a type 2 diabetic since July 1991 and until now, I have not yet seen any similarity between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

What caused my diabetes? Eating the wrong foods and being lazy physically.

Since diagnosis, I have been eating the right foods for me (heart-healthy, natural, fresh (raw or cooked), unprocessed, and whole carbohydrates), and exercising every day. Guess what? From week 3 after my diagnosis and up to now, I have been living like I have no diabetes.

All so true. How about the offensive little comics in every issue of this very publication? Today it's a guy running on a treadmill to catch a candy cane with the caption saying, "it's the only way to get him to exercise." Really offensive.

It really is too bad that type 1 and type 2 diabetes are equated. Type 1 seems to be caused by a genetic susceptibility and a viral trigger (Cocksackie virus). There is nothing anyone can do to prevent type 1--it's truly just the luck of the draw.

Type 2 diabetes has been found to be 90% preventable through diet and exercise. So, there IS some blaming of the victim--which is not necessarily inappropriate. Still, 10% of the time, type 1 can't be prevented either. Since ignorance isn't going to stop, coming up with a few good responses might be the best way to cope.

AMEN. I agree that Diabetics always get looked at as lazy, stupid people, and If only they took better care of themselves they wouldn't be dealing with this disease. I am 49 band have been dealing with this disease since I was six years old. This disease is a day to day struggle and only those living with it can truly understand our frustration. Thank you for writing this overdue look at diabetes.

While many cases of Type 2 diabetes can be traced to diet and exercise (including mine), I also know of people who were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes even though they eat healthy foods and are very physically active. Sometimes you just lose the genetics lottery (I know one guy who is 5-11, 145 pounds with Type 2, but both parents and all of his siblings also had Type 2 even though they were bigger). I know several Type 1's, and many of them are incredibly active and diligent about their diets. Even with insulin pumps, they are always having to watch their glucose levels to make sure they don't drop too low. In some ways, if I had to get diabetes I'm glad it's Type 2 over Type 1 because my glucose levels don't go through some of the swings experienced by my Type 1 friends. My A1c is about 5.9-6.1 and I'm rarely hypoglycemic, even though I'm a 350-pound former football lineman who bikes to work and walks every place else (I got rid of my car to force me to exercise).

I am a Type II diabetic due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I walk 3-4 miles every day, eat a healthy well balanced diet and have relatively well controlled blood sugars (last A1C was 6.0). I did not cause my disease. My grandmother did not cause her disease. My brother did not caause his disease. My other brother did not cause his disease. My dad did not cause his disease. None of us were or for those still living are obese. All of us ate well and excercised.

This blame game (and out of the above 15 comments 11 are in some way continuing the blame game that Type II's are responsible for their own disease by their actions, choices and behaviors) has got to stop so that we can actually get something done to help the people who do have the disease!

I am a Type II diabetic due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I walk 3-4 miles every day, eat a healthy well balanced diet and have relatively well controlled blood sugars (last A1C was 6.0). I did not cause my disease. My grandmother did not cause her disease. My brother did not caause his disease. My other brother did not cause his disease. My dad did not cause his disease. None of us were or for those still living are obese. All of us ate well and excercised.

This blame game (and out of the above 15 comments 11 are in some way continuing the blame game that Type II's are responsible for their own disease by their actions, choices and behaviors) has got to stop so that we can actually get something done to help the people who do have the disease!

I's a pity, that we can discuss such a topic only in diabetec's forum. We know everything about it, but it's useless. People without diabetes don't read our posts here. Poor kids with DM! They suffer from discrimination at schools and everywhere since my childhood and ourdays... I agree, that DM type 1 need to be renamed. Autoimmune beta-sells desease for example...

My husband is a type 2. His 2 siblings are both type 2, as was his mother and all 4 of her siblings. There is definitely a genetic basis, though I agree that diet & exercise play their part.

It's about time that people get educated about diabetes. Both my parents and all my grandparents had diabetes. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 42 years old. I was very active working as a contractor but couldn't ultimately dodge that bullet. As recently as just two years ago, my employer's misconception of diabetes cost me company growth and finally my job because he believed my care requirements hampered my ability to do my job. Of course, he never said these beliefs openly but his questions and insinuations evidenced his false understandings. Coincidently, he was diagnosed with diabetes just a week before he laid me off as "... not being a reliable employee for the future in a more competitive economy ..." whatever that means.

So that this won't be anonymous, my name is Buzz Haughton, Sacramento, CA.

I agree with Meagan to a certain extent. However, I do think that with type 2, the person's dietary and exercise behavior can have a major influence on whether the genetic predisposition manifests itself.

Nothing makes me madder than waiting in line to buy groceries at my local supermarket and seeing some "diabetic" magazine in the checkout line advertising "healthy" cupcakes, cakes, etc. All of this stuff is rubbish! Any diabetic who thinks they can eat this trash and maintain a good BG level is deceiving themselves, and this sort of propaganda, complete with cute color pics of all sorts of confections, only adds to the mountain of misinformation.

Diabetics, type 1 and 2 alike, need to LIMIT THEIR CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE. Period. No exceptions.

I belonged to a diabetes listserv for about a decade, and the type 2s spent almost all of their time talking about food. Get over it! Do something else! Otherwise, you can look forward to a life of increasing disability and eventual death from complications.

(P.S. Full disclosure: I'm a type 1 of 44 years' duration.)

I am 52 years old and have had Type 1 diabetes since 2000. When I was diagnosed, my sister told me "it's your nerves" that caused the diabetes. My sister uses that excuse for everything. Of course, when I went to Joslin, they assured me it wasn't my nerves. This same sister then said, "so and so has diabetes and was able to go off shots because he exercised". My doctor then told me that the person has Type 2. My doctor told me too, that it's hard that when people like myself (with Type 1) think they can get off shots with diet and exercise, it's hard to tell us we can't. We all know having diabetes sucks. If only these know it all's could live with diabetes for a day...............Have a nice day everybody!

I try to write the media whenever the need arises, to clarify an article on generic "diabetes" that is on "prevention", diet and lifestyle as factors, or "reversing' "curing" etc. I have been told many times that editors tell writers that there is not enough space to go into the difference between type 1.

My tiny 4 year old daughter (now 22) got type after coxsackie and yes, it runs in the family. The insensitivity she grew up is astounding. It goes beyond this issue. How about the stress of watching your daughter play soccer at age 5, after an insulin shot (before the pump), needing to pull her out with a blood sugar of 43, give her juice while hovering, and telling her she cannot go back in, while she cries. What exactly do you think the other people at that game was going on? And if we try to explain, we look even crazier.

I think tghe JFRD folks don't want to lose the association between type 1 and 2 because without the type 2's, it is an orphan disease. And the type 2's (ADA)don't mind the association because it means children for photos and fundraising, and a very serious disease indeed, one that can kill overnight in some cases.

I totally totally agree type 1 should be called autoimmune diabetes. It is an autoimmune disorder, and is often accompanied by other autoimmune problems. My daughter has systemic lupus, endometriosis, celiac, epilepsy. Seriously. And people want to blame her diet!!

Doctors and nurses don't always know anything about this either. (The other day my daughter was in the college infirmary and the MD asked if she had eaten anything. The he gave her a lecture on how people with diabetes need to eat or they have problems. Geez, 14 years of complicated care and self-care- you guys know - and he informs her of what he read on his one page of diabetes in medical school, which is outdated to boot.

ALS has raised awareness and funds through clever approaches and passion. We need to do this for type 1 diabetes, er, autoimmune diabetes.

Amd JDRF needs to go back to pursuing the implantable pump, not the artificial pancreas!!

ps Green Lantern, what do you mean that 10% of the time type 1 cannot be prevented? Do you mean 100%? Please clarify because that is very misleading.

This is a very touchy subject. We need to remember that everyone is different and blame does no one any good. My two boys were diagnosed with T1 at the age of 2, and I would have given anything to fix it. I think the frustrating thing for T1s is that they know that many, not all, T2s could be "cured" with proper diet and exercise. That being said, diabetes is not easy for anyone and my sympathies go out to anyone - T1s or T2s - living with this insidious disease.

I hear what's been said bout nondiabetics saying u cause this urself becauseu don't take care of urself I'M a big woman and have been all my teen/adult lifti waz diagnosed in 2005 and My body waz/is going though changes since thenbut My body is not happy w me now that I'm a diabetic and when I ask 4 help from the doctor or a nondiabetic their like do this or that 2 get the wight off. I changed my eatting an drinking habits and ended up almost going 2 surgry b4 finding out what waz wrong. So I'm just saying some of the healthfull stuff out there can make it harder 2 do what's right

listening to a congresswoman recently, i was stunned to hear her infer that diabetes happens to people of poor character. that's why they made poor health choices and that's why they are sick. and this,mind you, coming from a person that could affect publtc policies.i am truly saddened.

Meagan is absolutely correct both in her approach and her response to the blame game with diabetes. This blame game comes from so many different areas it really is hard to fathom what prompts people to make uneducated, uncompassionate and perhaps dangerous remarks. The reality is hard for both types of people with diabetes and certainly not just diabetes but for anyone with any disease.

The suggestion about renaming type 1 diabetes, although good in theory, is just one facet. A strong campaign to bring awareness would be great but most find the concepts too complicated to grasp. Just a thought, and perhaps this may seem amusing to some people, renaming type 1 diabetes to auto-immune diabetes might be misread as a.i.d. which would just add to the confusion of one disease versus another. The unfortunate people who developed Aids have enough on their plates to deal with.

Thanks for reading this. Written by a 46 year veteran with T1D from the age of 3 1/2 years old.

I have read articles that indicate that there is a correlation to diet and Type 1 since the more activity by beta cells the more likely to induce the immune response. That said, you still need to be genetically 'broken' to develop type 1. Ignorant people are plentiful and like a certain part of the body they all have an opinion. You just have to ignore it and I blame the scientific and media communities for lumping type 1 with type 2 and perpetuating the ignorance. Type 2 is a lifestyle disease so to me, it doesn't count since its avoidable. No Different than someone who smokes cigarettes or abuses alcohol and gets sick. It was a choice. Unfortunately, we have children becoming grossly obese at terribly young ages and it's due to many reasons, but mostly the parents inability to say no or eat right themselves. If I knew how to avoid type 1 over 30 years ago I would have!

MEGAN, you missed the point of the apple and the donut. As a T1 DB and don't take care of yourself, you will develop complication- your fault.DB is NOT a genetic disease and T11 DB is reversible by surgery, eating the proper foods and exercising.Several DB clinics have proven this.DB is the #1 health issue in America and 50% of the population will have it.I worked with Certified DB Educators (nurses and pharmacist ) for 10 years and they
can help you understand this disease, both T1 and T11, so you can educate others and stop the blamegame.Retired pharmacist