People Can't Accept What They Don't Understand- So Make Them Get It!

It's common sense really that manages to dictate to us that people in general have a hard time accepting something that they do not understand. It has come to my attention, more so recently, that teenagers in particular are having trouble finding acceptance of their diabetes from their friends, this appears more so when the person is diagnosed in their teenage years.

Personally, I consider myself incredibly lucky. I was diagnosed when I was 4 (nearly 5) and my friends, though not really having such a grasp on all the medical jargon, had a good enough grasp of what I was saying in order for them to accept and understand that I might be a tad different to them, but that was no reason to treat me so. I find young children are so much more accepting, they don't question as much the logisitcs, they will question the situation, and then it seems to miraculously make sense, and if it doesn't they will pursue it, but not with such caution, resulting in them not treating you as though you have been contaminated. The problem of being diagnosed in your teenage years, is that teenagers aren't as likely to accept change or understand the differneces. Again I was very lucky, my close friends at school seemed to think that if I was going to be late for dinner on account of going to the school nurse to inject, then they would be too, and they came with me. One lunch time supervisor hated this, in fact she tried to tell my pastoral manager that I wasn't really diabetic- Like I didn't have anything better to do with my time then visit the school nurse every day! But apart from her, I was accepted for all of me, if my sugars were bad, I was still accepted and they knew how to help, otherwise it was never mentioned, we had an unspoken understanding about this.

What I'm trying to say, is if your friends don't accept you, it's because they don't understand the rather obvious differences. So make them! Sit down and tell them how it is. Most of my mates have had their blood sugars tested out of their own personal curiosity- it helped them to understand what I do every day. They understand that if I'm doing an injection, I don't like people looking, and so very diplomatically the lot of them continue with their conversations as though nothing is happening, and I love them for that. It is possible to get understanding from friends- I'm living proof, it just might take some time is all :)

Keep Smiling
Love, Tutti-Frutti
xxx