Big deal! Eat right and exercise - it'll go away!

I am so tired of hearing this already... as if I did not know already that diabetes is caused by being fat and unhealthy and sitting on the couch all day doing nothing.  You know what?  That is so wrong and I have to admit even I did not know there was a difference in types of diabetes until I was diagnosed.

I was watching the Biggest Loser when one of the kids said her biggest fear was of getting diabetes, she went and met with her counselor who was so upset because she had to take a pill and 1 shot a day and check her blood sugar occasionally.  They said watch your diet and exercise so this will not happen to you.

Everyday somebody says watch your diet and exercise so you can come off your medicine or I knew somebody who beat this disease by diet and exercise...

Well, that's the difference with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.  With type 2 diabetes, your body still produces the insulin but just does not know how to use it properly.  Type 2 can be managed with diet and exercise alone for many, many people.  You can check your blood sugar once a day or even once a week, you can take a pill instead of shots, you might not even have to do that much.  You can also reverse your disease if you are doing your diet and exercise and lose weight.

Type 1 is a whole different story.  With type 1 diabetes, your body stops producing insulin altogether.  It is an autoimmune disorder and nothing to do with diet and exercise; however, diet and exercise will help to control the symptoms and the amount of medications you have to take.  With type 1 diabetes, you always have to take insulin shots to live.  It is a day long effort of sticking your finger, taking a shot, eating your food, sticking your finger, taking a shot, eating your food...  repeat, repeat, repeat.

Now, do not get me wrong.  I am not saying that one or the other is the worst disease, I am not saying that everybody that gets type 2 diabetes is fat and sloppy and brought it on themselves (there are family genetics to consider also).  What I am saying is that people need to know there is a difference in the types of diabetes and differentiate when they are "educating" the public about diabetes.