I often cringe at diabetes awareness posts on social media. Not because I think we shouldn't spread awareness but because most of the ones I have come across tend to stress how horrible and dangerous it is to live with this disease. These posts often sound like we are constantly on the brink of death. Of course a completely wrong dose of insulin can kill us, but so can driving a car into a tree and nobody makes posts to raise awareness for drivers.
I am not sure what this message even tries to accomplish. I don't want people to think I am fragile because of this disease. And I especially don't want people to feel like they need to take care of me or be scared for me. That just puts pressure on the other person and the relationship (and annoys me to no end when anybody thinks they have a better idea of what I need than myself). Not that there is anythinig wrong with asking for help. But if I need it I will ask for it myself. In the situation where I need it.
In my 13 years as a type 1 diabetic I haven't once been seriously worried that I might die due to this disease (unless it's from secondary diseases in like 50 years). I realize that there are some groups who have a higher risk for this than me, mainly diabetics without insurance who can't afford their medication and those whose other health conditions make it harder to tell when they are low. However in my experience having diabetes does not generally put your live in any imminent danger and I would like for awareness campaigns to stop their fearmongering and pretending that it does.
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