Hello everyone!
I am currently a freshman in college in Massachusetts and I’m writing a paper on the diabetes community. I’m looking for insight from others, do you feel that having diabetes makes you a part of a community? How has being a part of the community helped you through diabetes? Any other comments or anecdotes on the topic are more than welcome!
Thank you,
Kasey
Hi Kasey
Being a long timer, no, I cannot state that I have ever felt any sense of community. With few exceptions
I’ve had diabetes for 10 years and I am not really sure if I would call it a “community.” It is something a lot of people tend to not talk about very openly.
I used to not be so open about it myself, but I’m the total opposite now and I found out talking is THE MOST helpful way to feel less alone! Though it’s not really a ‘community,’ the few people I’ve met who also have T1 are an amazing source of support. It’s a really comforting feeling knowing the things I experience- highs, lows, annoying comments of someone who’s uncles wifes sister has diabetes- are not just me alone, but nearly every other person who has this!
The biggest “community” I have found is actually on twitter/instagram. @T1Diabetes101 posts some pretty hilarious stuff and it connects you to other people with diabetes who are facing the same problems and trying making light of it.