Debunking Common Misconceptions About Diabetes: Insights from Amalie Groom

by Laaibah Amjad

Diabetes is often shrouded in misconceptions and misunderstandings, with many people holding incorrect beliefs about it causes, symptoms and impacts. In a recent interview, Amalie Groom, who has type 1 diabetes, shared her personal experience and insights to clarify these common myths and educate the public and true nature of this condition.

One of he most pervasive myths is that all diabetes is the same and primary caused by lifestyle choices. Amalie, however, emphasised the crucial distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. She explained, “I am type 1 diabetic, which is autoimmune illness. This means it is not caused by lifestyle factors; instead, your body attacks the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. It is often linked to genetics and can be hereditary. For instance, my younger sister is also a type 1 diabetic.”

Type 1 diabetes requires rigorous management, including a regular blood sugar monitoring and insulin administration. Amalie describe her daily routine, stating, “Type 1 diabetics, have to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels. I have a continuous glucose monitor on my stomach and have to take insulin via insulin pump and/or injections.” This contrasts sharply with type 2 diabetes, where the body becomes insulin resistant, or the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 is most commonly associated with lifestyle factors such as extra weight or inactivity, although was quick to note that this is not the case in every instance.

“There us a very common stereotype about diabetes that it is a disease caused by eating too much sugar or being obese,” Amelie noted. “This misconception has led to my sister and me receiving some very hurtful comments.” She recounted a particularly impactful incident from her childhood. “When I was 13, a girl at my school, a girl at my school asked me in front of a large group, ‘Do you regret eating so much sugar that got you diabetes?’” Such misconceptions are not just hurtful but also indicative of a broader lack of awareness. Amalie stated, “Ignorance towards type 1 diabetes is often simply caused by misconceptions and a lack of awareness, largely due to minimal media representation.” She pointed out that jokes like “I’m going to get diabetes from eating this” further fuel false information and misunderstandings.

Amalie also highlighted the challenges of living with diabetes, which go beyond mere physical health. “Life with diabetes is a balancing act,” she said. “All the planning and continuous monitoring can be absolutely exhausting all the time, but one day have lots of hypos (low sugar), or my levels may fluctuate massively, or stay level.” The fluctuations in blood sugar levels can have serious consequences. “Low or high blood sugar levels make me feel very unwell, affecting my mobility and brain activity at that point in time. The change in blood sugar levels can be very dangerous, but it is a regular occurrence as a result of living with type 1 diabetes,” Amalie explained. Factors such as hormones, stress, anxiety, and even temperature can impact sugar levels, making some activities challenging.

Another common reaction Amalie encounters is people’s shock upon learning she has diabetes. “Whenever I tell people that I am diabetic, I am always met by a very shocked response. People often say, ‘You don’t look diabetic.’ Or ‘I wouldn’t expect someone like you to have diabetes.’ This once again shows ignorance surrounding the condition; diabetes does not have a certain ’look’”. This is a common occurrence for a lot of individuals with hidden disabilities.

Amalie finds it particularly frustrating that type 1 and type 2 diabetes share a name despite being very different conditions with very different causes. She stated that the term ‘diabetes will unfortunately always have negative connotations, “It’s important to remember that, although on the surface things can seem well managed and not obvious, all the planning and continuous monitoring can be exhausting.”

Amalie Groom’s insights serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of awareness and understanding in combating the stereotypes and misinformation that surrounds this condition.