Why 'Eat Less Sugar' Doesn't Help

I remember the remarks I received from others following my diagnosis. They would say things like, “You should have avoided sweet stuff,” or they’d send me "inspirational" videos of other T1D patients who have "succeeded" in life." Although they believed they were being helpful, these comments were extremely frustrating and did not aid me in any way.

This kind of advice comes from a common but harmful misconception, that T1D is caused by a poor diet or lifestyle. It makes it seem like my diagnosis was my fault, or my parents’ fault for not giving me a healthy diet. It also creates the pressure to prove your worth, like you have to show that you can still be “successful” despite having a condition you never chose. These words, however well-intentioned, add a layer of shame and a feeling of being misunderstood that no one should have to go through.

The truth is, T1D has nothing to do with what I eat. We didn’t get it because of a bad diet or bad eating habits. And we don’t need to put pressure on ourselves to prove anything to anyone. The fact that we deal with this every single day, that alone is enough.