I don’t generally hide my diabetes from people who already know me. I have, when meeting someone new, not directly mentioned it. I think I do this because I want others to know me because of who I am, not because of what I have.

 

Caitlin, 13 years old

 

How did your pancreas break?
Well, sometimes kids ask me “How did your pancreas break?” I say, “I don’t really know.” Sometimes they say like, “When did this happen?” I say, “I don’t really know.”

Brady, 7 years old

 

Stop making fun of me
They call it “dia babies” and I say, “Stop making fun of me.”

Thomas, 9 years old

 

Explaining diabetes to friends
I usually tell them that I have a special disease. You can’t catch it. I just have to watch what foods I eat. I have to use this little machine. It’s like a little calculator, a little computer.

Julie, 14 years old

 

At first, my friends would always say, “Well, how’s your blood sugar? Are you low? Are you high?” or, “Can you have this?” I’m like, “Yes, I can have it. I just have to take my insulin to cover it.” I tell them, “I can have it. I just can’t have as much so stop asking me questions!”

 

Julie, 14 years old

 

They can ask questions
I don’t mind if people ask. It’s just when they stare, like when I’m in the nurse’s office doing my blood sugar. Or when I’m doing it and someone walks by and says, “Oh, don’t look at that.” Especially with parents and little kids. They tell them not to look, it’s not polite. Like, I don’t care. They can ask questions. I’ll answer them.

Julie, 14 years old

 

It is very hard to be diabetic in school
It is very hard to be diabetic in school because when I’m in school and it’s someone’s birthday, I’ve always got to be the one that’s left out. That’s been going on since elementary school.

Andre, 18 years old

 

I used to get teased about it
I used to get teased a little bit about it. Like, if they saw me taking my needle at night, if I had a sleepover or something, they were like “Eww”. I just let them know what I have and how it is very serious and stuff, I just let them know that there are certain things I can eat and there are certain things I can’t. I explain it and then they don’t tease me like that anymore.

Alisha, 20 years old

 

All my friends know about my condition
When I was first diagnosed I explained all the basics to my friends. As I have made new friends it has usually come up at one time or another and I simply explain the situation. All my friends know about my condition and understand why I may make certain changes to my diet or activities.

Sarah, 23 years old