Your Disability is Hilarious


WRITTEN BY: Angela Wing
 

Everyone gets really excited when someone brings sweets to work. The office is a buzz for about 10 minutes while the word spreads.

If you are at my place of employment then you also hear this shouted across several desks: “I brought donuts … SORRY, ANGELA. Ha ha ha.”

What the mother effin what?

“I’m buying everyone new shoes! SORRY, JOE WITH NO FEET. Ha ha ha.”

“Let’s all walk to the corner for lunch. SORRY, KIM IN A WHEELCHAIR. Ha ha ha.”

“Everyone gets tomorrow off for Family Day. SORRY, BLAKE THAT LOST ALL HIS FAMILY IN A HOUSE FIRE SO THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE MOST ARE DEAD. Ha ha ha.”

I don’t get it. I never have. The lack of understanding and insight into Type 1 diabetes is so vast. However, does that mean someone should make a joke of it? To the face of the person with the disease?

I know nothing of epilepsy. Nothing. But I’m not a d*ck wad. I would never say to an epileptic, “We are gonna rage with our strobe lights tonight. SORRY, HANNAH WITH EPILEPSY. Ha ha ha.” People would stop what they are doing and take it to the mattresses for poor Hannah. As they should.

But Type 1s, we kinda just have to take it. People think it is funny that food, or the lack thereof, may kill us.

Also, IT IS NOT OKAY TO SAY THINGS LIKE THAT TO A TYPE 2, A PRE-DIABETIC, OR A GESTATIONAL DIABETIC. It’s just not cool.

Read 7 Times TV and Movies Got Diabetes Wrong by Thor Jensen.

WRITTEN BY Angela Wing, POSTED 01/23/17, UPDATED 08/21/18

Angela Wing lives outside Chicago and has had type one since 1999, age 18. She is a single mom to two teenagers, has a cat that doesn't seem to like her, performs improv weekly in Chicago, and writes her little heart out hoping to make dolla bills. While she loves fruit snacks, she really wants a cure for T1. Until that day, she will use it as a comedic tool and excuse to get out of speeding tickets.

Read More

Diabetes and the Ketogenic Diet -

Ketogenic diet is one that is high in fat and very low in carbohydrates, resulting in the production of ketones to be used for fuel instead of glucose.

A Mother’s Cautionary Tale -

About two weeks before he died, I noticed a fruity odor on his breath when I was saying goodnight to...

Diabetes Management -

Diabetes management is about how lifestyle, daily routine and technology can affect blood glucose le...

10 Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar -

Even when you keep a close eye on your BGL, the unexpected can affect it. Here is our list of 10 things that you might not have realized affect your blood sugar.