On to today’s topic, The Blame Game. Having diabetes often makes a visit to the doctor a dreaded experience, as there is invariably bad news of one kind or another. And sometimes the way the doctor talks to you can leave you feeling like you’re at fault. Or maybe you have a fantastic healthcare team, but have experienced blame and judgement from someone else in your life – friend, loved one, complete stranger. Think about a particularly bad instance, how that person talked to you, the words they used and the conversation you had. Now, the game part. Let’s turn this around. If you could turn that person into a puppet, what would you have them say that would leave you feeling empowered and good about yourself? Let’s help teach people how to support us, rather than blame us! (Thank you, Brian, for inspiring this topic.)
My goodness the world loves to judge and blame, don’t we? I can write for days on this topic, but instead I think I’ll stick with the one blame that makes me the most angry. The Complications Blame.
My distant relative had diabetes and had his legs amputated…..but he didn’t take care of himself.
You’d better take good care of yourself or you’ll go blind.
People with uncontrolled diabetes will get complications.
I swear, I feel like if I hear this one more time, I’m going to lose my mind. I mean, first people with diabetes get blamed for having it, and then get blamed again for having the complications that it brings. Listen up world – it doesn’t work like that. Nobody causes their own diabetes. And nobody causes their own complications. Our bodies and our condition is to blame.
So here is what that puppet, who is smarter than the general public, would say……
My distant relative had diabetes too. (Period, end of statement.)
You’d better take good care of yourself. In fact, we all should take good care of ourselves. Want to go for a walk together and then go get salads for lunch?
Some people with diabetes will get complications. And some will not. And I love you, so I hope you won’t. But if you do, I’m here for you.
You can find more The Blame Game posts listed here.
What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation and to sign up. You can also check out the Participant’s List here. And don’t forget to check out the DBlogWeek Facebook page here.