Type 2 Diabetes - Who Should You Share Your Diabetes Diagnosis With?

Finding out you have Type 2 diabetes can make you feel sad, scared, frustrated, or even angry. And once you come to terms with it yourself, telling other people you have this form of diabetes can be difficult. You may not be sure what their reaction will be and how you'll deal with it.Here are some tips for telling other people about your diabetes...First, decide who you want to share the news with. Of course, you'll need to tell your immediate family members. You may not want to tell your employer over concern it will affect your job. You don't have to tell them, but you may want to if your Type 2 diabetes will affect your job. For example, if your job involves operating machinery, low blood sugar can be a risk. You may also want to inform your employer so they'll know why you may have to miss work for medical appointments. And when you tell them, remember you will be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).You can decide who else you want to tell. It's a personal decision, and there's no right or wrong answer. You may want to let friends and other family members know if you eat meals with them often.


When you tell your family about your diagnosis, they may feel worried or scared. They may treat you like you're sick, and they may want to help you. Or they may want to know more about the disease. You can reassure them you're going to manage your blood sugar levels to prevent or control any diabetic complications, and you'll be okay. You can ask them to treat you the same as they did before, and ask them for any support you need. Let them know the best way they can help you. For example, you can ask them to join in on exercise with you. Or you could ask them to make some healthy eating changes along with you.It's a good idea to teach your family a little about Type 2 diabetes. You can let them know about signs and symptoms of low blood sugar, so they can help you watch out for any of the signs. You can also teach them about blood sugar levels and what affects them. And let them know sometimes you won't be sure why your blood sugar gets too high, and ask them to please support you as you figure it out.