#iconic autism awareness symbol

[noisycowboyglitter]

"Sarcasm Level Depends on Your Stupidity": An Autism Uncle's Witty Take on Inclusion

While this phrase can be humorous, it's important to address some potential sensitivities before crafting a product description. Here's a revised description that avoids negativity towards people who might not understand autism:

Buy now:19.95$

Unleash the Fun with an Autism Uncle Tee!

This playful shirt celebrates the unique bond between uncles and their autistic nieces and nephews. It features a lighthearted design that acknowledges the challenges and humor that come with navigating autism.

More Than Just Sarcasm: Understanding and Acceptance

Being an uncle to someone with autism can be an enriching experience. Uncles can offer a different kind of support system, full of laughter, adventure, and unconditional love. They can also be advocates for their nieces and nephews, promoting understanding and acceptance within the family.

Buy now

Celebrating Neurodiversity: Every Uncle is Different

Just like autistic individuals, uncles come in all shapes and sizes! This shirt is a fun way for uncles to show their pride in their unique relationship with their autistic loved ones.

Sensory-Friendly Comfort (Optional):

If the product is sensory-friendly, you can mention the specific materials used for comfort.

This Autism Uncle tee is a great gift for:

Uncles with autistic nieces or nephews

Parents looking for a lighthearted way to celebrate their brother's bond with their child

Anyone who loves and supports the autistic community

Buy now

Let's celebrate the laughter, love, and unique connections within families!

The iconic awareness ribbon, colored a vibrant blue, yellow, and red, is a widely recognized symbol for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While its origins trace back to the 1960s, the meaning behind the colors isn't universally agreed upon.

Blue: Often associated with autism awareness itself, calmness, and support.

Yellow: Represents positivity, hope, and the bright potential of autistic individuals.

Red: Symbolizes energy, passion, and advocacy for the autistic community.

Buy now

This awareness ribbon serves as a powerful reminder to raise awareness for ASD and celebrate neurodiversity. Look for sensory-friendly clothing or accessories featuring the ribbon to show your support and acceptance for all on the spectrum.

[arkiwii]

(Link to blank background version

Link to blank background + arm band version (Rhine Lab symbol included)

Feel free to use it if you want for anything, but please, credit me!)

It's that time of the year so I get to expose my headcanons eheheh

It's been a while I wanted to draw this; as an autistic myself, I tend to project it into characters I like, and Silence, being a huge comfort character of mine, definitely got me

But it's also a honest headcanon I have, I find traits that I have into her, and honestly I believe that she might be autistic

The Rhine Lab symbol being inspired by the infinite symbol, I thought it was a cool idea to integrate it on the autism pride flag

Why representating a neurodivergeance for Pride Month? Well, I wanted to actually draw this for the autism awareness day, but... Well, it's in April, and I don't want to wait one year, simply

But also it's something quite personal for me, I got diagnosed as autistic this year, and it was a really important step in my life to understand myself, at first I was struggling to accept it, because I never suspected I might be, it had downs and bads, but in the end, I accepted it and it just became... A fact about me?

And for those wondering why the non binary flag, well, it's not a headcanon I have for the character, but something I integrated for myself

Here here, sorry about the rambling! Glad if anyone had read it, it means a lot to me,,

Also hum, exclusively, I may or may not take requests to make icons like these! Feel free to send me characters from Arknights and a flag (I will include a transparent version for everyone), if I feel like it I might do it, I got a handful free time in my hands

[davekat-sucks]

didn’t they also not try to make vriska trans but autistic too? because i am 100% sure that symbol on her eyepatch in homestuck 2 is the autism symbol

As a autistic i do not claim her as one of my kind

Pretty sure it's suppose to represent the infinity symbol. Like never ending kind of thing. As well as the fact it's just an eight turned on its side. I doubt it's actually autism. Yes, the new symbol for autism awareness is the infinity symbol because the puzzle piece one is now offensive for some dumb reason. But I doubt Hussie or anyone in WhatPumpkin thinks Vriska is autistic since the release of HS2 was way before the infinity symbol became the new icon for Autism Awareness.

[upvotem]

hiii what are your thoughts on the sinners also have u played lobcorp or ruina?

hii maddie i did finally beat lobcorp a few days ago after MONTHS and i'm planning on playing ruina too! idk if you wanted my opinion on all of the sinners but *smirks*

i'll skip donqi and heath since i already talked about them but as for the other guys

yi sang! i like your funny words magic man. he is a fun autism guy i'll admit i don't have a lot to say about him and he's probably the sinner i'm the least interested in BUT i still like him a lot and he gets really cool fanart on twitter

faust! my friend faustie waustie. i love her to bits i initially thought she would be my favorite because i tend to like the main girls even if this is an ensemble cast and she's still in my top 5 definitely. i think her being super arrogant is cutieful and the "faust only knows what faust knows" line was really funny. i'm definitely looking forward to seeing how much she actually is aware of she is so mysterious and pretty

DON QUIXOTE!!! already said it but the loml

ryoshu! I LOVE HER she's really really awesome i love her sangria thing and she was really funny in hell's chicken. love crazy insane sadistic characters love her design love her fixation with gore she is the best ever

meursalt! i actually didn't care for him much at first, i thought his personality was too similar to yi sang and i didn't really like his design (i like twinks mb) but i've warmed up to him a lot mostly because of the fanart with him and don quixote i think they are a funny duo. and i think he's neat too he's just got that autistic swag

hong lu! well first of all she's a trans woman to me so jot that down. i honestly don't have a ton of thoughts on hong lu yet but she is very cutieful sweetieful and has a sick design and i'm looking forward to learning more about her

HEATHCLIFF!!! also the loml

ishmael! she is so funky i love her hair and her cute little bows and i adore her personality, how she seems down to earth and reasonable but is willing to fight with heathcliff to the death over nothing it's awesome. looking forward to her chapter i love ocean symbolism and imagery GRAHHHH also she has the best egos

rodya! YAY RODYA she is so pretty and such an intriguing character. i really love the dynamics she has with the others especially gregor and sinclair and i love her personality being someone who wants to be something important and i wish she got more focus in canto ii but hopefully she will get more development down the line in future chapters focusing on her

sinclair! she is also a woman to me. like literally her icon is an egg cracking LIKE... one of my faves tbh i forgot to mention her i really love characters who are meek but have berserk buttons where they go crazy violet insane ballistic like it's one of my favorite character tropes and she was awesome in canto iii go queen

outis! she's seriously awesome a queen... i don't have too much to say about her so far unfortunately but she's really pretty and i love that people draw her kind of milfy like so true. i think her being a suck up to dante is really funny and idk i jsut think she's neat

gregor! REALLY awesome guy i love his laidback personality compared to the others and i love his quips and his story so far is really good he's a really interesting and well written character za za za zamuza

idk if you wanted me to talk about dante, vergil and charon but i'm tired so i won't BUT I LOVE THOSE THREE TWO THEYRE AWESOME

[pensvg]

Autism Puzzle Mama Bear And Baby Bear Svg free

Autism Puzzle Mama Bear and Baby Bear SVG – Heartfelt Support and Awareness Design

Show your support for autism awareness with the Autism Puzzle Mama Bear and Baby Bear SVG! This touching design features a mama bear and her baby, intertwined with the iconic autism puzzle pieces, symbolizing love, connection, and understanding. Perfect for creating personalized t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more, this high-quality SVG file is compatible with Cricut, Silhouette, and other cutting machines. Whether you’re raising awareness, supporting a loved one, or creating a special gift, this Autism Puzzle Bear SVG is a beautiful way to express compassion and unity. Download this heartfelt SVG today and start crafting for a cause that matters!

[teehorusstore]

Autism Awareness Mickey Mouse Head Unisex Shirt

Promote acceptance and understanding with the "Autism Awareness Mickey Mouse Head" unisex shirt! Featuring the iconic Mickey Mouse head with autism awareness puzzle piece patterns, this design beautifully symbolizes love, inclusion, and support for the autism community. Perfect for Disney fans of all ages who want to make a statement of kindness and awareness.

[teekanistore]

Real Life Friendship Bluey Shirt Heartfelt Fathers Day Gift

Looking for the perfect Father's Day gift that encapsulates the essence of genuine friendship and heartfelt connections? Look no further than our "Real Life Friendship Bluey Shirt"! This uniquely designed shirt celebrates the timeless bond between fathers and their children, inspired by the heartwarming moments shared in the beloved children's television show, Bluey.

Crafted with the finest quality materials, our shirt is not just a piece of clothing; it's a symbol of the enduring love and companionship between a father and their little one. The vibrant blue hue of the shirt symbolizes the depth of the bond shared, while the iconic Bluey character embroidered on the front adds a touch of whimsy and nostalgia.

This Father's Day, show your dad how much he means to you with a gift that speaks volumes about the precious memories and joyful experiences you've shared together. Whether it's playing games, going on adventures, or simply spending quality time, the "Real Life Friendship Bluey Shirt" is a reminder of the incredible journey of fatherhood and the cherished moments that make it truly special.

[bestshirtcanbuy]

Fight Like A Philadelphia Eagles Autism Support Polo Shirt

The Fight Like A Philadelphia Eagles Autism Support Polo Shirt is not just a piece of clothing, but a symbol of solidarity, support, and inclusivity. This shirt is more than just a fashion statement; it is a way for individuals to show their support for the autism community and raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism affects millions of people worldwide, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism in the United States alone. This staggering statistic highlights the importance of promoting understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism. This is where the Fight Like A Philadelphia Eagles Autism Support Polo Shirt comes in. The shirt features the iconic Philadelphia Eagles logo, representing the passion and unity of sports fans everywhere. By incorporating the Autism Support ribbon, the shirt sends a powerful message that everyone deserves equal love, respect, and support, regardless of any differences or challenges they may face. Not only is this polo shirt a great way to show support for the autism community, but it also makes an excellent gift for anyone. Whether you are an avid football fan, a supporter of autism advocacy, or simply want to spread a message of inclusivity, this shirt fits the bill. The Fight Like A Philadelphia Eagles Autism Support Polo Shirt is available for both men and women, making it a versatile gift option for everyone. The shirt is designed to be comfortable and stylish, featuring a classic polo collar and a modern fit. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the shirt's purpose goes deeper. Each purchase helps to support organizations and initiatives that work towards improving the lives of individuals with autism and their families. This means that by purchasing and wearing this shirt, you are contributing to a greater cause. Wearing the Fight Like A Philadelphia Eagles Autism Support Polo Shirt not only raises awareness about autism, but it also encourages conversations about inclusion and support. People may ask questions or strike up a dialogue when they see this shirt, creating opportunities to educate and spread awareness. The Philadelphia Eagles organization has always been committed to making a positive impact on the community. By partnering with autism support initiatives, they are using their platform to inspire change and promote acceptance. This collaboration demonstrates that sports can be a powerful force for good, bringing people together for a common cause. In conclusion, the Fight Like A Philadelphia Eagles Autism Support Polo Shirt is more than just a piece of clothing; it is a statement of support for the autism community. By wearing this shirt, you are not only showing your passion for football but also your dedication to inclusivity and understanding. Whether you purchase it for yourself or as a gift for someone else, this shirt is a meaningful way to make a difference and spread awareness about autism spectrum disorder.

Get it here : Fight Like A Philadelphia Eagles Autism Support Polo Shirt

Home Page : tshirtslowprice.com

Related : https://bestshirtcanbuy.tumblr.com/post/722415492332208129/winnie-the-pooh-white-pinstripe-baseball-jersey

[progiftreview]

Fight Like A Dallas Cowboys Autism Support Polo Shirt

The Fight Like A Dallas Cowboys Autism Support Polo Shirt is a remarkable piece of clothing that holds both symbolic and practical value. Designed for both men and women, this polo shirt serves as a standout fashion statement while also supporting a worthy cause. It is the perfect gift for anyone looking to support autism awareness and show their love for the Dallas Cowboys. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects millions of individuals worldwide, and raising awareness about this condition is crucial. The Fight Like A Dallas Cowboys Autism Support Polo Shirt does precisely that. By wearing this polo shirt, you not only show support for those affected by autism but also spread awareness about the condition to those who may not be familiar with it. The design of this polo shirt is eye-catching and reflective of the cause it stands for. Made from comfortable and durable fabric, it features the iconic Dallas Cowboys logo combined with the Autism Awareness Ribbon. The color scheme of navy blue and silver perfectly complements the Cowboys' official colors, making it an ideal addition to any fan's collection. The inclusion of the Autism Awareness Ribbon adds a powerful touch, symbolizing unity and support for individuals with autism. This polo shirt is well-suited for a variety of occasions. Whether it be attending a Dallas Cowboys game, hanging out with friends, or participating in charity events, this versatile shirt is a stylish and meaningful choice. It allows you to proudly display your support, while also making a lasting impact on those around you. Beyond its symbolic value, the Fight Like A Dallas Cowboys Autism Support Polo Shirt is also an excellent piece of clothing. It is crafted with high-quality materials, ensuring comfort and durability. The breathable fabric and classic polo shirt style make it an ideal choice for casual outings or even semi-formal events. The shirt is available in various sizes, ensuring a perfect fit for both men and women. Furthermore, purchasing this polo shirt contributes to a noble cause. A portion of the proceeds is donated to organizations dedicated to autism research, support, and awareness. By buying and wearing this shirt, you become an active participant in the fight against autism, making a difference in the lives of individuals with ASD and their families. In conclusion, the Fight Like A Dallas Cowboys Autism Support Polo Shirt is not just a piece of clothing; it is a statement of support and solidarity. It serves as a symbol of awareness for autism, while also being a stylish and versatile addition to any wardrobe. Whether for yourself or as a gift, this polo shirt is a meaningful way to show your love for the Dallas Cowboys and your commitment to supporting a worthy cause.

Get it here : Fight Like A Dallas Cowboys Autism Support Polo Shirt

Home Page : tshirtslowprice.com

Related : https://progiftreview.tumblr.com/post/717554455128752128/unisex-3d-tuna-fishing-grey-aloha-hawaiian-shirt

[leecyprint]

Understanding the Power and Significance of The Autism Puzzle Piece Design

The Autism Puzzle Piece Design is a symbol that has become synonymous with autism awareness and advocacy. Originating in the 1960s, the design has since become an iconic representation of the autism community, inspiring countless organizations, advocacy groups, and support networks to use it as a symbol of their work and mission.

The design is simple yet powerful, featuring the image of a puzzle piece in bright colors, symbolizing the ongoing effort to piece together the complexities of autism and to find solutions for individuals and families affected by the condition.

For starters, the puzzle piece represents the way we come together to support individuals with autism. From parents and family members to therapists, physicians, teachers, and support personnel, a team of caring people surrounds individuals and supports them with holistic care.

Each unique puzzle piece reminds us of how every person with autism is different. As we know, autism is a spectrum, and everyone with autism experiences it differently. Each individual also has different interests, abilities, and skills. In the autism community, every individual receives a personalized treatment plan based on their needs.

 Sources: https://leecyprint.com/the-autism-puzzle-piece-design/

[exquisite-peculiarity]

This Chicken is for all people for all time.

The chicken in my icon? Ya, but especially for the queer autistic ppl ✌️

[noisycowboyglitter]

Women’s Tu Autism Awareness Autumn Collection: Bottles and Flower Ribbon Gifts

Our Women's Tu Autism Awareness Autumn Bottles Fall Flower Ribbon T-shirt is the perfect blend of style and advocacy. This unique design combines the warmth of autumn with the powerful message of autism awareness.

Buy now:19.95$

Featuring charming autumnal elements like colorful bottles and delicate fall flowers, this t-shirt is a beautiful way to show your support for the autism community. The subtle incorporation of the autism awareness ribbon adds a touch of meaning to this fashionable piece.

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Crafted with comfort in mind, our t-shirt is perfect for everyday wear. Whether you're attending an autism awareness event, enjoying a crisp autumn day, or simply wanting to express your support, this t-shirt is a stylish choice. Join us in raising awareness and spreading love for individuals with autism.

Buy now

Show the world you care with our stylish and impactful autism awareness tee. Featuring the iconic puzzle piece symbol and the signature colors of autism awareness, this shirt is a powerful statement of support. Whether you're an individual with autism, a parent, caregiver, or simply an ally, wearing this tee helps raise awareness and promote understanding.

Buy now

Crafted from soft, comfortable materials, our autism awareness tee is perfect for everyday wear. Join the movement and make a difference by wearing your heart on your sleeve. Every purchase helps support the autism community and contributes to a more inclusive world.

[elsquibbonator]

Since April is Autism Awareness Month, many of you will no doubt see autism-related slogans and symbols posted on various social media. While some of these-- such as the phrase "Light It Up Blue" and the puzzle piece icon-- may look innocent on the surface, they are linked to Autism Speaks, an organization which views autism as a harmful disease. During Autism Awareness Month, many people re-post these symbols and slogans without understanding their full implications. 

Needless to say, this is usually done not out of hate but out of a lack of understanding. But the more people are made aware of what these symbols really mean, the less power Autism Speaks will have.

So please share and repost this to spread the truth!

[unapologetic-autie]

Happy autism awareness acceptance month!

Some things for allistic allies to keep in mind this month-

We do not want, nor need, to be cured of our autism. That doesn't go to say that we never have difficulties in life associated with it, just that it's an important factor of who we are. When you refer to autism, you're not just talking about a couple genes in our genome or something, we're referring to the way our entire brain is wired. It's an integral part of what makes us unique, so if you wanted to cure an autistic person of their autism, they would not be the same person that they were before.

In general, the autistic community as a whole tends to prefer identity first language ("autistic person") rather than person-first ("person with Autism," "has autism"). This sort of ties into my last point about cure rhetoric, as it's often used with the intent of separating the person from their autism to make curing it seem more possible. Also, it just makes more sense grammatically. If you wanna say that you're tall, you don't say "I'm have tallness," you just say "I'm tall." Autism is a trait in the same manner as tallness, so why not use the same language to refer to it that we use for almost any other trait?

DO NOT SUPPORT AUTISM SPEAKS. They are a hate group that spreads harmful messages of autism being this horrible, awful disease that needs to be cured, and very little of the money that they receive goes to actual research (and the research that they DO carry out is done with the goal of finding a cure). Instead, try donating to Autism Self Advocacy Network. They're run by actually autistic people and fight for equality for neurodivergent people.

For the last point- that means no puzzle pieces. Autistic people strongly dislike the imagery of the puzzle piece being used to represent us because it sends the message that we're"missing a piece" or whatever, and the movement was started by A$. It also means no lighting it up blue, as that was also a movement started by them. If you want to show your support for the autistic community, try an infinity symbol and either rainbow (to show that neurodiversity is a spectrum), gold (specifically for autism because the atomic symbol for gold is Au, hence my icon on here), or red (I'm not sure of the origin of this one so if anyone has a link they can send me with that information, please do!) instead of blue. Lastly, it means fighting for autism acceptance rather than awareness, because the word "awareness" has negative connotations that can be associated with cure rhetoric

Above all else, LISTEN TO AUTISTIC VOICES. If the autistic community takes issue with something, the right thing to do would be to listen to us when we explain why that is. Don't try and speak over us if you disagree, because it's really easy for you to not understand why we take issue with something when you're not a part of the community that it affects. That being said, if you're confused by something, PLEASE ask questions! We're more than willing to help you learn so long as you approach it with an open mind and a positive attitude, and asking questions shows that you want to know more about it, so you must care about the issue. That's always a good thing to see.

The fight for autism acceptance is NOT limited to just April! It continues all year round! Organizations that further the issue of equal rights for neurodiverse people need support the other 11 months out of the year too, so show your support beyond this month if you can

I'm planning on making individual posts about each of these topics that go more in depth and providing links for those who want to learn more, but I figured I'd just make a sort of masterpost for the beginning of the month

[redwhiteandbruised]

mobile-friendly rules

BASIC INFO

❔ tracking #redwhiteandbruised

❔ semi-private:  aka mostly mutuals only; very happy to meet new folks to rp with.

❔ exclusivity:  not happening, don’t ask for it.

❔ multi-muse, side & personal journals:  i will usually not follow you back if you run a multi-muse blog/rp from a personal; i need to limit dash clutter in order to be able to focus (thanks, ADD + autism). i’m happy to rp with multiple & side blogs, but I will not RP with personals.

❔ crossovers:  limited to what i know; please check with me first. if we’ve written together a lot and have a rapport, i’m way more likely to jump into things i’m not as familiar with for you.

❔ cut your replies:  please cut your replies & repost asks as new posts when replying. (cuts aren’t the same as readmores; happy to explain if needed.)

❔  you must have rules or, at the very least, your age stated somewhere on your blog. i will always read your rules before interacting, and i ask that you please do the same.

ABOUT THIS BLOG

❕  est 31 March 2016

❕  strictly 21+. non-mature themes only if you are 18 or over; i will not rp with anyone under 18 years old, no exceptions, regardless of content & your geographical location’s ‘legal age.’ please have your age somewhere on your blog; ‘mun is 18+’ is fine; ‘mun is of legal age’ means nada (fun fact: legal age can be anything from 12-25 depending on your country).

❕ safe space:  staunchly inclusive. i make a point of avoiding ableist or bigoted language and terminology. please come talk to me in chat or send an ask and tell me if i screw up.

❕ triggers:  i will tag genuine triggers when asked (please don’t conflate squicks with triggers). triggers will be tagged ‘triggerything tw’ or ‘triggerything cw’.

❕ formatting:  usually small text +/- 100x100 icon, sometimes with light formatting; will try to match your style. if you need any special formatting to make it easier for you to read (ie unformatted large font etc), lemme know.

❕ pre-established relationships:  sure, once discussed.

❕ readmores:  used for explicit dubcon/noncon content, common triggers, & graphic nsfw.

❕ memes:  love ‘em! send me as many as you like, as often as you like, and as many prompts as you want from a multi-prompt meme. i do my best to observe reblog karma but don’t expect you to; it’s all good.

❕ open posts:  for mutuals new & old; i don’t mind how many people have already replied or how ancient the open is. i’ll generally repost your reply in a new post with my reply to make it easier to track. let me know if you’d like something different.

❕ shipping:  multiship; not ship exclusive. shipping is dependent wholly on muse interaction and never guaranteed. james has a complex, traumatic past & is not going to have an easy time with his sexuality in canon verses. he may not always be aware of his own sexuality; in verses that he is, he will generally identify as bisexual. he may or may not be open to poly setups depending on verse. nsfw threads aren’t going to be that common and will generally, though not always, fade to black. happy to discuss. note: 616-verse stucky is not going to happen. mcu stucky is great.

YES PLEASE

✅  duplicates, multiple ‘canon’ realities, AUs, cross-fandom, What Ifs

✅  crossovers, especially within Marvel & DC

✅  AUs: love, love, love. give me your tropey coffee shop au; better yet, give me your research-worthy ww1 au, time-travel au, etc. i’m utter trash for sentinel!verse (and if you don’t know what that is, come at me).

✅  plot-development, complex characterization

✅  conscious, intentional, creative abuse of grammar/syntax

✅  any gender identity/lack thereof; sexual orientation/lack thereof; neurodivergent characters; disabled characters

✅  LGBT+, non-cis/het, POC, or other minority versions of canonically white cis straight Christian etc characters

✅  female versions of canonically (cis)male characters

✅  dark, edgy, angsty themes up to and including psychological & physical torture, abuse, & character death

✅  complex & conscientious portrayals of trauma and mental health issues

NO THANKS

❎  self-insertion &/or only looking for nsfw

❎  pages of ooc

❎  pages of graphic porn

❎  you rp nothing but smut of a variety that squicks me, such as (below) and don’t put it behind readmores:

1) A/B/O, especially if it involves ‘mating’/'breeding’, pregnancy

2) BDSM that uses an abundance of misogynistic language like 'slut/whore’; 'daddy/mommy’ themes; pet play; romanticizing unhealthy abusive relationships ('50 Shades of Nope’ comes to mind) by framing them as consensual BDSM. (note: mun is active in the BDSM scene, so please do bring on your consensual kinks)

❎  consistent grammar/spelling errors (happy to help)

❎  lots of family/baby/child content

❎  'child of’/'sibling of’ & non-canon family member/friend characters

❎  anthropomorphic, furry, or 'real people’ characters

❎  Supernatural, Dr Who, or anime crossovers

❎  gatekeeping, canon-snobbery, constant negativity

❎ erasure of any minority group (ie male versions of canonically female characters; suspiciously white FCs for canonically POC characters, etc)

If you feel like it, send me your favourite trope as a way of letting me know you’ve read these. I’m not going to ask for any sort of specific symbol, codeword, etc to prove it, but I will presume you have and act accordingly. If you feel compelled to acknowledge any specific parts that jump out at you or query something that doesn’t sit right with you, we’ll probably be bffs.

[gammafish]

Public image of diabetes

‘Diabetes’.

Now quick - what was the first thing that you thought of? What was the mental image that you had?

I suppose that at least some of you thought of something of an overweight/obese person, unhealthy fatty foods like pizza or burgers, people sitting in front of their TV all day long, or maybe about the ‘great financial burden on the healthcare budget’. I wouldn’t be surprised; in fact, I’ve just been to a scientific conference where a symbol for diabetes during one of the talks was an icon of a burger and sugar cubes - which was the final thing that drove me to writing this rather long (sorry) post.

(image sources; wikipedia)

This is destructive. In a society obsessed with appearance, weight, and diet, this is destructive, and not helping anyone.

Let me say first of all that I’m not opposed to jokes and having a bit of a laugh. I use humour as a coping mechanism in crappy situations myself, so I’m not all that serious and uptight as I might come across here. But when it’s the same joke, all the time, from different people, and about something that after all is quite a sensitive subject, it tends to get to you.

It’s all those burgers, innit? No more McDonald’s for you. Just living on veggies then? You can’t ever have sweets again, can you? You’ve just had too much cake. You should have exercised more.

Let me reiterate why this is wrong. I got diabetes (type 1) at the age of 7 when I was on antibiotics every other week for a long time that damaged my pancreas. I never ate a burger before that, I never went to McDonald’s and I spent a lot of time outside playing and running around with other kids. Nowadays, in the research center where I work, I regularly see type 2 diabetics who are of normal weight, who still keep active despite their age, and who have always been active and had a good diet. On the other hand, we all know people who don’t lead healthy lifestyles for one reason or another and yet they don’t get diabetes. The truth is that we don’t understand enough about the onset of the disease and what exactly causes it. Genes and genetic predispositions surely play a role, and things like fatty diet, lack of exercise, smoking, excess alcohol consumption are all risk factors that increase the likelihood of insulin resistance and development of diabetes, but it’s not as easy and clear-cut as it seems to be.

To make things worse, depression and diabetes are closely linked. In fact, depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in people with diabetes. Why am I saying this? First, think about what you see diabetes as. Do you know what the treatment entails? Or do you only know about the daily finger prick tests and insulin injections/insulin pumps or tablets? Do you think diabetes can just be controlled by eating less cake and jogging more? Surely, these are all parts of our lives and management, but unless you yourself have the disease or someone you see daily does, then you probably don’t know about the constant fear of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) that can drive us into a coma (and death) as well as hyperglycamia (high blood glucose) that makes us feel sick short term, and leads to deadly complications long term. You don’t know the effort that goes into trying to keep our inner environment in that very tight range between those two states. The constant awareness of diabetic complications doesn’t make it easier. For some, the knowledge that after 20 years of disease over 95% of type 1 diabetics will start developing eye disease, for example, is a motivation to work as best as they can on their glucose control. For others, it’s a debilitating fear causing anger, resentment, rebelling against their disease (and possibly depression). And to get to what I wanted to point out - you also probably don’t know how difficult it is to keep a correct weight when you suffer from this disease.

For a healthy person, weight control is mainly about more exercise and less processed/fatty/high-calorie foods. The case is similar in diabetics, but the process is much more difficult. Our bodies obviously cannot self-regulate insulin and glucose levels, so it takes a lot of practice to balance the two, especially since exercise generally causes blood glucose to drop. The effect is varied based on the duration, the intensity of the work out, but other factors come into play such as the time of the last meal or even menstrual cycle in women. As a result, the general guideline for diabetics is to typically have food before and after exercising. This obviously makes any kind of weight loss much slower, since you have to take in calories to facilitate the process through which you were trying to burn those calories in the first place. But weight gain is also about other issues such as hypoglycemia in the middle of the night. If that happens, whether you want it or not (given that you want to live until morning) you might have to take an equivalent of 2-3 teaspoons of sugar (maybe more, maybe less) at night. And of course, literally every process in the body is impaired in diabetes - it’s a disruption to homeostasis, like having an increased body temperature all the time - so things like metabolism are going to be affected. Meaning, more weight gain, or at least slower weight loss.

Let me add very quickly to the diabetic complications besides the retinopathy that I mentioned earlier, in case you’re not aware of how diabetes damages the body. Diabetic kidney disease, neuropathy (nerve damage -> amputations), kidney damage (eventually leading to dialysis), cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and more), stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, skin disorders, hair loss, even tooth cavities - the likelihood of these (and of more) is increased. Essentially anything that has a blood supply is affected.

(source) (Severe diabetic retinopathy; back of the eye after laser treatment)

(Source; diabetic foot ulcers; not going to show any real-life photos as some might find them disturbing, but google ‘diabetic foot’ if you want to know what this looks like in reality)

There is no escape, there is no treatment - there is only delaying the inevitable. There is only the knowledge that if you’re (un?)fortunate enough to survive several years with the disease, you’re not likely to die fully functional and/or in one piece, and that it’s going to be those complications that kill you in the end. It’s not funny, is it?

Now in the light of all that - of the effort of glucose and weight management, the fear of going blind and losing a limb - bring back your jokes and comments about cake and burgers. Do they still feel appropriate? Not to be overly dramatic, but do you see my point now about you essentially making fun of our accelerated death? It wasn’t a choice. It is never a choice. Is autism a choice? Is cystic fibrosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease a choice? Is having a family history or being born with a higher predisposition to diabetes a choice? What ridiculous questions.

How demanding, but I don’t want to die - not like this, not by falling apart when I’ll reach my 30′s or 40′s if I get lucky. We don’t want to die like this. And we don’t want to hear your ‘jokes’ and comments. We don’t want you to judge us when we have the occasional treat of something sweet. We don’t want you to judge and make fun of our weight if we happen to be above the normal range, to tell us how easy it is to lose a few kilograms if we just ate less - because we’re clearly not enlightened enough to figure that out ourselves and need a bit of guidance in the form of such unpleasant comments. We don’t need your reminders and we don’t need you to make us feel guilty - we’re all hyperaware of how much and what we eat. We don’t need you to increase our risk of depression because chances are we’re either already there, have been there, or possibly might be there in the future anyway.

Of course, we don’t need your pity either. All we would like is a bit of understanding. All I want is to not have to explain to people that I didn’t get my diabetes from eating too much sweets. I won’t dare ask for support, although even understanding and just leaving us be is a form of support in itself. Enough to make us feel like we don’t have to hide our disease from you from fear of being judged or ridiculed or thought less of.

I know I use a lot of ���we’ and ‘us’ here and of course I can’t speak for the entire diabetic community, but I’m just using the 17 years’ experience of living with the disease and hearing fellow diabetics’ opinions.

And I know I won’t change everyone’s views - not when we hear about the link between unhealthy lifestyle and diabetes every day in the media. And rightfully so, because like I mentioned, it is a significant risk factor. All I ask and wish for is for people to be just a little bit less judgemental, more aware of and sensitive in what they’re saying, and for them to see diabetes for what it really is - a serious, chronic, incurable disease that destroys the entire body, and not a light-hearted topic for teasing and jokes, or a just punishment for people who eat too many burgers and sweets.