|
If you look up the word “diabetic” in the dictionary, it will say
“of or relating to the condition of diabetes or a person with the
disease.” But there are some persons with diabetes who would like to
see the second part of that definition erased. They do not wish to
be called diabetic, although they do not mind shopping in the
section of supplies that are diabetic.
When asked why they felt being called “diabetic” was offensive,
those who don’t like the term agreed that it made them feel like
they were being treated like a disease or condition first, and as a
person, second. They said they would prefer to be thought of as a
person who has diabetes and that the disease was really only a very
small part of who they are. The term that describes what that means
to some people is “people-first.”
Some of the resentment of the term stems from the negative attitude
much of our society harbors against diabetes. Some people feel that
diabetes is a disease that people bring on themselves due to poor
eating habits and sloth. When diabetes is discussed in those terms,
it is offensive to be relegated to being spoken of in those same
terms.
There are those who bristle at being told that to use the term
diabetic to refer to a person is rude, chances are, though, that
person does not suffer from diabetes. A person who has diabetes
wants people to understand they simply have a disease; and that the
disease does not define them. They argue that a person with cancer
is not called cancerous, nor a person with the flu, flu-ic. As a
matter of fact, another part of their complaint is that only mental
health issues are referred to in this manner, with the “–ic” suffix,
for instance, schizophrenic and psychotic.
What it boils down to, it seems, is that some people do find the
term “diabetic” when used to a refer to a person as offensive. In
order to keep from offending them and others with a like mindset, it
may just be easier to remember that they are a person with diabetes,
not a diabetic.
|