Why Feeling Alone With Your Diagnosis Is More Common Than You Think

When Bridget McNulty was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 18 years ago, she felt like the only person in the world it had ever happened to. She later discovered that almost everyone she spoke to had felt exactly the same way.Bridget is the founder of Sweet Life, South Africa's largest online diabetes community, and a published author. In this episode, Catriona talks to her about why that sense of isolation at diagnosis is so universal, what people with chronic conditions actually need from a community, and why managing diabetes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year is exhausting in a way that's almost impossible to explain to people who don't live it.They also discuss the divide between public and private healthcare in South Africa, why type 2 diabetes carries a stigma that type 1 doesn't, the relief of talking to people who just get it without needing everything explained, and why the language healthcare professionals use around diabetes needs to change.Connect with Sweet Life: sweetlife.org.za South Africans with Diabetes on Facebook @sweetlife.org.za on InstagramFollow My Health Focus for more expert health interviews and patient education content.Article: Sign up to my newsletter here:https://bit.ly/3NA40IQMy Health Focus is not a medical service. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.JOIN THE MY HEALTH FOCUS COMMUNITY AND SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.