A young American girl, infuriated by a social media tendency where #diabetes accompanies images of cakes and sweets, has spelled out what it's truly like to have the state. On a Facebook post with the hashtag #WhatDiabetesReallyLooksLike, 18, Madeline Milzark, wrote about living with type 1 diabetes. Her post was shared thousands of times all over the world.
Madeline told the BBC: "I initially posted the piece since I had low blood sugar, and I eventually had enough. So a lot of people post jokes about my disorder, even folks on my 'buddies' list, yet they do not see me when my life is really saved by sugar or when I am unconscious.
"I am so incredibly happy about the answer I Have gotten.
"I have had so a lot of people telling me I am making a difference, sharing their stories with me and thanking me. It is so heartwarming."
It is something which I've frustrates me a lot and experienced. Lots of folks do not realise how serious it is and trivialize diabetes.
"Folks do not look to view it as a chronic illness - people poke fun at it.
It's mostly diagnosed in childhood and isn't linked to unhealthy lifestyle or a poor diet
It's treated with daily doses of the hormone insulin
So that you can perform the job the pancreas isn't doing individuals with the illness must manage their blood glucose levels
Hypoglycemia - there's an excessive amount of insulin in the blood and where blood sugar is low - can cause sweating, shaking and dizziness as well as loss of consciousness. Individuals have to eat something containing carbohydrates to bring their blood glucose levels back to normal
Hyperglycemia - where blood glucose is not too low - does not carry the same threats that are immediate but can raise the likelihood of developing complications. "There happen to be times where I Have been near folks purchasing ice cream or sweets and individuals have said which they're 'getting diabetes'.
It is so frustrating. "Occasionally folks appear to believe I was using it as an explanation, because I do not 'appear diabetic'. Folks believe that is not really true although you've got to be big-boned and over 50. There should be more public instruction."