Deciding Who to Tell

Telling people about your diabetes is your choice. You decide who hears, what you share and when.

Telling a few close people can bring support. Family and friends can help you too. People who know about your diabetes can also help in an emergency.

A park bench with a person sitting in the middle. Not yet: the person sits alone, thinking about their diabetes, with a blood drop in a thought bubble and the words You decide who and when. Tell a close friend: the person says I have diabetes, and Bindu walks in from the left and sits beside them, with the words Can bring support. Tell a few: the person says I have diabetes, Bindu walks in from the left and an older family member with grey hair slides in from the right, both sitting close, with the words Family and friends can help.

You can tell people a little at a time. Start with the basics, like what diabetes is. Think of it like opening a door a crack. You can open it wider later, once you feel ready.

Your care team can help you find words for the first talk.

Three steps open a door wider, from a crack for the basics to wide open once you feel ready.

Key takeaways

• Who learns about your diabetes is your decision, and so is when.
• A few close people can offer support and help in an emergency.
• People who know can help if you feel unwell.

Try it

Pick one trusted person and write down one basic fact about your diabetes that you feel ready to share.