diabetes etiquette

Written from the perspective of a diabetic the Behavioral Diabetes Institute puts out an etiquette card for people who DON'T have diabetes, which is humorous for those of us close enough to the disease to understand the reality of their tips, yet enlightening and informative for those of us with functioning pancreases.

1. DON'T offer unsolicited advice about my eating or other aspects of diabetes. You might mean well, but you also might be just plain wrong.
2. DO realize and appreciate diabetes is hard work. Diabetes is a full-time job that one did not apply for, yet cannot quit.
3. DON'T tell me horror stories about your grandmother or other people with diabetes you have heard about. Nuff said.
4. DO offer to join me in making healthy lifestyle changes.
5. DON'T look so horrified when I check my blood sugar or give myself an injection. A reminder that it's not so fun for the diabetic having to deal with these many-times-a-day routines.
6. DO ask how you might be helpful. 
7. DON'T offer thoughtless reassurances. Telling a diabetic that "hey, it could be worse; you could have cancer!"does not make a person feel better. 
8. DO be supportive of my efforts for self-care. 
9. DON'T peek at or comment on my blood glucose numbers without asking me first. And certainly don't add your assessment of numbers being good or bad. It's all just information.
10. DO offer your love and encouragement.  Sometimes just saying that you care can go along way.