Six things not to say to someone with diabetes

"Should you be eating that?"

People living with diabetes are painfully familiar with the "Diabetes Police," those well-meaning friends, family members and strangers who might point out weight gain, drop hints about exercising more or relentlessly push sugar-free foods, even though both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics can eat sugar.

So if you don’t have diabetes but know someone who does, remember the following six comments can be insulting.

•"Can you/should you eat that?"

•"Do you have BAD diabetes?"

•"If you'd just exercise…" or "If you'd just eat better…" (While no one wants to be blamed for causing their illness, Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, unrelated to diet and exercise.)

•"You don't look like a diabetic!"

•"My grandfather had that and he lost his leg."

•"I could never do that." (Inject insulin.)