Let’s get straight to it.
Life with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is far from easy. But if you scroll through social media, you might start believing that everyone has it figured out.
Smooth skin. Gym selfies. “Meal prep goals.” Eid looks without a CGM in sight. Perfect lunch boxes. Big smiles.
But no one posts the part where your glucose levels crash right before your university presentation. Or the part where you’re at a wedding, and you excuse yourself, not because of the loud noises or the rishtay wali aunties, but because your blood glucose is dipping and you forgot your glucometer at home.
No one shows that.
And this creates a silent pressure. To look okay. To act okay. Even when you’re not.
“Sab theek hai?”, “haan sab theek hai.”
We’ve become experts at pretending because we want to stay away from pity and judgemental stares – oh not to mention the lengthy lectures that we get to listen to
You go to school, college, office, and no one even knows you’re managing your life around insulin, injections, carb counts, and sudden highs or lows. Why? Because we’re more comfortable saying “bas theek hai” even when nothing is okay.
And on top of that, we scroll through local influencers and celebrities who post their perfect daily life videos, no signs of chronic conditions, no breakdowns, no messy realities.
You start thinking: Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m the only one struggling. But you’re not. Social media is not real life. It’s just the filtered part and the more we confuse the two, the more isolated people with T1D feel.
Mothers, Judgment & Social Media
Now let’s talk about moms.
Mothers of children with T1D are not just caregivers. They’re warriors in silence.
They stay up all night checking blood glucose levels. They argue with schoolteachers who don’t understand diabetes. They navigate daadi’s home remedies, phuppo’s advice, khala’s pity and the neighbours who say, “Aray, insulin se aadat parh jati hai.”
Then they open Instagram and see other moms showing off their child’s “all-organic lunchbox”.
No mention of the sleepless nights, food refusals, or the fear of a sudden hypo. Just perfection.
And suddenly, our desi moms start questioning themselves: Am I doing enough?
Here’s the truth: You are. You’re doing more than enough. But no one posts that version, the real version, of motherhood.
Time to Get Real
We don’t need more filters.
We need more honesty.
Because when we stay quiet, the wrong ideas get louder.
Conclusion:
It’s time we start owning our reality. Sharing the tough days. Showing the insulin pens. Talking about the fear, the burnout, and the small victories. Because someone else out there is quietly scrolling and thinking they’re alone.
Let them know they’re not.
Unfiltered is how change begins.
For people living with diabetes and their caregivers, the greatest remedy is a strong support network.
Join our Facebook community groups:
For individuals with type 1 diabetes: bit.ly/TlDsgroup
For parents of children with type 1 diabetes: bit.ly/parentsofTlDsgroup
Or WhatsApp us at 03082229940 to join our WhatsApp community groups.