To the Nurse Who Assumed I Have Diabetes Because of My Appearance

Today, I was typecast. I am somewhat used to being stereotyped and having all sorts of assumptions made about me — I’m a drug seeker, I’m faking it, I am not in that much pain. But today was different.

I went for my endocrinology visit. I see an endocrinologist because I have an electrolyte imbalance and severe vitamin D deficiency, which is now affecting me in a lot of different ways. I was called back by the nurse and she was like, “Oh, we need to get your A1C.”

I said, “No you don’t.”

She replied, “Yes, we do.”

And I said, “No you don’t. I am not here for diabetes.”

She stopped walking, looked at her papers and said, “ Well oh, yes I see. You are here for vitamin D, thyroid and electrolytes.”

I responded, “Exactly. My A1C is just fine. But if you look at my blood work, I don’t have hypoglycemia. My A1C is normal as well.”

The nurse couldn’t even formulate words.

So she does my triage and the doc comes in and does his exam. He is perplexed as to why I am not absorbing my electrolytes, especially vitamin D. We try a different action plan and I am told to come back in three months. But as I made my appointment, this one thought ran through my mind: How do I know this nurse will not typecast me again? How do I know she won’t assume because I am overweight, African American and female that I am diabetic?

You see, this happens more often than one knows. I have had doctors make assumptions about me all the time. They assume I have these issues because of my size. Well news flash: I don’t! My health issues actually started when I lost weight, so understand me before you assume.

But it isn’t just me who gets this treatment. Many women, especially women of color, are mistreated and misdiagnosed. Some are not diagnosed properly because of their skin color and gender. Shocking, right? But it happens more than you think. Our symptoms are often ignored and we are told it is in our head.

I have also been told I don’t feel pain. Really, I don’t feel pain? I’ve personally seen textbooks with antiquated information that teach medical students myths about our anatomy and physiology. They don’t update the information to show test result ranges are different for women, or even black women compared to our counterparts. It doesn’t mention that symptoms may present differently in us. But we don’t want to discuss this. This has to stop — today.

Here is a news flash: I do feel pain, much like every other human. My anatomy is no different than my counterparts of other races, thus I deserve the same respect and treatment as anyone else. I may have different signs and symptoms and that is OK. And you know what else, I am not a diabetic just because I am overweight. While that is the case for some, it doesn’t apply to me — and I am thankful every day that it’s not one of my 13 diseases to manage. I think I have enough on my plate right now. And because I have enough on my plate and have family members who suffer from such an illness, I do what I can to be preventative.

So Ms. Nurse, yes I am black. Yes I am female. Yes I am overweight. But don’t assume you know what I have based on my outward appearance. Don’t think you know my history based on how I look or carry myself. The reality is, you can’t know anything about anyone without a conversation.

Had you bothered to check my chart and then even have a conversation with me about why I am here, maybe you would have learned my story. Maybe you would have know I struggle with nutrient absorption and several other illnesses that make my life difficult. But of course, how would you know? You didn’t care to ask.