Unfortunately, I think that society's perception of diabetes has changed over the past few decades. Maybe it's because more people have diabetes or maybe it's because of the development of medicines that can help, but diabetes is now perceived as less "serious" than it once was.

I have type II diabetes, as does/did my father, paternal grandfather, maternal uncle, and various cousins. (In my family, even thin people have type II diabetes.) In 1970, I remember how concerned my mother was about making sure that her diabetic brother had sugarfree things to eat when he came to visit. Like most diabetics at the time, he gave himself insulin injections--thus, his disease was perceived by family as serious. Now 30 years later, my mother loads me down when cookies when I visit. Since I control my blood sugar by diet and exercise alone, the family perceives my condition as not serious.

It's frustating, but I think that societal views with regard to diabetes are moving in the wrong direction.