At JDRF, we don’t believe diabetes is a laughing matter or something to be joked about. During the week of June 29, CrossFit posted insensitive images and misleading information regarding diabetes, both type 1 and type 2. JDRF chose to take a positive approach and educate the members of the CrossFit social media team on the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (#‎T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. T1D usually strikes in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood, and lasts a lifetime. Just to survive, people with T1D must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump.

Type 2 diabetes (#‎T2D) is a metabolic disorder in which a person’s body still produces insulin but is unable to use it effectively. T2D is usually diagnosed in adulthood and does not always require insulin injections.

No matter the type of diabetes, Coke is not the cause of either. One of JDRF’s core values is respect and we believe that blaming and shaming, especially when based on misinformation, is never okay.