While diabetes is a poly-phenotypic condition consisting of a wide assortment of types (the most common being type 1 and type 2), a Type A Diabetic is not a physiological phenotype. Rather, it represents a perspective and approach to diabetes. The Type A Diabetic is someone who:

• is diagnosed with diabetes who decides to take control of the situation instead of letting the situation take control over them
• is open to challenging conventional wisdom on the topic
• is interested in fully understanding the underlying dynamics that occur due to this condition
• takes the position that managing a chronic condition like this is, ultimately, manageable and not a reason to fall prey to feeling like a victim
• views the medical community, like most other professional communities, as an industry consisting of advisors and practitioners ranging from poor to mediocre to excellent
• most importantly, is not willing to accept that this condition will inevitably negatively impact their health

I acknowledge that the term Type A Diabetic is not perfect, as it could create even more confusion with the various types of diabetes already in existence. Also (spoiler alert), this very manifesto will make the case that many people with this condition are actually no longer technically diabetic. However, Type A Diabetic does convey a clear and obvious meaning in a familiar fashion, and I personally enjoy the novel pivot from physiological type to personality type. 

<= Welcome  |  What is Diabetes? =>