I forgot about taking on the victim-mentality that happens. I think, if there wasn't such stigma, that this would happen less often. I think that sometimes people hear the diagnosis/label and feel doomed... so they never try to NOT meet the expectations.

I feel sad for people who decide to simply live as the diagnosis without trying to manage it. If I personally knew someone who was doing that... and they used the diabetes comparison? I'd probably respond with "And diabetics work every day to minimize the impact that it is having on them, their lives, and the people around them. Are you doing that?".