A chalazion is a small, slow-growing lump or cyst that develops within the eyelid. They are not usually painful and rarely last longer than a few weeks.
A chalazion can develop when a meibomian gland at the edge of an eyelid becomes blocked or inflamed. These glands produce oil that lubricates the surface of the eye.
In this article, we look at the symptoms of a chalazion and the differences between a chalazion and a stye. We also describe causes, home treatment, when to see a doctor, surgery, and prevention.
In the early stages, a chalazion appears as a small, red or otherwise inflamed area of the eyelid.
Within a few days, this inflammation can develop into a painless and slow-growing lump.
A chalazion can appear on the upper or lower eyelid, but they are more common on the upper lid.
Although chalazia are generally painless, they can cause the eye to become watery and mildly irritated. A particularly large chalazion may press on the eyeball, which can lead to blurry vision.
People sometimes confuse a chalazion with a stye due to the similarities in appearance. A stye is also a small lump that can develop in the eye area.
Although people often use the two terms interchangeably, they refer to different types of lesion.
A chalazion results from a blocked oil gland, whereas a stye indicates an infected oil gland or hair follicle. However, a chalazion can sometimes develop into a stye.
There are two types of stye:
External hordeolum: These occur at the base of the eyelash and usually result from an infection in the hair follicle.
Internal hordeolum: These develop inside the eyelid and tend to result from an infection in an oil gland.
The most noticeable difference between a chalazion and a stye is that a chalazion tends to be painless. A stye is usually very painful and may cause the eye to feel sore and scratchy.
Wearing glasses instead of contact lenses can help a chalazion heal.
A chalazion usually requires very little medical treatment and tends to clear up on its own within a few weeks.
In the meantime, it is important to avoid squeezing or popping the chalazion, as this can increase the risk of an eye infection.
However, there are several safe ways to promote drainage and speed up the healing process. These include:
Warm compresses
Applying a warm compress to the affected eye can help soften any hardened oil blocking the gland ducts. This helps the ducts open and drain more effectively, which can relieve irritation.
To make and use a warm compress:
Soak a soft, clean cloth or cotton pad in a bowl of warm water.
Wring out any excess liquid.
Apply the damp cloth or pad to the eyelid for 10–15 minutes.
Continue wetting the compress often to keep it warm.
Repeat this several times a day until the swelling goes down.
Gentle massage
Gently massaging the eyelids for several minutes each day can help the oil ducts drain more effectively.
Before doing so, ensure that the hands are clean to reduce the risk of infection.
Once the chalazion begins to drain, keep the area clean and avoid touching it with bare hands.
Over-the-counter treatments
A number of over-the-counter products can help treat a chalazion or stye. These may reduce irritation, prevent infection, and speed up the healing process.
Some of these products include ointments, solutions, and medicated eye pads. A pharmacist can provide advice.
Things to avoid
To prevent further discomfort or irritation, it is best to avoid wearing eye makeup or contact lenses until the chalazion heals.
A person should speak to a medical professional if their chalazion does not go away after a month.
Consider seeing an eye doctor, an ophthalmologist or optometrist, if a chalazion does not drain and heal within 1 month.
The healthcare professional will ask about symptoms and examine the area to rule out other conditions. They may also prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments to reduce discomfort and speed healing.
For some people, a doctor may give a steroid injection to reduce swelling. This will depend on the location, size, and number of chalazia present.
If there are signs of a bacterial infection, the doctor may recommend a course of oral antibiotics.
For a person with a severe or persistent chalazion, a doctor may recommend surgery to drain it. This typically takes place in the doctor’s office using local anesthesia.
Chalazia can sometimes recur. If this happens often, the doctor may need to take a biopsy of the lump.
A biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue, which the doctor will examine for signs of a more serious condition.
Cleansing the eye area every day can help prevent a chalazion from developing or recurring.
Using eyelid scrubs or premoistened cleansing wipes to keep the oil glands from becoming blocked.
Other chalazion prevention tips include:
not rubbing the eyes
ensuring that the hands are clean before touching the eyes
protecting the eyes from dust and air pollution, for example by wearing sunglasses when outdoors or safety goggles when using machinery, such as power tools
replacing eye makeup every 6 months to prevent bacterial growth.
A chalazion is a painless lump that can develop on the eyelid.
Although chalazia can cause irritation and discomfort, they are usually harmless and clear up on their own within a few weeks. Occasionally, a chalazion may become infected and develop into a stye.
See an eye doctor, an optometrist or ophthalmologist, if the eye area becomes particularly swollen or painful, or if the chalazion does not respond to home treatment.
A daily eye-cleansing routine may help keep a chalazion from recurring.
People often have “gender reveal” parties for their babies. You’ll see balloons in grocery stores that say, “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!”
But what if it’s neither? Or both?
Most parents don’t consider their children being anything other than a boy or a girl, so you, the gender questioning individual, must figure that out for yourself.
In such a gendered society, it’s tough to figure out if you’re non-binary or transgender. But after this article, you’ll have a little more insight on how to know if you’re non-binary, not transgender.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=2712664100&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.11~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536242&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241364&bpp=73&bdt=10831&idt=-M&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=2&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=1597&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=537&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=dkVkqCoUWn&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=814
(Conversely, if you think you might be transgender click here)
Let’s begin with some definitions, shall we?
What does it mean to be non-binary?
Let’s start with the word “non-binary” itself. A non-binary individual is someone who identifies outside of a binary.
A binary is a categorization with only two options. Salt and pepper are a binary. Black and white are a binary. Man and woman, too, are a binary.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=1124583932&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.21~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536242&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241364&bpp=33&bdt=10830&idt=-M&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300&nras=3&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=2500&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=537&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=fVrlr3HalY&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=902
But there are more spices than just salt or pepper. There’s an infinite shade of gray between black and white. And, you guessed it, there are more ways to express yourself than just “man” or “woman.”
So a non-binary individual is simply someone who does not consider themself a man or a woman. They can feel most comfortable in between the two, switch from a man to woman and vice versa, or identify in multiple different ways.
At the end of the day, though, a non-binary individual does not feel solely like a man or solely like a woman, as cisgender people do. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=1438455242&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.27~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536242&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241364&bpp=37&bdt=10830&idt=38&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300&nras=4&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=3446&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=537&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=x1ztlru187&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=973
Now to clear up some points of confusion that may result from these definitions:
A non-binary individual is not to be confused with an intersex individual. An intersex individual is someone who was born with various male or female sex characteristics. For example, someone can have a vagina and a Y chromosome.
Intersex people are biologically between male and female. However, a person’s body parts or sex characteristics does not always dictate how this person will identify. So if you’re intersex, you can still identify as a man or a woman. Or neither.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=2496288911&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.33~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536243&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241441&bpp=34&bdt=10908&idt=35&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x512%2C360x90&nras=7&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=4424&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=795&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=5&fsb=1&xpc=IX3TR3yRTb&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=2165
Because it’s not the body that dictates gender identity, but simply how a person feels within their body.
And if you’re reading this, you’re probably feeling some type of way about the body you were born into. Let’s dig into that a little deeper.
Cis is shorthand for cisgender, or someone whose biological sexual characteristics matches up with the traditional gender identity for that body.
So when you see someone with boobs, wide hips, no Adam’s apple, long hair, etc, you’d think that person is woman.
And when you see someone with broad shoulders, short hair, muscles, body hair, etc, you’d think that person is man.
But you can have those biological characteristics and not be a man, because, again, a body does not dictate gender identity.
How we express ourselves can be in different ways in the gender spectrum. Short hair and painted fingernails can no longer be assigned to just one gender or the other. Both genders are taking it up, or no gender at all.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=46347350&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.53~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536285&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241513&bpp=34&bdt=10980&idt=45&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df9a156dba5ba4796-229463c7b67a00ca%3AT%3D1624536240%3ART%3D1624536240%3AS%3DALNI_MY5oTEv9924UoE2zMnqUuc3iT2_6Q&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x512%2C360x90%2C360x300&nras=8&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=6628&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=2683&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&psts=AGkb-H8j1td-CXV2SpfHIyALNISMLnoHz32d6KzFDJh_yweLs0p3W5ZzlfrLuF_RTn9fehRSIiDJ0QMbiPZnXFfnkCCGN8oJU-SRzShC%2CAGkb-H8m_OwEXV_lurVwh7w-hvejwwRVf1BVRGBwduZWFlElS78t3KORWTnnmC1vf-suudvTSRCk5MPLlUnQBA%2CAGkb-H9ObkuvoJ3ZaakHEfUO99sJHe-9YeOLlSwaI7WeWdyj01g8Wjdw9eT3PQQT6QFVdRgJNJRDm9gIYksnng%2CAGkb-H8Uo06nd22MDTWyTbwJN3EDzwB1w6kMQWw7YIrT69MHUCIRuLdfF4ArBkv8f1HJhGv8lP6cEc7l8syqzQ%2CAGkb-H-6zbNfJtj8ikgVlZUJA5Hqrzum4GdJX1v7bEE5kNndG0GQtahUj6mG0RQQhChGXJuwqt32VHFLzdkLnw&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=6&fsb=1&xpc=RybFYeG4Ps&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=44438
So with that let’s talk about practical ways you can know if you’re non-binary:
You don’t feel comfortable on either gender binary. You don’t want to be seen as a man, you don’t want to be seen as woman. You don’t like she/her or he/him pronouns. All in all, you feel someplace in the middle of male and female.
You feel as if you have to be reminded that you’re a man or woman.
You feel weird when someone calls you he/him or she/her. Something about they/them pronouns honor you, or you feel the best knowing that you’re not being seen as a male or female.
You’ve changed your appearance to be more androgynous.
Things you’re already doing that might indicate you’re non-binary:
Shortening or changing your name so that it’s gender neutral.
Using “They/them” when describing the gender of people you don’t know. This might be because you wish someone called you by those neutral pronouns.
Wishing there were more gender-neutral bathrooms in this world.
Wishing parts of your body were different (less pronounced, fuller — especially in an androgynous way).
Wearing baggy, ill-fitting clothing that hides your body and secondary sex characteristics (breasts, hips, thighs, neck, etc).
Speaking less because of voice dysphoria. (I get misgendered the SECOND I open my mouth.)
Eating less. It’s sad to say, but some causes of eating disorders is latent gender dysphoria. Transgender and genderqueer individuals are about 5 times more likely to develop eating disorders than cisgender LGBTQ or heterosexual individuals.
Wishing you had a different name or pronouns.
Wanting the masculinization/feminization of hormone treatment. While you don’t have to completely masculinize/feminize yourself, some people do hormone treats to make their body more androgynous.
Things to help figure out if you’re non-binary:
Change your hairstyle. Cut it, grow it, shave it, dye it.
Experiment with makeup. Or don’t. Buy some eyeliner and lipstick. Throw the ones you do have away. Or, hey, if you want to, give yourself a beard with some mascara. Whatever works!
Try on different clothing. Raid a sibling’s closet, a parent’s wardrobe, or try stuff on at goodwill. Do you like what you see?
Ask people to call you different pronouns or names. Sometimes that’s all you need to reaffirm your gender. If you’re not in a place where you can ask people that, websites like Pronoun Changing Room can help you out.
Specifically, start asking people to use “they/them” pronouns with you.
The absolute best way to figure out if you’re non-binary: navigate your euphoria and dysphoria.
Euphoria is when something feels good. Dysphoria is when something feels bad (especially in relation to your gender).
Try to notice each time you feel good when gendered one way and feel bad gendered another way.
If you find non-gendered traits make you feel better than gendered traits, you’re most likely non-binary.
For example: You don’t like being called “sir/ma’am,” (or maybe neither elicits a response from you). You do feel good, though, when someone uses they/them pronouns with you. You feel uncomfortable in male or female bathrooms but are always relieved to find a gender-neutral bathroom.
Give yourself some time. It’s hard to understand euphoria and dysphoria in the moment (as other environmental/contextual factors can influence those feelings in the moment), but looking back and perhaps writing down a few key experiences may give insight to your gender identity.
A lot of this sounds like how to know if you’re trans (as a lot of these behaviors are also found on the transgender article).
At the end of the day, a lot of the same feelings of dysphoria for transgender and non-binary individuals stem from the same body issues. A lot of people who think they’re trans eventually realize that they’re non-binary and vice versa.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6236251396557429&output=html&h=300&adk=1554445590&adf=276673348&pi=t.aa~a.799919054~i.77~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1624536451&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3791326851&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fallaboutgender.com%2F2018%2F07%2F04%2Fhow-to-know-if-youre-non-binary%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=270&rw=324&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8NrQhgYQpeCf1b3moos9EjsAzzL_KkYELX1EvCEUe8i9sWGSmCIyBuIkwlsGOF4_w6LnqvMbgI_3POgYKLqx2Og1prs1qM7h4YAHjQ&dt=1624536241594&bpp=30&bdt=11061&idt=31&shv=r20210621&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Df9a156dba5ba4796-229463c7b67a00ca%3AT%3D1624536240%3ART%3D1624536240%3AS%3DALNI_MY5oTEv9924UoE2zMnqUuc3iT2_6Q&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x300%2C360x512%2C360x90%2C360x300%2C360x300&nras=9&correlator=868996826105&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1840203765.1624536239&ga_sid=1624536239&ga_hid=93619842&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=5&u_java=0&u_h=640&u_w=360&u_ah=640&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=11249&biw=360&bih=512&scr_x=0&scr_y=7277&eid=21066433%2C21065725%2C31061421&oid=3&psts=AGkb-H8j1td-CXV2SpfHIyALNISMLnoHz32d6KzFDJh_yweLs0p3W5ZzlfrLuF_RTn9fehRSIiDJ0QMbiPZnXFfnkCCGN8oJU-SRzShC%2CAGkb-H8m_OwEXV_lurVwh7w-hvejwwRVf1BVRGBwduZWFlElS78t3KORWTnnmC1vf-suudvTSRCk5MPLlUnQBA%2CAGkb-H9ObkuvoJ3ZaakHEfUO99sJHe-9YeOLlSwaI7WeWdyj01g8Wjdw9eT3PQQT6QFVdRgJNJRDm9gIYksnng%2CAGkb-H8Uo06nd22MDTWyTbwJN3EDzwB1w6kMQWw7YIrT69MHUCIRuLdfF4ArBkv8f1HJhGv8lP6cEc7l8syqzQ%2CAGkb-H-6zbNfJtj8ikgVlZUJA5Hqrzum4GdJX1v7bEE5kNndG0GQtahUj6mG0RQQhChGXJuwqt32VHFLzdkLnw%2CAGkb-H8SnqIXJEyV_0GPYo0fvtZdNyqIDxgsu2NRAzyMSqJi6VF0kk9feoi7Yk-s-caiFr4wekxvxrfieAVPAck4&pvsid=3132395881117058&pem=551&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C568%2C360%2C568&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&jar=2021-06-24-12&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=7&fsb=1&xpc=fXYqE5Mm5C&p=https%3A//allaboutgender.com&dtd=M
But I’d say the biggest indication that you’re non-binary rather than trans is that you don’t want to be seen as either male/female or man/woman. Your pronouns and gender presentation may reflect that. Or they might not.
Thing To Remember:
You can feel non-binary and look like a traditional man or woman.
You don’t have to use they/them pronouns to be non-binary. You can use any pronoun you want.
Pretty much, the only criterion to being non-binary is feeling like you’re not a man or woman. (E.g., “I’m not a man or woman, I’m a human” or “I’m just me.”)
At the end of the day, you decide how you feel. But hearing other people’s stories helps validate things you’re feeling or help you realize that you’ve been feeling some type of way this whole time.
I really like Charlie’s video describing what it feels like to be non-binary.
“I don’t go walking around thinking about how gosh darn neutral I am. It’s…a thing I get reminded of. When I see something for men or women it reminds me I’m neither of those.”
I think Charlie hits the nail. You can be androgynous and feel an affinity to male or female. But if you feel like neither you’re probably non-binary.
Jeff Miller’s video being transmasculine: being assigned female at birth but identifying more with masculine presentation and things, while not feeling like a “man.” As he says, gendered language like “man,” “dude,” “bro” makes them uncomfortable.
A video compilation by Ryan Cassata which includes a buuuunch of non-binary individuals saying what it is that makes them non-binary. Most of the responses describe feeling neutral to gender or simply not feeling male or female.
A popular non-binary bean, Ashley Wylde, describes how it feels to be non-binary. They say that being non-binary feels like having blonde hair or brown eyes. Their gender, or lack of gender, feels pretty normal.
(Please check out more great content from these YouTubers on their channels! Give ’em all the love and views they deserve).
In conclusion…
You can resonate with someone else’s coming out story or you can totally feel like your experience is unique. That’s okay.
You don’t have to rush to any conclusions. Just take your time, read up on other coming out stories and experiment with your gender until you find something you’re the most comfortable with.
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong disease that keeps your body from using insulin the way it should. People with type 2 diabetes are said to have insulin resistance.
People who are middle-aged or older are most likely to get this kind of diabetes. It used to be called adult-onset diabetes. But type 2 diabetes also affects kids and teens, mainly because of childhood obesity.
Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes. There are about 29 million people in the U.S. with type 2. Another 84 million have prediabetes, meaning their blood sugar (or blood glucose) is high but not high enough to be diabetes yet.
Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so mild that you don’t notice them. About 8 million people who have it don’t know it. Symptoms include:
If you have dark rashes around your neck or armpits, see your doctor. These are called acanthosis nigricans, and they can be signs that your body is becoming resistant to insulin.CONTINUE READING BELOW
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin. It helps your cells turn glucose, a type of sugar, from the food you eat into energy. People with type 2 diabetes make insulin, but their cells don’t use it as well as they should.
At first, your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get glucose into your cells. But eventually, it can’t keep up, and the glucose builds up in your blood instead.
Too much glucose from your liver. When your blood sugar is low, your liver makes and sends out glucose. After you eat, your blood sugar goes up, and your liver will usually slow down and store its glucose for later. But some people’s livers don’t. They keep cranking out sugar.
Bad communication between cells. Sometimes, cells send the wrong signals or don’t pick up messages correctly. When these problems affect how your cells make and use insulin or glucose, a chain reaction can lead to diabetes.
Broken beta cells. If the cells that make insulin send out the wrong amount of insulin at the wrong time, your blood sugar gets thrown off. High blood sugar can damage these cells, too.
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Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors
Certain things make it more likely that you’ll get type 2 diabetes. The more of these that apply to you, the higher your chances of getting it are. Some things are related to who you are:
Age. 45 or older
Family. A parent, sister, or brother with diabetes
Ethnicity. African American, Alaska Native, Native American, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino, or Pacific Islander American
Risk factors related to your health and medical history include:
Your doctor can test your blood for signs of type 2 diabetes. Usually, they’ll test you on 2 days to confirm the diagnosis. But if your blood glucose is very high or you have many symptoms, one test may be all you need.
A1c. It’s like an average of your blood glucose over the past 2 or 3 months.
Fasting plasma glucose. This is also known as a fasting blood sugar test. It measures your blood sugar on an empty stomach. You won’t be able to eat or drink anything except water for 8 hours before the test.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This checks your blood glucose before and 2 hours after you drink something sweet to see how your body handles the sugar.
Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
Managing type 2 diabetes includes a mix of lifestyle changes and medication.
Lifestyle changes
You may be able to reach your target blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone.
Weight loss. Dropping extra pounds can help. While losing 5% of your body weight is good, losing at least 7% and keeping it off seems to be ideal. That means someone who weighs 180 pounds can change their blood sugar levels by losing around 13 pounds. Weight loss can seem overwhelming, but portion control and eating healthy foods are a good place to start.
Healthy eating. There’s no specific diet for type 2 diabetes. A registered dietitian can teach you about carbs and help you make a meal plan you can stick with. Focus on:
Exercise. Try to get 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity every day. You can walk, bike, swim, or do anything else that gets your heart rate up. Pair that with strength training, like yoga or weightlifting. If you take a medication that lowers your blood sugar, you might need a snack before a workout.
Watch your blood sugar levels. Depending on your treatment, especially if you’re on insulin, your doctor will tell you if you need to test your blood sugar levels and how often to do it.
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Medication
If lifestyle changes don’t get you to your target blood sugar levels, you may need medication. Some of the most common for type 2 diabetes include:
Meglitinides. They help your body make more insulin, and they work faster than sulfonylureas. You might take nateglinide (Starlix) or repaglinide (Prandin).
Thiazolidinediones. Like metformin, they make you more sensitive to insulin. You could get pioglitazone (Actos) or rosiglitazone (Avandia). But they also raise your risk of heart problems, so they aren’t usually a first choice for treatment.
Even if you change your lifestyle and take your medicine as directed, your blood sugar may still get worse over time. That doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. Diabetes is progressive, and many people eventually need more than one drug.
When you take more than one drug to control your type 2 diabetes, that’s called combination therapy.
You and your doctor should work together to find the best mix for you. Usually, you’ll keep taking metformin and add something else.
What that is may depend on your situation. Some drugs control blood sugar spikes (your doctor may call this hyperglycemia) that come right after meals, for instance. Others are more effective at stopping drops in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) between meals. Some may help with weight loss or cholesterol, as well as your diabetes.
You and your doctor should talk about any possible side effects. Cost may be an issue as well.
If you take medication for something else, that will need to be factored into any decision.CONTINUE READING BELOW
You’ll need to see your doctor more often when you start taking a new combination of drugs.
You might find that adding a second drug doesn’t bring your blood sugar under control. Or the combination of two drugs might work only for a short time. If that happens, your doctor might consider a third noninsulin drug, or you may start insulin therapy.
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help you lower your risk of diabetes.
Lose weight. Dropping just 7% to 10% of your weight can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half.
Get active. Thirty minutes of brisk walking a day will cut your risk by almost a third.
Eat right. Avoid highly processed carbs, sugary drinks, and trans and saturated fats. Limit red and processed meats.
Quit smoking. Work with your doctor to keep from gaining weight after you quit, so you don’t create one problem by solving another.
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Type 2 Diabetes Complications
Over time, high blood sugar can damage and cause problems with your:
Heart and blood vessels. You’re up to five times more likely to get heart disease or have a stroke. You’re also at high risk of blocked blood vessels (atherosclerosis) and chest pain (angina).
Kidneys. If your kidneys are damaged or you have kidney failure, you could need dialysis or a kidney replacement.
Eyes. High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in the backs of your eyes (retinopathy). If this isn’t treated, it can cause blindness.
Nerves. This can lead to trouble with digestion, the feeling in your feet, and your sexual response.
Skin. Your blood doesn’t circulate as well, so wounds heal slower and can become infected.
Pregnancy. Women with diabetes are more likely to have a miscarriage, a stillbirth, or a baby with a birth defect.
Sleep. You might develop sleep apnea, a condition in which your breathing stops and starts while you sleep.
Hearing. You’re more likely to have hearing problems, but it’s not clear why.
Brain. High blood sugar can damage your brain and might put you at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Depression. People with the disease are twice as likely to get depressed as people who don’t have it.
The best way to avoid these complications is to manage your type 2 diabetes well.
Take your diabetes medications or insulin on time.
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