1. We aren't lazy, we're sick.

Could you imagine living inside a body that is literally attacking itself? Probably not, but we do every day, and it's not fun. Rest is sometimes the only thing that makes us feel better. So be considerate the next time you get upset at your autoimmune friend for staying in the whole weekend. They're trying to make sure their body doesn't kill them.

2. Not all of us feel comfortable enough to talk about our disease.

I am someone who will talk about my diseases all day. I find it therapeutic. But I know many people who that isn't the case for. Be respectful when asking your friend about their disease. If they shy away from your question or give a short answer, they probably don't want to talk about it. At that moment, the best thing you can do is be OK with that.

3. When we cancel plans at the last second, it's not because we want to.

Our autoimmune disease controls our lives whether we want them to or not. If it decides to flare up an hour before going out, there's nothing we can do besides wait it out and rest.

4. We often struggle with other conditions, like depression, because of our disease.

Having an autoimmune disease can increase the risk of depression by 45 percent. So yes, your friend with an autoimmune disease might be a little sadder than your other friends or they might randomly shut down and push everyone away. The best thing you could do for them is to support them. A lot of the time, that's all they need.

5. We aren't fragile.

We don't want you to have to tiptoe around us. Drink alcohol in front of your friend with Crohn's Disease and talk about your perfect skin in front of your friend with psoriasis. We won't get upset or feel bad about ourselves. Just because our life is affected doesn't mean yours has to be, too.

6. Every disease varies, as does every case of a specific disease.

Don't rely on WebMD or your Great Aunt who also has your friend's disease to help you better understand it. Instead, ask your friend. If they feel comfortable talking about it, they will, and you'll be so much more informed about your friend and you'll actually be able to help them in the future if they need it.

7. We aren't a basket case, so don't treat us like one.

If there is one thing that makes every person with an autoimmune disease mad, it's being treated like a baby. Despite our disease, the majority of us can still take care of ourselves and actually like doing so because it gives us some type of control of our lives. If we need help, we will ask you, we promise.

8. Autoimmune diseases are often silent, so be courteous.

Unless your friend tells you they have a disease, you probably would have never known, and that's why it's always better to err on the side of caution when talking. When you're making jokes like, "Wow, I'm going to get diabetes from eating this," remember that 1.6 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, and the friend you were talking to might be one of them.