I see a lot of outrage regarding the way that the public percieves diabetes, most recently due to the article that Bill Cosby wrote for the NY Times. Sometimes I feel like I am missing the outrage gene, because it takes a lot for me to get up in arms. Hint: if you do manage to really provoke my ire to that point, then be prepared for four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse-level fury. But my focus in writing this is that I see two conflicting issues that consistently draw “outrage” from the diabetes community.
1) People asking questions about diabetes: If I had a nickel for every time I saw some meme on my social media feeds, or ranting status update about “how pissed so-and-so was” that they got questioned about why they take injections or have to test their blood sugar or why they choose to avoid certain foods, I’d have enough money to pay Bill Cosby to write this post for me.
People are curious and want to understand what makes us different-and why we have to do things differently than they do in order to manage our condition. What’s the big deal? Why is that a bad thing that we must find so insufferable? I can’t tell you how many times someone’s “stupid question” has led to an interesting discussion and teachable moment to educate them about diabetes. Some of these moments have led to friendships and people who have supported Project365 because they appreciated the idea of informing others who might have questions.
The closest I am going to get to being outraged in this post is over the fact that people who don’t have diabetes feel bad or awkward about asking questions because they are programmed to think that it’s offensive to question something that doesn’t make sense to them.
2) People making ignorant statements about diabetes: See point 1, above. If people aren’t informed about diabetes, then how are they supposed to have accurate information about its nuances and nomenclature?
And speaking of nomenclature (which is the spark that ignited the outrage against Cosby) what happened to that petition that was going around to change the name of type 1 diabetes to something else? I remember a lot people kind of kicking that idea under the bus but turning around now and being outraged over the misinformation that Cosby displayed in his referencing an increase type 2 diabetes in kids as “juvenile diabetes”.
Personally I thought the point that Cosby was making was fairly clear-poor diet is related to an increase of type 2 diabetes in kids-not saying it’s a direct cause, but that 32oz Mountain Dew with a happy meal three times a week certainly isn’t reducing the risk factors, is it? Juvenile diabetes was synonymous with T1 diabetes back in the day that the nomenclature was agreed upon. Years ago, any juvenile (child) who presented with symptoms of diabetes was by default, T1. It doesn’t take a PhD from Harvard Medical School to see that across the intervening decades, the diet, eating habits and lifestyle of our society has changed in ways that resulted in both T1 and T2 diabetes occurring in juveniles-which is a new thing.
Clear as mud, right?!
So why is it that we have to lash out at people who don’t have a clear grasp of the nuances of diabetes when they are stating an opinion-not giving medical advice. Granted, Cosby played a doctor on TV but that was a while ago.
Quick! Tell me the differences between Hepatitis A, B and C!
Time’s up! Wait you dont know? Well obviously…if you don’t live with a condition you’re going to have some misunderstandings and that ignorance is something we all share on some level, about some things. It’s not a big deal. It’s not a cause for outrage. A simple, kind explanation would go a long way and open a path for more effective discussions and dialogue.
And yeah, we can’t expect people to get it right 100% of the time when they talk about diabetes. When I see Bear Grylls leading a 5.4 climbing route in a commercial, with three top ropes tied to him, holds breaking and unnecessarily dynamic movements-to sell anti-perspirant to twenty-something males, sure I roll my eyes, but I’m probably not going to take to the streets with torches and pitchforks over the matter.
You put it perfectly.
Although there are times the judgmental statements can be annoying, I make a point to use them as an invitation to correct misconceptions people have. My son was diagnosed at age 3, and before that day I knew nothing about the specifics of Type 1. He’s now 6 and will often explain this disease to perfect strangers. We don’t have time to be angry about it, we are dealing with the 24/7 of this disease - carb counting, late night checks, basal adjustments for sports, cgm and pump site changes, etc. Hepatitis A, B, and C . . . Yeah, let me look into that. 
Exactly-lots of chances to educate. People who are going to take their medical advice from Bill Cosby are probably lost causes-I’d bet that the people who are capable of rational though would be much more affected by you and your son than an editorial piece by an actor. Also it just looks lame to outsiders when any community gets so sensitive that they want to crucify anyone who misspeaks. That’s not good for business-we have to remember, when dealing with the public that we are talking to people who are on the outside of the little world that is diabetes-the 24-7 as you put it. It’s easy to turn people off-also easy to bring people into your world and share info too!
On our JDRF fundraising page I actually have a “day in the life” which chronicles an entire day - every bg check, cgm alarm, carb counting, etc. It was one of the best things I did. Our family and friends, who all care very much about William, were amazed at how constant it is. I sort of forget that other people don’t “get it” because they don’t see it. They see a piece of it at a family get together or school field trip, but a 4 hour peek into his life doesn’t come close to the whole picture.
Thats a very cool idea and a great way to help people understand! Outstanding!
Well said!!! Like you, I think I’m missing the outrage gene too. I also think it is counterproductive to fly off the handle at every misunderstanding and misstep. I think respectfully and kindly correcting misconceptions, and like you said, teaching, is a much better way to handle things.
Thank you!! Wow I didn’t expect to get comments-no one ever comments!! I should rant more often
I would just to point out that I don’t know anything about hepatitis and I am not going the New York Post to write about it. I think that was where a lot of people were upset. Not that Bill Cosby doesn’t know about diabetes, maybe he just shouldn’t be writing about it. I think if I went the New York Post and wrote that everyone with hepatitis got it from unprotected sex a whole bunch of people would like to tell me other wise.
That is a fair point. However the issue (as I was addressing it) was that clearly Bill Cosby (like MANY others) does not know-that he doesn’t know about diabetes…and that there are better ways to inform than flying off the proverbial handle. Additionally as I read the article, Cosbys reference to the word “Juvenile” was directed at the people he was talking about, not at the “type” of diabetes. His wording was ambiguous for a medical advice column (which his article was not)…but his point about diet having an impact on the increase of T2 in juveniles was valid assuming you read it that way, as some people surely did.
My assertion was/is that a much greater disservice is done to the education of the public when PWD overreact and create barriers to open and frank discussion about diabetes, such that it becomes a taboo to ask questions or even speak of diabetes without “knowing enough” to share a point of view.