I have my own thoughts on this topic that largely stem from the misconceptions spewed by the general public and media about how "diabetes" all appears to be the same disease of lazy, fat people and if you have it then it's somehow your fault. I take great offense to this: maybe it goes back to the situations as a child when people would say to my mom, upon hearing that she and I were diabetic, that "Oh, well you should have fed him better and he wouldn't have gotten it."
While the D-Community really needs no reminder that no definate causes have been found for either, even though some can link certain lifestyle choices to Type 2, that fact apparently escapes the attention of news media trying to spin a few. As a result, stories such as ABC Nightline's recent "Death By Diabetes" help spread the inaccurate and irresponsible views on this. As depressing as it was to watch, this story enraged me - as a Person With Type 1 Diabetes and as a journalist. The same can be said for most of the newspaper and television stories on this, and that is probably a sad reflection of the inadequate state of our country's Fourth Estate. I've penned a letter to these reporters, their bosses, the American Diabetes Association and JDRF, and a couple journalism organizations and media-watchdogs to bring attention to this - hope to hear something this month.
"It's like the comparing two athletes: a soccer player and a basketball player.
Things in common: both athletes are playing a game with a ball, tying to score points, running around, playing defense. Differences: one athlete is kicking a ball into a net, the other is throwing a ball into a basket...completely different games.
Can a soccer player and a basketball player work out at the same gym, doing similar routines? YES
Are there rules of universal sportsmanship that both athletes should adopt? OF COURSE
But will a soccer player benefit by practicing basketball free throws? NO
And will a basketball player get better by learning how to bounce a ball off his knee or head? NO
This is why when it comes to MASTERING their respective sports...basketball players play and practice and learn and bond with other basketball players and soccer players do the same on their end. It's natural.
This is why retired soccer players don't coach pro basketball...
Imagine if the general population didn't know, and didn't care to know the differences between basketball and soccer. They just kind of lumped everyone together as "athletes" irrespective of the sport being played. It's just idiotic, and there would be a lot of ticked off "athletes" on both sides.
Saying diabetics are all the same...diabetes is diabetes" is like saying "athletes are all the same...sports are sports."
True, in a most generalized and ignorant fashion, but utterly and completely wrong in so many ways at the same time.



But those similarities must be what unites us, and the differences can NEVER be an excuse or justification for exlusion, rudeness, or meanness between the two types. United We Stand, or Divided We Fall, or so it goes. Manny Hernandez, founder of TuDiabetes, says it perfectly and does a remarkable job in this video about the Diabetes Differences and what we can learn from each other. It's worth a listen, and everyone should also take some time to get involved in the TuDiabetes Essay Effort currently underway to share their stories.
2 comments:
Great post Mike. Great analogy by Dino too. Well put. Hopefully the masses will catch up. Hope you hear back from those you wrote to also.
Totally agree! Great post.
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