Upon arriving back in America it didn't take long for me to catch onto the different ways in which diabetes is viewed. Most of the people I spend a lot of time with know much more than the average person. This isn't surprising considering who I spend time interacting with: Team Type 1 teammates, drug reps and doctors on athlete days, my old classmates from nutrition, family and close friends who have known for a long time why I need insulin. I also assume that most people reading this are from one of the groups stated above, but for those who are not, aside from a big thanks for reading, here is a very brief overview on what type 1 diabetes mellitus is.
I feel very well represented by the cartoon below; apart from the fact I'm not quite as tanned, my puku isn't quite as big (I know I'm fat, but not quite that big) and I don't wear budgie smugglers (anymore at least). The other important difference is that my entire pancreas isn't on strike, only the part that produces insulin. Which is what Type 1 is, an inability to produce insulin because the bodies defence system has recognised it as foreign and destroyed it. Thus insulin must be injected in amounts equivalent to that produced by the body. Inject too much? I need to balance this out by eating more carbohydrate (insulin's role is to control this in the bloodstream). Inject not enough? I inject more, obviously enough.
One thing about diabetes is that there is always more to learn about it. Whether you've just heard about it for the first time, or like me you've not only lived with it for almost 17 years, but also studied it at University, there is still more to learn. This might come from reading a book, like I am below, but more commonly now for me comes from reading my blood sugar and talking to teammates.
But no matter where I go, I'm always seeing different ways in which people view diabetes. There are the people that just pretend it doesn't exist...
The people that don't give a dam...
The people that are prejudice against people with diabetes...
Then there are a lot of people who do actually care. The way people care and want to get their message across is different. For example, in New Zealand at the moment there is the scare tactics going on. This can be a good way to shock people, but I think I just find them amusing. The photo below is taken on the corner of Harris Rd and Te Rakau Dr in Auckland. I'd pass it every Saturday morning on a bunch ride, and usually laugh. This would sometimes get a reaction from the old people in the bunch, "you shouldn't laugh, you might get diabetes someday." Yea, I'm dreading the day.
But then there are the people who try to get the message across in a less intimidating way, like my favourite soft toy at home, and mascot for Diabetes New Zealand, Barnaby the Bee. Of course the bee at my house doesn't look quite the same as the one pictured, since I have had him since I was about 6 or 7. Still, he still has the same message, "Diabetes: Be aware".
In the US, however, they have different methods of advertising. There is of course the best method of promoting care and management of diabetes: Team Type 1 and Team Type 2. But I don't need to talk about those legends now, I'm sure if you read this you have/will hear enough about those legends.
America does have other stars to talk about diabeetus, like Wilfred Brimley. He's the one on the right below, the guy on the left is... well I don't know who he is, but he keeps saying he's a veteran.
Of course for every good effort at promoting something, there is always someone mocking them. Usually Family Guy or South Park. Below is Family Guy's attempt at mocking Wilfred, and unfortunately diabetes as well...
...And of course South Park had to try as well, they do take the Piss out of everyone else. Below is Scott Malkinson. Every time he was on screen, all he would say was, "I'm Scott Malkinson, I have diabetes." To the reply, "Shut up Scott Malkinson".
Then of course there are the random cartoons, just to make sure the Fox shows don't get all the fun.
After all, if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at.
There also the random photos floating around, which are just confusing. Like the one below. I mean, how the hell do you fill up a syringe with insulin when the cap is still on the bottle.
So that's pretty much it for now for my random rant. I'm still in Colorado for another week, and not a lot out of the usual is happening at the moment. So farewell until next time.
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