Mass media, medical professionals, and news reporters perpetuate misconceptions about Type 1 diabetes by using the word 'diabetes' when they are really only talking about Type 2 diabetes.
Lately, you can't turn on the television without hearing the word diabetes. Glucose meter companies are starting to advertise their meters, news stories are highlighting diabetes in their health segments, and drug companies are selling their latest diabetes product. There is a problem with all of this chatter, however, no one is differentiating between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
While in most cases, and I really mean all cases, they are talking about Type 2 diabetes, they just leave out the words Type 2 and say, diabetes. While this may not be an issue for people with Type 2 diabetes, or even people without diabetes at all, it does cause a problem for people living with the 'other' diabetes, Type 1 diabetes.
This is where all the misconceptions begin. People eating their breakfast listening to the television in the background hear the word diabetes, then the rest of the commercial, then think they automatically know what my son is going through day in and day out. One commercial on how to eating right and exercise can help control your diabetes, and they think they have the lock on how to help my five year old 'control' his diabetes. Every one of these commercials would make my son's life a whole lot easier if they would just use the full title of this particular disease, Type 2 diabetes.
Or at least add a disclaimer saying something like, "While our commercial/news story/Public Service Announcement will help people with Type 2 diabetes, please leave people with Type 1 diabetes alone, this does not pertain to them." Obviously, I know this won't happen but it would be nice.
I saw this on a web page of a nurse that my son will have to work with one day in a future school that he will attend.
"YOU KNOW [sic] March is National Nutrition Month and March 2nd - 6th is National School Breakfast Week? Eating a balanced breakfast helps to keep you alert and feeling good. Children who eat breakfast are significantly less likely to be obese or become diabetic. Children are more likely to have better concentration, problem -solving skills and hand-eye coordination."
When I read this I almost cried. Okay, I really did cry, but just a little. This lack of clarity that penetrates our subconscious on a daily basis is what makes it so hard for my little guy to explain why his diabetes, Type 1, is different than Type 2 diabetes. A school nurse is a respected authority on health information, and the fact that this statement would be placed out there for everyone to read implies that my son, my child, possibly didn't eat breakfast and that is why he became 'diabetic.'
My son should not have to answer to another five year old about whether he ate breakfast or not, and whether that is why he has diabetes or not. Addition of the simple term 'Type 2' would educate people immediately that there is more than one type of diabetes. It wouldn't explain the whole story, but it might stop one person from saying something so insensitive and so inappropriate to my son so he doesn't even have to question whether his breakfast choices may or may not have caused his diabetes...which we all know they didn't.
Lately, you can't turn on the television without hearing the word diabetes. Glucose meter companies are starting to advertise their meters, news stories are highlighting diabetes in their health segments, and drug companies are selling their latest diabetes product. There is a problem with all of this chatter, however, no one is differentiating between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
While in most cases, and I really mean all cases, they are talking about Type 2 diabetes, they just leave out the words Type 2 and say, diabetes. While this may not be an issue for people with Type 2 diabetes, or even people without diabetes at all, it does cause a problem for people living with the 'other' diabetes, Type 1 diabetes.
This is where all the misconceptions begin. People eating their breakfast listening to the television in the background hear the word diabetes, then the rest of the commercial, then think they automatically know what my son is going through day in and day out. One commercial on how to eating right and exercise can help control your diabetes, and they think they have the lock on how to help my five year old 'control' his diabetes. Every one of these commercials would make my son's life a whole lot easier if they would just use the full title of this particular disease, Type 2 diabetes.
Or at least add a disclaimer saying something like, "While our commercial/news story/Public Service Announcement will help people with Type 2 diabetes, please leave people with Type 1 diabetes alone, this does not pertain to them." Obviously, I know this won't happen but it would be nice.
I saw this on a web page of a nurse that my son will have to work with one day in a future school that he will attend.
"YOU KNOW [sic] March is National Nutrition Month and March 2nd - 6th is National School Breakfast Week? Eating a balanced breakfast helps to keep you alert and feeling good. Children who eat breakfast are significantly less likely to be obese or become diabetic. Children are more likely to have better concentration, problem -solving skills and hand-eye coordination."
When I read this I almost cried. Okay, I really did cry, but just a little. This lack of clarity that penetrates our subconscious on a daily basis is what makes it so hard for my little guy to explain why his diabetes, Type 1, is different than Type 2 diabetes. A school nurse is a respected authority on health information, and the fact that this statement would be placed out there for everyone to read implies that my son, my child, possibly didn't eat breakfast and that is why he became 'diabetic.'
My son should not have to answer to another five year old about whether he ate breakfast or not, and whether that is why he has diabetes or not. Addition of the simple term 'Type 2' would educate people immediately that there is more than one type of diabetes. It wouldn't explain the whole story, but it might stop one person from saying something so insensitive and so inappropriate to my son so he doesn't even have to question whether his breakfast choices may or may not have caused his diabetes...which we all know they didn't.
