Enough is Enough

I have sat here and read the recurring diatribe that has been going on here at Tu since this whole Paula Deen story broke. Now I may be sticking my neck out here and if I am Manny and Emily have the rights to remove this post and if they do so be it. I am a grownup and have learned that there are always folks out there who will not like my opinions. I have learned to get over it. I think there are some others who need to learn this lesson.

Like I said, I know I am going to ruffle a few feathers and probably add to all the craziness that has already taken place. But I have kept my tongue up until now and refuse to do it any longer, so here goes.

I don't care what type of D you got!

Sorry, I don't. All I really care about is that you have D and are dealing with your own form of hell from it. We each have our good days and our bad days. Each type has folks that work on their health and controlling D and those that do not. Folks it don't matter. We all have diabetes and personally, Manny and anyone else on the staff of this site can go and advocate for me as a diabetic and I don't care if they have my type.

Now I know that you have to be concerned about what kind of D you have. That helps specify treatment and gets you on the correct medication regime. It also helps so we can gather together and discuss the problems with each specific type as a group of individuals wth that same type D. I would not even join a group specifically for T1's because I am a T2. And if I did I certainly would not get after someone and tell them all the things they are doing wrong. My knowledge of T1 stops at insulin. I have that knowledge because I take the stuff.

But see we even break down into smaller groups. People who are brittle, people with frequent lows, people on this pump or this CGM, or on a certain insulin. Part of this is because we want information to help us deal with this disease. Another part of this is that we want to belong. We want to know that we aren't alone that there are others like us dealing with our problems.

But honest folks over the past couple of weeks there have been discussions on this site that make me think I walked into the middle of a political melee.

Stop it, please.

If you disagree with someones post, even this one, please feel free to comment and tell me. I am not saying that I am going to reply to each and every post. I will say that if a comment is respectful I WILL read it. Because I don't know everything about diabetes. But we can certainly discus and learn. Just keep the verbal daggers in their holsters.

Oh, and one more thing about whatever type of D you have, you are not going to be like anyone else with that type or with diabetes in general. Any more I prefer to call myself a Tme. I am a 'type me' diabetic. What works for me will probably not work for other people and vice versa. We are all different.

You want to see advocates for diabetes, let's start working together and advocate for the disease. I would be happy for every type 1 if there was a cure found today. I would still have D but I have a lot of friends on here that would no longer be a slave to this beast.

I could go on but I think I have made my point. The only way we win this fight is by fighting together not tearing each other down or being upset because a video was made for this webiste and my type of diabetic wasn't in it. It's about advocacy folks and it's advocacy for all.

Last point, I could care less if Paula Deen doesn't change her ways. Now that is harshly stated but I have enough trouble with my own A1c without trying to fix Paula's. I would like to see her change. I have a friend at work that I want to stop drinking. The only way change occurs is if the person wants to. Paula Deen or my friend the alcoholic.

So band together brothers and sisters for together we are strong and we can do it!!

Well said, BrokenPole. It's good to read a passionate appeal, made respectfully :)

"Last point, I could care less if Paula Deen doesn't change her ways. Now that is harshly stated but I have enough trouble with my own A1c without trying to fix Paula's"

which is why I have only looked at one post about the whole Paula thing

I am sorry... but I don't think I live a life of hell because of Diabetes. Sorry... I believe you create your own heaven or hell around you. Diabetes is personal to each of us and it can be as positive and negative as we want it to be.

Bottom line... I live diabetes... I live boldly... I find joy where I can.

I Love Paula Deen... I wish her well... I believe that she will rise above this and become a star in Southern Diabetic Cooking.

We all have the capacity to grow through this. Allen

Right on Sparky. Well expressed. I advocate for everyone. As a Greeter If I do not know the answer I will find someone who does. We are all in this together. We all should support each other. Take care. Reed

Words worth gold! I agree with you 150% Sparky...and have expressed something similar quite a few times. Feathers may be ruffled for a while...but that's ok. Feathers NEED to be ruffled occasionally to get the fleas out! Unfortunately, some will forget the ruffling and revert to the "mine is worse than yours" rant, and bring the fleas back...C'est la vie!!
I agree...I too am type me....type linda. The type casting down to a science is MY conjugation.

PS...one will note that in my greeting new comers, I may indicate that I am a type 2, if that's what theirs is....as a means of support, but I will never suggest that it is of more importance, or that I am elated to find another type 2....I am not, I am content with meeting all types and no types (those who do not have diabetes)....amen.

And....who IS Paula Deen that SO SO much fuss is made over her? Not that I care one way or the other!!

WELL SAID SPARKY!!! U just said what I tried to intervene on that one post.

Oh and Linda PD is a Chef who does ALOT of Southern Cooking on her show.

Allen, thank you so much for the post. My choice of words could have been better. There are success stories within our community and you seem to be one of them. Congratulations on tackling your own D and managing it. Tu is a place where you can share your story so others can be encouraged.

But there are also people who are not managing well. Some who wnat a place where they can rant. Tu is a place for them too.

We must stan ready to support each other.

To the rest of you that commented, I thank you for your kind words.

Sparky

I think this post demonstrates what makes this community so special. Any of use can make our point, have our rant, ask our question and have a civil discussion. Regardless of type or treatment we ARE all in the same boat. We all need each others support, we all benefit from each others experience. We can disagree, but heck, that just keeps it interesting.

As for Paula Dean, I hope that she learns all she can about D and finds the best way for her to manage it for herself. I also hope that as she understand it better she will use her bully pulpit to educate people through her example. This is a wonderful opportunity to create better understanding for a pretty large audience. I hope it will come to pass.

She is a free citizen and can do/advocate as she pleases. I have enough work beating My diabetes like a Klingon would his enemy.I wish Her Qapla'(Klingon for success/Victory)

Sparky,

I have also survived cancer twice... once you go through that, diabetes is not so bad. I know people rant and get so disheartened... but the reality of it is our A1C's did not go sky high overnight... we are unrealistic thinking we can wake up tomorrow thinking that they are going to be fixed tomorrow. The main thing is make good choices and celebrate every time you drop it one tenth of a point. Even the smallest change on the down direction is a victory... and in the event if it raised it up... don't beat your self up too bad... forgive yourself and work on it for the next time.

The thing that helps me with the Cancer / Diabetes / Myasthenia Gravis / and Celiac is journaling... I take out my frustration in my journal. I write down everything... and it's a wonderful release. I also use a PDA program on my phone as a food diary. The best way I got my A1C down was being aware of what and how much I am eating.

And most of all I find 15 minutes each day that I can just chill... pet my cats... (they don't talk) or just stretch and breathe. It's a great release.

Love you all glad to meet you. Hang in there we are all struggling against something. Don't forget that.

Allen

BTW... Maybe she'll finally hook up with a dietitian and write a GOOD southern cook book for us.

Hey Sparky...here, here! Thanks for expressing what I feel so well ;)

I completely agree