I submitted our story and request for awareness. Good Luck!!!
do you think will oprah help deaf people like me who has diabetes that can provide sign language for the meeting to learn more about how to take care of myself and thingie others?? i couldnt go to the meetings and learn since there is a group and that out of picture for me to be there…any suggest or is it bad idea?
This is an amazing experience!! Thanks for sharing it.
Indeed, as people with diabetes and members of a community we have a duty to educate others and tell others (respectfully, always) when we feel they may be at risk.
I had a colleague at my previous job who had not been to the doctor since he was 12 and he’s 31 now: needless to say that I told him he should see a doctor for a checkup ASAP.
The irony is that his reason for not having seen a doctor in so long was because of the way he was treated by the one that saw him at age 12, which left him traumatized. I guess there’s bad doctors, just as much as there are good doctors…
Anyway: sorry for going on a tangent. The point is we have to do more things like Penny relates in here.
Very cool!
Oprah actually has done a show on diabetes. I was home from work, sick and passing out on the couch while the show was on. When her guests were describing the symptoms of diabetes, I realized that I had all of them, and got myself to the doctor.
When was that? And was it type 1 or type 2? We are looking for some exposure for type 1 as we are often so misunderstood and misrepresented.
I think it would be a good idea to bring awareness to both type 1 & 2, while also touching on the emerging 1.5…and explaining their differences…it infuriates me to no end when I hear comments suggesting that all type 2 d. are overweight & have brought it on themselves…I have always been very thin, active and eaten relatively heathy foods; it is however very much genetic on both sides of my family…I have never brought this on myself…yes, we must advocate.
Done! Thanks Manny.
Just did mine, too. 
Michelle and Manny, thank you for this alert. I hope, ultimately, that Oprah’s staff does appropriate investigation so that accurate awareness of Type I diabetes is increased (e.g., that it is NOT Type II diabetes, which is bad-enough, but a serious autoimmune disorder that affects, not only, children, but, multiple thousands of adults who live a very challenged life because of it), AND that it raises ample research funds - even to supply airfare, lodging and meals for those who are volunteering as human guinea-pigs for the research and for each non-diabetic, non-blood-related person who needs to come to each visit too (to draw “control” blood samples from). I found-out the latter part after doing some research…
Your alert prompted me to find what I could about Dr. Faustman and her research. I did a Google search, and found her website (). It is full of some wonderfully informative web pages in relatively understandable English (not over-loaded with scientific jargon). They provide a reasonable, brief, description and history of the research (click on the Research and FAQ tabs).
I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read - directly from the source of the research - what this is truly about and what can be anticipated.
My take on what I read…
If the studies on humans, which are to begin this year, 2008, are successful, the treatment/cure should, according to Dr Faustman’s website, be more quickly available to doctors and their patients because the primary drug is already in use for other diseases and has proved safe. However, in mice, the “permanent” success rate was 45%. Let’s pray that the human body is better than mice at responding to this treatment/cure…
… and that the treatment/cure would be available through insurance companies and HMOs - quickly.
The manufacturers of insulin need not panic at the loss of people dependent on it for their very lives, since there will be, my guess, many that this treatment won’t work for, for various reasons. One day, may there be a total elimination of Type I diabetes as progress in research continues to be made through trial-and-error.
Since previous “cures” have proven less than ideal (islet cell transplants, etc.), I am cautious in my optimism about this one, but hopeful once again, that a cure can – ultimately - be found, as my husband said, “before you turn 100”. And, be found without using embryonic stem cells.
Submitted an entry.
Hi Ms Lady Oprah,Let me start out by saying I am one of your biggest fun.You are my Herian and If It had not been for you and watching your shows.Talking about todays Issues and world Concerns,people situations and how we all need to renew our minds and the way we treat each other.Telling us to Love and help one another. I think you said It Best In the Color Purple THERE MUST BE A GOD.!!! Because I thank him everyday for people like you and may he continue to Bless You and all the work that you Do for others.Ms,Oprah. I said all that because I would like to ask you for a favor for me and Thousands of other people.There Is a site founded by Mr. Manny Hernandez called Tu-Diabetes,Its a site where all of us with Diabetes can go to support each other.And talk about how we feel and share the happy times and the bad times dealing with this disease.And what he has asked us to do Is ask you to please do a show just for Diabetics.So that we can make the rest of the world know about the site and the thousands of lives being touched.I know with your help we can educate even Thousands and Thousands more souls. With the latest Developments.And Meds,and so on.And If you Do Please Please can me and my two grown children come to see the show.Oh I forgot please tell Ms.Maya A. Lou I said can she come out with a Cook Book for Diabetics.? I would Love to get the first signed copy. I Love The Both Of you. Thanks Again Stay strong, Stay Blessed. Keep the Faith. Ms,Bryant (Diabetic 4 years Now).
Thanks, Sara. I hope that the folks who eventually get on Oprah to talk about diabetes can make a good presentation.
OMG! I hadn’t read my email yet, so I didn’t see this…but believe it or not, I just sent a letter via Oprah.com, this morning, asking her to do a show on diabetes. I really hope it happens!
It was about 8 years ago - the show focused on the high prevalence of diabetes in the Black community, specifically type 2 diabetes - the symptoms, while not as intense as type 1 in diagnosis, are mosty similar - that’s how I twigged onto it for myself (the frequent unrination, thirsty all the time, weight loss, blurry eyes, etc.)
Oprah has already done a show on Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is in the media ALL the time. The purpose of the video was to bring attention to the plight of children with diabetes. I do not mean to be divisive here, but the video is specifically asking that a show be done on Type 1 or Juvenile Diabetes. Parents are hoping to clear up the confusion between the two, as well as highlight the extreme severity of this cruel disease. Parents on the CWD forum want a show devoted to Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. The majority of children who are afflicted with diabetes are afflicted with Type 1. I would get down on my hands and knees and kiss the ground if my niece had Type 2. This was the first question we asked the endo. These kids often need ten or more fingersticks a day, and if not on a pump, four, five shots a day, plus corrective shots. Blood sugars, even with weighing food, counting carbs and all the testing, are very erratic, due to growth spurts and the disease in general. They battle lows and highs daily. The “goal” for my niece is that she stay in range 70 percent of the time. In actuality , despite constant monitoring and adjustments, it is more like 50 percent. Fifty percent a day out of range and diagnosis at 8. I’m afraid to do the math and afraid what the future holds for her. In Third World countries, these kids die from lack of insulin or, if they manage to get inadequate supply of insulin, they get complications very early on. I would hate to see the show asked for be yet another show devoting media attention to Type 2, with a two minute sentence, rife with misinformation, devoted to Type 1. I hope Oprah will focus on the children this time. Yes, some children are developing Type 2 these days, but the majority of children, unfortunately, come down with the most serious form of the disease.
Agree. Thank you for making it clear. That is exactly my intention.
Reading these responses, I am very much afraid we are going to have yet ANOTHER show on Oprah on Type 2 diabetes. You should make it clear that you are requesting a show that focuses on Type 1 or Juvenile Diabetes exclusively and for Type 2s not to include themselves this time. Type 2 is very well publicized, although I have learned here misinformation in the media on Type 2 is rife as well. But when I hear Chuck Schumer, who I know has been educated about Juvenile Diabetes, get on Channel 12 TV and say TWICE in a two minute blurb that “Type 2 is THE MOST SERIOUS FORM of the disease,” well, we need a few shows.
I agree that the majority of media attention is dedicated to type 2 diabetes, and it angers me that the stories of T1’s aren’t shared in stories about the “diabetes epidemic.” But, I think we need to be careful about calling one type more serious than another. Both types are serious, both types can lead to complications, and there is a range of testing and dosing that occurs across types, not within one or the other.
I used to think that my diabetes was worse than type 2, that I had it harder, but seeing the discussions of T1’s and T2’s in this community I have learned that each type comes with it complications. T2’s have a lot more roadblocks in getting specific types of medication (especially insulin) and the attention of specialists, even if more medications are available to them. People with both types have a hard time getting access to the supplies we need to test frequently, and I have heard stories from T1’s and T2’s about the horrible advice given to them on how often they should test.
Also, to be a bit divisive myself (and a bit selfish), I have a problem with focusing solely on the children affected by the disease, including the continuation of the term “juvenile diabetes.” I am Type 1, but I never had it as a child. I got it as an adult (well, 19, so young adult), and it changed my life just as much as it changes anybody’s life. I understand that there are a lot of parents here who are not D but have D children, and that may be part of why the focus is often on the children, but diabetes isn’t something that gets easier with age. Time, maybe. Age, no.
I’m not saying that I want the entire focus to be on adults, but I do think we should represent a range of ages and lifestyles.
Thank you for your thoughts. Let me just put this out there…nothing is worse than having a 2 year old with diabetes, well maybe having a one year old with diabetes. As a parent of a son who was diagnosed at 2 and is now 10, it is MUCH easier now than it was then. Illness for example is so much easier to deal with now than when he was 2. At two we were in the hospital regularly. Now we haven’t seen an ER due to diabetes in years (knock on wood). I think that as parents we are extremely frustrated. I made the video to try to get a news media to explain our frustration, which by some of these posts is EXTREMELY needed. Please, and I hate to say this, make your requests for type 1 specifically. They really are two different diseases.
Yes, Sara…I too believe the show, if there is to be one, needs to cover more than one type. I realize that there is a big push toward awareness of type 2, which is in part due to the fact that it doesn’t come on as agressively as type 1, and that more people are afflicted with type 2 than type 1…more the reason to bring added awareness to T.1… Complications, however and unfortunately, are insidious in both types. I have seen the ravages done by the complications of D. to diabetics across the board. It is nonetheless heartbreaking to test & inject a 6 month old, or to plead with a toddler to eat. My heart goes out to all those parents, such as my cousin, whos son is now in his thirties, and was diagnosed as a wee babe.