My main question: Should we hide our diabetes from the world… while asking for more research Funding??
I got a tweet from someone in Canada who says he gets ‘angry’ at people who accomplish things & then say they have diabetes. I said "We should be visible if we are asking for research $$ for a cure."
He says he; “…doesn’t mind scientists putting research for a cure on the back burner for now.” as he says; “we have the most easily manageable ‘disease’ (!!) one could have.”.
Now, maybe on a day to day basis, this is somewhat true to an extent.
But I wonder; has this guy been REALLY paying attention to medical reports and so on?
This outlook, IMHO, sounds incredibly naive and almost selfish. Sheesh, let him keep diabetes if he loves it so much! I’m sure I’m not alone in believing if I do something really great & mention that I have diabetes, it could actually inspire a newly diagnosed person.
How many new PWD’s are being told by their friends/relatives: “You shouldn’t join that gym/Bike ride/Walk, etc… you have a condition now!” Or, as I read a while back of a lunchroom lady who announced 'All the diabetic kids, go to That table"…? Even the more recent story about the 'teen who had to write a letter of apology for “Stealing” an extra fruit pack from the cafeteria at school because her BG was low during a P.E. class? I think seeing someone with diabetes accomplishing something fun or great would make them feel far less encumbered by having diabetes.
Am I right? Or embarrassingly unashamed?
I would just like to structure this well for a blog post w/o appearing silly :-/ (Too late, Jenny!) I do think we need to be ‘out there’ to educate the usual person. I know the guy’s young and most likely trying to convince himself he must hide it or something so I would like to try to put this into ‘nice’ words:
We have diabetes. It is not the thing that holds us back, it is the ignorance of others who hold us back. I believe we should NOT hide it, nor should we hide BEHIND it. Diabetes is a part of me, so why should I be ashamed of it? It is also not a ‘friend’. It is like a “Benevolent Judge” It will judge harshly those who err deliberately, but is known to be lenient to those who do their best to live by the rules so to speak.
I have an insulin pump but for the first 10 years of life with diabetes, I did not see the point in running off to the restroom to do my injections. I even bought Novo-Pens and no one knew I was ‘shooting up’ under the table. While I am not a total IN YOUR FACE prig about having Diabetes, I shall not hide it either.
AIDS, Cancer and other ‘diseases’ -conditions get the research funding because they ARE a vocal community. I feel we should also be as vocal and raise awareness wherever we can.
I hope the young man in N.S. with the beautiful hair will come to that stage of knowledge as well.