Yesterday was Diabetes Alert Day, the day that is set aside annually to raise 
awareness for the disease that has become a worldwide epidemic. I've mentioned it several times before on this blog, but I find it absolutely stunning that a disease so pervasive remains so out of the public radar. Specifically, I find the greatest ignorance stems from most people's lack of knowledge with regard to the difference between type 1 and type 2 -- or that there even are two types of diabetes, never mind one being different than the other.
According to recent statistics, 80 percent of the American population cannot distinguish between the two types of diabetes. To help remedy this problem, insulin pump manufacturer Medtronic, Inc. announced that they will spend an undisclosed amount of money on educating the public about the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
I personally witnessed, on a recent trip to the Caribbean with my girlfriend -- strike that, by this point in the trip she was my fiance -- how this lack of understanding can become highly problematic. While going through security at the Cyril E. King airport in St. Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a security officer came across a bottle of juice in our carry-on bag. Because of new flying regulations, bringing liquids of almost any kind on board an airplane is generally a no-no. When it was explained to the security officer that my fiance is type 1 and that she needed the juice at the ready to combat any unsuspected low blood sugars, the explanation seemed counterintuitive to the woman. Though she didn't actually ask the question, I could still hear it through her disconcerted expression -- "Why would she need to drink a high-sugar juice if she has diabetes?"
Because we were already running a bit late, and since it was clear that we were not getting through to our gate (or the security officer, for that matter) with that juice, we cut our losses and parted with the juice. Fortunately, you can buy juice and other food and drinks once past security, which is what we did.
To me, this was representative of what must be going on at airports, restaurants, places of employment, concerts, movie theaters, grocery stores and more every day; ineffective medical assistance and/or a lack of self-treatment cooperation due completely to a staggering degree of ignorance.
I truly hope that Medtronic's efforts to raise public awareness finds great success. Further, I hope their endeavors challenge and motivate other like-minded companies to jump on the proverbial bandwagon with this. If you'd like more information on Medtronic's educational initiative here: www.realdiabetescontrol.com
1. Bravo to you Allie for writing this article and Bravo to Medtronic for their attempt to make the public aware of the BIG difference in T1DM and IRD(aka Type 2 Diabetes). Most people, including those with Diabetes have a casual attitude and will shrug the differences off.
It is like serving a $1000.00 piece of truffle as part of a meal to someone who has an uneducated as well as unappreciated palette and the person will say, "look at this funny looking mushroom", as they gulp it down in one bite. Or serving a vintage wine to someone who again is either or all three: uneducated, unappreciative, stupid and the person gulps it down in one swallow rather than sipping it and appreciating its flavour/essence.
Ignorance creates many problems for all and not everyone CAN BE educated or made aware.
Intelligence and awareness is a Gift that few have.
Posted at 11:31AM on Mar 28th 2007 by BetterCell