Obesity

A Type 2 Diabetes ‘Shake?’

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Last weekend, we were on the hunt for a dog friendly café to keep this little guy entertained.

My sister suggested a place, before casually mentioning to me that they had a ‘type 2 shake’ on the menu.

What, is that like a health shake or something? I asked.

No, it’s actually a shake that’s got lots of sugar in it, she replied.

We eventually drove there to find the place closed.

After we had driven elsewhere and I was finally caffeinated, I began googling this place in search of a menu. Indeed, it was an indulgent shake that the user was encouraged to try ‘at your own risk.’ I then migrated over to Facebook, where I eventually found a recent post promoting the menu item in question.

I was so frustrated. Yeah, they had specified the type of diabetes, but that wasn’t the point.

Nobody intentionally asks to get diabetes.

We all know that sugary treats in excess aren’t good for us. We all know that in excess they may eventually lead to obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

But that isn’t always necessarily the case.

We also know that some people are genetically predisposed to developing type 2 through things like family histories or previous gestational diabetes. Others are ethnically or geographically predisposed to developing type 2 diabetes. Then there are those who don’t have an equal chance because they may lack things like the basic education or quality healthcare that I take for granted.

The last thing that people living with diabetes need is reminders that make them feel guilty, blamed or shamed for their choices.

The last thing that people living with diabetes need are messages that further stigmatise a condition that is already surrounded by, you guessed it, a great deal of stigma!

Yet here was this shake that was making a mockery of people with diabetes. I’d be willing to bet that a Cancer shake would never appear on the menu, so I don’t know why the owners of this cafe felt that diabetes was okay to joke about.

So, back to that Facebook post. You bet I left a comment on it. There was no swearing or personal attacking in said comment. But it was a little strongly worded – something I regret in hindsight – indicating that blaming, shaming and stigmatising was not helpful to people with diabetes.

24 hours later, a notification popped up in my Facebook feed. I was expecting some kind of acknowledgement or explanation.

But nothing could have prepared me for the response I received in return.

To paraphrase, I’m a miserable troll who should pull my head in and stop being a keyboard warrior (they obviously had no idea who I was). This ‘type 2 shake’ was apparently a ‘statement’ that the sugar it contains is not good for you. But what do I know, apparently type 2 diabetes is a great catchline to sell a product!

With no time for such negativity in my life, I thanked the café for their kind words. After expressing that it was a shame that they were unable to the larger issue, I wished them a lovely day and bowed out of the conversation.

With every red notification icon that popped up on my Facebook, I was expecting to see others chime in with more ignorant replies to my comment.

Surprisingly, quite the opposite happened.

The diabetes community rallied behind me.

Within a mere three hours, I had at least ten comments on that post in support of what I had said. People were tagging their friends. I honestly don’t think it was the shake itself that was triggering commentary anymore. It was about the sheer ignorance that came from their comment.

Had the Facebook post survived few more hours, and it surely would have gone viral.

But it mysteriously vanished not long after.

While the cafe clearly didn’t like the negative attention that they were getting, I highly doubt that I got my point across given their highly ignorant response.

I can’t really say that it’s worth throwing any more of my energy towards.

I only know that I won’t be going back there again.

“Really? But You’re So Slim and Fit!”

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I briefly checked into a bit of an impromtu #DSMA chat yesterday morning (thanks to the end of daylight saving time in the US, the chat now happens to coincide with my morning tea break at work and I can check in!).

The question that was being discussed at the time was one of the simplest, yet mind blanking questions. How would I define diabetes? Would I be type specific? Broken pancreas, insulin injections? Or would I go for a blanket definition? Regulating blood glucose levels, healthy lifestyle? Would I say something witty? It kind of stumped me a little.

I recalled a chat over the phone with a work colleague on Wednesday. Coincidentally, we were discussing the issue of a diabetes related appointment during work hours. I casually mentioned that I had diabetes, and her response kind of suprised me.

“Really? But you’re so slim and fit!” 

I wasn’t suprised by her response. Nor did it upset me. What I was suprised at, however, was the way in which she responded. That it was a big deal. I guess for me, I’ve gotten to the point now where bringing up diabetes in real life is not a big deal.

Which brings me to my own interpretation of that #DSMA question. I would like people to know that diabetes is not something that I inflicted onto myself. And I’m not saying this as a selfish person with type 1 who is completely and utterly offended. I’m saying it for people with all types of diabetes.

I’m a bit sick of the media associating diabetes with all of those “lifestyle” factors. Yes, obesity is an issue. Yes, inactivity is an issue. Yes, they’re epidemics, along with diabetes. Yes, in some cases they can be prevented. And yes, we need to work to halt them.

And we can. Independently of each other.

Why can’t we promote healthy diets and active lifestyles, without bringing the words “causes diabetes” into the mix? Wouldn’t it lead to the same outcome? We’d be working towards haulting those epidemics, without stigmatising the people who are already living with chronic conditions.

People living with diabetes would feel motivated and empowered to manage their condition through a healthy lifestyle. And at the same time we’d be encouraging people at risk of developing these conditions to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The only difference?

People already living with diabetes wouldn’t be stigmatised. They wouldn’t have to hear demoralising messages that blame and shame them. They would be able to look forward, instead of being continually dragged backwards into the pit of could ofs, would ofs and should ofs.

Truth be told, nobody chooses ANY type of diabetes. Except for the health care providers, researchers, advocates and donors who are trying to make sense of, and solve it. Each and every single day. And it’s time that we, the patients, are encouraged to look forward rather than backward.

Why Are Our Obesity Campaigns So “Nanny” Like?

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Yesterday, October 11, was World Obesity Day (and if you’re in the US or the UK, then technically it’s still World Obesity Day).

Obesity is an epidemic. The World Health Organisation estimated that the prevalance of obesity worldwide increased from 11.5% of adults in 2010 to 13% of adults in 2014.

Obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes in some, but not all cases. Essentially, people could have to deal with some of the things that I write about in this blog as a consequence of being obese.

And on World Obesity Day, we are being asked to call on governments to act in order to meet our target of halting obesity to 2010 levels by the year 2025.

Here in Australia, we have had many campaigns over the years to tackle obesity. Most recently, we’ve had the Live Lighter campaign. You know, the one with that lovely visual of “the toxic fat inside your body that grows around your vital organs.”

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Behind that confronting visual that you see on the TV, there’s also a bright and well meaning website full of advice to encourage us to live healthier lifestyles.

We’ve also had the Rethink Sugary Drink campaign, which literally presents to us the amount of sugar in soft drinks, juices, energy drinks and so on. Which isn’t a bad idea either.

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One honest flaw that I find in our campaigns here in Australia is the fact that they come across too “nanny” like. In all honesty, watching those ads seemingly telling me “not to have a single sip of soft drink” makes me more inclined to do it for the sake of rebellion. Try telling your kid that he can’t have that toy he picked up off of the shelf. He’ll probably be more likely to chuck a tentrum in the checkout queue than if you hadn’t said anything.

Then there’s the scare tactics and horror stories, like the image of the toxic fat. Scaring people is not okay in my book. Blaming and shaming people is not okay in my book. And employing these tactics does nothing to motivate the people who need it the most.

At the end of the day, the decisions on what we eat and drink are ours. It’s good to have the facts, and the statistics there. But it’s up to us, the consumers, to figure out for ourselves that an excess of unhealthy lifestyle choices can harm us. And that’s what our campaigns are missing. Believeability. Patient voices. Real, first hand experiences and stories that will appeal to me, the average Australian. That will help me to come to these conclusions on my own. To seek out those helpful websites on my own. So today, I will get the ball rolling.

I’m Frank, and I am a person with diabetes. I am essentially living with a disease that in some cases is a consequence of being overweight. It’s my job to keep my blood sugar levels between 4 and 8 every day. This means pricking my finger as much as 10 times a day. This means sometimes waking up in the middle of the night to make sure that I’m not too high or too low. I need to think about every piece of food that I put into my mouth. I need to think about every activity that I plan on doing. It plays a rollercoaster on my emotions. And if not managed properly, it could impact on the quality of my life.

I wouldn’t wish diabetes on anyone. I couldn’t do anything to prevent my diabetes, but perhaps you can.

You can also read the International Diabetes Federation’s statement on World Obesity Day here.