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| Oprah on Diabetes?!?!? (Brandy) |
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February 7, 2010 Did you see Oprah’s show on diabetes on Thursday- (America’s Silent Killer: Diabetes)? Those in the diabetes world sit on two very opposite ends of the spectrum in their opinions about the show—those who really liked the show vs. those who really DID NOT like the show at all. Among people living with diabetes, there’s not much “in between.” In case you didn’t see it, the show was highly focused on type 2 diabetes with a brief mention about the differences in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There were numerous scare tactics sprinkled throughout the hour. For example, they visited a hospitalized woman whose feet had been amputated and required dialysis. Physician Ian Smith spent lots of time telling worst case scenarios. Art Smith, Oprah’s personal chef, has Type 2 diabetes and shared how he lost weight and eliminated his need for medication. And last but not least, the words “You’re a ticking time bomb” seemed to be used a lot. As many of you know, my previous career was in the pharmaceutical sales industry selling diabetes medications. In this role, I talked about/explained the disease of diabetes from a patient’s perspective with primary care physicians every day. I always cringed when a physician would discuss their frustration with diabetes patients and proudly tell a story of scaring a diabetes patient by showing them photos of foot infections or amputations. The shock on the patient’s faces made them think that they had gotten through to the patient and the patient “had no choice but to change now!” What I came to realize is that scare tactics tend to be used by those who don’t know any better…those who don’t have a good understanding of the disease. Forgive me for saying so, but it is a short-term, simple-minded way of influencing someone to change his or her life. In fact, stories of diabetes-related amputations and complications are nothing new to those of us living with diabetes. We’ve heard it all and seen it all, especially if we have lived with the disease for more than 10 years. Even those who don’t have diabetes or don’t understand the disease (i.e. average Americans) can always recall a story of Aunt Phyllis whose leg was amputated because of her diabetes or Uncle Joe who lost his vision due to diabetes. If there’s anything that people in America understand about diabetes it’s that diabetes CAN ravage your body and cause horrific complications. Essentially, that is old news and doesn’t really get to the core of the issue.
For some people, diabetes is inevitable (obviously for Type 1s, but for some type 2s as well). It is because of messages like those received from Oprah’s show that so many people give up when diagnosed with diabetes. They’ve heard all of the horrible stories, statistics, and restrictions associated with the disease and they simply don’t have the energy or motivation to overcome these seemingly insurmountable odds that are working against them. What was missing from Oprah’s show (and in the media in general) are the stories of those who have beaten the statistics, lived extraordinary lives with diabetes, accomplished great things with diabetes. Granted, I am the kind of person who, when someone tells me something can’t be done, I say, “Watch me!” But, I know that everyone is not like that. I love Oprah, her Show, and what she stands for. (Just between you and me-- I may just be Oprah’s biggest fan!) I know she means well and wants to help and inspire people. But, I must ask Oprah, “After you put a downtrodden face on diabetes for Americans with your one-on-one interviews of those who had poorly managed their diabetes, where was the inspiration?? Where were the people who have lived happy, healthy, successful lives with diabetes and managed their diabetes well? If you don’t provide a face for the positive side of diabetes and what can happen if you take care of yourself, it’s hard for people to even imagine that being possible! It seems that this show was only a surface-level show. In other words, it didn’t really dig deeper into the disease than the stats and facts. Statistics and facts presents a very different picture of the disease than when you talk to the living, breathing human beings who have learned some important lessons and even become healthier as a result of their diagnosis. What remains after Oprah’s show on diabetes? What remains are the ongoing stereotypes that people with diabetes are overweight and mostly uneducated about their disease, the misconceptions about the differences and the similarities between the different types of diabetes, and the idea that you’d better take care of yourself now because if you get diabetes, your life will be very “complicated”! (no pun intended) Dear Oprah— Thank you for bringing diabetes into the forefront of so many Americans’ minds! Only you have the influence to impact 7 million lives in a one-hour show! Please don’t let your hard work on diabetes fall short in the area of inspiration and motivation. After all, that’s what you are known for! Do a second diabetes show (The HEART of Diabetes: Motivation and Inspiration)! Dig deeper into the disease, consider living one week of YOUR life as a person with diabetes, share your experiences and lessons with your audience, and allow people with diabetes to talk directly to your audience about the “real life” with diabetes. In Sisterhood, Brandy Barnes
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