It was a diabetes on TV sort of weekend. Did you guys see that one of the contestants on The Amazing Race has type 1 diabetes? She and her teammate are doctors from Arizona. She was shown testing her blood sugar in the car while in the thick of the race. She was 332, I think. I would think the adrenalin of a race around the world would wreak havoc on her blood sugars. Should be interesting to see how she adjusts to that and how much of the diabetes-related footage the producers decide to show.
On her bio, she says what scares her most about traveling is not having access to medical care. Understandable of course. However, she also lists cage-diving with great white sharks as something she’d like to do. So, not having insulin? Scary. Swimming with sharks? Not so much.
When asked what she would do if she won the million dollars, she says she would support the search for a cure for diabetes.
I know who I’m rooting for …
The young, blonde beach volleyball players.
What??? They’re really hot!
Blue Bloods
I had this new Tom Selleck drama on in the background on Saturday night. My ears perked up when I heard that the little girl who was kidnapped had type 1 diabetes. And yes, I do think they specifically referred to it as type 1. But the perception of insulin rubs me the wrong way in shows like this when used for dramatic effect.
COP 1: She has type 1 diabetes. She needs insulin.
COP 2: How much time do we have?
COP 1: I don’t know. Maybe 24 hours.
Obviously I understand that diabetics need insulin to survive, but the message portrayed here is that insulin to a diabetic is equivalent to anti-venom to a snake bite victim.
The whole time I’m watching this, I’m thinking, “but what if she’s low?” She might just need a glass of orange juice.
I guess it doesn’t make for good TV.
COP 1: She has type 1 diabetes. She might need insulin or maybe some sugar.
COP 2: How much time do we have?
COP 1: Well, if she’s on long-acting insulin and her levels are good, there’s really no rush. Her blood sugar might be perfect.
BLONDE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER 1: And if I won the million dollars, I’d buy a house on the Jersey shore.
COP 2: Hey, how did you get in our squad car?
There are way too many hot chicks on amazing race this year!! Give me a cute Type 1 GUY! (although Trev really likes blondes!!)
There was a murder victim on a new show on TNT a few weeks back (Rizzoli and Isles). She was on an insulin pump, and they actually portrayed it pretty accurately (if a bit technical). Too bad the murderer used her pump to kill her - nope not with an overdose, [spoiler alert] that's just where he put the poison.
I thought the Blue Bloods portrayal was pretty good. I assumed she was on shots, but that's cuz I'm in the know. :-)
We spent every frame Kat and Nat were in on "pump patrol", which we used to do when we watched Crystal on American Idol. :)