I’m generally not a jealous person (at least I don’t think so), but “jealousy” is the only way I think I can describe what I’m going through right now.
Every time I see an ad for the breast cancer three-day walk — which is about every 30 seconds these days — I want to hurl the TV across the room. Why? Because why can’t that much attention be paid to people with diabetes?
Yes, I know there are walks for diabetes. But are there commercials with people dressed in blue saying “Save the ta-tas”… er, “Save the pancreases of the world” and “If I can walk 20 miles a day in support of my mother/sister/aunt/uncle/son/daughter then anyone can?” No, there aren’t.
OK I get that ta-tas are a big thing. Pardon the pun. I’m a chick, I like that particular part of my body. I get that as women we often need to have ta-tas to identify ourselves as women and that without ta-tas we can feel like less of a woman. So I get it. I understand why there’s so much hype around breast cancer awareness and walks to cure breast cancer.
BUT…it’s not even the No. 1 killer of women. Heart disease is. (Remember the commerical about the woman whose sister had a mammogram every year since she was 35 but died of a heart attack?) And with diabetes often comes heart disease. Aside from that, women can be rid of breast cancer in some cases.
People with diabetes will never be rid of it. OK sure someday it’s likely there will be a cure for diabetes, but right now there isn’t. Why isn’t more attention being paid to people with diabetes?
Because it’s an invisible disease. If you get your pancreas lopped off no one notices. But if one day your ta-tas are gone because you have to have a mastectomy people notice. Chemo takes your hair and makes you look sick. People notice that.
OK so I realize that this whole post is very irrational. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to scream at the amount of attention given to other diseases.
I can tell you from first hand experience that they both are awful. My daughter is going on 10 years diagnosed (she was barely 7 years old) and my sister just got diagnosed with breast cancer. I agree that breast cancer is a more visible disease and generally the public has more sympathy. If you tell someone that you are Type I they really don't get the whole picture, but if you tell them you have cancer they are immediately aware and sympathetic...
I agree, but at the same time I really don't.
As a type 1 myself I get the frustration of not having people recognize what we're up against. After all, cancer sucks but once you finish treatment you hopefully don't have to focus on it much day-to-day.
But on the other hand, it can be REALLY frustrating to be part of walks/rides for diabetes that mainly go to benefit research for a type 2 cure. Forgive me for being blunt, but the walk/ride IS the cure for type 2. And it sort of bugs me sometimes to see people out there exercising to "help find a cure" for people who might have prevented their condition (or lessened the severity of it) if they'd been more active in the first place. I couldn't do anything to prevent MY disease, and one cure most certainly does not fit all. So why do we keep focusing on a cure for "diabetes" when we already know what helps with type 2?
Yes, I realize that exercise doesn't reverse type 2 once it progresses, and this is certainly not to discount the many type 2s who have taken control of their health and exercise on a regular basis. But I get really sick of participating in events for "diabetes" and seeing so many people doing the event to find a cure for their friend or relative with type 2 who is sitting on the sidelines. Talk about ironic.
This post really bothers me. As the child of a type 1 diabetic I understand the need for raising awareness and try as much as I am able to help. I understand your jealousy. And I understand that it can be frustrating because often breast cancer seems like the prominent example of cause marketing. Still, no disease deserves more awareness than any other. In fact, I think this is what you meant to convey in your post--that is, that diabetes is just as worthy of the attention breast cancer receives. Finally, I think your claim that breast cancer receives so much attention because it involves women losing their breasts is absurd and incredibly inconsiderate. Breast cancer may not be the number one killer of women in this country but it is still an illness that kills women.
We live in a breast-focused society. How many products are out there designed to enhance women's breasts? How much plastic surgery is done on women to give them larger breasts? How often are women judged by the size of their breasts? If you don't think our society runs on boobs, take a look at just about any advertising campaign, especially for men's products. So, yes, I think breast cancer gets much of its attention because it has to do with women's breasts. If our society was fascinated with lungs -- or pancreases! -- then I bet lung cancer and diabetes would get more attention. I was in no way being "absurd" or "inconsiderate" by telling it like it is. Diabetes is also "an illness that kills women."
Ladies please calm down. Yes we live in a society that focuses on women's breasts but that is not the fault of the women now is it? I have diabetes and have had breast cancer twice. The treatment for breast cancer in the past (my time) was "slash, burn, and poision" which is barbaric to say the least leaving women devastated both physically and emotionally. Women are still being treated with these methods if their disease is metastatic. I've been told that my diabetes was caused by chemotherapy. Diabetes is also a devastating disease leading to neuropathy, amputations, heart disease and a myriad of other problems. To say that one disease should get more attention than the other is absurd. Maybe what diabetes needs is more organization behind it rather than Type 1s' bashing Type 2s' as "sara n dipity" did.
Hi Michelle,
My best friend has liver and pancreas cancer, and is going through chemo that makes her sick all the time.It`s really hard for me to see her suffer like that.
And on top of that my husband of 18 yrs surprised me with divorce papers, because he has his profile on the dating web site, and has been dating .With both of thoses going on in my life i ended up being so depressed that in the past 3 weeks i went from perfect health to being a diabetic with high blood pressure.
I have 3 children ages 15 girl / 16 boy / 20 girl in college.
Look, it wasn't my intent to "bash" type 2s so apologies if it seemed that way - I know several people who have used their type 2 diagnosis as a reason to change their lifestyle, and who have achieved incredible things as a result. I also know a few who trumpet about needing a cure and better care, but make excuses about why they can't find time to exercise.
It is really a pet peeve of mine that all types of diabetes are grouped together when all they have in common is a single symptom. And I can't help but feel a little displaced when I realize that the "cure" that 95% of us are asking for is not going to do anything to fix my immune system's tendency to go after islet cells.
lithgirl, as a breast cancer survivor have you ever had anyone tell you that if you'd just stopped smoking you wouldn't have cancer? I know that's pretty absurd but it starts to feel that way after the nth time someone tells me I could stop taking insulin if I do xyz.
I have had many cruel things said to me about cancer and just as many supportive. I get the same thing with diabetes. I don't allow other peoples' comments (ignorance) rule my life. I try to ignore the annoying and sometimes scary comments along with their authors. Life is short (and mine maybe a little shorter than most). Be kind but don't let others tell you what you could've done or should be doing. Listen to your drs' advice, do your best and the naysayers be damned!
Ahhhh....I totally understand your post. Diabetes DOESNT get enough awareness-period. Diabetes is HUGE in this country yet people fail to recognize it as something that KILLS. And, of course, there is all the misconceptions and judgements towards us. It is sickening. You have the right to feel Jealous....I do too. I always tell my daughter that some day Type 1 will have the same awareness.
I so agree they should put more things on tv for people with diabetes or they could put things on tv that is talking about the diabetes walk and how to raise money or be apart of the walk. I disagree a little bit with the cancer because some people never get rid of it or they to die from it just like diabetes but that is just my thought
Interesting comments......
I too, have stuck my tounge out at the tv set when that commercial comes on.
I have had very close people die due to Cancer. But, I have to agree....
When was the last time we all saw Mary Tyler Moore in all of her many years of Daibetes, on a TV commercial????
When was the last time I sawa plastic bracelet supporting Diabetes research??? Never.
In fact, unless I hunt for it Diabetes is EXTREMELY scilent out in the world.
Envy is not how I feel. Good for them that they have SO much support.
I just do what I can, while I can....and hope that the next generation reaps the benefit...
I understand your frustration. I am also jealous of the publicity other diseases receive. Particularly when I receive my Diabetes Forecast magazine each month and 3/4 of the articles are about Type 2 diabetes. But then I try to look at the positive side :). I still remember that when I first found out I had Type 1 (27 years ago) at the age of 17 I was devastated. Insurance would not pay for any supplies except insulin, so I had to cut blood test strips in half and use my syringes several times. I remember my mom telling me "they will find a cure in your lifetime". Well, at the age of 44 I truly don't believe that will happen. BUT, there are several things I am thankful for....
* insulin pumps
* blood testing kits (they didn't have them when I was first diagnosed!)
* artificial sweeteners (none of that nasty pink stuff :)
* insurance coverage for ALL my diabetic supplies
* My diabetes alert dog - a lab that goes EVERYWHERE with me and lets me know when my bs is dropping.
We may not get all the publicity we would like, but things are better than they used to be, and I am thankful for that!
Who is this "they" that you are all mad at for not putting out more publicity, for not whipping the public up into greater awareness, for not being your great, vocal and public advocate and fund raiser? YOU AND I are the "they"! Each and every one of us with diabetes are the ones responsible for public education, especially if we are unhappy with the current level of awareness (or unawareness... to be more accurate)and funding. How many of you are active in your local ADA chapter? How many of you have tried to start your own chapter, if there isn't one near you? How many of you have even ever participated in any of the events that are held to raise awareness and / or funds? How many of you have taken the time to sit down and patiently explain the disease to someone who has misconceptions about it? How many of you have tried to organize some kind of event... even if it is a grass roots kind of event? If you want more, why don't you get passionate enough about it to do something about it instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself?... unless of course, you are a sideline-sitter like dipity accused T2s of being. Causes that get the most publicity are causes that have passionate people behind them. Period. Has very little to do with "ta tas" or celebrity... more to do with passion and active, hard work, organization, etc. and the biggest asset is a creative and imaginative mind, not a well known name. If you don't do your part, then you haven't earned the right to complain.
I couldn't agree with you more. Fortunately for me, I've had 2 breast operations and both tumors were benign. I've had diabetes for what seems like forever and that there will never be a cure for it no matter how much money we raise!
hi i am an 12 year old girl who feels the same way sometimes i get so mad that i cry and ask why this happened to me why doesn't people want to help me but i have come to the conclution that people like us can be healthy
and we have somthing to keep us stable but people with breast cancer have cemo but it doesn't work on everyone if u have type 1 u CAN healthy IF u want to be so they need more work on finding a cure because people die every day of breast cancer, but we don't have to die we can choose that but they can't so in a way they need it more than us but in an other way people die every day because they made mistakes or don't take care of themselfs in they're diabetes i don't know if that makes any cents at all but i hope it helped someone comment