A subject, today, which never causes any debate or angry opinions on social media; Diet. Yeah, right! If you're only an infrequent social media user, you'll probably have noticed much antagonism when it comes to diets, even a passing remark or a sharing of a photograph can stir up plenty of hostile debate. For somebody who uses social media on a daily basis to talk about diabetes, such as me, then it quickly becomes apparent just how often the subject can stir angry exchanges. For somebody, such as me, who has spent many years in online marketing it also becomes apparent exactly why the fires of diet "discussions" are often stoked.
Firstly, I'd like to clarify that I am not anti any diet. I eat a varied diet which isn't driven by my diabetes. What you or anybody else chooses to eat and the reasons for that are entirely personal to you.
Right! Let's get the marketing issue on to the table. It's cunning, it really is,. You can see how such marketing behaviour works in other industries, too. Politics isn't really an industry but elements of it use the same methods to create noise. That noise comes through fear and hatred. In politics, that is especially dangerous as it can stir extreme views and, following that, extreme events. Trump, Washington, anybody?
Anyway! in the diet industry, the same thing works all too well and specifically in relation to diabetes where the fear of complications can be wheeled out at any given time. Of course, it's not enough to simply say "If you eat that, you'll have high blood glucose and your legs will fall off" Fear of a terrible complication alone isn't always enough to sell a diet. You might notice that insulting remarks are used, the diet seller will insult the intelligence of the innocent food muncher. That won't often result in a diet conversion but it will be seen by others and nobody wants to be seen as "stupid" or "dangerous" by posting their carby dinner! and wait! Maybe they have a point because they have thousands of followers?! Oh no... What's that book called again? Where can I subscribe to that diet?
Kerching!
What a horrible industry. Preying on the fears and weaknesses of others to increase book and service sales. It's big business. You'll notice many accounts that are no older than 12 months on Twitter, they'll follow many diabetes related accounts, quote the "master" account many times and try to engage with anybody who tweets about diets and diabetes. There are many hundreds of these accounts, created by others and purchased for a small fee by the "master" account and diet merchant. All that engagement, all the impressions, all the vulnerable people who are desperate to avoid complications, filter down to the one person who will be profiting from the sales. There are many people who perform this simple trick, many different diets, some run by the same people who contradict each others diet advice because they don't care about the diet, you, your complications or well being - only your money.
Kerching!
It's not just random people in far flung places or nations with questionable rules and regulations. There are plenty living within the UK and USA. Some may even have impressive qualifications in diets and diabetes fields and that might seem reassuring to you. Don't be fooled. Unless the medical advice that you're given stems from a professional who can read your medical notes and history then it's not worth a minute of your time or a penny of your income.
Away from the diet merchants and their murky behaviour there are the well meaning folks who have stumbled upon a diet and lifestyle which has worked well for them. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another and blindly (no complications pun intended) following the words of a stranger on the Internet seems like playing with fire to me.
For instance, below is an 8 hour graph of my blood glucose from the early hours until mid-morning.
Pretty good, huh?
Still not sold? I have more tricks! I'll engage with the wider community via Tweetchats, Diabetes Chat, DSMA, etc. I'll even attend a few conferences, meet a few people in person and gain trust. I'll mention high profile people who work within diabetes to look so trustworthy... maybe they'll reply and I'll look REALLY trustworthy. Hi Partha.... Hi DiabeticDadUK.... Hi anybody with a few thousand followers. Let's throw in a few popular hashtags to support worthy causes, even more trust!
Still not sold? Then I'll unleash the bots who will quote my diet to thousands of you. So many people are following the diet that it MUST be trustworthy!
Murky, isn't it? I don't begrudge anybody making a living through work in diabetes, by the way. I have made a tiny income from Buy Me a Coffee, ads and speaking engagements. It would be hypocritical of me. I do strongly dislike the practices of diet merchants and even if those practices are legal, many are morally bankrupt. Please get your diet and diabetes advice from your HCP team and block anybody who tries to sell you a diet.
If you enjoyed this blog and you'd like to support me and the time that I give to others then check out these links (no diets are for sale)
