The Cure

 

I should publish this blog post on a Friday because, you know?! Friday I'm In Love and all that. Fortunately, this post isn't about 80's bringers of cheer, The Cure. No, we're talking T1D cures because, like all good Diabetes bloggers, I'm a topical content whore.

You've probably noticed some of the chatter following the £50 million donation by The Steve Morgan Foundation jointly to DUK and JDRF (UK). If you missed it then it looked something like this:

Steve & family spoke about the donation on BBC Breakfast alongside charity reps and social media got giddy. Rightly so and, do you know what?! it was lovely to see some positive words and hope from the online community. Not that we're a moody bunch but, in general, we do usually have more to complain about than celebrate.

So, it's £50 mill over 5 years. "5 years" ? Sounds familiar but this time there is a firm sense of hope. I truly hope this is the tipping point, the seed, which sprouts a cure in the years to come. It is a hugely generous gesture and as a Diabetic who is nearing middle-age, I will be delighted for those with less miles on the clock than I, as well as the lifting of burden for myself, should the news break.

£50 million, eh?! You could nearly buy a footballer for that! It does beg the question, has a lump of filthy lucre been the issue since Day 1 of research beginning? I know that charities are always asking for funds but has one big hit been holding everything back? That would seem like a terrible shame for those who have lived with T1 for many years, those who are no longer with us because of the condition and those, like me, who have been touched by complication's frosty grip. Perhaps that's something for a later date. Until then, boffins get boffining! Bring us good news and if it takes 5 years then I'll get Steve Morgan's face tattooed on my back.

Speaking of tattoos! I'm screwed. You've seen the one on my arm, right? I show it off at every opportunity because I think it looks cool and I'm proud of overcoming my hiding of the condition and letting it dictate my life to me. Now it belongs to me, that's what the tattoo shows. And it's kinda useful if I'm unconscious and the medics spot it. What do I do with that? I'd probably add "Former" above it and "See back for details" whereupon you'd find Steve's face. Yes! I think that's a plan.

Back to curing. A cure is a subject which I've avoided for a long time. The trash in newspapers and on the Internet has left a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to that discussion, yet it's a valid subject. You might argue that it should be the primary subject until it's found as it would eliminate everything else we deal with in relation to T1D, complications from living with it aside. As I sit and smash my fingers into the keyboard for this blog, I find myself drifting off for a moment to imagine not having Type 1 Diabetes... it's weird! How do you freaky non-diabetics do it? Eating without bolusing? I mean... WTAF! I don't know if I could do that, man ;-)

I guess that now we wait. I'm closing in on 4 decades of waiting. Some of you far more, some of you very recently began marking time for a cure. I encourage all of you, no matter where you are on your T1 journey, to never give up hope on a cure. Until then, push for what you need! CGMs, pumps, insulin, appointments in the flesh, etc. Keep those HCPs busy because if a cure comes they're going to miss us.

As you might have seen, a conflict has broken out in Ukraine as Russia has invaded that country. The scenes on TV and on social media are horrifying. What can we do? Well, I don't think there is a wrong way to help if you donate to charities who are active in helping the people of Ukraine. I support many charities but one which has always had my heart is MSF. Medecins Sans Frontieres translates as Doctors Without Borders. When it comes to the health of others in disaster areas, war zones and the like then I think we all have a duty to do what we can to help and help those who directly help! such as MSF. With that in mind, all donations to me via Buy Me a Coffee and all the pennies generated through the ads dotted around my pages will be donated to MSF. I will make up the difference for the fees taken by PayPal and Buy Me a Coffee. That will run until further notice, no time frames and possibly until Ukraine is a free country again. Thank you for reading my blog. 

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2nd Class Diabetes

'We'd like to invite our Upper Class Diabetics to board first.'

'Thank you for your patience. We'd like to invite our Premium Diabetics to board'

'Are you guys still here?'

'K, I guess you test strip users can get on board'

It's Super Bowl weekend! and all the talk on Diabetes Social Media is of Nick Jonas and the Dexcom ad'. That's not entirely unexpected. I remember the first diabetes tech ads on UK TV causing much discussion, so it seem natural that one of the most expensive advertising slots in the world would attract some interest when diabetes tech is featured.

I watched the ad' earlier, following a JDRF UK tweet which suggested the impossibly good-looking Jonas was bringing Type 1 Diabetes awareness to the Super Bowl. That tweet is here if you'd like to read it.

Let's watch the commercial! 

If you're using your phone and the video isn't embedded above then you can watch the video here

What do you all think? Are the unaware of Type 1 Diabetes viewers going to be woke?

Possibly! 

Firstly, type isn't mentioned here. Just 'Diabetes' which, on it's own, is fine IMO. Perhaps all types of diabetes can benefit by using tech. I have T1D. It isn't mentioned. So bringing awareness of my condition to the Super Bowl viewers isn't really happening. Indeed, it might be argued that the ad' is damaging and breeding the ignorance that all diabetes types are the same. We know they're not. That's not throwing any type of diabetic under the bus, it's simply a fact. JDRF UK is a Type 1 Diabetes charity, remember.

Next up! "Finger sticks, really?" says the heartthrob. Yes! REALLY! What a horrible piece of marketing to the US viewers who are struggling to buy their insulin, rationing their life saving drugs AND their finger sticks. Can you imagine settling down to watch the game and, after taking your second and last finger prick of the day because that's all you can afford, you're greeted by Jonas. Finger sticks, really?

Wow.

I know it isn't down to the CGM company in the ad' to reduce the prices of insulin and test sticks and everything that goes along with having diabetes (any type). But it isn't alright to openly mock those who rely on those things to get by. Not by choice, remember. Many Americans (and nationals of other countries) buy what they can afford for their health. A CGM can be a luxury which is currently unobtainable for many.

I see this "class" system in various aspects of diabetes. Fortunately, in the UK we appear to have sights on a level playing field, thanks to the likes of Prof Partha Kar OBE. But in America and other countries? I can only imagine the thoughts of "What fresh hell is this?" when you watch that commercial and you're struggling to afford the diabetes meds and tech that you need.

Finger prickers, I love you guys. Don't give up fighting for the things you need at affordable prices. You're NOT a 2nd class diabetic.