Changing the World's Perception - One Person at a Time

Having returned from vacation, I was going through a week’s worth of newspapers and an article caught my eye (http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100701/NEWS01/7010342/Car-stickers-could-help-diabetics-get-help-faster). The headline indicated there were stickers for people with diabetes to place on their cars so medical personnel and police would be aware the driver’s erratic behavior may be related to a low (hypoglycemic) or high (hyperglycemic) blood sugar episode.

Before I even read the article, I realized that I had someone that I needed to educate about the “D” word. Yes, I am talking about “diabetic”. For a long time I have lobbied against the use of this word. In short, labeling someone as a “____ic” assumes that the disease defines or becomes the individual. While diabetes is serious, my son is a boy who has diabetes; it doesn’t have him. For a longer discussion on this, see my blog entry titled “What’s in a Name?” located at
http://squireponderings.blogspot.com/2009/10/whats-in-name.html.

As I continued reading the article, I came across a term in the article that both made me laugh and fume. I quote the writer “Some people aren't aware of the symptoms of a diabetic attack. Victims may be dizzy, confused, nervous, agitated or drowsy. They also could have fruity breath or start to vomit.” My first response was “what the hell is a diabetic attack?” Does it mean that diabetes reaches up and attacks my child or my child labeled as a diabetic goes ballistic and attacks someone? I am being facetious, but that term conjures up images people having fits or something. I would prefer the proper terms of hypo- or hyperglycemic episodes.

I realize that I may be hyper-sensitive and some folks, including diabetes folks, may not agree. However, I view it as another opportunity to educate people about diabetes and the fact that you can’t catch it, there is a difference between Type I and II, my son didn’t develop diabetes because he ate too much sugar, etc.
I dropped an e-mail to the writer expressing my thoughts about her use of “diabetic” and “diabetic attack”. She hasn’t responded. Maybe she brushed me off as a whiner, but at least I tried and hopefully have made you think about it as well.

Zach, A Tennessee Squire

P.S. I was asked to convert the letter I wrote into a blog format and it was posted at a friend's site (http://www.daddybetes.com/2010/07/changing-worlds-perception-one-person.html) as a guest blogger.

What's In A Name?

When babies are born, pets adopted, and businesses formed; a lot of emphasis is put on choosing a name. Often names are chosen based on family lineage, current media darlings, sports stars, description of services offered, etc.

I want to address a name that many people are given and sadly they many accept that name and let it define their lives or being. In the case of a family name, that may be acceptable; but not in this case. What’s the name you ask? It’s DIABETIC.

Many people are diagnosed each year with Type I or Type II diabetes. In most circles, they are immediately given the DIABETIC label. There aren’t many other, if hardly any, diseases which use the disease name and “ic” to label the person. You don’t hear of “canceratics”, “lymphomatics”, etc. Why diabetes? I don’t really know, but I can tell you I don’t like it.

The “D” word is not used in our household. If you don’t know, Momma Squire & I’s youngest son, Kyle, was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when he was 18 months old. Early on, I heard other parents talking about the use of the “D” word and how they don’t like it. After pondering on it, I finally figured it out about a year later why I don’t like it. Using it makes one prematurely define Kyle. It makes the disease front and center over all other things Kyle. Yes, diabetes does require a lot of effort and care, but Kyle is much more than his diabetes. We have tried to instill in him this thought – “you have diabetes, it doesn’t have you.” If he lets this disease define him, it has won.  My baby is more than diabetes.  I won't let him forget that.

What’s my point in this rant/blog? I don’t know. Maybe I can get one person to say “he/she has diabetes” vs. “He's DIABETIC”. Maybe I can get you to think about labeling people without knowing the person. 

Is there a term that you have let define you?

Zach, a Tennessee Squire

From out of nowhere.....

Being an only child of two only children, I never got to experience the typical interactions of brothers and sisters. Even my best friend growing up had two sisters, but he was an "oops" about 8 years behind his youngest sister. Think about it - I have no aunts, uncles, or cousins. Family reunions could be held in a Smart car.

I digress. I mentioned the absence of sibling interaction to say that when Lori & I had two kids, the interaction between them was foreign to me. I have no doubt that deep down my two boys, aged 13 & 11, really love each other. When smaller, they always played great together and would occasionally pick on each other. However, as the years have passed, the "picking" has become more frequent, more aggressive, and much more annoying to Lori & I. Often, she will say "you know, they are just being brothers." Well, no I don't know. I really wondered sometimes whether or not they really did like each other.

Then, it happened. As all kids do, they surprise you when you least expect it. I was performing the never-ending task of "sign-this", "fill this out" for Will one morning. He had to fill out a questionnaire for one of the teachers which asked various questions about the students' likes, dislikes, and favorites. The last question, or should I say the last answer, restored my belief that they really do like each other - they just don't always show it.

Question: What would you do if you won the Powerball lottery?

Answer: Donate it to JDRF so they could find a cure and Kyle would not have diabetes anymore.

'Nuff said.


Zach, A Tennessee Squire