Exasperated (started by BIG E / moved by TVEditor)

I think most of the people that come here have already made up their minds to take positive steps toward controlling their diabetes and perhaps need a bit of a push to see it through. Also, there are times when symptoms or reactions to meds might be alarming and just knowing that someone else has been or is going through similar events can be reassuring. I know from personal experience that this is true.

I can only think of one occasion during the last 16 months where a person dropped in here and refused to accept the 'unfairness' of the disease, treatments and lifestyle modifications required. That person left and never came back. We all felt sorry about that but everyone did their best to help.

Plus, this forum makes a good place to let off a little steam once in a while don't it?

Couldn't have said it better myself Joni

Keep up the good work!

Consider yourself rejoiced

Hi BigE!
Diabetes sucks. It CAN be disheartening and yes, even more so when you might be looking for a different kind of encouragement. What might that be? You tell me

I'd be happy to have encouraging, enlightening, and stimulating diabetes conversation on any subject you like... you start (I mean that sincerely - no sarcasm

Cheers

"I recognize it's a long haul - it's a very unrealistic request - but just like the government did with the tobacco industry they can do with the food industry." - BigE

Realizing just how politically involved the food industry is with government (or visa versa), is what helps make this ideal unrealistic

I do hear ya, though, and think at the very least, we can start with educating ourselves. In retrospect with what I know now about food, metabolism, how the body metabolizes all the things it needs... I knew very little before I was diagnosed. But, I was always eating very healthy, according to what the professionals/guidelines told me I needed. I just simply know better now - they're guidelines meant to accommodate everyone (and no one .

Somewhere along the line I stopped believing (after educating myself in various different areas), it was all about the numbers and started really believing it was all about me. NOt to sound arrogant; it was just logical thinking to me. It was in my best interest to learn everything I could about living with a chronic condition all my life. No doc/nurse was gonna do that for me so, it really was all up to me. Now if I could just apply that logic to quitting smoking :)

I think this forum is more about helping INDIVIDUALS come to grips with or share tips/tricks that might help us in our own personal situations. I certainly support some of the suggestions you made regarding "turning the tide" with education (school, media, etc.). but, it's gotta start with being educated ourselves first. Unfortunately, that is also a lot/ too much to ask of some folks. Just give me the pill and the bi-annual visit so I can validate I've done everything I'm told. The other stuff? Smacks of effort as my hubby would say - LOL. As for the doctors? Many are just following the pattern most patients set for them: "where's the 'script?" There are also a lot of organizations that formally exist to address some of your specific suggestions. That we can all become aware and even share some of the same ideals, especially at the global level, is also encouragement to support those ideals at the local level, where it's more possible.

Not sure how far back you've read on our board but, we can get into some pretty interesting discussions about food - especially how to cook things, like squirrel and such. (Had to mention it, Chris

"If you don't like the doctor - go to a different one for a second opinion."

 

That easy huh?  Not where I live.

 

"But I don't feel that coming on this board so simply look for sympathy is the answer."

 

Maybe the word empathy would apply better?

I, for one, came here looking for education ... and found it.  Like Joni. I learned I could control my diabetes through diet and exercise alone.  OK, so that's 2 people.  There are a few others around here doing the same thing and telling everyone we know about the phenomenal benefits of doing so.

Think of it as a grassroots movement

 

This is a problem of perception and interpretation, I think.  Big E, you thought this Forum's existence was for other purposes.  This Forum is exactly as we have explained to you a few times, and I also included part of the Mission Statement from the Administrator.  Instead of trying to understand and accept this, you criticize us for not being what you want us to be.   It's a place for information and support, to share experiences and what works and what doesn't work.  We have learned a lot from one another.  We are many types of diabetics here, in different stages and conditions, severity or on the brink - but we're all concerned with our blood sugar and control and what our quality of life is and how to improve it.  We know how the diets of the last 50 or so years have wreaked havoc with much of the population and by educating ourselves, we're also educating our family and friends and even our doctors.  Sometimes we don't agree but we do respect the other person's ideas without attacking them.  ( And I have to point out that we very rarely see this.)   If this is not what you were looking for, then, yes, you need to go elsewhere.

Sorry you still feel the way you do, despite our attempts to show you otherwise, BigE. No one was being sarcastic, BTW. You've got some anger fuelling you and I hope you can put it to good use, (maybe seeking with purpose, some realization of your earlier suggestions of reform?). Good luck to you. Hope you find what you're looking for. My open invitation to discussion still stands, should you wish to return with a less aggressive attitude. I mean, c'mon, we ARE really about supporting each other here so, DO try to read our posts with that perspective.

E... it's a disease, not a sin.