There was an editorial on the Editorial page of the Seattle Times on Thursday July 9. It was mostly about Type 1 diabetes and advances in treatment since it was first diagnosed. See what you think ...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009434777_guests09hirsch.html
Thanks very much for posting that editorial. This should be required reading for all Juvenation members. Despite the fact that many of them stem from shear ignorance, I think everyone should also read the 20 or so comments which make up the thread which follows the editorial. Just click on the link which says something like "Read All Comments." It will surely SHOCK and ANGER many of you. Please read it.
After you read the article you may be as curious as I was to see this. I lifted them from an old magazine cover and enhanced them.
Gosh, honestly, the piece could have been better written. It never specifies whether Sotomayor has T1 or T2, and continues to lump the two diseases together as though they are the same. Its emphasis on the huge increase of diabetes in the US and its associated costs, again, lumps T1 and T2 together. I don't think the average American realizes there are about 16x more people with T2 than T1. And, while we, as a nation, could save huge in health care costs if ALL of us lived healtheir lifestyles and focused on prevention, to lump people with T1 into that category is unfair. T1 is not a "lifestyle" disease.
And the phrase "a well-controlled person with diabetes" irked me; shouldn't it be "a person with well-controlled diabetes"? It adds to the impression that all people with diabetes, whether or T1 or T2, have brought it on themselves by not controlling their lifestyle habits.
I'm sure the author had good intentions. But instead of providing more accurate information and clarifying existing misconceptions, I feel the article just opened the door for more misunderstanding about T1, as was evident by the comments made (most of which I could barely bring myself to read).
Mo
Hi Mo,
I agree with you, the article could have been better written. It does imply that Judge Sotomayor has Type 1 when it says,"Diagnosed at age 8, she is the first nominee to have the disease." In fact, Judge Sotomayor is 54 years old and has had Type 1 for 46 years. In MY opinion, anyone who can manage their Type 1 Diabetes successfully for 46 years DESERVES to be on the Supreme Court... for THAT ALONE.
Here's what my personal Type 1 guru, Dr. Richard Bernstein, had to say about Judge Sotomayor's nomination:
"It's nice to have a diabetic and another woman in the Supreme Court," said Dr. Richard K. Bernstein, a diabetes specialist who was diagnosed with the disease himself at age 12, more than 70 years ago.
"Most diabetics who have had diabetes that long are not in good physical condition," said Bernstein, author of "Diabetes Solution," a book on the subject. "She may be very unique."
He said he, too, would probably check her A1c values before offering her the Supreme Court job.
Bernstein said he would like to see her A1c value around 5 percent, lower than the level recommended by the ADA. "But remember," he said, "I'm an extremist."
Thank God he has nothing to do with her confirmation :) There aren't too many of us out there (including me) who have A1c's in the 5 percent range!
Hey, Paul,
I suppose this brings up the question, "Are all nominees subject to thorough medical/physical examinations as part of their confirmation process?" Keeping in mind that many nominees are already fairly advanced in age by the time they rise to the Supreme Court, is it standard procedure to delve into the details of their health? And, as they often serve long past the age when most people retire, should they also be subjected to regular medical exams as part of retaining their position? I think we're (collectively) getting into unsteady ground when we equate a person's ability hold this type of position with how long they may or may not live, and how healthy they may be long-term.
The reference to her being diagnosed at age 8 is subtle enough, most people won't understand that generally means T1, or even what T1 means. Speaking as one of the very-recently-ignorant, this distinction is completely lost on most people. The term "diabetes" instantly brings up our lovely media's graphic image of hugely obese back-sides and gaping mouths shoving in Big Macs. I think they (and we) need to do a MUCH better job of distinguishing between T1 and T2.
And, I totally agree, anyone who has successfully managed the disease, especially through the "dark ages" of diabetes management, deserved nothing but kudos. Maybe even a medal :)
Mo
I think it's a pretty cool editorial. I mean getting to see all the advances they've made throughout time is amazing. It makes me feel a little better because now with all the technology they have I'm sure they will find a cure.
Mo, I think the article could have been a little better written to make clear that he was talking about Type I and that Judge Sotomayor is Type I. But when I read it I thought he was talking about Type I the whole time. The only time they mention Type II is paranthetically when he says "(The more common form of diabetes, type 2, is associated with weight gain and aging.)" Then he goes on to talk if all the innovations etc. I don't really see anywhere he lumps Type I and Type II together. However I can see where a person who knows nothing about diabetes may not even know enough to know.
Brittany, I agree that there have been a lot of innovations. But really I see nothing making me think we're any closer to a cure. The innovations have all been better insulin, blood sugar testing, and insulin delivery. Nice, but no cigar. We'll see. I hope you're right.
Paul, cool medal. I like it because it has the dog. Dogs rule! Thanks for posting this.
Mo, I also find the quote Paul posted as kindof repulsive. I too wonder what kind of health tests other Supreme Court Justice nominees have to go for. I did a quick google seach and found nothing. If others don't have to have their cholesterol checked etc. to see if they are responsible enough, why should a diabetic? I'm sure Dr. Bernstien is a good man an everything, but the comment that Judge Sotomayor should be in the 5 range to be qualified turns my stomach. Again, if all Supreme Court nominees have a thorough health screening, then fine, but I don't think they do. I've never heard of any rejected because of health.
Side note: When I left Dallas to move to Seattle I asked my endocronologist if he could recommend anyone in Seattle. He recommended Irl Hirsch! I go to the University of Washington hospital and I've seen him there. However they stuck me with another guy who I think is very good, so I'm happy.
Monique H wrote:
"And, I totally agree, anyone who has successfully managed the disease, especially through the "dark ages" of diabetes management, deserved nothing but kudos. Maybe even a medal :)"
This article which is based on a letter from Judge Sotomayor's Endocrinolgist, Andrew Wexler, MD., should satisfy all concerns with her condition. I remember, since I grew up in the NYC area, that Dr. Wexler was one of the foremost endocrinologists in Manhattan... and that's saying a lot.
Letter from Judge Sotomayor's Endocrinologist
I agree with Tom that her receiving a 50 year medal from Joslin in just four years should be a huge event for Type 1 Diabetes awareness. Furthermore, I think it will be great having "one of our own" on the Supreme Court. The hearings begin Monday, and they should be very exciting.
[quote user="Paul Glantzman"]
This article which is based on a letter from Judge Sotomayor's Endocrinolgist, Andrew Wexler, MD., should satisfy all concerns with her condition. I remember, since I grew up in the NYC area, that Dr. Wexler was one of the foremost endocrinologists in Manhattan... and that's saying a lot.
Letter from Judge Sotomayor's Endocrinologist
I agree with Tom that her receiving a 50 year medal from Joslin in just four years should be a huge event for Type 1 Diabetes awareness. Furthermore, I think it will be great having "one of our own" on the Supreme Court. The hearings begin Monday, and they should be very exciting.
[/quote]
That letter from her endo was an inspiration to me! It's one of the 1st things I've seen online w/o a hugely negative slant towards normal people w/ T1 who just was to be successful in their careers, i.e. Sotomayor.
Also, Tom, great point about the Joslin medal. That would be great.
Awesome article and letter. Thanks for posting that, Paul. What a role model for kids and young adults with T1.
Mo
I had a friend who went to Dr. Drexler. It's so much cooler to go to a "celebrity" endo.
Iri Hirsch sounds like a rock star, as of course is Dr. Bernstein. My first endo when
I was a kid was Dr. Henry Dolger, who as the head of endo at NYC's Mt. Sinai Hospital.
co-wrote "How To Live With Diabetes," but he's since deceased. Anybody else go to
a celebrity endo?
I know what you mean. We have the key though. The major key that we needed was stem cell reasearch. Now that they can experimant with stem cells it may not take them much longer to find a cure. I just try to think positive.
I agree with you Brittany about the promise of stem cell research, and having a Supreme Court judge with Type 1 certainly won't hurt :) While I would prefer not to wait this long, it would be interesting if the cure came in 2021, which would be both 12 years from now and the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin!
I think that would be great. But it vould take longer or it might not take that long. I just can't imagine having to wait that long though. I know some people have been waiting alot longer than that but I'll be 25 then. I just hate looking ahead into the future. I like to take every day one step at a time. Because every step and every day we are one step closer to finding a cure!
~Brittany~
Brittany,
It shows a lot of insight when you say "every step and every day we are one step closer to finding a cure!"
Do you know these two quotations which are attributed to Thomas A. Edison? You know what he invented, don't you?
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed.
I am not
discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded
is another step
forward.
This is the spirit and determination of the inventor which ultimately leads to success.
Those are some of my fave quotes. Didn't he like invent the lightbulb or something?
~Brittany~