A step back in awareness.......

The Ricki Lake slip of the tongue mistake might not seem like a big deal to a lot of people. But to the Type 1 community it was a HUGE step back in awareness. We already deal with all the time the misconceptions between T1 and T2 diabetes. And now when a celebrity goes on TV and makes a slip of the tongue mistake it adds to these misconceptions. A small mistake such as this can lead to ignorance among the public.

No Clifford did not consume sugar daily, no he was not overweight, no his diet didn't consist of sweet after sweet after sweet. More importantly HE DID NOT BRING IT ON HIMSELF, and I DID NOT CAUSE IT!! Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, his body attacked his pancreas. For a brief lesson on Type 1 diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys certain cells in the pancreas, an organ about the size of a hand that is located behind the lower part of the stomach. These cells -- called beta cells -- are contained, along with other types of cells, within small islands of endocrine cells called the pancreatic islets. Beta cells normally produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body move the glucose contained in food into cells throughout the body, which use it for energy. But when the beta cells are destroyed, no insulin can be produced, and the glucose stays in the blood instead, where it can cause serious damage to all the organ systems of the body.

For this reason, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin in order to stay alive. This means undergoing multiple injections daily, or having insulin delivered through an insulin pump, and testing their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day.....

Our typical day usually includes 6 daily injections in his arms, legs, and even belly. 10-12+ finger pokes to get blood to test his blood sugar. This includes testing at school, shots before lunch and snack while at school. And multiple tests made throughout the night. I live my life in 2-3 hour increments daily. I sleep in 2-3 hr stretches, and his meals must be between 2-3 hours apart so he can get his insulin on time. Carbohydrates must be counted with each and every meal. He must have blood work done at least every 3 months so we can get our "Good Mommy Report Card", or our A1c number.. ..

Imagine you son or daughter get's the flu... No big deal right, he / she is getting sick not keeping anything down... Well give her some water make sure that she stays hydrated let her sleep it off and she'll be fine.... Not in our case. The flu can be deadly. If he is not keeping food down, he still needs insulin. If he doesn't have the carbs in him to cover the insulin all he is going to do is drop lower, and lower, and lower. And unfortunately I have seen first hand what exactly a low blood sugar drop can do. He has been through a seizure caused by hypoglycemia, and passed out and bumped his head from hypoglycemia.

It is not that difficult to go and do a few brief minutes of research on something you are going to speak to millions on. Get it right, or don't talk about it at all.

Now GMA refuses to return the calls of people in the T1 community wanting to ask if they are going to correct her mistake on TV. Apparently they think just sweeping us under the rug will shut us up. Nope sorry not going to happen.