Photo by Michael Murphy
I spent this past Father’s Day morning riding 20 miles with my son Bobby on our bikes in the National Capital Tour de Cure in Reston, Virginia. No breakfast in bed for me!
Over the past eight years, Spectrum has sponsored our “Spokes Persons” team in the American Diabetes Association‘s annual ride to stop diabetes. Tour de Cure rides take place throughout the U.S. each year.
Diabetes is not a “sexy” or trendy disease. It’s not as socially “hip” as breast cancer, in the sense that hundreds of thousands of people walk or run or ride to raise hundreds of millions of dollars that flow to diabetes research and survivor organizations, as happens with breast cancer. What’s breast cancer got that diabetes doesn’t?
For starters, breast cancer deeply scares people, affects mostly women, tugs at our emotions, and generally gets our attention in a big way when we hear about a friend or family member with a diagnosis. And breast cancer reigns supreme among awareness, advocacy and funding.
Too far down the respect scale, too many of the people afflicted with or at risk of diabetes don’t understand the severity of the illness. There’s a lack of fear due to a lack of education, real appreciation for the devastation diabetes can cause. We are nationally unobsessed with diabetes, unfortunately.
Type 1 diabetes, in which the body stops the production of insulin to break down sugar in the body, usually occurs in children or young adults. But type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association reports “Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and many more are unaware they are at high risk. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy.”
Type 2 diabetes can affect anyone with a family history of type 2 diabetes, or those who succumb to other risk factors such as obesity, as many Americans now do.
But when my brother-in-law was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the past five years or so, no one started a website or prayer group.
What will it take for tens of thousands to ride their bikes to stop diabetes instead of only 2,000 or so for our DC-area ride? Why does this increasingly prevalent, killing and debilitating disease still lack a sense of urgency? I don’t know for sure, but I have some theories on why, and some ideas of how to address each reason.
- 1. Diabetes is not taken seriously: Spend more energy and resources underscoring the seriousness of the disease and the importance of prevention and effective therapies. Invest in proportion to the cost of this disease.
- 2. Diabetes is stigmatized (e.g., “her/his weight and diet are out of control, so her/his diagnosis of diabetes comes as no surprise; she/he deserves what she gets”): Battle stigma by illustrating the prevalence, severity, cost, treatability and preventability of diabetes. Encourage people with diabetes to talk it up, now!
- 3. Youth are becoming increasingly overweight: Educate youth about diabetes prevention and overall good nutrition and exercise; require schools to reintroduce physical education, and introduce dietary education; and do so by building in attractive rewards for achievement.
- 4. We’re not giving diabetes the attention it deserves: Engage high profile or celebrity role models for all ages and cultures in sustained programs that drive education, change minds and begin to make a difference.
- 5. Pursue all of the above with a vengeance…as if our lives depended upon it!
So, back to Tour de Cure. The organizer and beneficiary is indeed the American Diabetes Association, and I am privileged to chair ADA’s National Capital Community Leadership Board, and the Reston Connection interviewed me that Sunday.
Both Bobby and I were glad to do our part in the ride. We appreciate the financial and moral support from our family, co-workers and friends! Funds raised go to diabetes research, on display this week at the ADA’s annual scientific meeting taking place in Orlando, Florida.
Finally, regardless of the holiday, I never get breakfast in bed by the way! (But with just about 30 years in a successful marriage, I’ve been known to deliver breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, birthdays and anniversaries!)