Getting the voice of diabetes heard by Oprah and the world

When I saw this video that Michelle posted earlier I thought this was a great opportunity to have our voices be heard by Oprah and the world. We can reach out to her to try to get her to focus her show at least once on diabetes, as a means of raising awareness.

How to do this? Very easy, fill out this form on the Oprah web site and let her and her production team know how you feel about diabetes, what things you feel need to be addressed, why is it important for her to help us raise awareness and anything else you can think of to share with her (of course, please tell her about TuDiabetes too!)

I am sure we can make an impact by having hundreds of us letting Oprah know about this, so she hopefully focuses one of her shows on diabetes!

Thanks,

Tags: oprah

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jonna on April 27, 2008 at 10:36pm: I just submitted mine, too! Hope it helps.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mary Taour on April 27, 2008 at 10:36pm: I did it; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Danielle on April 27, 2008 at 10:40pm: I submitted one also, it would be great to be able to get someone like Oprah to help raise awareness!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cherise on April 27, 2008 at 11:13pm: I just submitted my entry to them.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michelle on April 28, 2008 at 12:16am: Thanks for this...I just submitted our story as well. Hopefully we can get some media attention and help to educate the public.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jen Mangum on April 28, 2008 at 12:46am: I submitted an entry. I think this is a wonderful idea and I'll do whatever I can to help. Thanks for sharing. Jen :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Penny on April 28, 2008 at 8:37am: I've done my entry for the cause!

I just have to share this story. I met a lady this weekend while at a glucose screening. She had just been through cancer & her oncologist said he was her only doc for the next 5 years. She told me that the doc told her she only needed to check her BG once a month due to her fasting labs every 6 months being in the 80's (FYI - she is taking pills to control her D). I explained to her that she should be taking it at least once a day since she is on meds. We checked her BG and it was 173. I think I got my point across with that. In talking with her further, he has only been doing her A1C every 6 months (if that). I explained to her the importance of the A1C every 3-4 months and that her onocologist was more concerned about the cancer than the D... I personally this it is irresponsible for any medical physician to tell a diabetic to check BG only once per month. The only way to stay on top of the D and the complications is to check at least once per day. What's worse is that her children are in the medical field and she wouldn't listen to them... but I hope she at least listened to me.

I just had to let everyone know that as a diabetic you can help ANYONE living with D (as some of them may not have been told by their docs or nurses). As a D community member, we have to do much more as a group to educate ALL people about diabetes. You'd be surprised the numbers of people walking around that do not know that they are at risk or already have it.

Out of the 15 people we screened for diabetes on Saturday, we recommended that FOUR of them see their doc right away.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on April 28, 2008 at 11:58am: This is an amazing experience!! Thanks for sharing it.

Indeed, as people with diabetes and members of a community we have a duty to educate others and tell others (respectfully, always) when we feel they may be at risk.

I had a colleague at my previous job who had not been to the doctor since he was 12 and he's 31 now: needless to say that I told him he should see a doctor for a checkup ASAP.

The irony is that his reason for not having seen a doctor in so long was because of the way he was treated by the one that saw him at age 12, which left him traumatized. I guess there's bad doctors, just as much as there are good doctors...

Anyway: sorry for going on a tangent. The point is we have to do more things like Penny relates in here.

Very cool!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Penny R. on April 28, 2008 at 9:14am: Hi Manny, I put in my two cent's worth. I also posted about it on My Son Has Diabetes. Hopefully that will get more people to tell their story too.

(P.S. I mentioned tudiabetes in my letter.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris Lally on April 28, 2008 at 9:32am: I submitted our story and request for awareness. Good Luck!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by rosana on April 28, 2008 at 10:43am: do you think will oprah help deaf people like me who has diabetes that can provide sign language for the meeting to learn more about how to take care of myself and thingie others?? i couldnt go to the meetings and learn since there is a group and that out of picture for me to be there..any suggest or is it bad idea?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Maureen on April 28, 2008 at 12:55pm: Oprah actually has done a show on diabetes. I was home from work, sick and passing out on the couch while the show was on. When her guests were describing the symptoms of diabetes, I realized that I had all of them, and got myself to the doctor.; ▶ Reply to This