http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Sun, 9 Nov 2003 18:16:56 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/06/154951.php#comment-27866 No, diabetics do not have to be invalids, and Mary Tyler Moore and Halle Berry are indeed fabulous examples of that. I understand, however, that some people keep their condition private -- the ignorantsia can be terrible and cruel sometimes. 27866@blogcritics.org Sun, 9 Nov 2003 18:16:56 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/06/154951.php#comment-27862 Thanks for posting this, Natalie. Except for putting it on health forms, I learned not to mention being diabetic when I worked for other people. It can be used to question one's reliability and judgment. A diabetic student I taught said she experienced discrimination even before she made it into the workplace. In junior high, she told her best friend she was a diabetic. The 'friend' spread that and the girl became a target of abuse and ostracism. Based on the timing, I think her peers may have confused diabetes with AIDS because both involve blood. (Not that discrimination against HIV-positive people is to be approved of either.) Suffice it to say that societal ignorance can make being a diabetic tough sledding. However, I don't want people to get the impression diabetics are invalids. Most definitely aren't. Since my symptoms are mild, all I do is watch my diet. My grandmother, also a diabetic, taught me that from childhood. I am sometimes amazed at how active some Type I diabetics are. Two of my favorite actors, Mary Tyler Moore and Halle Berry, are also diabetics. 27862@blogcritics.org Sun, 9 Nov 2003 17:49:01 EST