Posted by Marina on November 01, 1998 at 01:24:17:
In Reply to: Re: ADA Advocate Alert Received Today posted by Sandy Donchess on October 31, 1998 at 21:41:27:
I don't blame Joe LaMountain for doing his job. At least he's telling the truth about where the NIH money is going and how they view diabetes research. While I don't agree with how ADA spends their own money; at least he's being honest about who the ADA serves. Compared to the news we had been given previous to the ADA advocates email, one would have actually thought that the NIH had given diabetes a fair shake. I appreciate the advocate emails; I may not always like what I read but I appreciate them nonetheless. I wrote him the following letter last week:
I really admire and respect your drive and determination and most importantly, the way you have of
bringing everything into perspective. You ask why diabetes has received such a minuscule increase
compared to other diseases. Maybe it's because diabetes isn't considered to be a serious disease.
What Miss America said on the Leeza show didn't help matters. She was quoted as having made
the statement that diabetes was the best thing that ever happened to her. Leeza's own niece then
said that diabetes was "no big deal". Until such ridiculous statements are shouted down with reason
and facts, diabetes will never be seen as a serious disease. When anyone does try to present the
real side of diabetes, they are viewed with contempt and blamed for exhibiting "non-compliant
behavior".
While I understand that having diabetes tends to make people more focused on their health and
what they put into their bodies, it is not the diabetes that makes that person more disciplined, it is
that person's own commitment to health. Diabetes kills---plain and simple. How anyone can see
this disease as a gift or a blessing is missing the point entirely.
I had no intention of posting this letter before but with all of the attacks going on I think it's important to remember that the real enemy is not the JDF or the ADA or any other group of people (mostly well intentioned volunteers). The real enemy is diabetes. We need to speak out against diabetes, not against each other.
Marina