November is diabetes awareness month and Hannah Montana's Oliver is diagnosed with diabetes on the episode titled "No Sugar, Sugar". Unfortunately, the episode is filled with inaccurate information regarding diabetes--specifically type 1 diabetes. Parents of children with type 1 have written to Disney to ask that this episode be pulled--all to no avail. We are concerned that the theme of the show (no sugar!) could lead to a child who is suffering from low blood glucose being denied treatment (which is a juice or other quick sugar like fruit snacks) by well-meaning friends. If a diabetic is having a "low" he or she MUST HAVE sugar!
So, as the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes, may I please try to head off some of the other misinformation that will be presented by this so-called "comedy" show?
1. My son can have sugar. Matter of fact, he can have just as much sugar as any of my other children. I don't want him or any of my other children eating a two pound bag of chocolate, but he CAN eat like any other child. He just has to take insulin to allow his body to convert the sugar into energy. (And just for the record, for the most part, we are concerned about all carbohydrates--not just sugar. For my son, 40 carbs of pasta has the same blood glucose effect as 40 carbs of chocolate.)
2. He cannot "just take his insulin" and all will be fine. He has to check his blood glucose--sometimes as often as 12 times a day. He has to check it before he eats and then two hours after he eats to ensure that he is within his target range...which he usually is.
3. For a type 1 diabetic, insulin is delivered with a shot (which can be up to five a day for some children) or using an insulin pump which uses a canula (tubing) that is inserted into the skin every three days. There is no pill for type 1.
I don't think the show actually says Oliver has type 1, but with him being a kid, that is what we are led to believe. Type 1 is not caused by diet and/or lack of exercise. This disease requires almost constant monitoring to ensure the health of my child. I hate that it is being presented as the butt of a joke on a show that millions of children watch and emulate.
There is no cure for type 1 diabetes.
Thank you for listening.
edited to add that Disney's public relations department says that they have pulled the episode and will show a Jonas Brothers special that night instead!
So, as the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes, may I please try to head off some of the other misinformation that will be presented by this so-called "comedy" show?
1. My son can have sugar. Matter of fact, he can have just as much sugar as any of my other children. I don't want him or any of my other children eating a two pound bag of chocolate, but he CAN eat like any other child. He just has to take insulin to allow his body to convert the sugar into energy. (And just for the record, for the most part, we are concerned about all carbohydrates--not just sugar. For my son, 40 carbs of pasta has the same blood glucose effect as 40 carbs of chocolate.)
2. He cannot "just take his insulin" and all will be fine. He has to check his blood glucose--sometimes as often as 12 times a day. He has to check it before he eats and then two hours after he eats to ensure that he is within his target range...which he usually is.
3. For a type 1 diabetic, insulin is delivered with a shot (which can be up to five a day for some children) or using an insulin pump which uses a canula (tubing) that is inserted into the skin every three days. There is no pill for type 1.
I don't think the show actually says Oliver has type 1, but with him being a kid, that is what we are led to believe. Type 1 is not caused by diet and/or lack of exercise. This disease requires almost constant monitoring to ensure the health of my child. I hate that it is being presented as the butt of a joke on a show that millions of children watch and emulate.
There is no cure for type 1 diabetes.
Thank you for listening.
edited to add that Disney's public relations department says that they have pulled the episode and will show a Jonas Brothers special that night instead!
I hope your baby stays healthy and free of additional complications until a cure is found.
Ya know, one would think that people would know that, but I have actually had people tell me that they saw that Friends episode where Phoebe had her babies and so they knew what it was like for us. Ummmm...ok, sure you do. 
Even today I will grab a mini size candy bar and people will look at me funny. Or someone will bring in a treat to work and say "I didn't offer you any because I didn't think you could have it". So many misconceptions. 
