First and foremost, I advocate for all people with diabetes and their families because: if not me, WHO? I started my journey in the diabetes space over 30 years ago. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and began serving on my state American Diabetes Association (ADA) board as a fundraiser. I enjoyed it and felt the money was going to help people with diabetes. As I went deeper and deeper into my diabetes career, I started seeing inequities in the lives of people, due to not having access to the tools they needed to live longer, healthier lives.
I have been blessed in my life to always have the resources to obtain what I needed to manage my disease. It never occurred to me that others did not have the same. When I saw the complications that others developed because they didn’t have what I had, I knew it was time to act. I became a diabetes advocate. The challenges are great; in politics, both elected and appointed office holders who don’t understand the disease. I have been told it's our fault we have diabetes, that we just have to eat better. I have continued to face ignorance: “Diabetes is no big deal, you just take a shot and you are fine,” or “Other diseases are more dangerous and deadly, nobody dies from diabetes,” or “Sorry, I can't pit one disease against another, so I’m not doing anything.”
Most politicians don’t say dumb things or vote for or file dumb bills because they want to hurt someone. They just are not educated about the facts of our disease. Once they learn the facts and the effects diabetes has on our lives and our families’ lives, most of them understand the terrible toll. However, they won't until we all stand up. Sitting back and expecting someone else to do it is a losing strategy. Not just for you personally, but for the millions of people who are touched by the disease. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, there is no vacation from diabetes!
I have lost a son who had Type 1 diabetes, a father with type 2, an uncle with type 2, a grandfather with type 2 and a great-grandmother with type 1. My mother and sister both have type 2 diabetes. As long as I can remember, my family has been fighting this disease. In addition, I am a small business owner and have an employee with type 1. It is a personal struggle for most people, and I truly understand that.
For me, as long as there is breath in my body, I will be standing up for everyone with diabetes. As I have said before: nobody chooses to get diabetes. But I, for one, choose to fight for what is right and what is important for all people with diabetes until we live in a world with NO DIABETES!
