LA Times Columnist comes down w/ T1 at 46

[badshoe]

His story is here. Strong dose of medical care is broken - there's news (not)

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus7oct07,1,649907.column?coll=la-news-columns

[Nancy in VA]

Well, I thought the back side of the article was ok, but didn't understand why he had to mix Type 1 and Type 2 at the beginning -maybe he doesn't understand enough about the difference yet

[Mama Belle]

I think he was trying to get the point across that it can be a devastating disease for the uninsured, no matter the type. Too bad he felt the need to make the Big Macs remark tho.

[kel4han]

I sent him an email saying that us here at CWD see this as a PERFECT opportunity for him to educate the world on the difference of Type 1 and Type 2 being his position with LAtimes. Everyone else should too!

[spamid]

I sent an email also.

Sharon (mom to Kathy)
dx 8/1/05
pumping with Cozmo since 9/13/06

[Carrie]

His article irritated me more then anything. :mad: I wasn't too pleased that he blurred the two diseases. He asked, "But why now? I've lived 46 fairly healthy years, except for certain pharmaceutical pursuits during college. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I exercise as regularly as I can. What did I do wrong?" Well, Mr. Lazarus...my daughter got to live a little over 3 years without diabetes, and some of the children represented on this board even less then that. I can totally relate to the anger, denial, depression, etc., that he is going through. My heart goes out to the man. But how many of us would gladly take "it" for our kids?!?! Yeah...we could go on and on debating the whole Type 1 vs. Type 2 thing again. We could also go on about the faulty healthcare system. But I wish he would take his highly-read stage and educate! He should be very thankful for medical advances he has available to him that hopefully won't leave him with the same medical problems as some of his relatives.

[kel4han]

Carrie, don't be angry, you should re-read the article. He has Type 1 in his family. He is asking all the questions that all adults ask when diagnosed with Type 1. You always feel like SOMETHING caused it. Just like us parents do. I believe he is aware of the differences.

[Carrie]

Kelly...my apologies! I'm not angry!!! Really!! In re-reading my post, I guess it might of sounded like it. :o I wasn't reading the article wrong...it just hit me wrong. I was reading it with the heart of a mother and even now, I'm having a hard time reading the article in any other way. My sister's son has Type 1, so our diagnosis, as unwanted as it was, was not a surprise to us. For some reason, God's plan for us happens to include diabetes. I also in no way want to make light of Mr. Lazarus' suffering (or any other adult with Type 1 that is on this board)! I feel his pain, but I feel it as a mom. A mom of a beautiful little girl that had no clue why her life had to have 4-6 shots a day, and now wear an insulin pump 24-7. A mom that has to try and answer the question, "when will my diabetes go away", or hear her say, "someday...when I don't have diabetes...".:(

I think the thing that bugged me the most was the way he protrayed "it". Like he was handed his death sentence (talking about the complications of his relatives). As a mom, I guess I try to protect my child from hearing that kind of stuff. I don't ever want her to feel like that. Medical advances in managing this disease have come so far in even the last five years. Mr. Lazarus may never have to face the typical diabetes complications because of these advances, and hopefully none of our children will either. (And again...he made it 46 years before he was diagnosed with a disease typically diagnosed in children.) Isn't that what we parents are fighting for when we fight insurance companies for pumps, CGMs, etc.--so we can achieve tighter control on the disease in order to prevent future complications?!?

From his stats and Big Mac comment, I do think he still needs a little education on the differences in the two diseases. That will come with time, I'm sure. Maybe he should stop by the CWD board for a crash course!! :DBut bottom line...I do hope he takes his writing opportunity to educate like crazy.

[Barry]

Well....not to be morbid, cruel, uncaring, insensitive, rude, (I cant remember what else I've been called) BUT....if somebody's got to get it (not that I'm wishing it) a columnist at major news paper was on my very short list, preceeded only by Santa, Sponge Bob, and others no one could get mad about me wishing D on.



EDIT ....OMG I just read it....LOL No need to address this misperception head on, it'd be rude, cruel...you get the drift. We're all one big D family. Now give me a hug.

With obesity rates soaring, as many as 54 million others are strongly at risk of contracting diabetes in the future.

In my case, diabetes struck not because I stuff my face with Big Macs and fried chicken, which I don't. I take good care of myself and am not overweight.

[kel4han]

Listen to what he is saying here......

"In my case, diabetes struck not because I stuff my face with Big Macs and fried chicken, which I don't. I take good care of myself and am not overweight -- considerably less so since unexpectedly dropping about 15 pounds over the past couple of months."

I BELIEVE HE IS BEING SARCASTIC, SPEAKING TO THOSE THAT BELIEVE DIABETES IS AN OBESITY ISSUE EXCLUSIVELY>

No, it's almost certain I got nailed because a genetic time bomb finally exploded. My father, Paul N. Lazarus III, who produced the movies "Westworld" and "Capricorn One," has Type 1 diabetes and is now nearly blind. My younger brother has Type 1 and is doing well enough. My aunt had Type 1 before it blinded and then killed her.

The doctors say diabetes -- almost certainly Type 1 -- has been lurking in my DNA since I was a child, waiting for its time to strike.

But why now? I've lived 46 fairly healthy years, except for certain pharmaceutical pursuits during college. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I exercise as regularly as I can. What did I do wrong?

Probably nothing. The stress of my recent move to L.A. and starting a new job didn't help, but it's not to blame. This was going to happen no matter what."

He understands genetically that this was a possibility, but he is questioning like everyone else WHY? What triggered this when being healthy, active.....46 for goodness sakes! Thats all I meant. I think this guy could really help us out in the awareness department being his new diagnosis and family history. :)

[Barry]

Listen to what he is saying here......

"In my case, diabetes struck not because I stuff my face with Big Macs and fried chicken, which I don't. I take good care of myself and am not overweight -- considerably less so since unexpectedly dropping about 15 pounds over the past couple of months."

I BELIEVE HE IS BEING SARCASTIC, SPEAKING TO THOSE THAT BELIEVE DIABETES IS AN OBESITY ISSUE EXCLUSIVELY>

No, it's almost certain I got nailed because a genetic time bomb finally exploded. My father, Paul N. Lazarus III, who produced the movies "Westworld" and "Capricorn One," has Type 1 diabetes and is now nearly blind. My younger brother has Type 1 and is doing well enough. My aunt had Type 1 before it blinded and then killed her.

The doctors say diabetes -- almost certainly Type 1 -- has been lurking in my DNA since I was a child, waiting for its time to strike.

But why now? I've lived 46 fairly healthy years, except for certain pharmaceutical pursuits during college. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I exercise as regularly as I can. What did I do wrong?

Probably nothing. The stress of my recent move to L.A. and starting a new job didn't help, but it's not to blame. This was going to happen no matter what."

He understands genetically that this was a possibility, but he is questioning like everyone else WHY? What triggered this when being healthy, active.....46 for goodness sakes! Thats all I meant. I think this guy could really help us out in the awareness department being his new diagnosis and family history. :)


No sarcasim...wishfull thinking though...he's differentiating himself from type 2. He's making sure no one blaming him. Shame on him for throwing the type 2s under the bus like that. He should be ashamed. (thats sarcasim)