Heather(CA)
10-22-2007, 01:00 PM
Here are the back and forth emails I've had with this company...They seem to have their heart in the right place:confused: The one on the bottom was the first...Then read up..If you want;)
The point is that type 1 diabetics and their parents already have to deal with the wrong belief that they can't have sugar. This is just plain wrong. For type 1's a carb is a carb. Sugar is not an issue unless it's liquid, my son doesn't have regular soda or juice unless his sugar is low. That's his only diet restriction. They are not on low sugar diets as the general public believes. Saying they can't have it just fuels the flame that either we as parents or kids are doing something wrong by giving it to them. Not true. Another thing is that it also promotes the WRONG belief that they got D by eating too much sugar. Type 1 is an auto immune problem, you don't get it by eating too much sugar, it has nothing to do with it.
There is a lot of buzz about this T-shirt in the childrenwithdiabetes.com forums. A lot of people like the idea, but hate the wording. You see, if you specify sugar, then it perpetuates the myth, and people will think they can feed your child other things like bread. They can't. Bread and sugar are same same for a child with type 1.
I guarantee, if you change the wording, you will sell more shirts. Maybe you could say something like...I have type 1 diabetes, I can have sugar, and whatever else you have...Just talk to my mom or dad first. Or I have type 1 diabetes So please don't feed me until you talk to mommy and daddy. they have to count it first. How about I have diabetes so I''m carb challenged...After my mom or dad counts it...I can eat it. I'm sure your T-shirts were meant to help...If you change the words, I'm sure they can help...But, if you don't, your not helping, your hurting. I know you can't explain what type 1 diabetes is...But, you are explaining what it isn't with those words. Again, the only diet restriction are that the carbs need to be counted in EVERYTHING sugar, bread, fruit, pasta, milk, etc etc...Do you see that my only mentioning sugar people might assume that they can give the child some of these other foods when in actuality, they can't? So your right, as you mentioned other parents have told you, we do monitor everything our child eats, not just sugar which is what the
T- shirt implies. You need to consult a Ped. Endo for your doctor...You would be surprised how little most Pediatricians know about Type 1. That's why we all go to Endo's.
Thanks for your response, I hope this helps...
Amy Wicker <amy@pardonmoi.com> wrote:Amy Wicker" <amy@pardonmoi.com>
Hi Heather --
Thank you for your note, and I appreciate your feedback on the t-shirts. First and foremost, these t-shirts were meant to be helpful, not detrimental, to a child's health. The intent behind the t-shirt is not to explain what diabetes is, but rather to inform other people, especially in a larger group setting, that a child has diet restrictions. Clearly this t-shirt does not tell the whole diabetes story. Our hope is that if someone sees this t-shirt on a child that they would ask the parents first before giving the child anything to eat. As parents of other diabetic children have told me, they have to monitor everything their child eats, the same way that parents of allergic children must respond. We came out with this shirt because I had several parents of diabetic children come to me and request it. After consulting with a number of health professionals, including a pediatrician from Chicago, we decided to use the current phrase.
Overall response to the t-shirt has been positive, but I can certainly appreciate your concerns. I don't have a problem changing the t-shirt to indicate Type 2 versus Type 1, but that's where I need your assistance. Any other suggestions you might have to improve the shirt are much appreciated.
Thanks again for taking the time to write us.
All my best --
Amy Wicker
President
pardonMOI
Perhaps we come out with a t-shirt for Type 1 and Type 2, or we simply stick with Type 2.
On Oct 21, 2007, at 12:37 AM, HEATHER COFFEY wrote:
My son had type 1 diabetes...This T shirt is offensive! You obviously have no idea what's involved with the treatment and care of type 1 diabetes. That shirt promotes the assumption that type 1 and 2 have the "No sugar" thing in common. Type 1's can have sugar, since the pancreas simply doesn't work, we give insulin for everything they eat, sugar included.We just count carbs, I don't even look at how much sugar is in anything...it's a non issue. Type 1 can't be controlled with diet and exercise. If that shirt is intended for type 2 diabetics, then put type 2 on the shirt. There's a huge difference.
The point is that type 1 diabetics and their parents already have to deal with the wrong belief that they can't have sugar. This is just plain wrong. For type 1's a carb is a carb. Sugar is not an issue unless it's liquid, my son doesn't have regular soda or juice unless his sugar is low. That's his only diet restriction. They are not on low sugar diets as the general public believes. Saying they can't have it just fuels the flame that either we as parents or kids are doing something wrong by giving it to them. Not true. Another thing is that it also promotes the WRONG belief that they got D by eating too much sugar. Type 1 is an auto immune problem, you don't get it by eating too much sugar, it has nothing to do with it.
There is a lot of buzz about this T-shirt in the childrenwithdiabetes.com forums. A lot of people like the idea, but hate the wording. You see, if you specify sugar, then it perpetuates the myth, and people will think they can feed your child other things like bread. They can't. Bread and sugar are same same for a child with type 1.
I guarantee, if you change the wording, you will sell more shirts. Maybe you could say something like...I have type 1 diabetes, I can have sugar, and whatever else you have...Just talk to my mom or dad first. Or I have type 1 diabetes So please don't feed me until you talk to mommy and daddy. they have to count it first. How about I have diabetes so I''m carb challenged...After my mom or dad counts it...I can eat it. I'm sure your T-shirts were meant to help...If you change the words, I'm sure they can help...But, if you don't, your not helping, your hurting. I know you can't explain what type 1 diabetes is...But, you are explaining what it isn't with those words. Again, the only diet restriction are that the carbs need to be counted in EVERYTHING sugar, bread, fruit, pasta, milk, etc etc...Do you see that my only mentioning sugar people might assume that they can give the child some of these other foods when in actuality, they can't? So your right, as you mentioned other parents have told you, we do monitor everything our child eats, not just sugar which is what the
T- shirt implies. You need to consult a Ped. Endo for your doctor...You would be surprised how little most Pediatricians know about Type 1. That's why we all go to Endo's.
Thanks for your response, I hope this helps...
Amy Wicker <amy@pardonmoi.com> wrote:Amy Wicker" <amy@pardonmoi.com>
Hi Heather --
Thank you for your note, and I appreciate your feedback on the t-shirts. First and foremost, these t-shirts were meant to be helpful, not detrimental, to a child's health. The intent behind the t-shirt is not to explain what diabetes is, but rather to inform other people, especially in a larger group setting, that a child has diet restrictions. Clearly this t-shirt does not tell the whole diabetes story. Our hope is that if someone sees this t-shirt on a child that they would ask the parents first before giving the child anything to eat. As parents of other diabetic children have told me, they have to monitor everything their child eats, the same way that parents of allergic children must respond. We came out with this shirt because I had several parents of diabetic children come to me and request it. After consulting with a number of health professionals, including a pediatrician from Chicago, we decided to use the current phrase.
Overall response to the t-shirt has been positive, but I can certainly appreciate your concerns. I don't have a problem changing the t-shirt to indicate Type 2 versus Type 1, but that's where I need your assistance. Any other suggestions you might have to improve the shirt are much appreciated.
Thanks again for taking the time to write us.
All my best --
Amy Wicker
President
pardonMOI
Perhaps we come out with a t-shirt for Type 1 and Type 2, or we simply stick with Type 2.
On Oct 21, 2007, at 12:37 AM, HEATHER COFFEY wrote:
My son had type 1 diabetes...This T shirt is offensive! You obviously have no idea what's involved with the treatment and care of type 1 diabetes. That shirt promotes the assumption that type 1 and 2 have the "No sugar" thing in common. Type 1's can have sugar, since the pancreas simply doesn't work, we give insulin for everything they eat, sugar included.We just count carbs, I don't even look at how much sugar is in anything...it's a non issue. Type 1 can't be controlled with diet and exercise. If that shirt is intended for type 2 diabetics, then put type 2 on the shirt. There's a huge difference.