Diabetes - A Community with a Victimization Complex?

[JonDeutsch]

@MM2

Do you have studies that show serious complications at these A1Cs ?

Yes, I posted them earlier in the thread. Here is the latest:

@MM2

Many consider A1C 6-8 to be good balance of avoiding/reducing complications, without risking frequent lows. Not everyone has access to cgms, pump, or wants to use it. But for those that choose to stay in/near non-diabetic range, the tools are improving more than ever.

Completely agree. Just pointing out the science.

[JonDeutsch]

Hi everyone.

Clearly, this topic has created more negative energy than positive energy, which was not my intent, purpose, nor desire.

With that, I will stop engaging in this topic.

Cheers,
Jon

[Jen]

@Michel

In this case, I agree with @cardamom that you have no idea what it takes.

And for many of us, it’s not just a matter of access to a CGM or how much effort we choose to put in. There are many here who have had Type 1 diabetes for decades, put enormous time and efford into management, have access to pumps and CGMs, and have never been able to get an A1c below the 6% range. For those of us in this group, it’s not a “choice” we’re making to be “less healthy” in our life.

Also, promoting an attitude of, No slack to “glucose toxicity,” period, is a dangerous suggestion that likely makes burnout and other diabetes-related mental health challenges more likely to occur, based on my personal experiences and what I’ve read over the decades.

[Sam]

Why someone who’s never taken a shot of insulin would feel entitled to write “the diabetes manifesto” is a bit perplexing to me.

[Boerenkool]

There is no mention of A1c in that whole research paper. Average glucose ≠ HbA1c.

[MM2]

@JonDeutsch

Clearly, this topic has created more negative energy than positive energy,

I see it simply as opposing opinions, from people whose experience with insulin and diabetes is different than yours.

[cardamom]

@JonDeutsch

But my hope and belief is that by creating this archetype, and assigning personal pride to it, that it will provide me with a cognitive tool to bring myself back to being proud of outsmarting my failing sub-systems once again.

Hmm. Personal pride in an archetype. It almost sounds like you making an identity out of it. Funny that.

I wonder if perhaps other people’s disease-related identities might also be serving functions for them, including serving as tools to help them feel good about managing their disorder, whether through getting social support, cognitive reframing, whatever. Have you spent much time actually asking a range of people whose approach seems “victimizing” to you how that works for them without having the prior assumption that it doesn’t?

It seems like what you are really saying is you don’t like how other people use the label/identity and created a new one that resonates with you. Nothing wrong with that, but maybe consider promoting your approach as an option, without slagging on others by accusing them and their community of a victimization complex because it doesn’t work for you.