The blame game
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-blog/MY01581
- With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
Nancy Klobassa Davidson and Peggy Moreland
Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., B.S.N, C.D.E
Nancy Klobassa Davidson is a registered nurse who has worked in diabetes education for 17 years. She is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) and is currently in graduate school working on a Master of Science in nursing (M.S.N.) and health care education.Nancy works with adults who have type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes. Nancy is coordinator of the Diabetes Unit's intensive insulin therapy program within the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Nancy has worked extensively with insulin pump therapy and continuous interstitial glucose sensing.
Peggy Moreland, R.N., M.S.N.
Peggy Moreland is a certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.) in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.Peggy graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing and Health Care Education from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A certified diabetes educator (C.D.E.), Peggy enjoys working with patients to set and achieve diabetes self-management goals.
Latest entries
- Diabetes etiquette: When you don't have diabetes
May 2, 2013
- Coping with diabetes: Helping your loved one
April 24, 2013
- Types of diabetes
March 16, 2013
- Taking diabetes drugs
Feb. 27, 2013
- Insulin or medication?
Feb. 13, 2013
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Living with diabetes blog
-
Nov. 12, 2010
The blame game
By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.
A blogger recently wrote that she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after being hospitalized with an infection. She was quite surprised by the diagnosis, because she was physically active, never ate fast food and exercised 1.5 to 2 hours a day. She also said that although she was a little overweight, she wasn't obese. After receiving her diagnosis, she lost 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms).
Later, the same woman read a news article stating that by the year 2050, 1 out of 3 people in the U.S. will have type 2 diabetes. She was upset, and rightfully so, by reader comments that referred to those with type 2 diabetes as "slobs," "lazy," and "people who can't control their eating." One comment went so far as to say that they "deserve the disease."
Wow. No matter the type of diabetes, the diagnosis always comes as a shock. With it often comes guilt, self-blame, denial, depression, anxiety, fear and a sense of helplessness. I felt all of these when my two sons were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes — as their mother.
Why is type 2 diabetes one of the few diseases in the U.S. for which it's all right to blame people for getting it? Lifestyle plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, but so do genes. One person might be overweight, able to eat whatever he or she wants, never exercise and yet still not get diabetes, while another person who isn't overweight, eats a healthy diet and exercises does get type 2 diabetes.
As William Polonsky, PhD — author of several diabetes books — says, "You didn't do anything wrong. Having diabetes doesn't mean you're a bad person. It means your body isn't functioning right."
An important thing to remember about having type 2 diabetes is that it's a manageable disease. It's within your ability to turn it around and minimize risk of developing complications.
Peggy
13 comments posted
Share on:
13 comments posted