I was just visiting the ever good DiabetesMine site and noticed a post about a new show which has recently gone to air in the States. In this show there are three main characters, one of whom has diabetes. Sigh.

I’ll leave you to read the post for yourselves, but here’s a short excerpt:

Owen is a father of two who works for his father at a car dealership. He’s a bit down on his luck and not happy working with Dad, who isn’t the nicest guy. On top of that, Owen has diabetes, which he exacerbates by drinking, eating too much, and not exercising enough.

But what kind of portrayal is this show giving diabetes? First off, it doesn’t ever say which type of diabetes Owen actually has. Big minus points there. The differences between the two are so striking that the only way this show is going to make sense is by offering some clarity. There isn’t even enough substance to draw conclusions based on actions either, though the Washington Post states that Owen’s “developed diabetes as a result of his weight.” Owen is constantly being berated and made fun of by his friends and co-workers for liking to eat, but in one scene, a co-worker is grossed out when Owen goes to take an insulin injection. The diabetes, at the end of the day, seems to be just an example of how Owen is failing at his life. Not a very positive spin at an already demonized chronic condition, is it?

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. I’m not naive enough to think that diabetes is the only condition they get wrong in Hollywood (I’m sure there are sufferers of every kind of condition rolling their eyes in almost every movie where a character has that condition), but it’s really not helping our cause, is it?

The full post here:

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/12/diabetes-part-of-loser-life-on-men-of-a-certain-age.html