The
Diabetic Ice Cream Social has been my baby for a few years now. It’s really
been everyone’s baby. It’s been a special thing for me to fight misconceptions,
and to spread a little bit of change in everyone’s mindsets as to what a person
with diabetes can and cannot eat – as well as what moderation looks like. The
idea that a person with diabetes gave themselves a disease is repulsive to me,
as well as the idea that foods are ‘bad’ or ‘off limits.’ As a person with an
eating disorder, as well as diabetes, I feel that moderation (and not
deprivation) are key to managing our daily lives with a modicum of enjoyment
and success.
So, in 2011,
when a local Indiana chef wrote a poorly educated column on type 2 diabetes, he
stopped my world. In his misguided crusade against people with type 2 diabetes,
he sought to attack the local Diabetes Youth Foundation of Indiana for holding
an ice cream fund raiser in order to help children with type 1 diabetes go to
diabetes camp. There isn’t just
something wrong with attacking children with type 1 diabetes trying to enjoy
life as any other child – there is also something wrong with someone who tries
to shame our food choices, and create food militancy. Food militancy is
something we don’t need in our body image obsessed society. Food militancy is
one of the triggers for disordered eating, and many of the common eating
disorders affecting our current society – including diabulimia.
Food
militancy is also creating a lot of shaming of people with type 2 diabetes and
this has got to stop. NO ONE gave themselves diabetes – not a type 1 and not a
type 2. People with diabetes are people who were predisposed to developing the
disease, for one reason or another. No one knows what triggers type 1, and
though obesity may trigger type 2, the fact is that millions of obese people
will never develop type 2 diabetes. We all struggle making the healthiest
choices for ourselves, and we all need to learn moderation… and we all suffer
from bad luck. Life just happens. The #1 risk factor for developing illness is living. Being alive. But one thing is
for sure: none of us need deprivation and shaming.
This is what
we seek to spread with the Diabetic Ice Cream Social. We seek to spread a
renewed view of the person with diabetes; a renewed perspective, as well as a
healthier attitude toward food. I have had some pushback from a few folks with
different perspectives – and that’s fine. I respect their life path for
managing their conditions. But at the same time, I have had thousands of
partners in this crusade – the crusade for freedom to make the best choices we
know we can make in order to manage diabetes, without fear or shame from
others.
The Diabetic
Ice Cream Social is a celebration of life – and you may choose to celebrate it
any way you want. You can have an ice cream scoop in any way you please: make
it lactose free, fat free, sugar free, make it sorbet, make it wine. Make it
whatever you prefer – but make it a statement that says you love life, and you appreciate
living it, even with diabetes. Make it with family, with friends… or toast the
full moon. Make it your own.
This year,
2014, I am very busy with many life challenges and responsibilities – so I
won’t be able to lead the crusade as I always do. I won’t be too far from the
fray, though. I will be right here, having my scoop, and cheering it on. My
friends at The Blue Heel Society have agreed to take on the Social for me…
perhaps for a year or so, we’ll see. But they are just as gung-ho about diabetes
awareness as I am, so please know this event will keep going. Give them your
full support, as I know I will.
This year,
while you have your favorite treat… have it will wearing your favorite pair of
blues: blue shoes, that is.
