Martha,
You are going to hate me for this, but I really think Lauren Roth of Lakewood, NJ, was trying to do the right thing. I'll put my money on it that there are lots of overwieght kids in her neighborhood -- some who've probably developed (Type 2) diabetes far too early.
So yes, the lady is ignorant of the difference in types of diabetes, but I give her points for trying to discourage her own children from heading down the fast path to Type 2.
Nice Letter to the Ed, anyway.
Sincerely,
Amy
Great, no, make that totally FAB letter to the Newsweek editors. Yes, the mother is a twit, but Newsweeks is doing a disservice to its readers by publishing a letter like this and NOT adding and ed's note. You know how many times my experts have been harrangued by over zealous fact-checkers?
And, also? I think that while the IDEA of a snack jar is good, it seems to me that it promotes the idea that there are good foods and EVIL ones. The thing we need to teach our children is that an apple or a cheese string is yummy and healthy, but sometimes what your body needs is a piece of chocolate cake.
Sory to hijack your blog comments, Martha!
Hi Amy,
No ,of COURSE I don't hate one of my favorite bloggers.. ;o) I read her letter again. I realize she is trying to encourage health in her children. And I'm almost sure she means Type 2 Diabetes but does not know how to express herself. Still, it's not like Newsweek hasn't written about Type 1 Diabetes before. I guess I put the responsibliity for the letter squarely on Newsweek's lap.
It's that same old misinformation about Type 1 Diabetes that really pushes my buttons. Then again, I didn't know much about Type 1 Diabetes until my son developed it. I hope Newsweek takes this as an opportunity to set the record straight. I know for a fact that a ton of emails are flying as we speak...
XxOo Martha
Hi FabGirlie,
I agree about indulging ourselves once in awhile~as long as it isn't an everyday thing. Sweets, in moderation and as part of a healthy diet, are not inherently bad.
Thanks for commenting~
XxOo Martha
Dear Martha
I agree that the letter should have had a disclaimer after it. Just the fact that people don't understand the difference in Type 1 and Type 2 can and may present a greater harm to society in that signs and symptoms are ignored, diets are ignored, and treatment isn't sought after in a timely fashion.
You are a great writer and a blogger. I hope to join you one day as a published author once my southern fiction novel sells, which may be NEVER.
Come see me sometime.
Tish
One of my biggest pet peeves is that many journalists and others who write about diabetes neglect to distinguish between type 1 and type 2 when they write about diabetes issues. They tend to lump the two together. People with type 1 are affected by foods and the environment way differently than people with type 2. Martha's issue wasn't the action the parents took with how they handled junk food, she had an issue with Newsweek's neglect to correct the parents' letter by stating that they are really trying to prevent type 2 not type 1.
Martha, you did the right thing to write an assertive letter to Newsweek. It seems to smack those with type 1 in the face and disrespects them when their condition isn't differentiated from that of a totally different disease which happens to have a similar name.
As parents we want so badly to 'do the right thing' for our children, but I'm a firm believer that the best 'right thing' is to teach our children to research to the bottom of things. If this candy-jar mom took that approach, her kids might actually be able to make nutritional choices based on fact rather than "because mom says..."
I'll write a letter to the editors too. Love your blog by the way.
OK, Ladies,
I agree that:
1) Newsweek screwed up
and
2) It is problematic that most people don't know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2.
BUT I'm still shocked at the growing number of overweight kids in this country, and am always glad to see someone doing something about it.
- Amy
Hi there. I know Lauren Roth, and I can assure you she intended to offend nobody. She didn't mean "juvenile onset" in the strict medical sense. Her husband is an opthamologist and could probably write you a book on the subject. She simply meant the type of diabetes that is common among children who indulge in poor eating habits. Lauren is not the enemy.
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