It isn't often that I feel compelled to talk about reality television or the media but in my over trained sleep deprived state Top Chef really struck a nerve with me last night. Last night's elimination challenge was to create a healthy boxed lunch using a protein, a grain, and a vegetable for the Chicago Police Department.
Padma, the host, brought out a trey of chilli dogs, burgers and steak sandwiches to show the cheftestants what a normal lunch order of the Chicago PD was. She then commented something to the effect of, due to the obesity epidemic facing America, diabetes is on the rise. Sam Talbot, a cheftestant from season 2, was the guest judge; Sam also has type 1 diabetes. Sam went onto say that as a diabetic he is always looking for healthy eating options, which SHOCKED me. Anyone affected with T1 knows that healthy eating allows for easier management of blood sugars, but the fact that Sam made no distinction between type 1 and type 2 really frustrated me.
In light of a recent conversation I had with someone who said their father's diabetes was "cured" after gastric by-pass surgery it is getting really upsetting that people do not make the distinction between the causes and symptoms of the two diseases. It is almost to the point where I want to call type 1 something totally different so I don't get quizzical looks and questions of "but you're so fit," when I mention that I have type 1 diabetes. It isn't the media's responsibility to educate the general population on the two types of diabetes, but it is negligent to lump them into one category. Last night I kind of felt like I was being put into a box that I really didn't belong in. Maybe I'll start saying I have Islet cellisis.
6 comments:
I'm so glad you wrote about this! As I watched last night I had to press pause, so I could rant to my mother about how much I hated that they used Sam as a representation of "Diabetes" when he doesn't even have the kind of "Diabetes" they were focusing on. Oh the media!
I always say something like, "I have Type 1 Diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease". A statement like that allows me the opportunity to explain Type 1 vs. Type 2 very easily.
I missed that episode and I'm sure I would've been ranting to Jeff as well. I wish Sam would've said "Although I have Type 1 which is different than Type 2....I look for healthy options...blah blah blah...as anyone in general should..."
I'm surprised he wasn't bothered enough to make a distinction. Doesn't it get on his nerves too??
Sometimes a lot of dialog gets edited out during production. So Sam could have very well made a distinction during the course of the challenge, and the producers just cut it out in the final aired episode.
I tagged you for a meme!
I don't know, it didn't particularly bother me that he didn't make the distinction between himself having type 1 and then the rising number of type 2. I was happy to see him make another appearance back on the show and since everyone, diabetic or not, could probably stand to eat healthier, I thought it was cool of them to have a challenge that focused on better eating.
I haven't had any time for TV, but I noticed you are doing IMLP--me, too, so I'm linking your blog on mine, if you don't mind.
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