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Diabetes Health Does Hollywood

Scott King

Nov 1, 2002

It's inevitable. Every time Hollywood releases a movie with a character who has diabetes, those of us "in the know" sit with clenched teeth, noting every inaccuracy and wondering whether the powers-that-be in Tinseltown have any clue at all. Are they going on misconceptions that "everybody" believes to be true? Do they bother to research diabetes?

When "Panic Room" was released last spring, the finger-pointing and discussions started again. Most distressing was the implication that the character with diabetes was given an insulin—not a glucagon—injection when her blood glucose was low. And, um, the low came after eating pizza and a Coke? "Not likely!" shouted everybody who's ever tested and corrected for hours to bring down a high blood-glucose level after ingesting pizza—much less with a sugary drink.

It was time to write an article about diabetes in the movies. However, we didn't want to run an article that merely pointed out inaccuracies. We wanted one that would explore why Hollywood so often fumbles the facts.

To begin, we compiled a list of movies that portray characters with diabetes. Then we looked around and found Deanna Glick, a freelance writer near the movie industry in Los Angeles who has both writing skills and a personal knowledge of diabetes (she's had type 1 for about 10 years now).

We think you'll enjoy reading her article, which begins on page 36.

Type 2 Discovery Explored

To further our goal of letting you know about the latest developments in diabetes research, Daniel Trecroci, Diabetes Health's managing editor, reports on the role of inflammation in type 2 diabetes. This is an association that researchers studying the role of inflammation in heart disease have only recently begun to investigate. His article, which begins on page 66, tells you what researchers have discovered about the link and details some of the ways that you can help alleviate chronic, subclinical inflammation.

Danger Lurks in the Hospital

If you are hospitalized, did you know that you are in danger of becoming a victim of the most common medication error? The drug? Insulin. Why are errors made in insulin dosages, and what can you do about it? Read the article by Diabetes Health's clinical adviser, Cindy Onufer, RN, MA, CDE, beginning on page 74.

Diabetes Health Takes a New Step

Now for some exciting news: This issue marks Diabetes Health's debut on newsstands, to be sold as single-copy issues. We've been working on this for some time, and we're excited that we may be coming to a bookstore or pharmacy near you.

It was just one year ago this month that a group of Diabetes Health staff and advisory board members got together and made the decision to change the magazine from an oversized publication to one that's a standard magazine size. You may also have noticed that we've gone from a publication with just a few slick-paper, full-color pages to one that's full-color throughout, with every page on magazine-grade paper. We have art director Trpti Todd to thank for the exciting new design. I look forward to seeing what she's done with each new issue.

Be sure to look for Diabetes Health at Borders, Barnes & Noble and Waldenbooks bookstores, or ask your pharmacist at Longs, Walgreens, Eckerd, Sav-on, Osco, CVS, Wal-Mart, Costco or Sam's Club.

Categories: Blood Glucose, Diabetes, Diabetes, Insulin, My Own Injection, Type 2 Issues

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Nov 1, 2002

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