It’s December 2nd, Diabetes Awareness Month is behind us……..and every year, after all of the hoopla, I’m quickly reminded we have so far to go. I am on the plane to the IDF in Vancouver and I am once again reminded…..clearly.
Person: What does the blue circle represent?
Me: It’s from the International Diabetes Federation–it represents the unity of all efforts regarding diabetes. There is more but that is why I wear it. I have two children who battle type 1 and my dad battled type 2.
Pause
Pause
(get ready for it)
Pause
Person: I understand completely what you’re going through, my dog had it.
We have a winner.
Thing is, though, that truly may be all this person knew about diabetes, a teachable moment ahead. So for the next hour we talked the diabetes talk. A pair of eyes opened for sure. And as we parted ways:
Me: Here, take my blue circle……and when someone asks……you can answer.
Person: Why thank you very much.
And that……..was that.
No blue building. No blue hair. No huge fund-raiser. Just a dad talking to a person who had a dog with diabetes.
Diabetes Awareness is all year-long.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.