Wednesday, May 21, 2008

What Makes a Non-Diabetic Blog About Diabetes?

I'm trying to remain as transparent as possible so here we go...

I think most of you know by now that I do not have Diabetes myself. That alone has raised plenty of suspicion or skepticism as to why I even tried to be a part of this community.

Well here is my best explanation of that...

1. I was interested in learning about diabetes.

2. I stumbled upon the diabetes online community (DOC) and was drawn in by the personal stories of overcoming struggles.

3. I saw that the majority of bloggers were type 1 and that there was no non-diabetic d-blogger in sight who wasn't a parent, spouse or caregiver.

4. I felt compelled to give back somehow by processing the things I've learned and presenting them in a way that is easy for others to follow.

5. Rather than be a lurker, I also wanted to be able to participate and share my unique perspective when appropriate.


My Word In Your Hand PhotoDigging Deeper...

"But WHY were you interested in learning about diabetes?"

Well, it's because I was fortunate enough to get a job with a company that genuinely cares about what's best for those who use its products.

They understood that diabetes is more than just another disease.
They understood that its more than just numbers and statistics.

This is something that real people have real problems with.
And marketing a product that adds no real value or provides no real solution is not an option.

To truly serve someone, you must truly understand them.
And knowing someone is more than just reading text on a blog.
It's friendship. It's relationship.
It's investing your time and emotions in the community.
It's aligning your values to theirs. It's feeling the pain they feel.
It's knowing how people like me can so easily say the wrong things.
It's knowing when not to say anything at all.

To be completely honest, it's rather difficult to blog about something I don't have to face everyday.
The world makes it too easy for me to ignore.
But I recognize how blessed I am.
And for that, I do what I can to help while I still can.



Feel free to e-mail me directly if you have any questions. I always look forward to them.