All awareness is good awareness, right? Probably, but these examples are pushing it a bit.
All diabetes awareness campaigns mean well, and many of them have raised significant sums of money for diabetes research. Their hearts are clearly in the right place. But these misguided oversights draw attention to the lack of public knowledge about a very dangerous condition; a knowledge that is just as important as money.
5. Jamie Oliver’s giant inflatable can
Maybe it’s bit picky to make a fuss over this one. After all, not everyone can be expected to know the ins-and-outs of diabetes. But it would be nice if public figures like Jamie Oliver knew a) the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and specified which one, and b) didn’t contribute to the lazy stereotype of type 2 diabetes being caused purely by laziness and poor dietary choices.
If avoiding type 2 diabetes was as simple as not drinking coke, there would be a lot less of it.
On top of all that, coke can be a good thing. People with type 1 diabetes often drink coke (or a similarly sugary drink) to sort out hypos, as do type 2s taking sulfonylureas or glinides.
4.This juggernaut
“Do your bit for diabetes research by drinking an obscenely large amount of Pepsi” is the message from KFC.
Does it really need to come in a jug?
3. A diabetes disasda
By the time you’ve battled through the mountainous stacks of Quality Street tubs to get to the find out about the “FREE diabetes test”, you’ll probably need one.
Last October, Asda’s unfortunate oversight went viral.
2. Tesco hampers diabetes awareness
Asda isn’t the only supermarket to place their diabetes awareness adverts in less-than-strategic locations. Tesco has been sending some mixed signals, too.
With the best of intentions, Tesco organised a raffle, the proceeds of which went to diabetes research. The prize? A hamper of chocolate. It’s a cruel game to play.
1. Doughnut put your ad here…
Over in the US, one store offers free diabetes medication…if you buy a bag of doughnuts.
