Advert currently on TV

[juliekem]

In 2011 catherinecherub wrote an excellent post which started "I know that some Type 2's have a hard time because they think that because they are overweight that they brought this on themselves." She then gives a link to a very useful article and I quote "While type 1 diabetes is caused by an immune system that destroys insulin-making cells, type 2 is often thought of as a disease caused by too much food and too little exercise—and indeed, it can be exacerbated by those factors. This perception unfairly casts type 2 diabetes as a willpower problem.
Genes and other risk factors play a complex role in determining who gets type 2 diabetes and who doesn't. While the likelihood of having type 2 diabetes increases with age and weight, that isn't always the case. Anywhere from 10% to 20% of all people who have the disease are not overweight. What's more, many overweight people never get diabetes."
So when I saw the ad which seems to be currently being run on TV by DBUK, my blood boiled.
It implies that type 2 diabetes is simply caused by being overweight and not taking enough exercise - no other "causes" are mentioned. It appears to support all the old stereotypes - I found myself screaming (inside) at the box - how come as a dog owner for all of the 34 years I have been married that I have walked every day (come rain or shine!) I have been trying to lose weight for almost all of my marriage too, with very little success. I am only succeeding at the moment (and the weight loss is VERY slow) by cutting calories to under 1000 per day (- very difficult to keep up.)

Am I the only person to react strongly to this vile ad? Why are diabetes UK publishing this?

 

[Kaz70]

Haven't seen the ad yet, and perhaps it's better I don't look for it - although I confess to being overweight, I've been on a diet most of my life it's in 2 generations of each side of my family (and who knows if it goes any further back)!

 

[VinnyJames]

Is this a recent ad?

Gotta link?

 

[juliekem]

Is this a recent ad?

Gotta link?

I saw it about 2 night ago on the tv - don't know how to get a link................

 

[catherinecherub]

Is this the one?
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Ways-to-donate/tv-campaign/

 

[juliekem]

I saw it about 2 night ago on the tv - don't know how to get a link................

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Ways-to-donate/tv-campaign/
OK here is the link

 

[VinnyJames]

Blimey it's a bit gloomy!

Here's an explanation....


http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Ways-to-donate/Type-2-ad-campaign-FAQs/

 

[juliekem]

Blimey it's a bit gloomy!

Here's an explanation....


http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Ways-to-donate/Type-2-ad-campaign-FAQs/

Well it has been very badly done, that's all I can say. It appears to specifically support all the prejudices held by the great general non-diabetic public. We'er all fat slobs who don't take enough exercise. It does NOT mention ethnicity, genes etc nor does it ask a sensible question like "Do you find it very difficult to lose weight?" The message is simple - the guy lost his leg because he was "carrying a few extra pounds" the lady at the end was going blind because she didn't walk enough (hence the need to issue pedometers>)
BADLY DONE DBUK

 

[connie104]

I saw the ad and I must admit at the time I was annoyed as it implied all type 2's are overweight . What about all the thin type 2's ? We never got a mention! Being overweight can be a factor of type 2 but not the reason as many overweight people don't have type 2

 

[lizdeluz]

See also the thread about 'selfish' diabetics: Is diabetes a 'selfish condition'? This refers to tabloid-press-type material, which likes to sell newspapers by stirring up public opinion and hitting a section of the population hard over the head, so that non-diabetics feel justified and better about themselves.

It's a ridiculous type of argument and needs to be ignored. However, people with diabetes read this kind of stuff too and see these awful sentimental and misleading adverts and they feel hurt by it.

So if we can't dismiss the stuff and ignore it, we can get as educated as possible about diabetes, ( as you obviously have done) and educate other people as often as possible - many non-diabetics know zilch about diabetes and have taken on board a load of rubbish from unreliable sources.

We do expect better from Diabetes UK in this instance. If they think they are reaching more people at risk of diabetes by this kind of advert, they should change their advertising team, because it's wrong-headed.

They should also remember those already diagnosed, whom they are supposed to help and represent, and, again, get themselves a better advertising team.

 

[izzzi]

I would prefer not to criticize this add.
However has that guy really got half his leg missing, is that woman practically blind and is that dear old woman now dead, just asking ?

 

[Kat100]

I don't agree with stero Typing at all ...lots of factors affect health ...what ever type ( sorry don't like the type) word either ....

 

[Brunneria]

I've just used the email address on this page to write a complaint.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Contact_us/

 

[Syd]

I don't see anything wrong with the advertisement.

Do you want Diabetes UK to show a collection of jolly fatties stuffing themselves with cream cakes while stating that because of their genetic make up they don't have T2 diabetes, followed by a group of trim, athletic type 2 diabetics exercising in the gym bemoaning the fact they have the disease despite their austere lifestyles?

We have a diabetes epidemic which we did not have 50 years ago. On the assumption that 50 years ago we had the same genetic make up than the only thing which has changed has been our lifestyles. We eat more and exercise less.The inevitable consequence of which Is that we put on weight and some of us get diabetes.

The advert makes this point. It also makes the point that diabetes is a serious condition. It's a short advert not a documentary.




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[Brunneria]

I don't see anything wrong with the advertisement.

Do you want Diabetes UK to show a collection of jolly fatties stuffing themselves with cream cakes while stating that because of their genetic make up they don't have T2 diabetes, followed by a group of trim, athletic type 2 diabetics exercising in the gym bemoaning the fact they have the disease despite their austere lifestyles?

We have a diabetes epidemic which we did not have 50 years ago. On the assumption that 50 years ago we had the same genetic make up than the only thing which has changed has been our lifestyles. We eat more and exercise less.The inevitable consequence of which Is that we put on weight and some of us get diabetes.

The advert makes this point. It also makes the point that diabetes is a serious condition. It's a short advert not a documentary.




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The past 50 years have seen an increase in processed carb consumption and a reduction in fat consumption, far greater than the decrease in exercise.

Most people exposed to that advert will interpret its advice as 'being inactive causes diabetes' (therefore diabetics are lazy) and 'walk more and diet by eating less fat and increasing my complex carbs' because that is the diet we have been taught is a healthy one. That is bad advice for people with glucose intolerance.

I would fully support an advert that said 'cut carbs and up your activity because they will reduce your D risk, and weight loss can help '

The difference between those two messages is subtle, but very important.

 

[VinnyJames]

I agree with your sentiment @Brunneria but we are in this awkward limbo state where LCHF still has a lack of empirical evidence although that is now thankfully changing albeit very slowly.

 

[izzzi]

I agree with your sentiment @Brunneria but we are in this awkward limbo state where LCHF still has a lack of empirical evidence although that is now thankfully changing albeit very slowly.

I think @Brunneria is bang on with her comment /reply.
In fairness that add would have been perfect in the fifties, ( in fact was it made in the 50s. )

 

[eddie1968]

Most of the comments here are bang on but the ad just tries to tug at people's heart strings to get them to donate much like every other charity wanting your two quid a month. My diabetes was medication induced, had a border collie for years and they keep you fit ! As soon as I hear or see the words "gastric bands" in the media they always tie it to obesity and T2 diabetes which for a lot of type 2's is unfair. Diabetes charities and the medical profession should educate themselves more and stop stereotyping diabetics. Rant over...phew lol

 

[Syd]

Am I looking at a different advert?

The one I have seen shows:

1). A chap of mature years who attributes his diabetes to carrying a few extra pounds around his tummy. He would have appeared to have had part of his leg amputated due to diabetic complications;

2). A youngish woman with a young child both of whom would appear to be of Asian ethnicity. This woman is slim, young and attractive but suffers from diabetes. She expresses the belief that she had not thought she could contract the disease at such a young age.

3). An elderly lady (slim and trim) but apparently not diabetic but whose late husband was, and who did not treat the disease as being serious with the result the elderly lady is now a widow.

4). An invitation to text for a free diabetes guide and pedometer.

I don't really see any stereotyping. Is it offensive because one of the the people shown (1) above was a bit tubby? Should all diabetics be shown as being like the youngish woman in (2) above?

Bearing in mind the constraints of time with a television advert, I really cannot see anything wrong with it. I appreciate that those who have seen the LCHF light might feel that the minute the ad lasts could have been spent extolling the virtues of that lifestyle but as Diabetes. UK does not as yet subscribe to that philosophy, that is not going to happen.

 

[lizdeluz]

Am I looking at a different advert?

The one I have seen shows:

1). A chap of mature years who attributes his diabetes to carrying a few extra pounds around his tummy. He would have appeared to have had part of his leg amputated due to diabetic complications;

2). A youngish woman with a young child both of whom would appear to be of Asian ethnicity. This woman is slim, young and attractive but suffers from diabetes. She does expresses the belief that she had not thought she could contract the disease at such a young age.

3). An elderly lady (slim and trim) but apparently not diabetic but whose late husband was, and who did not treat the disease as being serious with the result the elderly lady is now a widow.

4). An invitation to text for a free diabetes guide and pedometer.

I don't really see any stereotyping. Is it offensive because one of the the people shown (1) above was a bit tubby? Should all diabetics be shown as being like the youngish woman in (2) above?

Bearing in mind the constraints of time with a television advert, I really cannot see anything wrong with it. I appreciate that those who have seen the LCHF light might feel that the minute the ad lasts could have been spent extolling the virtues of that lifestyle but as Diabetes. UK does not as yet subscribe to that philosophy, that is not going to happen.

Thank you for this analysis.
In 2), the role concerns blindness.
I still find the advert really really bad, but I need to think longer about why, so I'll get back with some thoughts when I've thunk them.

Though I LCHF, that's not anything to do with why I, personally, object to the advert. I think it's because, although I'm T1, not T2, I feel that T2 get a bad press and shouldn't, and that this advert condones and promotes that bad press.

I'll sleep on it, study the advert again, but I shall probably still feel that old feeling of being wrong-footed. In the press and on tv, it's in the contexts of sport where you get a more positive view about diabetes. So, Diabetes UK, do more promoting of that, rather than concentrating on what people are doing wrong. Look at what many diabetics are doing right. More carrot, less stick.

Also, it doesn't have to be so UK focused either. Let's remember that the diabetes and obesity explosion has been happening worldwide, and at its greatest rate in Asia.

There is vested interest in people getting fat and needing medication. If people avoided the rubbish food flooding our markets, that would help the diabetes statistics.