• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Advert currently on TV

juliekem said:
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?
Click to expand...

Not seen the advert but feel very angry about it reading your post. I am type 2 and yes a bit overweight. My dad's type 2 worked as a plasterer and never had an ounce of fat on him. All my grand parents were and are type 2. A couple were over weight, a couple were never overweight and very active. I probably would have got diabetes regardless of my health and lifestyle.
Seems unfair to just pin it on the fat guy!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I saw the advert and sent them a text message for them to call me back. I am not diabetic but am one of the high risk groups based on age, ethnicity and lifestyle. So they called me back and a very friendly paid person took my details then he started reading from some text giving me lots of details of the numbers of people afflicted etc etc and then asked me if I could donate £10 a month.
I said "not at this time" he then began reading another long narrative and then said the money would not start to be deducted for a few months.
I said "no I'm sorry I can't"
Then began another narrative about how many people choose to pay less and could I pay £8 a month.

I'm afraid that's when I lost by cool, I wasn't rude, I just said that I did not expect the third degree, I thought you were going to send me info on how to reduce my chances of getting diabetes, but instead you are asking for money,I said no then you change it and say I don't have to pay immediately, I have said sorry, now you want me to pay less.
Anyway, I said that you can keep your info pack, I am not happy how this request for info is used to ask me for money.

So, they didn't bother sending me anything !

That really is outrageous, they should say on the advert, that they are fundraising and will ask for donations when they call you back.
 
Can those who have issues with the advert let the forum know what DUKs response was to the complaint letters that have been sent.

Additionally if those who feel the advert is that misleading has anyone bothered to complained to the Advertising Standards Authority? They have the power to remove/ fine businesses for promoting incorrect/misleading information. A "charity" should be no different.
 
I received the following response, within 24 hours of making my complaint.
I have removed the name of the person who wrote the email out of consideration for their privacy.
Didn't bother to contact them again. Most of the response looked like a copy and paste pro forma, and I was more interested in adding a +1 to their complaint recording spread sheet than trying to score points in an argument.

Several things amused me :
  • No mention of their money making campaign or contributions
  • The suggestion I might like their free carb counting and insulin dose ebook (I deliberately hadn't indicated whether I was diabetic or not)
  • The repeated justification/explanation that weight and waist size are vital
Re-reading their response again, I am struck by how DUK perceive their message, contrasted with how I and other forumites are perceiving the message.

Their response:

Thank you for contacting Diabetes UK regarding our recent TV advert campaign.

I am very sorry to hear that the advert offended you, we really appreciate you taking the time to write to us and we greatly value your feedback.

We understand that not diabetes cannot be generalised. However, the main purpose of our advert is aimed at raising awareness amongst people who may be at risk of Type 2 diabetes or people who are not managing the condition very well and to get as many people as possible to request the guide and pedometer, so we can start them on their journey to learn more about this complex condition and reduce their risk where possible. Our aim is to get people thinking about how they can live a healthier lifestyle, and promote the message that most people can benefit from being more active.

Up to 11.4 million people in the UK are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. It’s a serious condition with no cure, and it can lead to devastating complications. But Type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable. Up to 80 per cent of cases of Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented. So it’s important that everyone understands their risk, so they can reduce their chances of ever developing the condition. That’s why our awareness campaign is so important.

The case studies featured in the advert (played by actors) are based on real stories and facts which were approved by Clearcast (the organisation who must approve any advert before it can be shown on TV). While the circumstances featured could be viewed as extreme, we felt that this was a necessary step to make more people take notice and to get in touch with us to find out more about the condition.

The NHS states that although all adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a number of groups have a particularly high risk of developing the condition. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is increased if: you're overweight or obese, with a waist size of over 80cm (31.5 inches) for women and 94cm (37 inches) for men, or 89cm (35 inches) for South Asian men.

The National Diabetes Audit confirms that that type 2 diabetes sufferers are typically overweight:

• Aged 16-54 years:

– 10.0 per cent are normal or underweight

– 26.9 per cent are overweight

– 63.0 per cent are obese

• Aged 55 years and over:

– 16.3 per cent are normal or underweight

– 36.0 per cent are overweight

– 47.6 per cent are obese

If you would like more information on the case studies and statistics used, please do not hesitate to ask me as I can provide them.

Also, you may be interested in our free Carbs Count E-book: https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/...ormation/recipe-books/carbs-count-e-book.aspx

Again, please accept our sincerest apologies for our advert having caused you any offence.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions on 0345 123 2399, Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm.

Kind Regards,

Xxxxxxxx

Supporter Care Advisor, Customer Care Centre

(including the Diabetes UK services of Careline, Advocacy and Supporter Care)


cid:image001.jpg@01CF4843.52C9CF80



Need to talk about diabetes? Contact our Customer Care Centre.
0345 123 2399

F+44 (0)20 7424 1001

E[email protected]|Wwww.diabetes.org.uk

Facebookwww.facebook.com/diabetesuk|Twitterwww.twitter.com/diabetesuk

Diabetes UK10 Parkway, London NW1 7AA

Calls may be recorded for quality and training purposes.


Check your risk of Type 2 diabetes
Seven million adults in the UK are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Check your risk today. If not for you for your family. www.diabetes.org.uk/risk


Diabetes UK is the leading UK charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by and at risk of diabetes.
 
ConradJ said:
That's one of the hurdles of our lives: peer groups and families. :( I've had a long battle with my other half about going onto a LCHF diet. :blackeye:Yesterday evening she perused the opening section of a book she'd bought me from a charity shop, "the low carb cookbook" by M&S (2005) and will be joining me on the journey (perhaps not as strictly, but at least it's a start). :happy:
Click to expand...
Oddly enough my hubbie has been fab although the git ditched 2 stone in 3 months! We all eat lchf now! Your wife will love it! Especially if you make her chocolate mug cake with double cream! :p
 
Brunneria said:
Also, you may be interested in our free Carbs Count E-book: https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/store/...ormation/recipe-books/carbs-count-e-book.aspx

Diabetes UK is the leading UK charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by and at risk of diabetes.
Click to expand...

I've downloaded their Carbs Count E-book and read through some of their examples. Case in point here, Example 6 has "Bob" eating a "traditional cooked breakfast" with virtually zero carbs. According to DUK, he should not give himself any insulin because there are a few, slow release carbs in the grilled tomato.

My understanding of proteins is that if you eat meal such as Bob's you would need to bolus for an appropriate amount of protein because with such non-carb meals, the body will convert approximately half the protein into energy.

Am I right or have I completely misunderstood LCHF practice? If so, can someone please explain why I and Bob should not take insulin if we're eating a high protein meal?
 
tim2000s said:
The National Diabetes Audit confirms that that type 2 diabetes sufferers are typically overweight:
Click to expand...

That being the case, it does not seem unreasonable to show in the advert one overweight T2 diabetic out of the three diabetes cases.
 
An interesting way to completely misuse the quote function @Syd. Misquoted me to get your point across....
 
tim2000s said:
An interesting way to completely misuse the quote function @Syd. Misquoted me to get your point across....
Click to expand...
Not sure how the quote has been attributed to you. I had intended to quote @Brunneria who in turn was quoting a response received from Diabetes UK. I had no intention to misquote or mislead anyone.

The point is that about 90% of T2 diabetics under 55 are overweight or obese. There are millions in the UK who have a high risk of diabetes because of their excess weight and it is these people to whom the advert is addressed. The message is, if you are overweight then you have a risk of developing diabetes which is a serious condition which can lead to amputation, blindness or death.

An advertising campaign being "positive" with the message, if you have diabetes don't fret, you can still win gold in the Olympics or be a millionaire pop singer, might make some on here feel better but it is hardly likely to get the obese millions to consider the ramifications of contracting the disease.

As mentioned above, only one of the three cases shown in the advert refer expressly to the diabetic being overweight,how can anyone be offended?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Syd said:
That being the case, it does not seem unreasonable to show in the advert one overweight T2 diabetic out of the three diabetes cases.
Click to expand...
Whilst 63% of diabetics are obese the vast majority of obese people are not diabetic which would suggest that there's a bit more to type T2 than being obese. There may be a link between obesity and T2 diabetes but to imply obesity causes T2 is not necessarily true or helpful. Considering the amount of money that DUK had, I'm fairly sure that there were better ways of getting the message across that this is a serious condition which must not be ignored.
I think that Conrad's wife makes a good point....

ConradJ said:
My wife made a point about it yesterday; she'd noted several articles about cancer over the past year and that evidence exists to show most cancers may be lifestyle initiated yet how would it be perceived if MacMillan or Cancer Research ran publicity that showed people smoking, drinking heavily, eating McD / BK / KFC, bleaching their kitchen floors, etc., with the tag line:

"Cancer? 50/50 it's your fault."
Click to expand...
 
Scandichic said:
Whilst 63% of diabetics are obese the vast majority of obese people are not diabetic which would suggest that there's a bit more to type T2 than being obese. There may be a link between obesity and T2 diabetes but to imply obesity causes T2 is not necessarily true or helpful. Considering the amount of money that DUK had, I'm fairly sure that there were better ways of getting the message across that this is a serious condition which must not be ignored.
I think that Conrad's wife makes a good point....
Click to expand...

In the same way that most smokers do not develop lung cancer therefore smoking does not cause lung cancer?

Obesity does cause T2 diabetes. If someone who is obese loses the weight before diabetes develops, then the risk of developing the the disease will be lessened but not completely removed.

If the advert under scrutiny had shown three cases of obese people each of whom had contracted T2 diabetes and each of whom suffered the consequences, e.g. amputation, blindness, death, then one could not complain on the grounds that this was too far fetched. To be offended on the ground that one case in three shown specifically attributes being overweight as the cause, quite frankly is beyond me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I can understand why some are offended or feel this is an unrealistic advert. I'm a T1 but have T2 friends, one is a very slim mid 50's, she has 3 equally slim family members also T2, 3 were seriously overweight, 1 has since made drastic adjustments to their lifestyle and has reversed their T2, the other 2 are now on insulin as they made no effort since being diagnosed to change their eating habits or exercise etc, they continue to eat whatever they like in terms of carbs and sugar and take massive doses of insulin to compensate not appreciating the harmful complications. Whilst of course there are many T2s who develop T2 despite being a healthy weight etc, genes being the cause, there are also many who develop it through 'lifestyle' choices (please note I'm not blaming anyone). If the advert encourages people to take a look at their lifestyle and delay/prevent T2 then that surely must be a good thing rather than trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.
 
Syd said:
In the same way that most smokers do not develop lung cancer therefore smoking does not cause lung cancer?

Obesity does cause T2 diabetes. If someone who is obese loses the weight before diabetes develops, then the risk of developing the the disease will be lessened but not completely removed.

If the advert under scrutiny had shown three cases of obese people each of whom had contracted T2 diabetes and each of whom suffered the consequences, e.g. amputation, blindness, death, then one could not complain on the grounds that this was too far fetched. To be offended on the ground that one case in three shown specifically attributes being overweight as the cause, quite frankly is beyond me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

The point I and (it would appear) many others who are annoyed/aggravated/insulted/offended, etc. etc., about this ad is this:

THERE IS MORE TO DIABETES THAN TYPE 2, AND MORE TO TYPE 2 DIABETES THAN OBESITY!!!

No one has disputed that weight gain MAY lead to the development of insulin resistence and Type 2 diabetes, or indeed that weight gain may lead to insulin resistance in type 1's, 1,5's etc. (there are some type 1's in my area who are so overweight they're on U500 insulin imported from the USA).

BUT this ad has done nothing to dispel the charicature mythology that all diabetics are old and/or fat!

In fact, if you replay the ad and actually listen to the actors speak they even continue to confuse and characterise the image already playing in 'Joe Public' (and my father's) mind - and they're reading off a script approved by DUK!

I quote (No. 2 - middle aged mum):
"I didn't think I was old enough to get diabetes."

No.3 (bereaved old lady):
"Mike didn't think that having diabetes would be that serious. [sigh] We were meant to grow old together."

So there you have it: the UK's "leading charity" for people with diabetes sending out - on national TV and via the globally accessible internet - such a misleading and poor portrayal.

They could have and should have done better: it's not as if they don't have the money (they're in the top 10 of fundraising charities in the UK).
 
I see it more that diabetes (insulin resistance) often causes obesity. I tried for years to lose weight and still have difficulty doing so. I hate being this fat, and always have. What makes it worse is being told that I am to blame for it and the diabetes. I am to blame for following 'healthy eating low fat guidelines' however, that naivety in believing what was 'healthy' has partially caused my obesity.
 
anna29 said:
Public response to this 'ad' appears split .
Half say its too grim, doom and gloomy.
Other half say its not focussing on the positive enough .

How can one ' advert ' say both things or all things ?
In a timed zone advert kind of thing .
Am in a meeting in January 2015 to discuss this further .

Will read post replies with interest and will keep key points in mind .
Click to expand...

Is this meeting with DUK? If so, perhaps they may like to offer some of us the chance to come in and have a go at creating something more meaningful and robust.
 
@ConradJ No, sorry I still do not understand how anyone can be offended by the advert.

I agree that there is more to diabetes than Type2 Diabetes, however as the advert is specifically addressing Type 2 diabetes then one should not be surprised, still less offended, if that is what is being concentrated upon.

I also agree that there is more to Type 2 than obesity. And in this regard only one of the cases in the advert is specifically referring to weight being the cause of the illness. The lady with the child looks both young and slim and we don't know if Mike was fat or not, statistically he was likely to be, but this is not said expressly in the advert.

So I stand by my earlier view expressed above that there is nothing in this advert which could be described as offensive. I hope that it gets the message across and that those at risk of the disease take steps to get themselves checked out by their GP or pharmacy or whatever and take necessary lifestyle changes to lessened the risk of the disease developing.

In the vast majority of cases losing weight is the way forward.
 
Syd said:
@ConradJ No, sorry I still do not understand how anyone can be offended by the advert.

...

So I stand by my earlier view expressed above that there is nothing in this advert which could be described as offensive.[/QUOTE]
Click to expand...

Perhaps not to you, but - clearly - there are those who are.

Personally, I retain my right as an individual to be annoyed/aggrieved/incensed/insulted or offended by whatever I feel is such to me; and allow others to do the same. That you are not offended by this ad is equally your right.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Syd said:
I agree that there is more to diabetes than Type2 Diabetes, however as the advert is specifically addressing Type 2 diabetes then one should not be surprised, still less offended, if that is what is being concentrated upon.

...

I also agree that there is more to Type 2 than obesity. And in this regard only one of the cases in the advert is specifically referring to weight being the cause of the illness. The lady with the child looks both young and slim and we don't know if Mike was fat or not, statistically he was likely to be, but this is not said expressly in the advert.
Click to expand...

My text colouring.

And therein lies one of the problems with the ad (in addition to the quotes I'd noted previously): the ad appears to be specifically about Type 2 diabetes and yet actors 2 and 3 fail to distinguish that! Actor 2 does not say, "I thought I was too old to get TYPE 2 diabetes." And neither does Mrs. Bereaved say, "Mike didn't think that having TYPE 2 diabetes would be that serious."

I rest my case: poorly conceived, scripted and likely to add to the multitude of confused individuals who will ultimately need to turn to this - financially unsupported forum of experiences - for practical advice and help.
 
Back
Top