Diabetes UK hosts pop up shoe shop to highlight disease-related amputations

[Northerner]

Diabetes UK has kicked of a new campaign via a pop up shoe shop in London to deliver a message about the consequences of having diabetes.

Located just off Brick Lane in London’s East End Amp Shoes, which opened last week, was a shoe store with a twist – as each shoe represents one of the 135 feet or lower limbs amputated in England every week because of diabetes.

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2016/04...oe-shop-highlight-disease-related-amputations

It ought to be 'the consequences of having poorly-controlled diabetes and/or poor care from the healthcare system'

 

[Matt Cycle]

Yes, I think this has always been the case with the BDA and now Diabetes UK. Often presenting a somewhat negative image of having diabetes. When I was diagnosed the only information on diabetes that I got was from the copy of Balance every 2 months. As a T1 I think we were given cursory acknowledgement in the magazine and overall throughout there was, what I perceived to be, a lot of negative stories - amputations, blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, impotence, shorter life span, etc. I remember reading it and thinking f*****g hell - is this what I've got to look forward to? I'm not saying it's all fantastic having diabetes and these issues are very real but a greater balance (pun intended) and positivity would have been appreciated. 🙂

I haven't read it for years but I would have hoped the outlook presented would have changed. 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Yes, I think this has always been the case with the BDA and now Diabetes UK. Often presenting a somewhat negative image of having diabetes. When I was diagnosed the only information on diabetes that I got was from the copy of Balance every 2 months. As a T1 I think we were given cursory acknowledgement in the magazine and overall throughout there was, what I perceived to be, a lot of negative stories - amputations, blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, impotence, shorter life span, etc. I remember reading it and thinking f*****g hell - is this what I've got to look forward to? I'm not saying it's all fantastic having diabetes and these issues are very real but a greater balance (pun intended) and positivity would have been appreciated. 🙂

I haven't read it for years but I would have hoped the outlook presented would have changed. 🙂

There was an issue a few years ago that came in for an awful lot of criticism for the high level of negativity. After the complaints things did improve and now it does seem to be more positive and inclusive of all flavours.

Personally, I don't think the fear factor approach works - yes we need awareness of possible consequences, but for a lot of people the way that information is delivered can just leave them feeling depressed and frightened, particularly if they have ignorant and/or unsympathetic GPs and nurses 'looking after' them, so don't know how to avoid the much-touted 'progression' It shouldn't be downplayed (none of this 'mild' diabetes business 😱) but people do need to have a clear strategy with genuine support so they can work towards reducing risks. My impression is that there is no strategy apart from window-dressing, because the problem is perceived as too big and too expensive - so they (as in the government) are opting for the cheap scare tactics approach