Deborah opens this episode with a warm welcome and a heartfelt reflection on the importance of family, both biological and chosen, as they transition into the new year. The discussion takes a turn towards technology as she shares her excitement about repurposing computers in their studio, emphasizing the collaborative effort with her husband, Michael, an expert in hardware. This sets the stage for a deeper dive into a unique topic that blends entertainment with health awareness. Deborah recounts a recent binge-watching session of the show 'Will Trent,' where she notes an important scene featuring a diabetic character, Faith Mitchell. She expresses her appreciation for the show's portrayal but critiques the accuracy of how diabetes is represented. Through her analysis, Deborah highlights the nuances of diabetes management, explaining the symptoms and responses to high and low blood sugar, and emphasizes the need for accurate representation of such conditions in media.

“Why are you giving insulin to someone who's having low blood sugar? That wasn't discussed in the scene.”  -Deborah [17:58]

As she analyzes the portrayal of the character “Faith,” Deborah points out several inaccuracies, sharing her personal experiences with diabetes to provide a clearer picture of what it truly means to live with the condition. She discusses how the character's symptoms in the show do not align with real-life experiences of diabetics. For instance, she explains that a diabetic experiencing high blood sugar (which is what was treated) would exhibit certain immediate behaviors that were not accurately depicted, though the character did display coherence and irritability, which are consistent. This leads to a broader conversation about the responsibility of writers and producers to ensure they have medical advisors who can provide insights into the lived experiences of individuals with diabetes, fostering a more authentic representation that can educate viewers, especially when inaccuracies can lead to issues for newbie diabetics watching the show, and they do not know better and depend on the show for "advice" instead of turning to their endocrinologists. This could be resolved simply by consulting with an expert in diabetes, even one who has lived with the condition for over 50 years. And, in many cases, they would likely offer to do so for free, simply for "goodwill."

• Family is not just about blood relations but the people you choose to love.
• The representation of diabetes in media can often be inaccurate and misleading.
• It's crucial for characters with diabetes to display realistic symptoms in shows.
• Medical advisors should be included in productions to ensure an accurate portrayal of health conditions.

Deborah concludes with a call to action for the entertainment industry, advocating for the inclusion of medical professionals or individuals with firsthand experience in script development. She stresses the importance of accurate portrayals not just for entertainment's sake, but for the potential impact they can have on public understanding and awareness of diabetes. With a blend of critique and encouragement, she wraps up the episode with a reminder to support the arts while advocating for accuracy in health representation, leaving listeners with a sense of community and purpose as they navigate the complexities of diabetes and media representation.

Chapters

• 01:56 Reflections on Family and Relationships
• 03:20 The Transition to Diabetes Discussion
• 04:10 Analyzing Will Trent Episode (My Stupid Detective Brain)
• 23:11 Rosanna Arquette: Law & Order (Wednesday’s Child)
• 25:51 Representation of Diabetes in Media

Episode Resources

• Will Trent * Season 1 / Episode 4 / My Stupid Detective Brain / Episode Details [IMDB.com]
• Law & Order SVU * Season 15 * Episode 14 * Wednesday’s Child [IMDB.com]
• Rosanna Arquette [IMDB.com]
• Iantha Richardson [IMDB.com]
• Ramón Rodríguez [IMDB.com]
• Will Trent - Purchase Season 1 [Amazon #affiliate]
• Direct Link to Referenced Timestamp in Podcast via Purchased Version [Amazon #affiliate]
• Duncan Nicholson [IMDB.com]
• Medtronic Diabetes (Minimed)

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Episode Credits

Perfectly Wonderful World [Episode Music]

• 🎵 Perfectly Wonderful World 🎵 sung by Deborah E (written by Denny Martin & Jaimee Paul; mastered @ Seaside Records). Available: Spotify | Apple | Amazon

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