Diabetes Expo

Last Saturday I volunteered at the Salt Lake City Diabetes Expo. I worked in the registration and had a great time. The Expo is held every year at the SouthTowne Expo Center and is a pretty bug event. Compared to last year, the turnout was huge! I remember that when it opened last year, it was busy, but there wasn't a line of people waiting to get in like this year! It was really cool. Some of us volunteers were talking about why this happened and some of the ideas expressed were that in the last year diabetes has become more and more of a prevalent health concern here in the USA, mainly Type 2 diabetes; the owner of the Utah Jazz Basketball team Larry H. Miller passed away recently from complications of Type 2 diabetes in which he openly admitted that he never took care of himself; or maybe the American Diabetes Association put out more flyers than last year. I personally think it is probably the first two options.

Our society seriously seems to revolve around food. I didn't really think about this until I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. We honestly live in a commercialized society that advertises food left and right! I know that pre/post diabetes I was more likely to attend events where there was food made readily available! Now it just depends on the kind of food as to whether or not I will attend! It just makes me sad to see so many overweight kids getting Type 2.

The second reason that is so interesting is about our local celebrity/icon of Larry H. Miller. He was the "poster child" for what can happen when you don't take care of yourself. This man had access to the best healthcare in the country, and he STILL didn't take care of himself the way he should have. He stated that he never ate the way he should. Taking care of oneself is something only we can decide for ourselves.

But a more positive thing about attending this event was that it was a great reminder of the awareness that is reaching people everywhere. More and more people are starting to understand what diabetes is in its many forms, and they want to do something about it, or help improve the lives of those already living with the disease. (Now I just wish that insurance companies would do more of the same!)