Dear Coleen Nolan, diabetes is not my fault

Having to take insulin injections is not the worst thing about having diabetes. Having to prick your fingers before you can eat or exercise is probably worse than needing to inject a synthetic hormone into your body, but it’s not the worst thing about having diabetes. Working full time (and it is full-time) to keep blood sugars under control, and the sense of deflation when all that hard work doesn’t pay off, is one of the worst things about having diabetes. But it’s not the worst.

Public misperception around diabetes is the worst thing about having the condition. I struggle with this almost daily, on behalf of my daughter. She will have to face unfair judgement, and assumptions that make her daily life more stressful, for the rest of her life.

You can’t eat cake; a few crisps won’t hurt you; do you really have to weigh everything???

So when a public figure perpetuates those myths on national television, it hurts. Yesterday Coleen Nolan, on Loose Women, told the nation that it was ok to believe that children get diabetes because their mothers eat too much in pregnancy. It is not ok. So Coleen, please do some research before you mention diabetes again.

Dear Coleen Nolan: diabetes facts.

  • Diabetes in children is not caused by overeating. Children with diabetes almost always have Type 1. It is an autoimmune condition, caused by the body’s own defences attacking the cells of the pancreas. No-one knows what causes it, but science does know that it has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle, and that it cannot be prevented.
  • Children can have a tendency in their genes to developing Type 2 diabetes (which is often – though not always – linked to lifestyle factors, and can often be prevented). But they are not born with it.
  • Some people are intelligent and well-informed, and know that my child and I did nothing to cause her diabetes. But children with Type 1 diabetes will eventually become adults with Type 1 diabetes. It still won’t be their fault, but as adults they will face even more labelling by the people who think they know, and judge them. You could help change this, by telling the truth about diabetes. Instead you have perpetuated the myth, and added justification to those who judge without knowledge.

About diet, and diabetes in children.

If you’d like some examples to disprove your statement, they are abundant, but I will tell you mine. I wanted my daughter to be perfect, to have the perfect start in life. When I was pregnant I ate nothing but organic produce. I ate more vegetables than ever before, and chose only fish and lean proteins with my meals. I stayed away from cake, puddings, biscuits, and alcohol. I didn’t smoke – never have. I breastfed, puréed my own organic fruits and vegetables for her first meals, and only allowed one plain biscuit if she was ever at a playgroup. She plays football, dances, and rarely flops on the sofa. She is slim and energetic. Her favourite foods are steak, green beans, and mangoes.

She developed diabetes at the age of 9.

When I was pregnant with my second child I was knackered. I survived on coffee and Starbucks pastries. Sugar and caffeine became a way of staying awake. I craved cheese, and McDonald’s, and I gave in regularly to those cravings. I breastfed my son, but I didn’t have time for as much organic home-cooked purée, and so he often ate from a jar, hurriedly purchased at the supermarket during my weekly shop. I have no idea how many biscuits he ate at playgroups, because I couldn’t keep track of both of them all of the time.

He currently doesn’t have diabetes.

Coleen, you are not the only public figure to say something ill-thought-out about diabetes. Jamie Oliver (lord knows I love him, but Jamie, you too need some education) has got it wrong too. And he’s in an even better position to help solve the problem than you are. But it’s time you learned. It’s time for everyone who doesn’t know the facts, to learn them, or keep their thoughts to themselves. Until you know, you don’t know anything, and stating as fact things which are untrue just allows the general population to feel justified in their judgements. They are not. You are not.

Please help us Coleen. Help us to stop people believing that parents have caused their child’s diabetes. To stop people making lives harder with their assumptions – a diabetic’s life is hard enough already, without worrying about what other people think. You need to do this, because whilst people believe what you believed yesterday, they won’t support the organisations striving to find a cure for this dreadful disease, and my girl will have to live longer with this hell.

Yours hopefully (but not holding her breath),

A mum to a diabetic child who doesn’t deserve this.

 

68 thoughts on “Dear Coleen Nolan, diabetes is not my fault”

  1. Very well written.
    Public perceptions need to change, and while celebrities are spouting this rubbish on TV that’s not going to happen.

    Reply
  2. Hi Helen, what a brilliant post. I know a little bit about diabetes as a childhood friend was diagnosed with type 1 around the sane age as your daughter and we were all aware that the teachers had to monitor him etc.

    I should imagine that you’re feeling quite upset by someone saying that and I don’t blame you one bit, if must be so frustrating that a public figure can be so flippant without realising (or maybe not caring) about causing someone distress. I find they quite often put their foot in it on that programme and they all annoy me! Xx

    Reply
  3. Amazing post! What a stupid woman (and Jamie too). I work in the field of diabetes (events rather than health!) and until I started this job, I had no idea as to how serious diabetes is. My grandad suffered from it but he was old!

    I hope this post gets back to her! Well done for writing it and I hope that all the doctors and nurses that we work to get trained through our conferences can one day help your little girl to be rid of this disease.

    Reply
  4. Brilliantly put. That must have been so frustrating and upsetting to hear. I have a friend whose son is diabetic and it’s a full time job for her trying to keep everything in balance.

    Reply
  5. Like you don’t have enough to deal with!?
    Having grown up with a grandpa with Type 1 before Type 2 became such big news I can’t believe people would instantly presume a child or their parent was the cause. You should never feel the need to explain your diet!!
    Emily xx

    Reply
  6. Well said! It is not right that people that are in the public view give out misconceived information. This not only spreads the wrong information but also effects families, like yours, who have to live with it every single day. I sincerely hope you get a response xx

    Reply
  7. A brilliantly Written article and very well said!! I didn’t see the show in question but it’s needs to be Addresses anD the Facts put right!!

    Reply
  8. Well said! How awaful that public figures spout off like that without the proper facts. I’m shocked to hear that Jamie Oliver does too.

    Reply
  9. Helen, I am so in agreement with you on this. Sadly it only gets worse as you get older. I remember being in hospital for an unrelated health issue when some very kind hard of hearing elders woman announced in the middle of visiting, so loud she was heard 2 bays down that I was a ‘bad’ diabetic. I’m not sure what a ‘bad’ diabetic was but she really upset me. I took insulin, through no fault of my own and was labelled bad. Now in my early 40’s I’m going through the comments of ‘if you are better’ or list some weight is be cured. On the occasions I have replied that I am type 1, it is clear I have wasted my breath. Sadly the lack of education regarding type 1 is shocking and I really don’t know how the public perception can be changed. Too often type 2 is in the news linked to lifestyle choices and the minutes the words diabetic or diabetes is mention people assume you have caused the problem, you can do something about it. I really wish I could but can’t and because of this my life expectancy will be reduced and as I get older the quality of life will too.

    Reply
    • Oh Candace, I’m so sorry. This is what I fear for my daughter as she grows older. I’m doing all I can to teach her how to control it, and she is so so good about it, but none of this was her fault, or mine, and prejudice just gets in the way of people donating to research that could eventually find a cure! I’m determined to try and do something about it, although I know I’m pushing water uphill. Thanks for commenting and sharing your experiences.

      Reply
  10. Well done for writing this Post. Like you I too get annoyed when people just think that eating sugar whilst pregnant causes diabetes in children.

    Reply
  11. To be quite honest I don’t listen to anything that comes out of that woman’s mouth! It would never even have occurred to me to think that a child has diabetes because of what you ate during pregnancy and it just shows how ignorant she is! If it was true all of mine would have it as I get an incredible sweet tooth when pregnant. Good on you for providing the actual facts!

    Reply
  12. I cannot tell you how impressed I am by this post. Lord knows that if I were you I’d have used shouty language and swear words. I so hope that Colleen offers you the right to reply, to educate. I knew very little about it until your sweet girl was diagnosed and I watch you every day beat yourself up, blame yourself for her having this life-changing condition, yet at the same time finding out all that you can, educating, supporting and encouraging others to be better educated. You have my unending support and admiration.

    Reply
    • Kelly thank you so much for such a lovely comment. It’s really hard, every day, to carry on and be upbeat. So knowing that people empathise and are supportive, is just so massively helpful. Thank you x

      Reply
  13. Oh my, Colleen really does need to do some research. I didn’t see her original program, but hope that this gets to her and she takes on board your story, the information in it and rescinds her unfair statements! It’s hard enough for any child/parent (or even adult of course) to have to deal with something that affects their life daily, without daft people like her making assumptions and clouding other peoples judgements.

    Reply
    • It truly is. Kids (and their parents) go through hell with a diagnosis like this, and it would be so nice if people acknowledged that, and asked how they could help, rather than making judgements about them.

      Reply
  14. Well said. My niece is diabetic and has an insulin pump. It is hard enough for her having to adjust her life without people ‘sharing’ their ill informed opinions. Hopefully this post will educate people who don’t know the facts from the fiction.

    Reply
  15. This is why shows like this (with people who think they actually know things) should be filmed in advanced and all the rubbish edited out. Although then I suppose there wouldn’t be much of a show left. Tough call.

    Reply
  16. Well said, you! It’s awful that someone like Coleen Nolan or Jamie Oliver, in a very public position, can say something incorrect and badly-researched and it becomes ‘the truth’ because it’s been seen and heard by so many, while parents, like yourself, working hard to do the right thing for your kids aren’t heard.
    This post has had so much support and I really hope you get the opportunity to speak to Coleen Nolan and put her straight!

    Reply
    • Coleen, or someone who people seem to believe, would be wonderful to talk to about this. I’m not a shouty person, but I’d like to speak in a measured fashion, to the people who have the nation’s ear, about how they can help rather than make things worse. Thanks Sarah.

      Reply
  17. I can imagine your frustration at this Helen- people should do their facts before saying anything in such a public forum. I hope this post gets shared a lot, it is well educated and so helpful to let others know a little bit more about diabetes.

    Reply
  18. Helen I couldn’t agree more and so eloquently written. We are fortunate that my son is in a position of being a popular child, he was before T1 Diabetes came into our lives and he is now. I am however well aware that many children get bullied as people here things in the media and take it as gospel instead of the nonsense that it is, when comments like these effect funding for Type 1 Diabetes charities such as JDRF and children are being bullied those that continue to perpetuate these myths must be stopped and held accountable. I understand and dont’ expect everyone to know about this condition but I do expect if they are going to talk about it on National Television or report on it in a Newspaper the MUST get their facts right and do the research…..many of the charities have press packs that contain guidance….USE THEM!

    Reply
    • The thought that type 1 children are being sidelined or bullied because of their condition just makes me so so sad. More and more children are being diagnosed, and they have an unimaginable stress load to deal with, without worrying about friendships. I feel so frustrated right now, and so desperate to change perceptions, but I’m not sure how I can get any critical mass to do it. I need a bit of thinking time to come up with something that will make a bigger impact than – let’s face it – a small blog! *Puts thinking cap on.*

      Reply
  19. Why I admire you so much – no matter what is going on in your life always ready to think of others. In this case who only knows how many sufferers of diabetes and ignorant perceptions. Just sorry that your daughter is suffering.

    Hopefully this will be corrected on today’s Loose Women

    Reply
  20. Thank you for articulating what all of us type 1 mums think. Ignorance is a constant battle with regards to diabetes especially type 1, we reall do need the name changed.
    T1 mum – son dx aged 10

    Reply
  21. Honestly I get so frustrated by tabloid style nonsense about serious health issues – if you dont know what you are talking about, dont say anything. I hope that the upshot of this brilliant post is that somebody picks it up and gives it some sensible, factual coverage.

    Reply
  22. So well put Helen and you have every right to be cross. Can’t believe that so many people are so ill-informed about the condition.

    Reply
  23. BRILLIANT post. I’m sorry you had to write it in the first place. You’re right – there is so much ignorance around about diabetes and, as you say, it must be so tedious having to deal with that on top of everything else. For the record, I think you’re inspirational with how you’ve handled everything thrown at you. Much love xx

    Reply
  24. I didn’t see what she said but from the sounds of it she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. It’s so very silly just to generalize in the way she has done and I don’t think she realises how it could upset people.

    Reply
    • That’s precisely the problem Amy. She didn’t realise, and most people don’t. I didn’t either. Now I do, and I’d like to change things so that more people have the same understanding and can talk about it compassionately.

      Reply
  25. Helen, I had no idea that children could diabetes at nine years old until you started telling your story, You do it well, without apology and with compassion. There isn’t anyone more articulate or could do a better job at highlighting this condition than you. Good luck with it. X

    Reply
  26. Coleen Nolan is a divvy! She’s always getting ahead of herself and saying stupid stuff. I can’t understand why she would try to apportion blame when she wrongly considered diabetes to be diet and weight related. She has clearly struggled with her own weight issues in the past and is still on the heavy side. If her own reasoning were correct then surely her own children would all be diabetic?! Just saying ….

    Reply
    • It’s a shame, because the original premise of her argument was a good one – that women should take care of themselves in pregnancy for the sake of health, not for government handouts. Of course being overweight leads to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and there is some evidence that overweight children will go on to have an increased risk too. But labelling all poor eaters as diabetes contenders is wrong, as is labelling all diabetics as unhealthy eaters. The situation is so much more complex than that, and blaming just undermines the ability of sufferers to get it right and get the support they want and need to stay healthy. People just want to reassure themselves that it won’t happen to them, so they judge. I know, because I did it myself. But it did happen to us, despite all our risk factors being low, and now I want to change people’s perceptions. Public figures are in such a good place to do that, that it’s disappointing when they get it wrong.

      Reply
      • I understand where you are coming from Helen. It was a shock to us when our eldest son became T1 at age 14, then it struck again a couple of years later and our youngest lad got it age 6. I know how hard it is to get diabetes care right. I also see how a lot of mums with T1 kids bear an enormous burden of guilt-even though it’s nothing that they did wrong. We feel guilty enough if their hb1ac results are not ‘perfect’ and it could be distressing for a lot of mums when a person on tv messes up and says something blaming mums. It didn’t upset me as such but Coleen’s comments irritated me. I totally get that Coleen didn’t mean to offend diabetics or their mums, she just gets carried away and her excitement causes her to say too much. Obviously, nobody would advocate paying a pregnant woman to stop eating so it’s clear that in her case Coleen was just being a drama queen. That being said though I think the way it was handled was cowardly. If someone in the public eye says something that could be viewed as discriminating towards a minority group then they should accept responsibility, be graceful and make a personal public apology. Coleen ran away and hid and then ITV offered a half hearted lame excuse by a different panel member and a condescending letter to diabetes uk. They chose to attempt to make those who were offended appear over sensitive rather than holding their hands up and saying “sorry, we got it wrong”
        Mind you, their mistake has certainly put diabetes in the spotlight and hopefully it may have piqued curiosity in some. If it makes anybody research the real cause and effects of T1 and T2 then that’s a positive.

        Reply
        • You’re right Alison. And that much is good. I agree, the worst part of all this was the ‘apology.’ They had an opportunity to really make a difference, and do something worthwhile, but they didn’t take it. That’s disappointing. Thanks so much for commenting.

          Reply
  27. With more than 20 people being newly diagnosed with the disease every hour of every day, chances are that diabetes affects many of us or someone we know. Despite this it’s something people seem to overlook when it comes to educating themselves about health issues, perhaps its commonality works against it in this way and that’s why we have know-it-alls spouting inanities about it on national television.
    It should (if not already) be mandatory in school health studies and there should be annual awareness campaigns to consolidate that basic education and ensure it endures.

    Reply
  28. I have family members who have diabetes and it is one thing I feel I know so little about, so it was amazing to read this post x

    Reply
  29. Coleen’s comments have passed me by but as the daughter of a Type 1 diabetic (seemingly set off by her gestational diabetes in pregnancy with me) I know how hard it is. Hopefully your post will make people think twice x

    Reply
  30. I can’t believe any mother would say such an ignorant thing that would make us Mums feel worse than we already do about type 1 diabetes, and the fact that out children have to live with this for the rest of their lives. I am appalled and hurt that someone could spread such rubbish. Great post Helen, I too ate very healthily thought my pregnancy, and monitored Jacks sugar intake. But there is nothing we could have done to prevent this, the only enemy our children have is ignorance x

    Reply
  31. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have written this. I have been terrified for the past year that I will have caused my baby to have diabetes as I managed to develop gestational diabetes in pregnancy the third time around. Although I was healthier than ever, it still happened and although my midwife consistently told me that it wasn’t my fault and it was nothing I’d done, it still struck me to the core that in some way it was my fault. I wish that people in the public eye would ensure they are informed properly before broadcasting. It’s so damaging to so many people. I’m so sorry, I can only imagine how frustrating it was to hear her. Luckily for me, I only get to see Mr. Bloom on TV [or Peppa] and so I missed this.

    Reply
    • Even the healthiest, skinniest people can develop gestational diabetes if they are prone to it. Of course if you overeat and pay no attention to your health, there is a diabetes risk, but not every diabetic is fat, and not every fat person is diabetic. Unfortunately the media have blanket-basted all diabetics in the fat and sugar label, so it’s very easy for people to be dismissive about what is an incredibly complex, and devastating illness. I’m really hoping that some good can come of this, and people can start to understand the complexities of what diabetics go through, and how many of them are not to blame for their condition.

      Reply
  32. Beautifully scribed, in fact I thought you held it together very well when all I would want to do is scream and rant at Coleen. Knowledge can be a wonderful thing but people get a smidgen and think that’s all they need to know. It’s such a shame that public figures don’t do their research before they act because they do have an influence on others so it must be so frustrating to have opportunities like these where Diabetes is being talked about to be talked about wrongly.
    I think you’re doing a marvellous job of raising awareness of the issues.

    Reply
    • Thank you. This is my point. There has been a lot of ranting, and of course that achieves nothing but more anger on both sides. But celebrities do need to be held accountable, and they have such an opportunity to educate others about something which affects millions of people in such a distressing way. I’d really like to find a route through this that will help.

      Reply
  33. I can’t even imagine the nightmare it must be to discover your child has diabetes and then to have to go through the trauma of checking blood and watching everything they do and eat. But to have someone like Coleen Nolan make flippant and uneducated comments is terrible. People in the public eye should be more responsible about what they say and realise the impact those comments can have.

    Reply
    • I think that’s the problem. Everyone thinks they know – I made enough mistakes myself before diabetes came into our lives, and I’m ashamed now that I did. Once I realised I made a point of apologising to those I hadn’t given enough credence to. So I do understand that people will often do or say the wrong thing, and I try hard to be understanding of that. But I don’t think you have that luxury when you’re in the public eye – you have to get it right, you have to educate yourself, or you deservedly run the gauntlet of people’s emotions. People have asked me not to criticise Coleen, but I’m sorry, if you’re in a position to influence the public, you need to get your facts straight.

      Reply
  34. I didn’t watch this episode but wow what a truly stupid thing to say. As someone who has about 10 family members with diabetes (and as someone who’s at risk from it) I know how hard it is to control every single day of your life. My mum and her siblings are really sensible
    And don’t go nuts over sweet things. Unfortunately it’s just something that is in their genes and something in ours too. I can’t believe she flippantly made those remarks, presumably for the viewing figures. I’ve always thought that programme was trashy but had thought she was fairly intelligent. How wrong I was

    Reply
    • Thanks, it’s hard for anyone, but massively difficult for a child to have to grow up so fast, when all her friends are eating like normal children around her. She has done an incredible job coming to terms with that, and has developed healthy habits for life, like many of her friends will when they are adults. I keep telling her she’ll be the healthiest of all of them. But it’s hard to see her having to be that strong at such a young age. So I do wish people would cut these children a little more slack sometimes.

      Reply
  35. So glad I came across your blog (originaly found it through your birth story linky from 2011) and this post. There are so many misconceptions about chronic illnesses, and diabetes in particular because diabetes type 2 is linked to lifestyle while diabetes type 1 is not. Then again, I do want to say that even people with diabetes type 2 shouldn’t be judged, and their parents are certainly not at fault. I mean, I wouldn’t mind it if Coleen had said that diabetes type 2 is caused by poor diet (of the people themselves, not their parents), but then still you don’t know diabetic people’s stories. No-one chooses to have diabetes, not even people with the mos tunhealthful lifestyles. I don’t mean this comment to discount the struggles of in particular people with type 1 diabetes. All I mean is that saying that people are at fault for any disease is wrong.

    Reply
    • I agree, although to some extent many illnesses can be avoided if we pay more attention to what we do and consume in our lives. But not many people can say that they live perfectly

      Reply
  36. Very well written, Helen. It is such a shame that people, especially those on TV, need to be so judgemental about things they don’t fully understand. I can imagine how difficult things are your daughter and fully understand that it makes it even harder when certain people feel the need to blame like this.

    Reply
  37. Perfectly put Helen. I know how it is to have the world misunderstand your child’s condition, but slowly you will educate them, one at a time.

    Reply
    • Thanks Catherine, she’s guilty mostly of opening her mouth before engaging her brain I think, but high profile people have a responsibilty to educate themselves to do better things, not to cause more problems.

      Reply
  38. Gosh Helen, these ignorant views coming from people in the public eye, are really quite shocking. How do people NOT know? I will be sharing this of course and as ever, am in awe of you and all you do. I know you didn’t choose it and would do anything for it to go away but what you’re doing raising awareness is fantastic. Keep going. x

    Reply
    • Thanks Suzanne. I’m plugging away. One day I might hit the bigger news headlines – here’s hoping, because that’s what it needs!

      Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

error: Content is protected !!