Type 1 Diabetes in children is often mistaken as being caused by high sugar in the diet. Type 1 Diabetes in children isn’t caused by a high amount of sugar in the diet. However, Type 2 Diabetes is another story. Fifteen years ago, Type 2 diabetes in children was almost unheard of. So was childhood obesity. A 2007 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that there are about 3,700 new cases of Type 2 diabetes a year among youth in the United States. (source) I’m not saying that Halloween candy will necessarily give your child Type 2 Diabetes, but my purpose here is to encourage others to seek out better food choices for their children when possible.
Using the word “Diabeetus” is not meant to make fun of the disease, but rather, make fun at those who mispronounce the word. My grandmother often uses the word and we always chuckle at the “old-fashioned” pronouncement. I don’t think Diabetes is a funny disease in any way.
Oh Halloween!
That magical time of the year when blood and gore is adorable and children beg, door to door, for nutritionally craptastic candy. Aren’t you just getting the warm fuzzies thinking about it?
No? I didn’t think so.
If this is your first Halloween since switching to a real food lifestyle, I know what you’re thinking…
“Since I am obviously the living embodiment of eating real food, how can I pass out poison (AKA, cheap candy) to the sweet, innocent children of my neighborhood?”
And you’re right. As much as I love to live the 80/20 rule, I don’t think that we need to encourage high-fructose corn syrup, GMO-laden binge-eating come Halloween time. Don’t get me wrong, that craptastic candy tastes addicting-ly good, but there are some other great options too, and by golly, I’m gonna share some of them with you!
Some of these options are real food sweets, some of them are fun little gadgets, and some are just plain weird. (Because I just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t throw a bit of weirdness into the mix). Just so we’re clear, I’m not going to suggest giving away toothbrushes or a pencils. ‘Cause that’s just plain child abuse, am I right?
Okay, let’s get crackin’.
1. Bulk Bag of Organic Lollipops Organic lollipops in bulk. Need I say more?
2. Glow in the Dark Vampire Fangs Because you haven’t lived until your child wakes you up in the middle of the night with these in his mouth.
3. Glow Stick Bracelets Hint: these make great glow-in-the-dark bath time fun! And you can let your kids use them in the bath too.
4. Glow in the Dark Sticky Eyes What IS it with kids and sticky toys? My kids go nuts over all things sticky.
5. Fake Mustaches ‘Cause it’s funny. Especially when you put one on the family dog. Or the family goat.
6. Creep Martian Fingers Just like those creepy witch fingers, only martian. Which is scarier. Because martians are real. At least that’s what my 10 year old keeps telling me.
7. Animal Noses To wear all the time, of course. Ya’ know, because people don’t think we’re weird enough yet.
8. Fruit Leather Great candy trade-in (see below) if you don’t want to buy for the whole neighborhood.
9. Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups I’m tellin’ you, we love this candy. I’m not planning on buying for the whole neighborhood, but I DO plan on having some at home for a candy trade-in.
10. The Mountain Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve Tee Okay, okay. So, I know you can’t buy these for your whole neighborhood, but you could buy for your kids as a candy trade-in. I mean, imagine the rockstar status your kids would obtain by wearing these to school. P.S. Read the Amazon reviews on this one for a good laugh!
The Parent Candy Trade-In Operation
This is a great idea if you want to lessen the amount of sugar-coma inducing candy this year. My kids LOVE doing trades and bartering, and I’m guessing your kids would love it too. Those sneaky little bargainers. After all the trick-or-treating is over, and our kids dump their spoils in a huge heap on the living room floor, we do trade-ins. They get to trade their junk in for other fun stuff. So, it’s a WIN-WIN for everybody!
This year, avoid turning Halloween into a week long sugar binge, and trade that craptastic candy for better choices instead!
Cindy T. says
November 5, 2013 at 11:11 amIt’s me again! I just clicked the Pingback link above my last comment and was so disappointed. I am just adding this to point out that this link is a prime illustration of why the T1D community is so passionate about education. You see, it is like putting out wildfires that pop up all around us. In other words, while in the end, you did make the appropriate changes to your article (thanks again!), the unacceptable, false information had already been copied from your blog and spread to another “spot”–with your name attached, I might add. Not to mention the countless other blogs that tagged it and posted to Facebook, as did Food Renegade. Sometimes, the battle seems too much. I am glad you now understand, and thank you for any help your platform can give the T1D community in the future. 🙂
Shelby says
November 5, 2013 at 11:03 amThank you so much for changing the title of your blog and for adding the information about Type 1. I wish they had different names, so people would know. I am sorry about the people who were ugly to you in their comments. I try to be understanding with people and educate them in a kind way remembering that prior to December 6, 2011 I knew little about the difference between the two. Please know that parents of Type 1’s run on very little sleep and our brains are foggy and tired from the thousands of decisions and calculations we have to make daily just to keep our sweet kiddos alive. Sometimes things come across wrong as our exhausted minds are passionately typing.
Cindy T. says
November 5, 2013 at 10:58 amDaNelle,
First, I would like to apologize for being late with this note. I’m not sure when your made the requested changes to this article, but I should have checked back sooner. Please forgive my negligence.
Second, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for not only reconsidering the title and meme originally given, but also the added explanation about the differences between T1D and T2D!
Finally, I must say, I agree with your statement that “that encouraging change through bullying is not an effective method.” While many of the above comments were well-written, I was horrified by others.
Again, thank you!!!
Mellesa T says
October 18, 2013 at 11:44 pmMy second child, now 5 years old, has Type 1 diabetes. This blog post is offensive and in poor taste, and propagates steretypes. I wish DaNelle would post an apology here. I’m sending an email to American Association for Understanding Diabetes to ask them to contact her. If you want to help, visit their website (https://tinyurl.com/AmericaUnderstandingDiabetes
) and send an email
LM says
October 20, 2013 at 12:48 am…and then there’s this one:
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NRATtPp7kUY/TrS4cYY4akI/AAAAAAAAB90/qru9JnwkgC8/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG&imgrefurl=https://www.houstonwehaveaproblemblog.com/2011/11/5-invisible-diabetes-nhbpm.html&usg=__bS1TiQATfH8uuU64Vwiyj4VZdi0=&h=598&w=800&sz=152&hl=en&start=3&zoom=1&tbnid=gA2QnLPOAOCivM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&ei=0idjUsOODu722QWz54GYAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwhat%2Bdiabetes%2Breally%2Blooks%2Blike%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&sa=X&ved=0CDAQrQMwAg
Autumn Moses says
October 17, 2013 at 3:02 pmLord have mercy. If you don’t understand diabetes do you really think you should talk about it? It just makes you sound stupid, rude, and uncompassionate.
LM says
October 17, 2013 at 4:05 amGiven the provocative nature of this title, you cannot suddenly claim that it’s all about manners here. Once you’ve made a hurtful “joke”, you don’t get to be the arbiter of what’s acceptable commentary.
To review: this blogger could have simply owned her mistake; it would have taken 5 minutes and made her look smart, thoughtful, and informed. Rather, she took to FB asking others to come over here to defend her actions.
This entire thread is like watching someone stick their hand in a lion cage and then acting surprised when it disappears.
Lindsey says
October 16, 2013 at 7:35 pmGreat ideas!
You’re the second real-food blogger I’ve seen recommend the plastic glow-in-the-dark fangs – have you thought about the probability of them having toxins such as phthalates in them? I wouldn’t want my (hypothetical!) children to put them in their mouths for that reason. 🙂
Jamie says
October 16, 2013 at 4:29 pmI see a lot of cyber bullying happening here. If you don’t like the title of the article or what it says, don’t read it. It’s as simple as that. There are a lot of things that I see on the internet that I don’t like, so I move on and choose not to read it. Calling someone names and writing rude comments doesn’t solve anything. When she wrote this I guarantee that she didn’t intend to hurt anyone’s feelings. It wasn’t a personal attack on any one of you. So why do so many feel it’s right to personally attack her?
LM says
October 17, 2013 at 3:05 amPuh-leeze. She made a terrible joke at the expense of sick kids and got called out on it.
And, to be clear, it doesn’t matter what she meant and it was, in fact, a VERY personal attack.
Julie says
October 16, 2013 at 3:42 pmRegarding your Facebook page and your statement that you are being bullied by D-mom’s – I am truly sorry you feel that way. I posted the exact thing I posted here and it was deleted and in no way was it bullying. You are not being bullied you are being educated on a health issue that maybe you knew nothing about – one where people die every day.You are not part of the diabetes online community where we see babies, children, teenagers, and adults taken from this awful disease more times than I care to say. But now you know and can do better. This is probably the most page views your blog has ever gotten, on the backs of angry people. Please do in your heart what you feel is right – don’t leave it to a FB poll xoxox
Angela says
October 16, 2013 at 12:35 pmUnder what…or in fact ANY circumstance would it be acceptable to make fun of any disability, wether it be pronouncation or otherwise?
Michelle says
October 16, 2013 at 12:14 pmI am the parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, a daughter to a parent with Type 2 Diabetes and I am a certified diabetes educator. I understand the passion in these responses to this blog. I know what it means to manage diabetes day to day and the struggles people face. It doesn’t matter if you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Perpetuating information like this is wrong. This is an important issue to get passionate about..this impacts how the world sees diabetes and continues the confusion between the types of diabetes. Assumptions are made, children get bullied, adults forced to defend their choices and face judgement day in and day out. How is this blog post helpful? I admit I am passionate about this. I commend those who are passionate about spreading awareness, protecting their loved ones physically and emotionally. If my children, my family and all the people I care for aren’t worth getting passionate about, I don’t know what is. I will continue to proudly be passionate about diabetes, regardless of the type, and supporting those living with this and having to fight to be understood. For all you out there living with diabetes, fighting the fight, spreading awareness, keep it up. You are amazing! Speak loud and proud and let your voices be heard!
Marie says
October 16, 2013 at 2:43 pmMichelle, you hit the nail on the head. I don’t think the intent of this title was to be hurtful, and I do agree with others that it’s important to have a sense of humor. But it seems a main focus of this blog on health, and when misinformation is presented, it should be corrected.
Thank you for all that you’re doing to educate others!
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 3:07 pmPassion is one thing, venom is another. I admire the comments (like yours) that have addressed such a tender subject without being hateful.
Denise Easter says
October 16, 2013 at 6:52 amGoodness me, everyone is getting their knickers in a twist over this. I don’t know anything about the author, do any of you who have posted such hateful posts? Do you know if she has T1 or T2 friends and family?
My stepfather is T1, I have T2 friends but I am not offended on their behalf by any part of this article. Part of dealing with whatever life throws at you is being able to laugh at youself. Cancer sufferers are often the first to share cancer-based jokes for example. My son was a spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy sufferer. He passed away at just 18 months old but I still laugh at ”spastic” jokes.
Seriously, there are more important issues in life to get so passionate about.
LM says
October 16, 2013 at 12:06 pmThe difference is that those jokes don’t put their lives at risk. You didn’t have to worry that bad information, shame and blame would lead to a sick child hiding in private when they most need help and having a life threatening or life ending seizure.
Do you know how many type 1 kids have to fight to get the very sugar they need (within 10 minutes) from an idiot public who laughs because they look like they’re drunk? Do you know how many type 1s have died in police custody, been tased or even shot?
No, we’re not laughing. And, no, there isn’t any more important issue for us.
I’m truly sorry for the loss of your child.
Kelly says
October 16, 2013 at 4:45 amIt’s your blog. You should write what you want. Don’t put your energy or thought into all the negative responses. Isn’t there a doctor (an actual M.D) with a center curing folks with Type 1 diabetes in Arizona. If my child was diagnosed with this, I’d be looking him up instead of posting hateful thoughts on your blog….but that’s just me.
LM says
October 16, 2013 at 8:14 amYour rest our case. There isn’t a cure for Type 1 Diabetes so now you wouldn’t be “looking him up”
I realize this is a blog which caters to people who will believe anything, but this has gone into the realm of abusive to children with an incurable disease. We aren’t allowing our children to be the butt of the joke….but that’s just us.
Niki says
November 5, 2013 at 11:30 pmCould you please get me the contact info for the doc that has the cure? Or how about the resource where you got the info? Pretty sure if there was a cure the moms would not be on here, they would be out celebrating!
Jessica says
October 16, 2013 at 4:44 amI am quite shocked and horrified at the way some of these mothers are speaking to the blog writer here 🙁 It’s fine to disagree with somebody, but wow the name calling here is pretty intense. I don’t think it’s right to speak to ANYBODY that way, even if you disagree with something they said. I hope I’m raising my kids to voice their opinions in a more graceful, productive way than some of the adults commenting here. I think those voicing the same opinion in a respectful manner have it right, people are more willing to learn and take somebody else’s opinion into consideration when they are not being attacked.
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 3:22 pmThumbs up here! There seems to be a whole lot of hatred being directed toward the ignorant people that these mamas claim to want to educate. Personally, I’m pretty ignorant about the different types of diabetes, and would have appreciated a decent lesson on the subject.
DaNelle isn’t even my favorite blogger by a long shot (sorry DaNelle), but I was just disappointed that I didn’t get to learn more from the comments made here. Lots of times on these types of blogs, I learn even more from the comments than from the original article.
Most of what I gleaned here was that moms of kids with diabetes get really ugly when they’re angry and I think maybe I’d be best off avoiding them altogether.
Is there anybody out there who could teach me more about Type 1 diabetes? Perhaps without flinging poo at me for being ignorant on the subject? Are there any current theories on why the disease does manifest in the first place? Or is it still a pretty big mystery? How is it treated? Who is researching it further and how is that being done? Is Type 1 something that always starts very early, or can anyone get it at any time in their life?
I hope none of my questions were offensive. I honestly would love to educate myself on this subject.
Christy says
October 16, 2013 at 3:50 pmHi Rose,
Please visit my niece’s website http://www.inspiredbyisabella.com
She was diagnosed with type 1 when she was just two years old. My brother and sister-and-law are committed to raising awareness and funds until a cure is found. There is a lot of information on their site about the disease.
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 4:18 pmThank you, Christy!! (for some reason it’s not letting me respond to your comment directly). I really appreciate the link. 🙂
Christy says
October 16, 2013 at 6:46 pmYou’re welcome Rose!
Stephanie says
October 17, 2013 at 12:59 amHi Rose! I can with 100% certainty tell you that you would never be ridiculed by a parent of a type 1 child because you don’t know about the disease and are looking to be educated. It is what we parents in the type 1 community try and want to do. We appreciate when someone asks us questions like the ones you ask. Unfortunately the questions we normally get asked are not so kind or caring.
I encourage you to check out the wedsite of JDRF. A good place to start is at their FAQ section https://jdrf.org/life-with-t1d/frequently-asked-questions/
alice says
October 16, 2013 at 3:17 amPlease just admit you were wrong and change the title. As has been already mentioned, substitute any other life threatening disease for the word diabetes and you will realize how insensitive this use of the word is. I hope to God your child is never diagnosed with such a disease. Only then will you know how this feels.
Diabetes is not cause by eating too much sugar.
Every carb you eat is converted to sugar in your body.
Stop blaming people for their disease..
Walk in my child’s shoes for one day, I dare you!
This is no joke.
Tammy says
October 16, 2013 at 2:08 amGood grief, ya’ll! Did you even read the disclaimer? Now I’m a Georgia girl that is offended that you’re offended at the way we southerners say Diabeetus. Jeesh. (And yes, I know, I’m taking THAT out of context, too)
And I have a child who was born with blood sugar problems, been in a coma, has had to have his finger pricked several times a day, learned to control every little thing he pops in his mouth, balancing it all….been there, done that….so yeah, I know what it’s like. Let’s face it, changing her title is not going to cure diabetes or change what anyone is going through. I just don’t get the controversy.
It is a horrible thing to contend with, but lighten up. Just today, we were out and everyone was getting hungry and my kids were making jokes that they were so hungry they could eat dad, or that car in the parking lot, or whatever. My son said, “I would eat mom, but she’s so sweet, I’d get diabetes.” My gosh, if you don’t learn to laugh, you’ll just cry all the dang time.
I for one, appreciate the alternatives to candy…but then again, having almost lost my child as a newborn, and once again as a toddler due to this disease, I have learned in the last twelve years of dealing with this to be grateful and not critical of every little thing.
Now, ya’ll be sweet.
Michelle Berman says
October 16, 2013 at 2:20 amNo crying here! Lots of laughing in our household too! But the day my youngest one was diagnosed with this disease that causes many mama’s too lose their child as a newborn, toddler and young adult…a disease that I knew nothing about at all, and even once joked about with a co-worker to chill out if I was late getting back from lunch, she could just go get her crackers for her blood sugar when I get back (even if 5 or 10 minutes late, sheesh whats the rush? Come to find out years later, the rush was finding her unconscious versus conscious!! Ever since my little one got diagnosed, I make a point of passing on correction information and bringing awareness when I see misinformation in print! I don’t so much care how anyone spells it, just write about it in the correct context! 🙂
LM says
October 16, 2013 at 12:44 amRegarding your comment policy: you state “….I will NOT tolerate mean, crude or hurtful comments that are directed at me or any of my readers.”
I guess some of us are simply asking that you hold yourself to the same standard.
Change the title.
Michelle Berman says
October 16, 2013 at 12:06 amThank you for readdressing your comments and giving an explanation. As well as stating that you don’t think the disease Diabetes is funny in any way. It will be nice for my son to read your revised comments. If you had a child in your family or a partner or friend with Type 1 Diabetes, I don’t think thie title of your blogpost would be what it is. Once you are shockingly made aware of this disrase and educated about Diabetes you cant help but gain a true respect for the millions who are diagnosed many of which who have never eaten unhealthy in their lifetime. I think instead of making this blogpost about healthy Halloween alternatives you inadvertently and hopefully unintentionally made it about how to avoid giving your kid Diabetes during Halloween via the title. Again, until you are exposed first-hand to this Disease ( or many other auto immune diseases) you cannot truly understand how important education, awareness and accurate information in the media are to those living with all the different types of Diabetes. Once it becomes as pronounced and well known as other diseases, there will be less of these types of writings, because it just doesn’t exit when we realize the severity of the diseases.
Rose says
October 15, 2013 at 6:39 pmGood golly. I love how horribly rude and evil most of these righteous mama bears are sounding. Last I checked, freedom of speech was still kind of important to us Americans, and people are typically allowed to title their own blither in whatever way they choose.
Sure, DaNelle might be wrong. We’re all wrong from time to time, aren’t we? She might even have been terribly, terribly offensive and hurtful and clueless as to the damage she was doing to the psyches of all diabetes sufferers everywhere. But really? Do we have to respond in such a vehemently ugly manner?
I doubt contacting Amazon will do much to wound this woman. It’s not like they paid her to write the article, she just gets money when you buy the same stuff that she likes to buy. So don’t buy the stuff. Don’t read the blog. Take her off of the pedestal you had her on. She’s not perfect. Is all of the venom spewing really called for? DaNelle is a real person who could have very real feelings herself. Have you ever made a bad joke without realizing its impact on others? I’m pretty sure I have. I might even have made people weep a time or two because I was insensitive and thoughtless.
I think that if the mothers of Type-whichever Diabetes truly wanted to educate people on what their situation is really like, they could have (for the most part) held themselves to a higher standard. It’s difficult for us ignorant masses to desire an education that is being hammered into us by way of crucifixion.
Christy says
October 15, 2013 at 7:58 pmValid point Rose. However the big problem is that she’s acknowledging that she is wrong by placing disclaimers in the article after reading everyone’s comments. She now realizes the impact of her “bad joke”, yet she still refuses to do the right thing by changing the title and removing the picture. Free speech also allows these parents to express how upset they are. If you don’t know anyone who has Type 1 Diabetes, then you might not understand. It is an irresponsible title, whether she realized it or not.
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 3:49 pmI did know someone with Type 1, now that I think of it. He was kind of an asshole so I didn’t really care what he went through. Er, maybe it was Type 2…I can’t remember…oh right, I don’t care! Because he was a jerk!
I didn’t write my comment so much to defend DaNelle as I did to lament the state of her comments. She’s made a pretty rotten situation for herself, no doubt!
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 6:57 pmCan you forgive me for what I wrote earlier? I was really out of line and inappropriate. What I said was mean and wrong and I am sorry.
Elizabeth Weatherly says
October 15, 2013 at 9:48 pmWell freedom of speech like you say right….. I will always correct people on this so my daughter may one day not face ignorance. Proud Momma bear hear me roar!
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 3:52 pmBravo to you for being one of the less horrible comments on here, Elizabeth. You don’t really have to roar at me, just be decent and I’ll listen!
Lm says
October 15, 2013 at 10:33 pmGood golly…you think we’re buying the sudden spate of “support” posts. Lady, we’re up all nigh long pricking out children’s tiny fingers. You could just apologize and change the title, but no…Instead you picked a 24/7 fight with a group of people who are up all night anyway?…Is there a natural cure for stupid? Something like cinnamon, maybe?
BTW, Amazon isn’t the only advertiser on this blog; some of these companies buy a blanket plan and don’t even realize the crap their products are now associated with. Best to contact them each individually and let them know what their buyer is buying. I’ll be sending screen shots with my letters.
Digging in your heels? We stare down this beast every day…and we can dig in with the best of them. I’m starting with Ford. Their truck is advertised prominently.
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 4:13 pmDear Lm,
Thank you for mocking me in your oh-so-stylish attempt at witty satire. I’m sure my ego needed to be bruised by a complete stranger on a righteous crusade against my stupidity. Your virulence inspires my compassion! Perhaps, with luck, your entire family line will be blessed with diabetes in all its forms, due to your wonderful ability to vent your spleen in the name of all who suffer from it.
Rose says
October 16, 2013 at 6:54 pmHey, I know this is too little too late, but I’m really sorry for what I wrote earlier. It was uncalled for and cruel. I am more at fault here than you ever were. Please forgive me for being awful.
Kim says
October 16, 2013 at 3:17 pmAmen to that!
Elizabeth Weatherly says
October 15, 2013 at 5:39 pmYou need to change the title to candy alternatives for Halloween and leave ALL diabetics out of it. Did you not learn anything from all the comments you received ….bottom line it isn’t true and the diclaimer you added isn’t good enough. Do the right thing when learning your wrong and help our diabetics type 1 & 2 stop being misjudged. These people honestly are trying to fight daily to be alive but also years of misunderstandings about this disease. Please please spend a month with a child who has this and live it you will find out how they have to argue their truth on top of massive responsibilities, calculations, several injections, constant finger pokes. Apologize, change it and then with a large audience you have ….spread the facts for these amazing strong people!
DeborahLee says
October 15, 2013 at 4:40 pmI seriously do not know why you chose the title that you have, but you shoud have realized that parents of T1D children and even adults who had T1D when they were children or even adults who have T2D, and have eaten healthy, exercised, and are slim would be up in arms about the title.
My daughter who will be 14 next month was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last December, and type 2 diabetes runs on both sides of her family. My father and his family members have it, along with one of my younger brothers, my mother had it, but her’s was brought on by stress(her doctor’s words, not my mother’s) and my daughter’s father had it in his old age, along with her 3 aunts, so it was a shock to me when they confirmed that she has type 1.
If you had only titled the blog, 10 Healthier and Other Alternatives to give your child for Halloween, or as one other person said 10 Alternatives to Halloween that will not give your child cavities. Your ideas are really neat, but still even with organic lollipops, fruit leather and unreal candy, my daughter would still need insulin because there are still carbs in them. Although you added to your disclaimer, I wish that you would just change your title, had you done that you would have gotten so many more positive responses for your great ideas
Amy says
October 15, 2013 at 4:33 pmYou’re a pathetic “Pioneer Woman” copycat~wanna be who is failing miserably. As several diabetic websites have pointed out your stupidity, you have now created a whole group of Danelle haters. Good for you. Ree Drummond would be ashamed of you. Maybe if we start poking fun at your DDD and buldging disc problem (as you whine about in your bio) you would think twice about posting topics you are clearly UNEDUCATED about.
Kimberly says
October 15, 2013 at 4:26 pmI get this. I too am a mother of a T1. You have seriously pissed off lots of mama bears, but I don’t happen to be one of them. Yes T1 is not caused by candy or sugar, BUT insulin resistance CAN happen to a type 1 from too much crap. We keep to a clean-ish diet to minimize the amount of insulin needed. I totally do not fit in with our peers and I’m ok with that. Your kids are lucky to have a momma who feed them well 🙂
Rose says
October 15, 2013 at 7:31 pmthumbs way up! 🙂
Lm says
October 15, 2013 at 10:14 pmI call Bullshit. Anyone can benefit from a high quality diet…not just diabetics, but any T1d parent who thinks mocking the disease is fine is either lying or very new to diabetes. I suspect the author is now commenting on her own blog hoping to save face. Don’t bother… I fed my kids organic back in the day (my kids are your age now, judging by the picture of the child you “cured” of asthma). I Breast fed longer than anyone you’ve ever met in person…none I it changed the facts.
Again, shame on you
Kimberly says
October 16, 2013 at 11:14 pmI can assure you I did not author this piece. I am not even a usual subscriber to this woman’s blog. I found it from a link provided from a T1 parent support site on fb. Instead of freaking out over the title I chose to read the whole article. When my son was dx Wilford Brimley and his mispronunciation of D is one of the ways he used humor to cope. He put up you tube videos where Wilfords LM commercials had been re-mixed. It drove me slightly batty at the time because I was to busy freaking out about how close I had come to losing him. He found humor and that is how he dealt though and I have taken his lead. Another mother told a story of her children yesterday involving the same pronunciation used on her daughter by her teenage sons and most of the people on the site found it funny. It just depends on perspective. People make mistakes. They say, or in this case write, things that piss other people off. It happens. I will say though that if I were the author of the piece, rather than spending the time writing the disclaimer I would have just changed the title right away instead of leaving it for a week to attract an angry mob. I don’t think she intended to mock a child hood disease. I would hope not at least.
Dana says
October 15, 2013 at 4:22 pmI know you put a disclaimer and even posted a link. Good for you. But you have hurt hundreds of people, most of whom are mothers to little ones who live the very sad reality of the dangers of this disease. My son was 15 months when he was diagnosed with type 1. He had never had candy, organic or not. My grandmother was super healthy and active andyet had type 2. Yes there are people who are unhealthy and fat, who eat candy ask the time, and who have become ill because of it. But even if they “did it to themselves” it is horrible to treat such a serious illness as a joke.
Besides that you have chosen candies for this last that are no less likely to mess with the
endocrine system than the “bad” counterparts. Organic sugars are just more expensive cards. But they affect the body the same way in regards to forcing the pancreas to work harder to cover the sugar which in turn can lead to diabetes.
Whether you understand the disease or not, this article simply serves to perpetuate misinformation, cause hurt feelings, and is not beneficial. I realize is your blog but with so many follows you have a responsibility to be more sensitive to a life threatening disease. (Even the ada recognizes it as a disability. My son is considered disabled and will not be able to hold certain careers because of it.) If you want to help parents make healthier choices, please do so without making fun of the millions of Americans who are impacted by this horrible disease.
Rochelle says
October 15, 2013 at 4:20 pmI am so sick of having to school all these ignorant childish so-called “health nuts” on WHY someone who is type 1 is not responsible for their disease. Danelle ….why won’t you respond to anyone? Cowardly fool. I suggest you Google diabetes and give yourself a lesson.after that , you can come back to apologize.
Andy Armstrong says
October 15, 2013 at 4:05 pmI find your post and title incredibly ignorant. You have failed to understand some of the most important aspects of diabetes. For one, there are 2 types, Type 1 and Type 2. Somebody with Type 1 could not have done anything about it. It is an autoimmune disease with absolutely no correlation at all, nada, nothing, to the type of food or diet you had in the past before your body decided to destroy the cells of the pancreas. Secondly, Type 2 although attributed to fitness, weight again have instances where it is not the cause or main factor at all. You attracted a lot of readers by being so profoundly idiotic, and you also attracted them for the last time – fat chance they will come back here again, i guess thats just your sweet luck.
Andra says
October 15, 2013 at 3:40 pmYour title makes me ill. You clearly need an education in tact as well as the different types of diabetes and what does and does not cause them. For the record not everyone with Type 2 got it from being over weight and sedentary. Geesh! FYI diabetes jokes are only okay between diabetics…douche.
anonymous says
October 15, 2013 at 3:35 pmYou would think after seeing all these complaints you would have changed your title by now. You are a cold hearted b!tch. Diabetes isn’t a laughing matter. Unfortunately someone’s child, someone’s parent, someone’s friend will have this disease for life.Many Type 1 diabetics have experienced near death experiences when diagnosed or during illnesses. Every single day they are at risk to go into a coma due to hyperglycemia or have a seizure due to hypoglycemia. You know what a parent of diabetic child’s worst fear is?We fear he/she will not wake up the next day because his/her number went out of control.This is very sensitive for both T1 and T2 diabetes. God forbid you ever have to raise a child with a disease.
Cindy says
October 15, 2013 at 3:20 pmYes, since she is not even responding to the request to change the title we should contact her corporate sponsor, amazon.
Melodee says
October 15, 2013 at 3:17 pmNot changing your title at this point seems spiteful. I urge everyone to contact Amazon.
Jaylene says
October 15, 2013 at 2:12 pmI have read the other comments from other parents and people with diabetes. I cannot understand how with all the comments asking you to PLEASE change the name of this post you have ignored that request. I feel it is insensitive and irresponsible to perpetuate such a negative and misleading stereotype. Your intentions may have been good, but your title is CALLOUS and HURTFUL. Poking fun in this manner is NOT FUNNY!! Shame on you for not caring.
LM says
October 15, 2013 at 2:02 pmYou know, there are people who start these “health advice” blogs who believe that sugar causes cancer, too. But, you didn’t use the word “cancer”…because that’s obviously not funny at all. And, like Diabetes, there are no peer-reviewed, double blind, well constructed studies showing cause…only correlation. You do know that correlation and cause are two different things right? I mention it because your FB page is full of “health advice” grounded in nothing but junk science and housewifery.
So, here’s some rhetorical advice: the next time you want to make fun of a grueling disease try changing some of the words to help decide if it’s a good idea. If plugging in the word “cancer” makes it less funny…then remove it. “Diabetes” may be the laziest punchline on the plant; for hacks only.
BTW, Kim is right; you have messed with the wrong group of advocates. We are done allowing our child’s daily nightmare and the word “diabetes” to be used as a punchline. (And don’t get me started on the life threatening danger that is a shamed diabetic child trying to correct low blood glucose in privacy because “diabetes” is your f%^&ing punchline)
Shame on you.
Maegan Hatala says
October 15, 2013 at 1:42 pmUnbelievable. The amount of ignorance I’ve witnessed since March when my niece was diagnosed with T1 still continues to blow my mind. You “don’t think Diabetes is a funny disease in any way”, yet you waste no time in creating such an insenstive, stupid, careless joke of a title. AND LEAVING IT THERE. How dare you. You have no idea the constant worry, the constant stress of day to day, meal to meal planning. You must never have had to look into the eyes of a 4 year old and try to explain to her that yes, she will still have diabetes next year. On top of being insensitive enough, you ignore the comments of these brave women who took a stand – YET AGAIN – to try and defend their lives, their new normals with children or loved ones affected with T1. These women have enough to worry about, they shouldn’t have to constantly deal with uneducated people like you and your lack of respect for their situations. Change the damn title.
Kim says
October 15, 2013 at 11:45 amLady, I don’t know who you are, have never seen your blogs, but your idiocy in making fun of any illness/disease/defect, is amazingly disgusting. I do not have type 1 or type 2……yet. But I have a grandson with Type 1. My Dad had type 2. There is nothing funny at all in even pronouncing the word, let alone your attempt at funny spelling. I know mothers of Type 1, I know how they band together to support one another. They are their own army and your lack of even responding to them, let alone just changing your blog title, shows the shallow, insensitive person you are. You may think you’ve covered yourself by putting your disclaimer in, but your lack of response to their statements/comments, shows the world, you do not care at all. You have messed with the wrong people. You have messed with the strongest group of parents I have ever met in my life. This is a battle you started, and you will not win. Your words may remain, and you may remain silent, but, your callous, insensitive and uncaring heart shines bright.
Marie says
October 15, 2013 at 3:38 amI’m 34, 5’7, and weigh 126 pounds. I eat a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis. However, my recent blood work shows I’m on my way to T2. I was so surprised b/c over and over, the message I’ve received is that T2 is a result of poor dietary and lifestyle choices. The fact is that 15-20% of people with T2 ARE a normal weight and have a good diet, and there are obviously other factors that play a role. I feel like I will be spending the rest of my life explaining this misunderstanding.
Natasha Bowlds says
October 15, 2013 at 2:28 amJust to add to what everyone has already said – go ahead and joke about how you pronounce the word – but don’t tie it into candy giving you the disease. That isn’t funny. My son has had to explain so many times to people that he didn’t “eat too much sugar” that I almost wish we had a recording of the explanation. Stuff like this just makes his battle that much harder.
Alyssa L. says
October 15, 2013 at 2:07 amInsensitive, shock-based writing. This ignorant title is to journalism what Miley Cyrus is to music. The author should be ashamed.
Kathy says
October 15, 2013 at 1:35 amTotally agree with others who find the title offensive. I have been in children’s healthcare for 25 years, and this is a scary, horrific diagnosis for a child and his/her family. With a tiny, beautiful person in my family diagnosed this past year, it hits even closer to home. Type I is no laughing matter and it, just like any other life threatening disease, shouldn’t be cheaply borrowed for a snappy title. Insensitive, careless, thoughtless and in very poor taste. I highly encourage you to change it.
Gina says
October 15, 2013 at 12:56 amChange the title. I am the mom of a T1 three year old that has to constantly explain and educate. This idea is way false for T1 and pretty unfair and insulting for T2 Diabetics. Would you mock cancer too? Many T2s are genetically predisposed and despite eating well still struggle with blood sugars. Educate yourself!
Monica says
October 15, 2013 at 12:13 amI have a family member who is almost 5 and has diabetes! This is NO laughing matter and I find your title incredibly insensitive!
Kelly says
October 14, 2013 at 11:04 pmHorrific title. There are kids all over this country that are afflicted with type 1 diabetes that will be trick or treating this year and are still allowed to be kids. Your whole pot of candy won’t turn a kid into a diabetic and if you did your research you would know that. Is it funny to laugh about a child with an incurable illness? Sorry I have a t1d child and it isn’t funny, ever. It isn’t funny at 3am when I have to poke him with a needle to make sure his sugar is high enough so he wakes up in the morning. Please change your offensive title.
Ashley R. says
October 14, 2013 at 10:32 pmAs a mother of a Type 1 Diabetic 4 year old, I am repulsed by your “joke.” As read in a much more tasteful blog, “our children’s livelihood is not a joke. Regardless of whether someone has Type 1 or Type 2, this blog’s title is hurtful and just perpetuates a stereotype about what is a very serious disease.” Poor choice of words for an entire community of people, mainly innocent CHILDREN like my daughter who has rarely had candy in her entire life and ended up with this disease due to a failure of her pancreas, not because she eats poorly or does any of the other stereotypes. With all the negative comments, you should consider changing the name of the article as I’m sure the message beyond the ignorant title is beneficial. I wouldn’t know.
Melodee says
October 14, 2013 at 10:27 pmMy son is type 1 diabetic. His life hangs in the balance everyday. You obviously don’t know the stigma us type 1 mom’s face every single day just to get adequate care for our kids in the schools. Type 1 is serious and my baby will die without insulin. No type 1 was not caused by sweets and those who think he has “DIABEETUS” lecture us constantly on how to “cure” my son’s AUTOIMMUNE disease or stare when he eats a piece of candy to “save his life”. They don’t see the sleepless nights, the constant worry, the low blood sugars, the high blood sugars, the hospitalizations, and the terrified looks in our children’s eyes as we attempt to look our bravest as we stick our children with yet another needle or draw just some more blood. You don’t know having your small 6 yr old son cry hysterically “mommy I am scared, when it is time to change his pump site”. You need to change your title. There is nothing we can do to prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes, but you can change the title of your story to stop the continuation of the misconception that is JUVENILE DIABETES.
Claire says
October 14, 2013 at 10:21 pmOne more comment, which will probably go unanswered by you! What a shame! Your title, I think it has been amply demonstrated, is insensitive, not at all classy, and factually incorrect. Where you have REALLY gone wrong, beyond the initial premise and title of your article, is in NOT RESPONDING! You position yourself as being interested in pure good health, back-to-the-earth lifestyle etc, yet apparently you are willing to dig yourself into your trench of ignorance, rather than gracefully and graciously apologizing, informing yourself and moving on. The image of a recalcitrant toddler springs to mind – unable and unwilling to say sorry, give the hug of reconciliation, and so on. But you are not the age of a toddler! Please, GROW UP! APOLOGIZE! AND DO BETTER NEXT TIME!
Julie says
October 15, 2013 at 1:23 amPeople are contacting her “corporate sponser” Amazon – maybe she’ll answer to them :/
LM says
October 15, 2013 at 2:59 pmGood idea.
I’ll be sure to point out that they’re financially backing a not so healthy health advocate; her “non sugar” alternatives are (some of them) plenty sugary….fruit leather is super high in carbs. And “lollipops” is first on the list?
(Hint: Ingredients such as Cane Juice and Tapioca Sweetener are sugars even if it says “organic” in front of their name.
Yes, Unreal Candies are delicious…and have the same carb counts as their mainstream counterparts
This is what happens when someone needs to monetize a blog.
Shayla Taylor says
October 14, 2013 at 10:05 pmImagine the outrage if you titled your story “How Not to Give Your Child Cancer” or “How to Prevent Autism at Halloween”
Chronic life threatening illness shouldn’t be such a cavalier joke.
You have alienated a very large group of parents who probably would have appreciated some ideas on managing yet another food related holiday.
Michelle Berman says
October 14, 2013 at 9:59 pmA more suitable blog title would be “10 Alternatives to Halloween Candy that wont give your kids TYPE 2 DIABETES. OR an even better alternative….that wont give your kids too many cavities! Instead this blogpost will likely be featured on the list of insensitive and misinformed blogposts regarding Juvenile Diabetes/Type 1 Diabetes in children, teens and adults (all of which are able to have candy in moderation!) My son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes six years ago at the age of 7… on Halloween! He never made it out to go trick or treating, he spent the day in the emergency room as Doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with him and why he fainted in the bathroom, before being transferred to the Hospital Endocrine floor where he stayed for a week, to learn how to manage insulin injections several times a day (just to eat food, let alone candy) and to learn how to live with his type of “Diabeetus” as well as how to deal with so many millions of misinformed and unintentionally hurtful non-diabetic adults.
Tonya says
October 14, 2013 at 9:49 pmI completely appreciate the idea behind this post. As a parent of a type1 diabetic I have to point out the error in your title. Sugar does not give people diabetes. Type1 (which is an autoimmune disease, not a disease of lifestyle) are stigmatized by this all the time.
Julie says
October 14, 2013 at 9:45 pmThis blog post title is offensive to me, a mom of a child with Type 1 diabetes. I realize you were trying to be clever with the Wilfred Brimley pronunciation of diabetes. There is some good information in the post that will never get read because the title is so offensive. Please consider being more sensitive the the Diabetes online community and make a title that is more representative of your non-candy alternatives for Halloween. Thanks for reading this and your consideration.
Michelle Smith says
October 14, 2013 at 9:29 pmAs a mother of a type 1 diabetic(which means his pancreas does not produce insulin) I am offended by the title of this blog post. You can not get diabetes from candy. Could you please change your title?
Amy Snell says
October 14, 2013 at 9:25 pmWhile we (the mom’s of kids with Type I diabeetus as you say) appreciate you’re clarification between Type 1 and Type 2, its articles like this that are frustrating to us. We try very hard to make people understand the difference between the two diseases and just how much a T1D diagnosis changes the lives of the entire family. You should be ashamed of yourself for even “lightly” joking about it as if avoiding candy corn would make a difference. Instead you have added to the common misconception that we shoved tons of candy down our childrens throats and now they have Type 1 daibetes. You my dear are an idiot.
Ann says
October 14, 2013 at 9:48 pmDiIABEETUS! so are you mocking us??? VERY INSENSITIVE!!! The tittle alone stopped me from reading this. This is very frustrating for those who deal with type 1 diabetes daily.
I would suggest educating yourself on the subject before you pick a SUBJECT!
Kim Schmidt says
October 14, 2013 at 9:02 pmAs the Mother of 2 type 1 Diabetics I did not even read your post. as I do not feel that you accusing me of being a bad parent and I gave my child candy caused their Diabetes, my kids were not given candy or soda at a young age and still prefer their vegetables. Do you remember waking up every 2 hours when your baby was just out of the hospital? most parents of type 1 diabetics due this every night. very rarely do they sleep through a night and your first thought is to check on your child they don’t get to sleep in. Have you ever given your own child a shot? have you poked your own child’s finger with a needle and had to try to make it bleed several times a day? I am really hoping as a human being you will change the title of this blog for all of us that struggle with diabetes daily, nightly and have to think of it every minute of our lives.
kristina says
October 14, 2013 at 8:56 pmsuch an ignorant title to your article. Type 1 diabetes is a devastating diagnosis that is painful to see being made light of on your site,
Tarren says
October 14, 2013 at 8:51 pmWow! I’m typically the type to just continue on strolling and not comment when I don’t agree. In this case I feel like being silent is some weird form of agreement. My daughter is 10, she was diagnosed diabetic (T1) in February of this year. This is our struggle and our battle everyday. My daughter along with all the other children diagnosed T1, didn’t eat to much candy and get it. Yet, day in and day out, misinformed and uneducated people make statements like this. Clearly you don’t understand diabetes, or what children have to go through when their pancreas quits, and I hope you never do truly understand it. As Liza said, you wouldn’t joke about cancer would you? So why diabetes? Babies get this disease before they are even a year old and have to endure finger pokes and insulin shots to stay alive. It’s not even remotely funny.
Andi says
October 14, 2013 at 8:49 pmI agree with everyone else. Why was it necessary to use that as a title? My 4 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 at only 2 years old. He didn’t get it from eating candy, or any sugar for that matter. I would love for you to live a day in our shoes … Then you would realize how offending it is.
Liza says
October 14, 2013 at 8:27 pmAs a parent of two T1’s I am not thrilled with the title of your story. As the granddaughter of T2 diabetic I’m not thrilled with your ideas on T2’s.
However, the actual advice and ideas provided for candy alternatives are pretty good. We do not celebrate Halloween so it is not an issue for us, but I applaud you for coming up with alternatives for those families that do celebrate it, but choose not to allow all that candy.
I would caution in the future if you’re going to joke about a disability you should probably educate yourself a little more. I would also ask that you think long and hard before titling a blog with such an argument provoking title. Diabetes is a horrible disease that affects lots of children and adults. I doubt you would joke about cancer, why is diabetes okay?
jenn says
October 15, 2013 at 3:36 amIve also got 2 type 1 babies. One was diagnosed at 9 months and spent 3 days in icu. One was dx at 4 and thank god wasn’t in dka. To the poster spell it right and get your facts straight. This is happening to kids!!!!I cant even begin hohow heartbreaking it is to hear your child scream I hate diabetes I dont want to have diabetes anymore! To the mommas in here who have type 1 kids my heart goes out to you!!!
Christy says
October 14, 2013 at 8:16 pmThis is a very insensitive article. Considering all of the negative feedback from parents of kids with type 1, I’m surprised that you have not changed the title of the article or removed it completely.
Christy says
October 14, 2013 at 8:21 pmAlso, the fact that you “couldn’t resist” spelling diabetes the way your grandma incorrectly pronounces it is a shame. If you educated yourself on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, then you wouldn’t think it’s so funny.
Brandy says
October 14, 2013 at 8:06 pmThat Halloween candy that you speak of may actually save my T1’s life at some point if he has a low from his di·a·be·tes /ˌdīəˈbētēz,-tis/
Jenna B says
October 14, 2013 at 7:31 pmI am also the mom of a type one and have two other typical boys who are not overweight and eat healthy. I’m not going to go off on a rant but like some of the other moms and commenters have said you could have been a little more classy with the delivery of your article but I guess ultimately your getting the attention you so obviously crave so it doesn’t matter to you. Regardless of the type of diabetes it isn’t funny and while I get that you were referring to the Liberty Commercials your joke was offensive and inappropriate. Please educate your self and quit trying to be like Michelle Obama.
Jessi says
October 14, 2013 at 7:17 pmIt makes me really sad that people think it is funny or clever to joke about a very serious disease like diabetes. My son was diagnosed at age 2 and will struggle with this disease for his entire life. It breaks my heart that he will have to face ignorant comments like this for his entire life. Other people’s medical conditions aren’t funny…ever.
Jessica says
October 14, 2013 at 7:13 pmI don’t normally comment on blogs, but as yet another mother of a Type 1 Diabetic child, I have to add my voice to the many. The words you have chosen to use in the picture above are incredibly insulting. I will not repeat the stories. Mine are the same. We struggle, we get no sleep, we worry, and we work like crazy to do the job that our child’s pancreas was “supposed” to do but doesn’t. I think the others have made this clear. And to reiterate, my husband and I, as well as our parents, have undergone genetic testing, which determined there was NO antibody for Diabetes in any of us. We don’t yet know what the absolute cause of Type 1 is, and no genetic factor was found in our case thus far. All that aside, I have an even greater problem with your rude “Diabeetus” title: What gives you the right to make fun of ANYONE who has a disease? I don’t care if they “caused” it or not. Would you point and laugh at a person struggling with lung cancer due to smoking? No. For some reason, people have decided that it’s okay to make fun of diabetics, and this continues a cycle of miseducation and disrespect for all those struggling with an organ that doesn’t do what yours does. Your disclaimer that you understand there is a difference between Type 1 or Type 2 doesn’t matter. Your joke was in poor taste and proves the level of ignorance in our society. Apologize, change the title, and show a level of decency.
Z says
October 14, 2013 at 6:55 pmAs a mother of a T1D I find your title offensive.I also feel for people with T2D.There are also other types of diabetes many people aren’t aware of. Before my son was diagnosed he never had juice or candy in his life. Too many people think eating too much sugar will cause diabetes. That is untrue and it hurts when the media doesn’t explain things the way they should. You could have labeled your title as alternative treats for Halloween.
Victoria says
October 14, 2013 at 6:38 pmYou also spelled “diabetes” wrong. Don’t try to be “hip” and spell things how they’re pronounced, you come off extremely desperate for approval. Also, putting a disclaimer in the beginning of the blog stating that you are aware of the difference between type one and two doesn’t help your case because now you have acknowledged that you got an entire group of extremely tired, stressed out and strong willed mothers furious, yet did nothing to fix the situation…. like change the title. You could have chosen something like, “guaranteed not to keep your kids bouncing off the walls all night. ”
Moron.
Brandy says
October 14, 2013 at 6:16 pmYes, please change the title so my T1 son does not think he has this horrible disease because of some Halloween candy he ate.
Cindy T. says
October 14, 2013 at 4:29 pmThank you for being considerate enough to add a disclaimer to this article. However, I believe i do not speak alone when suggesting that a complete title change and retraction of the inappropriate meme would be better. Surely, you do not intend to continue fostering the myths which plaque our families! You have a powerful platform. While I am not sure what your readership numbers are, I know this post has been tagged in a Food Renegade Facebook status with almost 80,000 followers. People who see that post on Food Renegade cannot see your disclaimer that has been added; they merely see the title and meme. You have the chance to make a difference in the lives of hurting families. Won’t you do it?
Rebecca Ramsey says
October 14, 2013 at 4:12 amGood article; hurtful title. I really feel for all you type 1 diabetes people and parents out there who have to put up with all the misinformation and blame. But you know what? It’s not quite as clear-cut as many people think about type 2 diabetes, either. Yes, being overweight is a contributing factor. But being fat and eating an unhealthy diet don’t “cause” T2D, either. There are lots of people who have horrible eating habits who DON’T get T2D. And about 30% of type 2 diabetics are lean and eat healthily. So it’s not entirely accurate to blame type 2 diabetics for causing their own disease based on what they eat. There are other, as yet unknown, factors that help to cause the disease.
And even if it were true, does it do any good to place blame? I don’t think so.
As a type 2 diabetic, I give myself 6 insulin shots plus 2 Byetta shots a day. I test my blood sugar multiple times a day. I count my carbohydrate intake so I can calculate my insulin doses. I carry glucose tablets to counteract frequent lows, from which I could die. And I’ll be doing this for the rest of my life. Living with T2D is scary, and a lot of work. Understanding on this side of the diabetes divide would be appreciated, too.
emalkire says
October 14, 2013 at 5:32 pmThank you Rebecca for this comment. It is so very true more people need to know. Sadly even many Type 1s or family of Type 1s think that we Type 2s did it to ourselves. We didn’t.
Val says
October 14, 2013 at 6:41 pmMy father has T2 and at the time of dx ran 3 miles every day and a black belt in karate.
LM says
October 15, 2013 at 2:23 pmGreat points; see my comment above.
This entire thread points out how we have become a society who believes illness is moral failing… It is this same attitude that allows people to complain that their freedom is somehow compromised if “just anyone” can see a doctor.
Sheri says
October 14, 2013 at 2:58 amWhat great alternatives! Thanks for the list. I am also linking to a wonderful book a friend wrote for kids to trade in Halloween candy called The Halloween Fairies.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628473851/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk
Rose says
October 14, 2013 at 8:59 pmI love that book! Great alternative for the kids.
Leia Dingott says
October 14, 2013 at 2:19 amI understand everyone’s struggles with Type 1 diabetes and that this type is genetic but Type 2 diabetes can be caused by being overweight and eating too many sweets. Type 2 used to primarily show up in adults but now a record number of children are getting the illness because of our unhealthy lifestyles so yes what you eat can cause diabetes, Type 2.
erica says
October 14, 2013 at 2:55 amleia-
T1 diabetes is NOT necessarily genetic. There is NO one in my family who has t1d, yet my child was diagnosed at 3 years old. I think all of us understand that, yes, people can develop t2 diabetes often by eating bad foods and not getting enough exercise. HOWEVER, this is the stereotype that those with type 1 diabetes have to fight against every day, all the time. People that make ignorant comments about “hey, should you be eating that,” or “what did you eat to make you get diabetes,” or “if you just eat better and exercise, maybe it’ll go away.” Well, i have news for you, type 1 doesn’t go away, i wish to God it did because i’d be feeding my kid cinnamon, flaxseed, and whatever else would “cure” her. But what so many of us parents of t1d children are saying is -Please, stop continuing to spread completely and total ignorance of what t1d actually is, and stop making our kids continue to feel like crap because our society doesn’t know the difference between t1 and t2., society sees “diabetes” and thinks they are all the same. Please don’t joke about diabetes, because it only perpetuates the misconceptions that already exist in our culture about diabetes, and the different types, causes, and treatments, and it is insulting to our children and all the hard work they do to stay healthy.
Elizabeth Weatherly says
October 14, 2013 at 3:04 amType 1 nor Type 2 deserve this being a joke. Its no joke to either type ever! Grow some compassion and research BOTH types you will find candy on Halloween caused neither type. If you ask me health nuts that don’t know anything making jokes and taking things too far is what I could do with out rather than a snickers!
erica says
October 14, 2013 at 10:01 pmi agree, elizabeth, and hopefully my comment did not come across as inconsiderate about t2 or t1… diabetes is a horrible disease, no matter what type you have, and i fully understand that many many people develop t2 despite having a healthy lifestyle… i think that’s what is so very frustrating, for some reason, all types of diabetes simply get a bad rap courtesy of incorrect media coverage on a consistent basis. it’s all upsetting and again, i hope i did not come across as callous about either type!
LM says
October 15, 2013 at 2:19 pmNo, Leia, you are not right. Even T2 cannot be caused by being overweight. The latest research shows that T2D starts long before the weight is gained. (I know, I know, you heard differently on Good Morning America or Fox or you read it in “Prevention”).
Here is a website with some actual research along with just a taste of the article; not an easy read for the lay person, but it should be no trouble for someone as educated as this blogger and many of the commenters who offer health advice:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1665/
“The two genes that encode the KATP channel, ABBC8 and KCNJ11, reside adjacent to one another on chromosome 11. A variant of ABCC8, called A1369S, is in almost complete linkage disequilibrium with a variant of KCNJ11 called E23K. This means that from the genetic evidence, it is difficult to determine whether it is the A1369S variant or the E23K variant that predisposes to type 2 diabetes (8).
A mutation in ABCC8 was observed to cause an extremely rare form of diabetes, autosomal dominant diabetes, in a Finnish family (9). The switch of glutamate to lysine at residue 1506 (E1506K) in the SUR1 protein caused a congenital hyperinsulinemia. The mutation reduced the activity of KATP channels, increasing insulin secretion. By early adulthood, the ability of the beta cells to secrete adequate amounts of insulin was exhausted, leading to diabetes (10).
A silent variant in exon 31 of the ABCC8 gene has been associated with high concentrations of insulin in non-diabetic Mexican Americans. The codon AGG is mutated to AGA, but this still codes for the residue arginine (R1273R). The normal and mutant alleles were called G and A, respectively. Among non-diabetics, those who were homozygous for the mutant allele (AA genotype) had higher levels of insulin when fasting, compared with heterozygotes (AG) and normal wild-type (GG). Because type 2 diabetes is more common in Mexican Americans than in the general US population, it has been proposed that individuals with the AA genotype are at a higher risk of diabetes because of an over-secretion of insulin (11).
Two common polymorphisms of the ABCC8 gene (exon 16-3t/c and exon 18 T/C) have been variably associated with type 2 diabetes. However, a recent large case control study in Britain revealed that these ABCC8 variants did not appear to be associated with diabetes (12).”
(And for the record, there are more than just two types of diabetes; none of them hilarious).
MG says
October 15, 2013 at 4:25 pmwrong again – https://chriskresser.com/think-skinny-people-dont-get-type-2-diabetes-think-again
I wish more people would think and research before stating something as fact…..
erica says
October 14, 2013 at 2:15 amAs a nutritionist, registered nurse, and mother of a type 1 diabetic 4 year old, who NEVER ate candy, only eats and has ever eaten organic everything, gluten free, paleo, etc, etc… i completely agree with the above statements. i thank you for at least having the tact to include a disclaimer, but seriously, why not name this something different. Our children have to endure so very much and the LAST thing they should have to endure is more ignorant people who believe that somehow my child or myself as her parent “caused her to have T1D,” and by putting diabetes out there as you have done, you are perpetuating that cycle. Consider the effect of your actions on the tons of innocent children and families out there who are doing EVERYTHING they possibly can to raise awareness about T1D and the difference between T1 and T2. We should be able to work on keeping our children healthy and alive without having to constantly defend and continually educate ignorance. PLEASE, don’t perpetuate this cycle. And please don’t insult our children. They deal with more in one day that ANYONE should ever have to deal with in a lifetime…. and T1D lasts just that, a lifetime… they NEVER get a break and are constantly having to deal with people like you, who constantly judge them for no fault of their own.
Sandy Foreman says
October 14, 2013 at 1:37 amDiabetes is no joke, not at Halloween, not ever. I am also a Type 1 parent and my lovely child did nothing to bring this disease on herself. She is very active and tiny, 90% percentile in height but only 30% in weight. This would be a good article on alternatives to candy at Halloween, but the title is no joke and in very poor taste.
Christy T says
October 14, 2013 at 1:25 amI never leave comments on things like this but being a mother of a type one diabetic its hard to just sit back and let miss conceptions about diabetes continue. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease thahas NOTHING to do with eting sugar and actually quite the oppsite. Sugar has saved my childs life more than once! So please think before you write and this would be a good time to educate yourself and your readers about diabetes. Type 1 diabetics don’t produce any insulin and type 2 are insulin intolerant.
Janine says
October 14, 2013 at 1:18 amI am writing in support of all of the other type 1 Diabetic family members who have replied to this post with disappointment. As I understand this is a blog about healthy living and you have not responded to or recanted on your misinformed blog about giving children diabetes. I sincerely wish you would consider renaming or removing this post. In my opinion it’s only purpose is to reinforce a common misconception about an auto immune disease that so many children struggle with everyday, and sorry it has nothing to do with candy consumption. We as type 1 parents only wish it were that easy!
Cassie says
October 14, 2013 at 1:06 amIt would be fabulous if you gave this a different title. My two year old has type 1 diabetes. And he’s never had any candy! His immune system decided to attack the portion of his pancreas responsibile for making insulin. As he gets older I worry about what these kinds of jokes will do to him. When a joke is made on TV, or a commercial for some snack designed for diabetics who need to lose weight (because they don’t differentiate between the different types, and there are more than two). I don’t want him to think he needs to lose weight! He’s already a bean pole!
Bottom line, the title is hurtful to little ones, like mine, who still have a hard time wrapping their head around a disease that requires five injections a day. Even one while he sleeps because your body still puts sugar into your blood stream when you are fasting. Even if he starved himself he would still need insulin. Again, a hurtful title to an otherwise good article.
Robyn says
October 14, 2013 at 1:04 amAs a mother and a wife of a Type 1 Diabetic all I can say is “Gee thanks for continuing the spread the misconception of Diabetes.” My son was diagnosed at age 4 and my husband at age 12. Before you go and make a joke over an autoimmune disease that they had no control over developing, get your facts straight. Eating too much candy does not cause Diabetes. It is articles like this that continue to plague our loved ones with the misconceptions that they brought this upon themselves.
Cindy T. says
October 14, 2013 at 12:45 amAs the mother of a Type I Diabetic I encourage you to reevaluate this “joke.” It is statements such as this that perpetuate the myths families living with this disease battle every single day. Re-read everything jacque said above. It is 100% true! It can be exasperating being told for the umpteenth time that our children could be cured or never would have acquired diabetes if we did A, B, or C. I understand that ignorant people make ignorant statements and ask ignorant questions. However, I would have hoped a resource such as Food Renegade, which posts health related information, would not be quite so ignorant. “10 Halloween Candy Alternatives that Won’t Give Your Kids Diabeetus” implies that anyone with Juvenile Diabetes, I.e., Type I, acquired it from bad food choices. My TID daughter is an athlete who competed at the state level in two different sports and still holds school records. She has very low body fat. But, rather than being acclaimed for the extreme effort required to excel at such a level in spite of her disease, she has faced a lifetime of “abusive” remarks. Yes, people–such as some of you in this thread–have the nerve to actually critique what she puts in her mouth. Did you know that because TIDs require insulin every second of everyday to REMAIN ALIVE that they are actually forced to eat more carbohydrates than they would like or even want in order to keep their blood chemistry balanced? I can tell you firsthand that it is not fun at all to sit by your child’s bed in the middle of the night and force them to eat SUGAR–because if you don’t they will die before the sun rises! As jacque said above, these same kids are made to feel bad when others make intrusive remarks if they’re seen biting into a dessert. Please take the time to educate yourself and then make a statement with the FACTS to your readers. There’s a lot of embattled families out there who deserve it.
Jacque says
October 13, 2013 at 11:43 pmI get the joke, I really do… but it’s not funny. I’m sorry to be a downer but I have a type 1 diabetic son. He eats very healthy and is very active, yet his diabetes will never go away and it has nothing to do with eating sweets.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot be prevented or cured and there are so many precious children having to live like my son to survive. They get multiple shots a day, they make themselves bleed numerous times a day, they have to count the carbs of every piece of food they eat. They miss out on a lot because of this disease and yet they are the strongest group of kiddos I have ever seen.
With how much they go through, to be the brunt of candy joke after sugar joke it saddens my heart, and the hearts of all parents of type 1 children.
Yes, we should all eat healthy, we should limit our sugar intake, we should do our best to not eat processed foods…. but my goodness, let a diabetic child have a piece of candy without having to feel bad about it. They feel bad enough as it is.
Barb says
October 17, 2013 at 3:17 pmThank you for this, perfectly stated. My son was dx’d with Type 1 at 3 yrs. old. The ignorance is hurtful to children who have this through no fault of their own. You don’t find this kind of ignorance towards other childhood diseases/illnesses. It’s not okay to write hurtful, harmful things toward children just because you’re ignorant about it, and don’t take the time to get facts first. Imagine a mom reading this, taking the advice .. and then having her kid diagnosed anyway. 🙁
Amanda says
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DaNelle Wolford says
October 11, 2013 at 5:27 amCute site! I love it!
Tate says
October 15, 2013 at 1:31 amHow Ironic that these are the types of comments you respond to. I don’t use the “C” word, but I would right now if I was as ignorant as you.
Andrea says
October 7, 2013 at 6:15 pmI second your posting Karen! My 7 year old daughter is a type 1 diabetic. There is nothing we could have done to prevent this terrible disease. Eating candy has nothing to do with it.
kkolding says
October 18, 2013 at 4:12 amdid everyone not see the caveat at the top of the article that explicitly states that ‘candy does not cause diabetes’?
Mindy says
October 7, 2013 at 4:40 pmGreat ideas DaNelle! We are blessed that our biologic dentist does a trade in and pays a $1 for every pound of candy! He then sends it to our military troops and the kids can send a letter along with it 🙂
Kay D. says
October 13, 2013 at 10:37 pmWhat a wonderful thing your dentist is doing!
Trixie says
October 7, 2013 at 2:13 pmI know that my suggestion will make many gasp in shock and horror, then faint dead away, but why not just SKIP Halloween altogether? It’s not even really a holiday, it’s just a profit day for the costume makers, candy makers and Lord only knows who all else. Just sayin’…
Angela says
October 7, 2013 at 3:51 pmFor some of us, it really is a holiday. Like, a real one, full of symbolism and meaning. This is primarily if you’re pagan or Catholic, but don’t just assume it’s a made up for-profit thing. Corporations have turned ALL of our holidays into money making schemes (Christmas being their biggest cash cow of the year), but don’t discount it just because the candy companies have figured out how to turn a profit on it. It doesn’t have to be so commercial. This is harvest time, and a sort of memorial day for a lot of us. You can “keep it real” by making homemade treats (for your own family), handing out the stuff DaNelle mentions, and making your own costumes. But, please don’t say the holiday isn’t “real.” Kinda’ hurts my feelings. And I know I’m not alone on this. (no harm done, just sayin’). 😉
Ambyr says
October 13, 2013 at 10:49 pmI agree with you, Angela. Halloween is New Year’s, Memorial Day and the last harvest festival all combined for me. I don’t discount holidays observed by other religions just because they don’t have significance for me. But aside from anything religious, I had a LOT of fun as a kid on Halloween. I’d like to see the kids today have just as much fun. So carve a pumpkin, make a costume, run through a corn maze (during the day because I’m a wimp about haunted houses/corn mazes), and make something special to eat even if it’s healthy. 🙂
lexie skyler says
October 16, 2013 at 11:13 amhttps://www.history.com/topics/halloween here is the true story of holloween . its a must read
rebekah says
October 7, 2013 at 9:37 pmthankyou! I agree trixie .
Jacki says
October 7, 2013 at 1:55 pmThanks for the great ideas! This year we are doing skull crayons from Max Waxes. These are made by a single mom with an autistic son. Max had issues with conventional crayons, but she discovered if she melted them down into fun shapes, he would color for hours. Now she supports the two of them through her Etsy shop, donating bags and bags of the crayons to local charities as well.
Kim says
October 16, 2013 at 3:05 pmWow…Thanks Jacki! Great post and thankyou for sharing Max Waxes! Going online to check that out! 🙂
Karen says
October 7, 2013 at 1:30 pmJust checking: You do know that you can’t GIVE a child Diabetes by allowing them to eat candy, right? 🙂
Tessa says
October 7, 2013 at 7:56 amThank you, thank you for the inspiration! We’re doing it, I’ve just decided, a candy trade and it will be the perfect solution to the nonsense of Halloween candy! We shared this with our FB readers at homesteadlady.com.
Courtney says
October 7, 2013 at 4:19 amI try and make my own candy especially since my daughter has FPIES. I love the idea of unreal candy but wish they were more conscious of people with nut allergies 🙁