On Sunday morning I was in line at the grocery store, going through my mental ‘to do’ list, when I became acutely aware of sideways glances in my direction. It took a minute for me to remember that I was sporting shimmering blue tights, blue knee high socks, blue shorts, a blue hoody and a sparkly blue headband. “It’s World Diabetes Day”, I explained to the man behind me balancing a baby, bananas and dish soap.
Simultaneously, across the city, other blue people were experiencing turning heads and quizzical looks as they drove, bused, subwayed and taxied, all decked out in blue, to the CN Tower.
At the base of the tallest structure in the city, I spotted striped blue leggings, bright blue T-shirts, toques and blue balloons. More blue was approaching from all directions – blue capes, scarves, socks, eye shadow, backpacks and face paint. Soon, there was an entire blue community congregated under the overhang of the Rogers Centre – even the weather decided to participate in World Diabetes Day, showering down clear blue rain all morning long.
November 14th is World Diabetes Day. It’s also discoverer of insulin, Sir Frederick Banting’s birthday. This year, 40 Slipstreamers chose to celebrate both momentous occasions by putting diabetes in the picture with a city-wide, diabetes-themed Photo Scavenger Hunt.
Armed with Dex4, sidewalk chalk, WDD posters and a long list of scavenger hunt photo tasks, 6 teams were released into the wilds of Toronto to document, explore and educate. Teams had 3 hours to roam the city snapping pics of their team…with the food item requiring the biggest bolus, in a boat, inside the smallest space possible, testing bg’s in an obscure place and in many other locations, vocations and situations.
Like typical Slipstreamers, they went above and beyond. Blue groups ended up in store window displays, fire trucks and on billboards, they led groups of strangers in rounds of jumping jacks inside the Eaton Center and even headed inside UofT labs to cure diabetes complete with test tubes, goggles and white coats. Teams had the chance to engage the public in discussions about diabetes and the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 as well as to dispel myths by responding to comments like ‘you don’t look like diabetics, aren’t they usually taller?’ and ‘Oh, you have diabetes? Your pee must be really green.’
Living with diabetes, many of us have experienced the general public’s lack of knowledge and awareness of the details of our disease. Everyone knows the word and most are related to someone who has it, but shockingly few know anything about it.
We assumed that our blue posses would be able to improve at least a few Torontonian’s awareness. We didn’t expect that we would be the ones educated.
A few groups spoke to the homeless about the realities of living with diabetes on the streets of one of Canada’s biggest cities. No address, no health card, no health care, no access to government-funded drugs to manage diabetes, no money for healthy food, That’s the harsh reality experienced by many around the world, not just in Canada. From this experience, a few CIMers have decided to shine a blue spotlight on this issue and investigate how they can learn more, and hopefully, find a way to help.
After 3 hours of urban adventure, the teams met at Jack Astor’s on Front St. to swap somber, surreal and silly stories, show their photos and share laughs over dinner and drinks. There were ‘winners’ and prizes, but the best part of the evening was seeing the entire back of the restaurant filled with blue, smiling, vibrant, outgoing Type 1’s, family and friends. Pumps and meters were splayed out for all to see as teams poured over menus determining carb counts.
There were no sideways glances, no inquisitive looks as we hung out in a blue oasis celebrating World Diabetes Day as one big blue community.
A huge thank you to Jenn Randall, Erin Randall and Jen Hanson for putting the event together. To Hank Devos for compiling the picks into a slideshow for everyone to enjoy and to everyone who came out with enthusiasm on a rainy day to participate.
Check out Jen Hanson’s blog about our blue day at tudiabetes.org
