Diabetes Community

Hello, cookiedog.

I fully understand your sentiments. I have been a member of WebMD for over 8 years. What you are seeing here is the nature of any community (exchange, forum, whatever term is being used). We are first and foremost humans who happen to have Diabetes or back pain or high cholesterol - whatever the specific community is geared toward. I seriously doubt there is any message board on the internet that does not have discussions regarding off topic items.

Personally, if all that was discussed in any community on WebMD was the main topic, I would cease to be involved. I enjoy sharing with others and getting to know them by discussing what is happening in their lives other than the main health concern.

Recently I posted that I've often heard the comparison between members of any community (internet message board, social club, church congregation, etc.) and gemstones in a tumbler. The members, like the gemstones, rub up against each other, or interact, smoothing off the rough edges, polishing the surfaces and facets, and eventually creating something that is beautiful.

I am active in four WebMD communities - Back Pain, Pain Management, Alzheimer's and this Diabetes community. I enjoy offering support as I can based on my own experiences, and gaining support and knowledge in return. I do not always agree with all members and sometimes do miss the old 'ignore' button very much. We all need to show each other as much tolerance, compassion and understanding as possible. Then we will all one day be beautiful gem stones.

I agree. I wish the webmd wo9uld bring back the feature that allowed us to block posts from certain members so that we could streamline what we see when we log on

Hi cookiedog,

It is good to see you again. I think many of us have had the same frustration. I have been thinking about this and instead of walking away and giving power to those who have been frustrating us, maybe we should be posting appropriate points for discussion and ignoring those who discuss their specific and personal problems over and over.

my thoughts

The oldsters who left did so because this board has become cold and impersonal and ONLY diabetes. That is why I never went back to the heart boards. It was very cold, depressing, and clinical and no life there at all. This board used to be a great community, and a family that cared. Well, people sometimes still 'care' about each other. The ones who want only diabetes have killed this board too.

HOOTY

I'll add my 2 cents. I haven't posted as much recently but it's for a variety of reasons. Sometimes I just don't feel qualified to answer - especially some of the T2 questions as they don't pertain to me as a former T1. I think that the diversity of the board is great and that other topics are fine - especially since every day life can affect your blood sugar tremendously. But I think the biggest problem is the level of drama that seems to come and go. I don't believe that support can or should be unconditional. I think that if you are looking for support - you need to take the advice to heart, as that is where it is coming from in the first place. The unnecessary drama is part of what keeps me from posting many times too. Overall I think it's still a good board as it is active and folks don't get overlooked - there is always someone to answer.

Cora

Cora, hooty, cookie, and dave,
I heartily agree with so much of what you have to say about the atmosphere of the community. It does cover a wider range than diabetes, and it does get so dramatic at times. We also find individuals that come here looking for straight forward honest help, and I believe they get very good and strong information/support. We also have those that come here as a whining ground demanding attention, and those to get support and succor from members of the board. It is always hard to separate one from the other when you don't see a list of postings on a header. I find myself skipping many posts because of the first poster, then going back to see what is relevant. I too find that at times I get off subject, but some things erk me, and others I can't keep my mouth shut about!

I agree with Hooty. If i want nothing but information on diabetes i can find it easily in any library and i know how to do research. I'm more concerned with real life stories about coping with it and life in general. I've been a member for a long time, since at least 2001, and over the years i've seen a lot of drama. I did leave for a while, a couple of years, but it was mostly because the board increased my anxiety rather then helping me to lower my stress levels. I'm starting to wonder if being an active member here is a good idea.

Hi Dusty,

I am always glad to 'see' you here. At least a few old friends still pop in sometimes. I have been here since mid 2003.

I understand that people need information and help with diabetes. However, no two of us are alike with our diabetes or other medical issues, so no answer is 'one size fits all'... That is why there needs to be room for individuality and off topic conversations at times. One can always put OT by such posts and those who wish to ignore them can do so. But we also had fun posts, as laughter helps relieve stress. Dusty, do you remember Gordon, or Flash as he sometimes went by ? He is still around, and emails me regularly. We used to have fun with his C-130 stories and what we would do to the terrorists in Iraq and what not... lol. He liked to tell us about his place which he calls the Turnip Patch. We had a lot of fun, as well as learned a ton about our diabetes.

I learned more about diabetes here than I ever learned from ALL of my doctors and health care providers combined. If all a person wants is diabetes info, a websearch will do more than a support group.

Hooty

Applause!!! Yes, Hooty, I have learned so much here, too. . I came on in 2008 to ask a simple question regarding lows and exercise. I'm a little out of the box with being diagnosed as a Type 2, being underweight at the time and promptly put on insulin. I still gained a lot of insight reading what others go through whether they just "do" diet and exercise or diet, meds and exercise. There are few Type 2's on insulin, but they are certainly out there. There is no other community I have found where people share freely. I know there is drama at times. You read what you want, you reply "post" when you feel you have something to say.

You can't make everyone happy, though we all would like everyone to be happy.

Auriga, I am also on insulin, and since I am diabetic, I prefer insulin. The pills made me deathly sick, and did nothing at all to help my blood sugars. If one has to be diabetic, then insulin is the way to go in my books. Since I no longer work, my sugars are much better, and I have been able to decrease my insulin dosages. My last job was extremely stressful, and came close to killing me. By the time I got my doctor to rx the insulin for me, my sugars were in the 400 range and that was with the pills and watching my diet, etc. My doctor then dx'd me as IDDM, or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Miletus.... According to my research that is a T1, not a T2 as my original dx was... I think the first 'doc' just totally messed up there.

Hooty

Hello All,

I step in and out here as life allows, sometimes I get involved in other things and dont log on. I have been keeping tabs on occasion. I don't post every time because I feel that there are others who have given better answers than I could. Its fun to read up on how those that I have dubed my "friends" are doing and It's great to read someone's post who I have not seen in a while and to know they are alright.

Yeah Drama, it happens whenever many people of differing ideologies get together. I feel this forum deals with it in a fairly adult manner and doesn't allow it to get out of control.

I will always be thankful for the lovely, wonderful folks of this community for allowing me to voice my worries, get wonderful advice and support when I was first diagnosed. This is why you all are here. Plus, its not just about the disease, its how to live with it and feel normal. This place is needed in all its facets, even the drama sometimes.

Hooty, thought I would never say it, too. LOL. I wouldn't think of doing anything else but insulin. Totally agree with you that it is the only way to do things if you can't get your sugar under control. My diagnosis was "uncontrolled diabetic." What a moniker! My A1C is now 5.8. Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled. My average daily sugar used to be 393. Can sympathize totally with you. With my sugars that high, it was impossible to do much of anything because of being fatigued contantly from those high numbers.

My doctors dismissed the idea of oral meds, thinking that would never do the trick. I was immediately put on insulin. Ah, well. So glad you're back to the "normal." LOL.

Great points. I believe positive attitude and a genuine heartfelt commitment to help and support others will carry our community to a better place. I'm up for that!