Media misconceptions

After a hilarious twitter chat last night about a major UK newspaper and its inability to print accurate stories, I started thinking about the impact of misconceptions on everyday people.

I would consider myself an everyday person, in fact on paper I'm probably now quite statistically 'normal'. Married, 2 kids, dog, cat, middle income etc etc. However, scrape the surface and I'm a walking misconception! I had legoboy at 16, since then I have gone beyond exasperation at the media stories portraying teenage mums as benefit scrounging, council house claiming, asbo rearing drains on society. Apart from a very brief period after I split from legoboys dad, I have not claimed benefits. I did live in a housing association house until I was 23 and bought my first house. Legoboy is a gem, not an asbo in sight! He is a teenager so of course he has his issues but he is more likely to be in his bedroom making Lego animations than hanging around outside tescos drinking WKD!
Legoboy came along to an award ceremony that I was part of after I was awarded an academic scholarship and will be coming along to my graduation next year. I'd like to think I've instilled in him an appreciation of the importance of education. So to blow my own trumpet, I have done a good job so far. I was young and yes there are issues with having a child while you are still a child yourself but this doesn't automatically subject my son to a life of under achievement and crime. And I know I am not an exception- I can think of many examples of young parents who are doing a brilliant job.

So, misconception number 2-being a nurse. I am newly qualified but already tired of reading stories about how, as a profession, we don't care/are too posh to wash/etc etc......
Now I know that in some cases these stories are entirely justified. There are some nurses out there who are an embarrassment to the profession. BUT, there are so many nurses/student nurses out there who care so passionately about the profession and are giving their best to those they are for. You only have to look on twitter to find pages and pages of tweets from health care professionals who are battling to provide care in sometimes impossible situations. So my message to the mass media is this-take the example of sites such as patient opinion and try to provide a more balanced view of the nursing profession. Don't tarnish us all with the same brush.

So my final gripe-diabetes. There is one particular paper who seem hell bent on publishing stories that suggest that all diabetics are obese people whose lifestyles and behaviours are entirely to blame for them developing the condition. Anyone who knows my man in uniform will know he is the polar opposite of this, and I know from talking to others that they have experienced comments from people who seem surprised at their diagnosis because they are not fat! As we had to explain to a family member after my man in uniforms diagnosis-his historic habit of having 3 sugars in his coffee is NOT the reason he developed diabetes. Being fat is not a prerequisite for your pancreas packing up!
Diet is important in blood glucose management but suggesting fad diets could prevent it occurring is insulting. Especially to those with type 1 diabetes- the onset of which is believed to be linked to a virus that causes cells within the pancreas to stop producing insulin. Misinformation is as dangerous as ignorance, so if you want a story about diabetes -particularly type 1- have a look on twitter, there are so many inspiring (and accurate) blogs written by people who live with the condition.

So to conclude my rant:

Being a teenage parent has its issues but doesn't mean you can't be a good parent.

Being a nurse doesn't mean you don't care. I care hugely, that's why I do this. Often the environment makes my job a lot harder. There are times when I come home feeling nothing short of despair because I haven't been able to nurse the way I want to. I always try my hardest. So do many others.

Being diagnosed with diabetes isn't always down to poor lifestyle choices. Type 2 diabetes does have strong links with weight and lifestyle but type 1 does not. Having 3 sugars in your coffee does not mean you brought it on yourself. It also means that you need insulin to survive. And at present Insulin can only be taken via injection (including insulin pumps). No amount of hypnosis/cheese or berry wine will change this diagnosis and whilst diet may help control blood glucose levels the insulin injections are what keep type 1 diabetics alive.

Ok, I'm done!

(This post is for all my pals in Team D, battling to correct a multitude of media misconceptions. If you are interested I would suggest going to the daily mail website and searching for diabetes/teenage parents/nurse-read the articles but also read the comments, you'll soon see why I get so wound up!)