Bitter Sweet: The Highs, The Lows, Hypers and Hypos of Living with Type 1 Diabetes is a groundbreaking new book of poetry on living with type 1 diabetes. In this video, author Duke Al talks about selected poems from the book and how their messages may help people living with type 1 diabetes, their friends and family, and the diabetes healthcare community.
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Twitter: @dukealdurham
Facebook: @Dukeal
Questions
- Duke, ‘Hidden Hypos’ is a message about how you sometimes feel judged about experiencing hypoglycaemic episodes. Do you have any advice for patients and for clinicians on this issue?
- Duke, ‘The Forgotten Appointment’ seems to be a direct message to clinicians about addressing the mental health of patients with diabetes. What would you say to them about incorporating mental health checks into routine care?
- Duke, you have written several poems about the exhaustion and stress of living with diabetes, and how friends can frequently misunderstand the condition. What advice do you have for the friends and family of those with diabetes regarding providing support?
- Duke, ‘Perfect’ is a poem that alludes to you coping with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. How does that condition impact upon you managing your diabetes?
Faculty
Sola Neunie, Senior Medical Director, touchIME
Duke Al, Spoken word poet and rapper, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Support: The production of this video was supported by Touch Medical Media.
