Around the Diabetes Online Community: December 2021 – Healthline

We’ve reached the end of a year like no other, and this final month of 2021 brings us a chance to once again reflect on all that’s been posted across the diabetes social media sphere. The Diabetes Online Community (DOC) has remained ever lively while continuing to weather the pandemic that is COVID-19.

Here’s what DiabetesMine has on our radar from December. If anything else stands out to you, please feel to share with us via email or on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Do you get all crafty at Christmastime? Molly at “Hugging the Cactus” certainly does, and we enjoyed seeing her diabetes-themed ornaments on display this month. While you’re at it, read Molly’s “Ode to Reese’s Cups” for another awesome, down to Earth POV from her cactus-hugging adventures.

Insulin was discovered a century ago, and in December 1921, the very first human patient insulin got a dose of that newly-isolated hormone orally. That was Dr. Joseph Gilchrist — a former classmate of insulin co-discoverer Dr. Frederick Banting — who was deathly ill from diabetes at the time. This was a “secret” test before the first patient would receive the first-ever injected dose of insulin in January 1922, changing history.

In case you forgot, November was Diabetes Awareness Month. And yes, many of us in the D-Community are still experiencing a sort of diabetes-themed hangover from all of that activity. Yet, as Tom Karlya at “Diabetes Dad” writes, “It’s nice that some roll out the advocacy for diabetes causes during the month of November. But in truth, we choose to fight for the rights of those living with this disease every day we can. Insulin costs, rights, and the ability to have what everyone else has gets a full court press all year.” So true, Tom, so true.

Thom Scher

Sadly, our community said goodbye to Beyond Type 1 CEO Thom Scher, who passed away suddenly in early December. Thom didn’t live with diabetes himself, but he’d led the California nonprofit since 2019 and made a big difference for our community on many levels. Beyond that, he was just a wonderful human being and friend to all who knew him. This BT1 tribute honors his legacy and memory. Thanks for all you did, Thom, and you …….

Source: https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/around-the-diabetes-online-community-december-2021