Food for Thought: Diabetes Advocacy

1. An advocate is a fighter for the interests of those who would otherwise be ignored and trampled upon by society.
2. Advocacy can take innumerable forms. Political activism, educating the public, and social/cultural criticism are just some of the forms that diabetes advocacy can take.
3. Rather than seeing diabetes advocacy as an activity of a select few, we should see it as a project that all diabetics (and their loved ones) can engage in.
4. The perfect health care system is a myth. Regardless of the form of system we choose to have, health advocacy is essential to the protection of the interests of patients.
5. We need to broaden our view of what constitutes diabetes advocacy.
6. Diabetes advocates can be thought of as forming a choir. More individuals = a louder collective voice.
7. The louder our voice, the more that it’ll stand out amongst a sea of other voices.
8. An ideal advocate would be one in whom a fighting spirit is tempered by prudence.
9. How one chooses to advocate isn’t what matters most. The main thing is that one is taking action.
10. Since our project is a team effort, we don’t all have to be doing the same task. We can each contribute in such a way that is in line with our talents, interests, etc. There’s a place for us all.