Frazz by Jef Mallett for August 14, 2015

Each one is like eating a bowl of Milk Duds.

Are we stealing chocolate frosted sugar bombs?

It’s a myth that you get diabetes by eating too much sugar. Type 1 diabetes (juvenile) is an autoimmune disease, partially genetic, partially triggered by environment- including viruses and insufficient vitamin D. Type 2 is, also, partially genetic, and partially caused by being too fat and not getting enough exercise.

Also…too much sugar does not cause a diabetic to become hyper; we usually get sluggish, instead. (But it does make us have to run to the bathroom a lot.)

I’ve always loved “Frazz” for its more intellectual wit, the characters, and the exercise promotion. When our local paper dropped it, I added my voice to bring it back and they listened. Today’s strip prompted me to join the conversation. Using the term “diabetes” without defining which of the two types feeds the stereotype that Type 1 diabetics live with on a daily basis. We need to educate the world on the difference between T1 and T2 diabetics b/c until a cure is found, T1 diabetics will always be associated with the stereotype of “fat, lazy, and poor nutrition”. I hope Mr. Mallett will follow up with this strip to make the distinction.

bigpumaThe only way to eat cereal. Milk, like beans and chili, is a side dish .

Dear Mr. Mallett, I am from California and enjoy your comic in our local news paper. This morning however, I felt the need to reach out to you regarding your use of “diabetes” for humor. My son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 3 years of age. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that requires relentless management, including multiple daily insulin injections, calculation and finger pricks 10 or more times a day. The cause is unknown, however consumption of added sugar is not a factor. There is no cure. It is unfair to stigmatize and imply a disease is brought on oneself. It would be beneficial for the media to help in educating the public to the different kinds of diabetes, instead of using misleading, incomplete information. I thank you for your consideration. I do appreciate your work.

I used to be lactose-intolerant. Started eating my cereal- which was Cheerios or other ones with good amounts of good grains and no sugary bells and whistles- dry because of that. I can have milk now, treated the reason I became intolerant, but making cold cereal wet just seems wrong now. If it isn’t oatmeal, it’s supposed to crunch!

Two liters of Mt Dew a day? Now I am getting diabetes just reading this! ;-)