{"id":930,"date":"2014-06-01T20:36:35","date_gmt":"2014-06-01T19:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/adc\/?p=930"},"modified":"2014-05-26T15:51:20","modified_gmt":"2014-05-26T14:51:20","slug":"view-from-across-the-bridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/adc\/2014\/06\/01\/view-from-across-the-bridge\/","title":{"rendered":"View from across the bridge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The photo on the left is from @bad_diabetic, and I think many of you may have seen it by now. It represents a years worth of twice-daily insulin injections.<\/p>\n

It’s striking, isn’t it?<\/p>\n

(When you add to that the 5-6 daily load of many regimes, it becomes worse.)<\/p>\n

Looking from across the bridge, from the perspective of the patient, can be an enlightening experience, allowing the healthcare workers to glimpse into what we are asking patients and families to put themselves through.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yet .. \u00a0can we turn away from the\u00a0undeniable fact that insulin keeps those with type I diabetes alive? Can we be so horrified by the sight of a fungating tumour that we cannot hold an adrenaline soaked gauze and continue to\u00a0think clearly about the options ahead?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I was struck by\u00a0both sides of this dilemma\u00a0recently it\u00a0reminded me, in part, of the inspirational address by @neilgaiman<\/p>\n

\u00a0“When things get tough, this is what you should do:\u00a0Make good art<\/em>. I\u2019m serious. Husband runs off with a politician \u2014 make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by a mutated boa constrictor \u2014 make good art. IRS on your trail \u2014 make good art. Cat exploded \u2014 make good art.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n