An Open Letter to Halle Berry

Dear Halle,

It's great to see you making the circuit of talk shows, walking the red carpet, looking extra gorgeous and clearly enjoying your pregnancy. When news of your good fortune first came out, I of course wondered if you'd choose to publicize the fact that you have diabetes and that, having diabetes, you had to take extra steps to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Perhaps some strong media mentions of the fact that women with diabetes can and do have healthy babies all time these days.

I wasn't terribly surpised when you didn't take that path and I don't fault you for that. Just because you have diabetes and are famous doesn't mean that you have to shout about your medical condition at every turn. You don't owe it to us. Though I will concede that it would be nice to have such a beautiful, vibrant spokesperson (no disrespect to Wilford Brimley).

Silence is one thing. Misinformation is another. Telling an A&E audience that you had type 1 but weaned yourself off insulin and now consider yourself as having type 2, well... that's just wrong!

If that's true, then please share your cure! Tell the researchers! Tell the world! Why are you keeping the details of this miracle secret?

If in fact you have type 1 diabetes and are not injecting insulin, and you are not dying from wildly out of control blood sugars, then you do not have type I and you never did.

Please, stay silent on the subject or get your story straight. I'd much rather hear you say "I don't discuss my pancreas with the press" than hear from a mis-informed but well-meaning acquaintance that they heard I can stop taking insulin.

Respectfully,

Kassie Gregorio Palmer
Mom with Type I diabetes