And They Lived Happily Ever After

Abstract

When I was a little girl, my favorite stories were fairy tales. There was always a beautiful and bright princess who managed to get herself into some difficulty. But no matter how dire her circumstances, Prince Charming came along and gave her a kiss or put the slipper on her foot and rescued her just in the nick of time. We all know how the story ended: and they lived happily ever after. Sometimes when I talk with diabetes educators, it seems as if we believe we are living in a fairy tale. We think that if we and our patients and other health care professionals and administrators like us do a good job, we are like those princesses. No matter what happens, someone will come along to rescue us. But I have some bad news. There are no handsome princes in the world of health care. That is not to say that the picture is completely grim (or Grimm as the case may be). There have been many positive changes in the more than 20 years I have been an educator. A greater understanding of diabetes and its consequences, new technologies, and new therapies have made our patients' lives easier and improved …