Community ◆ The Origin of Mutual Support

Chunichi Shimbun Morning Edition – May 12, 2006

When people hear “diabetes,” they often imagine an adult lifestyle disease caused by obesity. But this refers to type 2 diabetes. There are also people who suffer from type 1 juvenile diabetes, a condition in which the body is born with an insufficient amount of insulin—the hormone that regulates blood sugar.

Most patients must draw blood from their fingertips four times a day to monitor their blood sugar levels and administer insulin injections. Some fall into depression, while others may lose their lives from sudden attacks.

The 1989 American film Steel Magnolias tells the story of a young woman living with this disease and the women in her community who support her.

The story is set in a small town in Louisiana. The daughter, played by Julia Roberts, falls in love with a man who understands her illness, and the two get married. But everything changes once she becomes pregnant.

Pregnancy and childbirth are tough even for healthy individuals. For diabetic patients, pregnancy can lead to “diabetic nephropathy,” in which sugar metabolism worsens and the disease progresses. Naturally, the mother opposes the pregnancy, but the daughter is determined to give birth. Despite morning sickness, kidney disease, and sleep apnea—dangers that strike one after another—she pushes forward.

Supporting her are her mother, a neighbor, and a trainee beautician. Each of these women has her own struggles, but they relieve their stress through friendly banter. Though they often bicker, when the daughter suffers from a hypoglycemic attack, they immediately come together to provide care.

Surrounded by warm love and friendship, the daughter gives birth. However, she later develops kidney failure and receives a transplant from her mother. But the peaceful days that follow are short-lived… Even amid a tragic ending, the patient’s life—lived true to herself—and the unwavering support of those around her are deeply moving. Unlike in Japan, where caregiving is often left solely to family members, America in those days had a culture of broader community care.

Japan, too, once had a time when people with disabilities, the elderly, and mischievous boys all lived together within their communities. But now, with the rapid construction of specialized hospitals and facilities, people with disabilities are gradually separated from local life. I believe society has lost something deeply important as a result.