I recently read Donald Norman’s classic book The Design of Everyday Things. Originally published under the title The Psychology of Everyday Things, Norman provides a number of intriguing insights into product design and utility. You should read it - you’ll never look at the world the same way again.

It got me thinking. What would happen if we thought about diabetes as an “everyday thing” (and other diseases for that matter)? While diabetes is not an “everyday thing” in the sense that Dr. Norman uses the term, it is very much a thing that diabetics (to use the politically incorrect term) live with every day. I think it can fit. So, what do we make of it? What if we thought of and adopt lifestyles that allow us to own the disease, rather than being owned by the disease? What would that look like? How would it work?

In my personal experience, I consider diabetes to be a blessing. In the two-plus years since being diagnosed with Type 1, I have changed my lifestyle in a number of positive and constructive ways. I eat better, I exercise more and generally try to make more healthy lifestyle choices. As a result, I feel better than I have in 20 years. Basically, I proactively changed my lifestyle taking into account the ongoing reality of diabetes. The alternative course would have been to resign myself to reacting to the day-to-day or moment-to-moment demands of the disease. To me, the alternative wasn’t an appealing option. Diabetes-wise, following this approach, I have been able to consistently maintain an A1c of 5 and enjoy my life in the process.

Years ago in a business meeting, one of the guys I was meeting with said something that has stuck with me (and I have often repeated). He said, “On the other side of every problem is an opportunity. Our job is to figure out how to get on the other side.” Applying this to my situation (and, frankly, to anyone with diabetes), what I figured out was that the disease is incurable, so it’s not going away anytime soon - so I can either take control of it or let it take control of me. By choosing to take control, my choices became pretty clear. I think the same is true for anyone in a similar situation.

What will you do?

In Diabetes by Design - Part 2, I will think out loud about some of the questions raised above.

Woody Runner is Founder and CEO of Three Questions, LLC which operates Project Diabetes as part of My Health Projects. Three Questions also operates Healthcare Fellowship Networks. Woody.Runner@ThreeQuestions.net

Tags: diabetes, disease management, disease management tools, Donald Norman, Project Diabetes, The Design of Everyday Things, type 1 diabetes

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