The other evening while taking refuge from the early-November snowstorm in NYC, I watched Steel Magnolias (the 1989 Julia Roberts version, available on Netflix). I had heard the name of the play and film(s) in a usually positive context, but never heard the plot details of the story.
I was shocked, then, when it was revealed that Roberts’ character, Shelby, has type 1 diabetes. Quickly, my shock changed into confusion and diasspointment (and maybe a little anger, too). Shelby’s experience with Type 1 diabetes was not only completely different from my own, but completely different from the average woman’s experience with Type 1 diabetes.
[SPOILER ALERT] For those unfamiliar with the film, Shelby is a type 1 diabetic who, due in part to her disease, has very weak kidney function. She has been advised by her doctor not to have children, but wants a child so decides to have one anyway. The strain of pregnancy and childbirth puts her into kidney failure. Her mother donates a kidney, however, Shelby unfortunately rejects the donated kidney and dies at the end of the film.
The film is adopted from a play that the playwright based on the experience his sister faced, who died from a similar series of events. While I do not mean to discredit the authenticity of his personal tragedy, I found this depiction of Type 1 diabetes extremely frustrating. Like the few other movies that feature diabetes prominently, Steel Magnolias leaves “the impression that diabetes draws the people who suffer from it into an uncontrollable tailspin toward death.” It is important to note that death resulting from kidney failure is not by any means a likely outcome for a diabetic (even less so now than in 1989). It is also important to note that while all diabetic pregnancies are considered “high risk” this comes from a higher chance of complications such as miscarriages and birth defects. Diabetic women in general, however, are perfectly capable of having a safe pregnancy (and DO). Yet Steel Magnolias doesn’t draw clear lines of distinction between Shelby’s specific medical case of poor kidney function and the more general implications of diabetes for women who want to have children. With the exception of one scene, we never see Shelby’s struggle with the day-to-day realities of living with diabetes: checking her blood sugar, injecting insulin. Instead, we only see the dramatic, life-threatening and RARE complications that result from her diabetes.
The exception is a scene early on in the movie where Shelby has an incident of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, this event too, is overdramatized; while many elements of Shelby’s “low” are factually true and possible – it comes on quickly, leaves Shelby somewhat incoherent, and her mother treats it with orange juice – Roberts’ behavior as Shelby resembles an epileptic seizure more closely than someone with low blood sugar. This is not to say that this couldn’t happen (and I should note that diabetes do experience hypoglycemia differently to some extent), but again, this is an EXTREME example.
So what’s the big deal? Well, seeing these extreme examples in mainstream cinema perpetuates myths and stereotypes about diabetes. What we need is a mainstream movie with a diabetic character who just LIVES with the disease, like most of the millions of diabetics in this country do every day. My problems with Steel Magnolias were especially frustrating because I wanted to like this female-centered and female-driven story – a rarity in entertainment. But unfortunately, the depiction of diabetes just fell way too short.
Wow, I’ve heard of this movie so many times, but I never knew the plot went that way. Have you ever seen Panic Room? One of the characters is diabetic and almost dies because she can’t take her insulin. I’m guessing that the plot of that one is equally unrealistic.
Yes, I have seen Panic Room, but not in awhile (and not since I was diagnosed!). The page I linked to in my post – http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2002/11/01/3036/diabetes-in-the-movies/ – also discusses Panic Room – here’s one criticism (highlighted by your comment that she almost dies because she needs insulin – NOT true! (though it’s the film’s fault, not yours…)
“When “Panic Room” broke box-office records after its spring break release, Donna Gardner was busy writing letters to newspapers. Several film reviewers had incorrectly referred to Sarah’s life-saving shot as an “insulin injection.”
Gardner was appalled. Her husband, Carey, had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes nearly two years ago. A friend of his with the same diagnosis almost died after being given insulin by a well-meaning friend during a severe hypoglycemic episode.
“If you have seen the movie, you know Sarah is given glucagon for low blood glucose,” she exclaims. “This is outrageous!…A lot of people thought the girl was given insulin in the movie because it was never specifically stated…just that she needed a shot. If you don’t know anything about diabetes or glucagon, most people assume that it is insulin.””
More on Panic Room, specifically:
not everything in “Panic Room” was right on.
A few people with diabetes were perplexed by Sarah’s ability to wolf down pizza and Coke and end up with low blood glucose.
Others were upset by a comment made by Foster’s character: “Sarah, calm down. You know what can happen if you let yourself get worked up.”
The comment suggested that her blood glucose would plummet if she got too excited. Not all people with diabetes find this to be true.
When asked about a confusing “Panic Room” scene in which Foster orders Sarah to drink lots of water to help keep her blood glucose from falling, Cline only needed to flip through her files to know she had done her job.
“Here it is,” she says, before reading from her notes. “‘Thirst is not a characteristic of a person having an insulin reaction.’ It’s right here in my research, and they chose not to change [the scene].”
I have seen the movie many times. Many people who are very conscientious do not have such severe reactions.
However, I do know people who have had hypoglycemic shock with type I (when they didn’t check their sugars often enough) and might have died had they been alone.
The permanent kidney failure I have seen several times in mothers who were very brittle diabetics and who’s doctors suggested not having children. Permanent dialysis was the result. I’m an NICU nurse so the babies came to me after delivery because they can be unstable for a time after birth.
I’m happy to hear that your experience with diabetes has been so positive, but please do not take away from the harsh reality that so many people living with diabetes have to live with on a daily basis. This character IS showing what diabetes is like for some people. Again, I’m glad that you are not experiencing this, but it is real, and it is happening every single day to some women and men. Orange juice IS a quick fix when nothing else is available, but not all of us can attend NYU, either. Please be careful not to allow your privileges to take away from people & families who are actually suffering with this disease.
Hi Jane, Thanks for reading. I didn’t intend to take away from the “harsh reality” of diabetes, I contended that this is not the average daily experience for a Type 1 diabetic and that depicting the disease this way, while perhaps accurate in an individual case, misrepresents the disease to the broader public and creates misconceptions and misunderstandings. I actually think there are many daily struggles Type 1 diabetics face but have never seen them accurately portrayed in pop culture, which I find unfortunate. You will see in the comments above many readers had your initial response and I did my best to further clarify the point I was making.
I also never contended that juice isn’t a good remedy for low blood sugar, I myself usually drink juice to remedy lows.
Finally, I did not attend NYU so am unsure what prompted that comment, or an attack on my “privileges;” I do suffer from Type 1 diabetes and both my family and I feel its affects.
I know this post is old but Kaitlyn OCHagan, this movie steel magnolias is based off a true story so I don’t think it’s too far fetched.
I’ve noticed that most people think diabetes = low blood sugar and I’ve had to explain a hundred times that it’s actually the opposite. It’s scary when you think about just how many people are misinformed. I get it, though – people actually see hypoglycemic episodes and realize they’re scary and require immediate action. But most of the time I just wanna ask “so, if you think insulin is given for low blood sugar, then why do people usually eat/drink when their sugar is low…?”
Yes, I noticed the racial problems as well (I think I saw a black couple at the wedding – ridiculous how whitewashed the film is). I had heard about the lifetime movie, and am definitely interested to see how they handle Shelby’s diabetes and death. I have never seen a stage production but I was talking to a friend who had and she said the woman playing Shelby acted “like a crazy person” when her blood sugar went low (sounds like it was overdramatized to me). I guess it would depend on the amount of research a production does, if they know anyone who has diabetes, if they rely on the movie’s depiction – and then, of course, whether or not they care about being accurate, because the audience must get their drama! (This is the justification filmmakers use for their inaccurate portrayals.)
Why do movies have to be realistic they are just movies people now days are so over sensitive everything has to be depicted in a way that makes everyone feel included and that their personal story is accurately depicted which is impossible since everyone’s experiences are different it’s a damn movie people get over your selves. We all have problems no one is special.
I love Steel Magnolias and have seen it probably over 30 or 40 times, but I never stopped to think about it within the framework of diabetes. Do you know if stage productions of the show usually have Shelby act in such an extreme manner?
(My main criticism of the film has always been that it takes place in the Deep South, and there is nary a Black person in sight. I don’t know if you know, but it’s being made with an all-Black cast for Lifetime. It would be interesting to see if they treat Shelby’s diabetes differently!)
To Kerishma, I live in the Deep South and there are areas where there are no black people. Just because it’s made in the South doesn’t mean it has to involve that certain race. That’s being stereotypical.
I loved the movie, but felt the diabetic shock scene was unrealistic. Then again it’s a movie with a short amount of time to get their point across.
Doesn’t presenting such an unrealistic scene that furthers myths about diabetes undermine whatever message the movie is trying to get across? That would be the argument I would make.
As for Kerishma’s point, I don’t think she was saying that there aren’t highly segregated areas in the South where the population is predominately white, but that a film set in a place that is not, generally speaking, predominately white, but features only white characters, contributes to myth-making about the American South (similar to the way the diabetic shock scene contributes to myths about diabetes) and is also part of the larger problem of a lack of diversity in American entertainment.
Steel Magnolias is, in my opinion, a phenomenal movie. It is not racist, it just has a small cast. There are tons of movies out with no white characters. I don’t see those as racist either. Movies are for entertainment, relating to a wide audience, drawing out emotions, and making people think. I am surprised to see someone have such a negative reaction to such a good film over something that isn’t meant to offend. It’s just a plot device. Also, while you may not experience your illness in this manner, the writer’s sister did. This is a Hollywood production. It isn’t going to be 100%accurate. It’s fictional. The acting is excellent.
You want realistic? Come to the ICU were I work and you can “see how people live with diabetes everyday” and the devastating effects it has on the body. Especially when it is poorly controlled. It’s naive for you to think that diabetics do not have serious health problems, not only do they have health problems, but they also have a multitude of serious health problems. It’s a very serious, debilitating disease, that one can live with, but also from which one will die from as well. Heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, neuro vascular disease, kidney disease, and usually a combination of a few of these is what one can expect. For the character in the movie to go into an irreversible diabetic coma from renal failure, is not only common, but I see people with diabetes die from renal failure weekly, and I see them deteriorate waiting for a kidney transplant while hooked up to a dialysis machine either daily, or 3 times a week. I believe people shouldn’t say what is and isn’t true or possible unless they see it with their own eyes on a daily basis. A movie is meant for entertainment value, and Steel Magnolias did not do a bad job of showing a frail diabetics life from day to day. The movie really isn’t meant to focus on diabetes but on the bond of women through lives trials and tribulations.
Movies may be meant for entertainment value, and this movie’s focus may not have been diabetes, but films inevitably inform our worldview. While diabetes can certainly lead to severe, life-threatening conditions, it’s frustrating that these minority cases are the only pop culture depictions of this disease. It creates a distorted and misinformed public perception of type 1 diabetes–as it seems your perception is from working in the ICU. I understand the serious health problems that can and do result from diabetes, but this is not the universal or inevitable experience for type 1 diabetes, as both the film and you seem to imply. Unfortunately, it seems hard to find statistics for type 1 diabetics specifically–diabetes type 2 and type 1 are lumped together, despite being completely different illnesses in many ways and despite the fact that the number of type 1 diabetics is much smaller than that of type 2 (of about 26 million people in the US with diabetes, about 3 million have type 1).
It is not the job of any film to give all sides and information on the subjects portrayed. I can see it now, a disclaimer of prescription drug proportions giving all sides of every disease or scenario. THIS story was based on a specific person’s experience with his sister’s diabetes and her death. It was not his intent nor his responsibility to inform all about other peoples experiences with Diabetes. It is said in the film and in the play that Shelby was a special case. It was always inferred that she was not your average diabetic but had other complications.
You really aren’t making any valid points. So because you have type 1 diabetes, you become an expert? Maybe you should go into the nursing field because this is VERY COMMON on a daily basis for the hypoglycemic attacks to be just that dramatic. I am assuming you have never experienced one since you can’t distinguish the difference between yours and the average. Every patient is different and the thing about medicine is that there is no such thing as never or always so again, you have yet to make a valid point!
Not sure why you chose to make such a snarky comment, but I wanted to respond briefly. In so much as I am someone living with Type 1 diabetes, I am an expert on the lived experience of a type one diabetic. However, I don’t think anything I wrote in the original post or my comments since fails to acknowledge that every patient is different. Severe hypoglycemic reactions are not “very common” on a “daily basis” for most T1Ds. Nurses and doctors may see such reactions often if they’re working in a hospital or other clinical setting where they’re most commonly seeing patients with poor glycemic control, but it’s certainly not the norm.
Thereasa, I too work as a RN in the ICU. I also grew up with a father who happens to be a type 1 diabetic. I have to ask: do you know anyone outside of your experiences with diabetes? particularly TYPE 1 diabetes?! (and no, a person being on insulin does not make them a type 1…)
Yes there are people who have horrible health consequences usually, but not always, due to difficulty managing their condition. In fact the majority of people you and I see in the hospital are actually type 2 diabetics. 1. there are typically more comorbidities with a person with type 2 and 2. the nature of the diagnosis (slower onset) typically leads to more time with untreated hyperglycemia.
And yes, the moving did a HORRIBLE job depicting the life of a “frail” diabetic. And while to your credit the movie is not meant as an education on diabetes maybe a little more realism is in order. Mom could remind Shelby for example that her poor management will lead to consequences.
And for someone who “works with renal patients all the time” did you not find it odd that Shelby was so nonchalant about her dialysis and kidney transplant?
I happen to agree 100% with Thereasa. And yes, I know MANY type one diabetics, as we have grown up together through childhood and are still currently friends as adults. I have also worked in the ICU (as an RN) with more than one TYPE 1 diabetic.I work with some very healthy Type1 DM people, but have also had to send ambulances and police out to do wellness checks for others (when found at home unconscious with a blood glucose of 28). I do believe that Thereasa was very well stated and appropriate in what she communicated. Type 1 and Type 2 may not be the same, but the complications are quite similar. Also, I personally do not find it odd at all that Shelby is so nonchalant regarding her illness, as she is trying not to be defined by her disease and her complications. Due to the severity of her complications and episodes, I assume she is poorly controlled. We also are not given any information regarding any other chronic conditions she may have. Perhaps she has hypertension or polycystic kidneys too? Not every diabetic person presents in the same fashion or has the same complications. The hypoglycemic bit was a little dramatic, but again, the story is not meant to be focused on illness.
Great points. One of my diabetic friends (I think he’s type 1) has hypertension along with the diabetes which caused him to have a stroke which nearly killed him. He is usually well controlled otherwise. He’s just had the disease so long that it’s starting to catch up with him. Then my other friend ( he’s type 2) said he had diabetic retinopathy and told me “I wouldn’t have the eye issues if I didn’t skip blood sugar checks. I’m supposed to check my blood often but I really only check once a week. In other words, don’t listen to me, I’m naughty” Of course I told him he needs to check his blood sugar more so he doesn’t end up dead! I don’t even know if he listened frankly. So there are real life diabetics who don’t take care of themselves and/or have multiple conditions that make their health fragile. So after knowing 2 diabetics I don’t think Shelby’s situation is that unrealistic. As to the low blood sugar episode…I witnessed my type 1 friend having a low that was partly brought on by the fact that he was ill, and it looked more dramatic to me than it FELT to him. I imagine the writer watched his sister have lows and his perception and memory of the low blood sugar episodes may be more graphic than the reality because of the emotion the writer connected to the lows.
Thank you so very much for finally stating the obvious and true purpose of this film. I was wondering if anyone was gonna mention it being about the bond these wonderful women have with each other!! Bravo to you for the honest answers on diabetes as well, I am a type2 and very aware of the difficulties of living with this disease. I also watched my father-in-law suffer and then succumb to the effects after multiple amputations, everyone’s experience is not the same so again thank you for your 2 cents which I found enjoyable and agreeable.
Watch the movie again. There are several black guests at Shelby’s wedding reception.
I’ve seen Steel Magnolias recently after graduating as an RN and I have seen this film many various times as a teenager and a young adult..
Shelby’s symptoms… they make a lot of sense now..
My father gets low blood sugar too being as he’s lived with Type 1 DM all his life. I’d like to note that he is retiring from nursing this year. He is turning 65 yrs old this summer.
He had the same moments Shelby did. No loss of consciousness.. thank the Lord! for my mother whom is a very skilled and seasoned nurse herself.
He’s had many low blood sugar episodes that I never understood until seeing this film. Her mood swings and anger during those low blood sugar spells are very familiar.
The film doesn’t give you much info on Diabetes. But it does leave you with the same feeling of loss… the thievery the disease leaves people and their family who live with this disease with.
Yes I agree that not every person with type 1 diabetes is the same. But the dramatization of the scene with Shelby having a reaction is not over dramatized. I have had several reactions like this. Where was incoherent and unable to control my actions. These situations in the are real to me. I have the same and I’m only 23. So yes these situations are rare but they are real. 🙂
My original post may not have been clear on this, but I am more frustrated that the viewer is left with this extreme reaction as their vision of diabetes, rather than the day-to-day struggle of highs and lows, injecting insulin and changing sites, testing blood sugar and just generally trying to manage a disease that almost constitutes a full-time job in itself. This is what my diabetes is for me, yet there are no media portrayals of diabetes that convey this reality and it is something I find hard to truly communicate to those not in the Type 1 diabetes community.
I’m not sure why you are so frustrated with the movie’s depiction of this particular character living with diabetes. As you stated, Shelby’s character was based on the playwright’s sister who died so why would he have written differently if it was somewhat in tribute to his sister? In addition, M’lynn mentions to Shelby that she is “special” when Shelby tells her that she’s pregnant so that indicates that Shelby’s story is not a depiction of an average person living with diabetes. This movie was not a film on people living with diabetes, there was more to the story and because you chose to view it in the manner in which you did, you lost out.
I have quite a few of these “reactions”, very
similar to Shelby’ s in hairdresser.
I could definitely relate when after she has the o.j. she starts crying and apoligizing to
her mother. I feel as though I have embarrassed who I am with. Note: I have had type
1 for 37 years.
I don’t know if it is different for men but my dad did have kidney failure because of his type 1 diabetes, and I saw him have hypoglycemic episodes like shelby ‘ s more than once. He became diabetic when he was 13 and got a kidney transplant after being on dialysis for a year at the age of 40. I found the movie to show diabetes quite accuracy for some people.
My little brother is also a type 1 diabetic, and has been hospitalized for low blood sugar. His reaction was extreme as well–he had seizure-like symptoms. So yes, Shelby’s hypoglycemic episode is realistic in so much that it is possible. However, I find the broader depiction of diabetes in the film is inaccurate, and therefore, this scene particularly troubling.
As I wrote in my post: “With the exception of one scene, we never see Shelby’s struggle with the day-to-day realities of living with diabetes: checking her blood sugar, injecting insulin. Instead, we only see the dramatic, life-threatening and RARE complications that result from her diabetes.
Seeing these extreme examples in mainstream cinema perpetuates myths and stereotypes about diabetes.”
Having a wife and brother in-law who were type one, and prying there mouth open to get a tube of sugar in there mouth. And watching them died from this. I Think in a 2 hours they where pretty accurate.
Ms. O’Hagan,
While you may generalize all you want about whether the actress’ low blood sugar scene in this film was realistic or not, you are making an unfounded judgement about the movie. Clearly you have not been diabetic for a long period of time because if you had been you would know that the reaction portrayed is not only accurate, but NOT overly-dramatic.
Any number of things can bring on an episode of extreme low-blood sugar, including stress (which I might add is referenced by Olympia Dukakas’ character in the film). In fact, stress and overdoing activities are two of the main causes for low blood sugar. Being a Type 1 diabetic for over 34 years, I can tell you that a low reaction looks exactly like that because I can tell what’s going on when I’m having one. I just can’t do anything for myself during it. Fortunately, I’ve not had an episode in over a decade, but let me tell you one thing….Julia Roberts nailed this. And she did it with grace and dignity.
Contrary to what everyone says, no one wants to see a day in the life of a diabetic….the point of this film was to point out the extremes and the aftermath of those extremes. It’s a story line, a script. Rarely are there endings where people all just live happily ever after in the end. The movie had substance. The actresses had substance. The film raised awareness. And it was all done with class.
Thank you.
How do you know no one wants to see a day in the life of a diabetic if we never show anyone? It’s clear you are a fan of the film and I respect your opinion that the film accomplished its goals. I have been living with diabetes for the last 6 years, and the length of my time with an illness does not discount my personal experience and opinion.
I think it’s clear to almost everyone on here that Ms. O’Hagan doesn’t understand what a movie is nor does she realize that she’s not the only one with Type One Diabtetes. A movie solely focused on a relatively healthy Type One Diabetic sounds like a snooze-fest, let’s all be honest here. Ms. O’Hagan may also suffer from narcissism if she wants to see this type of film. And like many have mentioned already, this movie is based on a true story, and it’s basis is the bond of female friendships not the daily life of a Type One Diabetic.
Meg, thanks for enlightening me! I have now looked up the definition of “movie” and will be entering treatment for my narcissism.
I must return the favor, and would suggest you acquaint yourself with the definition of ad hominem attacks.
Hi Kaitlyn!
I’m a huge fan of Steel Magnolias! I was watching it again this morning and I decided to Google Shelby’s Diabetes and your column came up!
PREFACE: I have no idea what it is like to be a diabetic, as I have no first, second or third-hand experience with diabetes.
That being said, I wanted to back up your point that having no experience with diabetes, I watched the movie as a little girl and just thought that it was very common to have the seizure-like reaction to low blood sugar… that every diabetic would act like that if they had too much insulin.
However, the basis of the movie was about the bond of Southern women in a small community. How they are there for each other no matter what. I wish they would have picked another illness that they could have accurately represented but with the same plot, as the movie did provide very misguided generalities about diabetes and the struggles of those who suffer.
Thanks for sharing your interpretation! The fact that folks unfamiliar with diabetes see this film and think this is the typical experience for diabetics is the core of my problem with both the film and media portrayals of diabetes. I’m sure the media struggles to accurately portray many chronic illnesses but I think there is a lack of understanding with diabetes especially both how much daily maintenance is involved but also how possible it is to live a “normal” life.
As for the merits of the film beyond their portrayal of diabetes, I recognize that this film is a favorite of many for a good reason, even if it’s not my personal fav. Just trying to spread awareness and hopefully critical thought about the portrayal of any chronic illness in fictional narratives.
Hi Kaitlyn, I read your responses with my kids today. My husband and one of them are type 1’s. They felt empowered by your candor, but also by your resilience to ill-spirited comments. You made a very straightforward point: the everyday hassle of T1 is seldom represented, just the risky/extremes that you’d find with poorly controlled individuals in the ICU. Those are true, but the vast majority of diabetics need role models who relate to their everyday struggles. And, the more educated others are, the better prepared to deal with a diabetic. You’re not only correct in your assessment— you’re also a poised writer while elegantly addressing ad hominem/narrow-minded comments. Thanks for sharing your talent with us strangers of the internet. Even if you wrote this years ago, you still made a difference to some of us today.
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your lovely feedback! Though I wrote this post almost 8 years ago I enjoy still getting the ocassional comments, even when folks don’t like my take. I’m glad my perspective resonated with you and your family and wish you all the best.
Meg, you nailed it! It’s a movie about a group of friends with close bonds. Not solely about one character. Each character is well defined and when the group found out Shelby was ill they kept up with their lives, when she died they mourned her and supported each other like real friends do. Love this movie!
I have had type 1 diabetes for over 46 years. I completely agree with Kaitlyn’s comments. What disturbed me about the movie when it first came out was that the character Shelby does nothing to help herself at the end. I had a child in the 80’s and learned very quickly that I had to be prepared for low blood sugar while I was taking care of my child. I had many low blood sugars (as many people with diabetes do) and always had juice near by to treat them. The reality is that not only is the death of Shelby (and the writer’s sister) very sad and tragic, it is also preventable. And the film does not show that. It takes a lot of work daily, hourly, to control diabetes and that whole aspect of the condition is missing from the movie.
Thanks Carolyn!
You do realize this is a MOVIE and not a DOCUMENTARY. Do you get upset when people start singing in musicals because real people don’t do that? Probably not, because it’s a movie…they’re not real. They use heightened dramatic effect to entertain audiences. No one wants to watch Julia Roberts check her blood sugar every other scene.
I don’t have diabetes, but I do suffer from depression and being from Alabama. There are a lot of movies that feature people with depression as suicidal, alcoholics, manic, etc. but I don’t sit there and go, “Well, that’s false because I don’t deal with those things.” No, I enjoy the movie. And for the love, Alabama is NEVER represented positively in movies whether it be Forrest Gump or Selma. Not all white Southerners have 75 IQ’s or are racist…but I’m not crying about it. Why? BECAUSE THEY”RE MOVIES!!!!
Richard, I will not bother addressing the content of your response as I believe I have done so sufficiently both in the post itself and my response to other comments. I do, however, wish to note that the tone of your response reads like an internet troll interested in mockery more that critical discussion. If that is how you wish to respond to people with whom you disagree, I can’t stop you. But I would advise that it’s usually an unsuccessful method of persuasion, and as communication will garner you a reputation as rude and ineffective.
Hello Kaitlyn. I have read through your post and I respect your opinion of the movie. However, I have a different opinion of the movie. The first time I saw the movie was yesterday and I am re-watching the movie again. I will say that I agree that this movie does not depict the life of a type 1 diabetic that cares for themselves properly, but it does depict the life of a type 1 diabetic that does not care for themselves properly.
In one scene Shelby’s mother asked her, “Does he (Shelby’s husband) ever listen? When doctors and specialist gives you advice, does he listen tells you not to do things because I know you never did! But does he! I know you NEVER do but does he.” It seems to me that she has a history of non-compliance with with following medical orders. Also, her getting pregnant deliberately against medical advice proves that she does not adhere to medical advice. Also, I think the fact that she does not have candy with her during her hypoglycemic episode (her mother says there was no candy with her), we never see her take her blood sugar, at the fair she refuses the food, but gladly takes the ice tea (which they do not say is sweet tea, but they are in the South and sweet tea what is consumed, so I am inclined to believe that the tea was sweet) are all signs of a non-compliant diabetic.
I completely agree that a lot is left out concerning her diabetes. I think it was hard to figure out that she is a Type 1 diabetic (my opinion). It would have been nice if that were absolutely clear. I can see your point of the movie been misleading from certain people’s aspect. One would almost have to be a medical professional to sort out of the things and know that this is not a patient that follows out MD orders. If she did, I think her outcome would have been a lot different. However, I do expect these outcomes from Type 1 diabetics that do not care for themselves as recommended by their doctors.
Thanks Tee for reading! You’re right that Shelby does seem to be a noncompliant diabetic. I would venture a guess that most Type 1’s are a least a bit “noncompliant” in terms of strictly following their doctor’s orders, but the outcomes would still rarely be this drastic. I understand it can still happen–my frustration is that the movie depicts this as a more typical case of diabetes than it is.
Hi Kaitlin, while I agree with most that it’s a movie, I have a transplant and have aoroblem with the way Shelby conducted herself with hers. When she’s seen putting her coat on, and getting ready to go home from the hospital, she has a pain, this should have raised a red flag, because SHES A NURSE. But she ignores it, and goes on home, where she tries to pick up her son, and that’s when huge pain sets in. Too late she realizes she’s in trouble. How can you have your head so far up your butt? Lifting is very much frowned on for a kidney transplant patient. And knowing she’s a nurse, she should have recognized symptoms of rejection. When I first saw the movie, I wasn’t in this shape, but now I see so so many things that Shelby should have seen.
As a Type 1 Diabetic, you are incorrect in your observation of the character picking up her son. She wasn’t experiencing “pain.” She was experiencing the beginning of a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episode. It began as she was putting on her coat and she didn’t address it at that point. When she went to pick up her son, she became very weak from low blood sugar, not pain. Trust me, when your blood sugar drops, first slowly, then more quickly that’s exactly what happens. I know, I’ve been there.
Shelby dies of kidney rejection and septic shock in the movie. The film is based on a true story. The writer if the original play had a sister that died the same way.
It is made clear in one scene that Shelby’s is more rare than just Type I Diabetes. The scene where she tells her mom she’s pregnant they’re in the pantry, “Diabetics have healthy babies all the time.” Mom says, “You are special, Shelby. There are limits to what you can do.”
The thing is, this isn’t really a movie about living with diabetes. It’s a movie about close friendships between women with southern flavor (in the 80s).
I am a Type 1 diabetic and have had episodes like the one portrayed in the movie. I have bit through glass, bit people, and became violent with people trying to help me. I have a great video of a woman on a C Train that may very well be having a hypoglycemic episode and people think she is on drugs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xZDUDGNW8k
I, being a 34 year old male and having lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 24 years now, can totally relate to the hypoglycemic scene in Steel Magnolias. I find it unfair that you believe the scene is “overdramatize” – considering I’ve been through this ordeal in the very same way – suffering from hypoglycemia unawareness. One thing which you seem to fail to come to grips with, this is not a factual movie about a person who has Diabetes. Loosen up, you all sounds as though this movie should be solely about Diabetes, and contain accurate facts. It’s a movie, made in the late 80s. Geez.
Thanks for reading. I encourage you to read my earlier comments and responses to others as I believe they would address the point you raise. I would also offer the friendly recommendation that even when you disagree with someone you maintain a more respectful tone, I certainly don’t think my post or comments warranted your derisive response. Cheers,
As a writer with a disability who has 2 new friends with diabetes I understand your points but I think you are nitpicking a bit. I saw my friend have a low that was even more terrifying than Shelby’s. He looked up at the celing with his mouth half open and then his eyes shifted back and forth super fast. It looked like a sezuire or the beginning of one. He got very pale like he was on the verge of passing out. The next day he looked totally fine. I was like WHAT THE F*CK?! WHAT WAS THAT SH*T! to myself silently. I swear that was the scariest moment of my life watching him struggle like that! It gave me a new respect for him though, because he knew what was happening and never panicked which stopped me from losing it during his episode. Mind you that was the first time I ever saw him have a low and I pray I NEVER see that again. This is this particular writers story about his diabetic sister, not every story is PC or will break stereotypes. We need to respect this writers experience and realize the story is about friendship not just diabetes.
Kaitlyn,
Your page, your rules.
Perhaps your experiances are not “typical” either. Trivializing other’s experiances may help you feel safer with your own diabetic process, but they little in terms of helpful information to the dialogue
I certainly didn’t intent to trivialize others’ experiences, and in a fair reading of this post I don’t think I do that. I simply note that the media portrayal of diabetes, including that in steel magnolias, aids in the spreading of misinformation and sensationalism rather than engendering true understand of the average everyday reality of type 1 diabetes. I believe this is a helpful dialogue to have, and given the number of comments on this post and page views that I get years later, I think that’s what I’ve done. It’s unnecessary to make a personal attack if you disagree with my point of view. Thanks for reading.
I am a type 1 diabetic and have had EXACT low blood sugar episodes like Shelby in the movie,sometimes worse. There is a video of a girl in a C-train and everyone thinks she is on drugs,but I think she may be having a diabetic low. https://youtu.be/0xZDUDGNW8k.(warning foul language) I have acted like this before and you know something is wrong and can’t do anything.
I just saw a medical documentary type show called “BOSTON EMS” or something like that and there was a black woman with diabetes having an episode like Shelby’s where she was pushing away the people trying to help her. It was a documentary show not one of the medical reenactment shows, so low blood sugar episodes like Shelby’s do happen. My diabetic friend said each diabetic will react very differently and has had severe vertigo in response to lows.
Kaitlin, you seem to be getting a lot of grief from some folks because of your opinions. I think it’s terribly unfair for others to accuse you of trivializing type 1. My son has type 1, and while I can accept Shelby’s low blood sugar episode as fine for the drama of the film, it’s the film’s lack of providing any sort of grounding in the disease that disappoints me too. This doesn’t mean the film needed to be a different film, but rather a few details added here and there would have provided specificity and authenticity to the already specific and wonderfully authentic characters (and actresses) in the drama. What bothers me more than anything is the common perceptions that type 1 and type 2 disbetes is more or less the same thing, which is utterly false. Thank you for your critical analysts and sparking this (mostly) useful dialogue.
THE FILM WAS NOT ABOUT DIABETES. It is about friendships and bonds. You need to watch documentaries if you want to compare your son to them.
My momma is a type-1 diabetic and when her insulin is out of whack she has been known to act the way Julia Roberts portrayed Shelby’s episode in the film. It’s a rare occurrence but it does happen. Furthermore, this movie was never meant to show what all diabetics go through. There is literally a scene where they mention she is different from other diabetics and hers is a special case. When she announces her pregnancy Shelby tells her mother “diabetics have healthy babies all the time!” To which her mother replies “but you’re special Shelby! There are limits to what you can do!”
But where would the drama be if the character with diabetes is just living with the disease? I totally get your issue with this depiction, but average situations don’t make good film. Dramatizations are important for, well, drama. 😉
I disagree with your assessment. I have been type 1 for 26 years. Due to my hypo unaware, my lows come on fast and strong. I would guess over 90% of mine come on just like in the movie. Full seizure, and combative. My husband even commented while we were watching the movie “that is great acting. It’s just like you!” As someone who has no clue what happens until after the low, I take his word for it. I agree not everyone’s diabetes is the same. In fact, I feel safe to say no one’s is exactly the same. But this story, as told from the brothers’ perspective, is very insightful. I can imagine if you asked my brother about me, he wouldn’t mention the blood sugar checks, insulin injections, insulin pumps, or doctors appointments. Much like this brother’s story, he would remember my great times, and my worst.
Almost everyone who responded sounded as if their sugar is out of whack some way. I’m type2 and have had a low like that . Only 1 in 14 years. I hope I never have a low when I’m alone like that. My husband has CHF and is usually around when I’m low. But he is stage 3 now and I’m going to lose him. He is so strong and I have to be for him and not get highs or lows . He is having surgery to get 3 devices implanted. (He had a undisguised heart attack which enlarged and damaged his heart.) I became diabetic after taking prednisone for my ulcerative colitis and developed a case of pancreatitis. Be nice folks … Diabetes is just crappy.
This was copied from the the American Diabetes Association:
Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2010 based on the 69,071 death certificates in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death. In 2010, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death in a total of 234,051 certificates.
Diabetes may be underreported as a cause of death. Studies have found that only about 35% to 40% of people with diabetes who died had diabetes listed anywhere on the death certificate and about 10% to 15% had it listed as the underlying cause of death.
Diabetes is a serious disease that killed Harling’s sister. This is his story and if it helped bring any awareness to this disease that can only be a good thing.
This ADA quote refers to both Type I and Type II diabetes, the latter of which is far more prevalent and therefore the cause of the majority of these deaths.
I have done my best to make my position clear in both the original blog post and my many comments/responses. I understand diabetes is quite serious (since, you know, I have it!); my problems are with representations of Type I diabetes in pop culture which I see reflected in this film.
Hi I just met another type 1 diabetic (he hit on me and then showed me his insulin pump LOL) He said he is totally hypo un aware and his hypos are WAY WAY WORSE than Shelby’s. One hypo was so bad that he had a seizure and that the seizure sent him into a coma for 3 days, and took away his sight.
Thank you for this article. As a filmmaker with a disability I pay attention to these things. I recently made a film, not about diabetes, but about a stroke survivor who has a type of post stroke dizziness/vertigo, the film is called “A Stroke Of Endurance”
Link to watch the film for free is here http://cripvideoproductions.com/astrokeofendurance.php
The “dizzy spell” scene is 17 moments in and is based on 2 real life stroke survivors who were consultants on the film. Multiple stroke survivors have told me this is accurate in response to the finished product and thanked me for depicting it this way.
Shelby’s scene may not be what all diabetics go through but perhaps this is something the creator observed firsthand as I did with my film.
P.S Interestingly one of the actors in the film is also diabetic.
When my blood sugars fall too low because I have stupidly forgotten to eat, I can get reactions like those experienced by Julia Roberts’ character. My ex has called my reactions “a ……… five year old” (….. being a derogatory term for mentally challenged. Yes, he is a jerk.). I am no doctor, I can only relay my own experiences.
Hi Kaitlyn,
I was wondering if anyone here has experience with gestational diabetes. I am writing a film and want to portray it accurately. Would someone newly diagnosed with gestational diabetes have a low episode like Shelby’s? Could a woman also go into kidney failure or have a stroke or seizures as a result? What would be the realistic preventive things someone would do to control their gestational diabetes? Lastly, I have read Type 1 diabetes can cause fatal neural tube defects in the baby, could this also happen with gestational diabetes in the mother?
Thanks!
I’m not sure why so many are telling Kaitlyn this is a realistic portrayal of someone with Type I diabetes. The original post makes clear she knows this. The issue is with movies tending to do this all the time; they don’t depict diabetes unless it is crucial to the plot, and then it is very dramatic. It’s more a criticism of the film industry, not on “Steel Magnolias.” However, “Steel Magnolias” is likely the most famous movie depicting diabetes, so it makes sense to single it out.
The film industry would do well featuring more characters who manage their conditions without it being used as a plot device, and that goes for other chronic conditions, not just diabetes. I can’t fault “Steel Magnolias” for its portrayal of type I diabetes—it’s based on a true story, after all—but it would be nice if other stories told in TV and film showed characters who are not defined by their illness but manage them and live a relatively normal life. “Steel Magnolias” tried to show Shelby *not affected* because of her general defiance over her illness. “Oh look how badly this disease affects her. But she acts like she doesn’t have it! How brave!” It’s such a dichotomy. It’s true, the movie only features Shelby having the disease when it is depicting or discussing something terrible. Where is the happy medium? What are some of her more typical occurrences with the disease?
Yes, the film is more about the intertwined lives of six women from the same southern town, buf I’m singling out “Steel Magnolias” because it is an example of what the film industry lacks regarding chronic illness. There doesn’t tend to be a balance when depicting chronic illness. The general public often is educated about certain issues from entertainment, and it’d be nice to see entertainment feature the more common experiences with chronic illness. I am not calling for an end to dramatic events with illness in entertainment, of course. Just more opportunities taken to feature issues incidentally rather than it having to be solely for the plot.
Except this story is about Robert Harling’s sister who did die exactly the way Shelby died in the movie.
I just watched the movie with the subtitles on. The doctor tells the family that because she is taking anti rejection meds – Shelby has an infection that is affecting the central nervous system.
I’m a type 1. Just watched steel magnolia again. Still confused. Been type 1 for 33 yrs. Diagnosed while pregnant. I’m 60 now without complications. So blessed.
My father was diagnosed when he was 9 as a type 1 diabetic in 1942 I think. He lived till he was 77, died of cancer in 2015. He lived a long life. He lived as diabetic took insulin. He grew up with out gloucometers. Had to eat on a schedule ever day.
Type 1’s have it a little easier now. The glucometer changed in all.
All you diabetics can live a normal life. Yes you have to take your meds and visit the Dr more. You can do it!
Goodness so much vitriol. I’m late to the party, I know…
I saw this movie as a teen and also thought this was how extreme Diabetes always was. My grandma had it and suffered greatly, so that gave me more concern as a kid. When I first had gestational diabetes ten yrs ago with baby #4, I was terrified (I’m aware type 1 and gestational are different) thankfully education with a great dr calmed me. I had GD with my last 4 pregnancies, controlled reasonably with insulin/diet and all healthy little babies including my twins. I actually just watched Steel Magnolias again and googled this topic to try to figure out what caused her sad death exactly. Now going back after reading comments, there were a few subtle parts that hint at her level of disease. But up till now, that aspect of the movie always seemed unanswered to me. But it’s a fantastic movie all the same. I love the leading ladies in it.
If you listen very closely to the doctor, he says she probably got an infection due to the immunosuppressive drugs to keep her from rejecting the kidney
My cousin was a type 1 diabetic who died aged 28 in 1978. She had been married for a year and , I think, was fed up with the stringent diet diabetics had to follow then. This was in Scotland.I was completely shocked because I thought that all you had to do was take insulin and you were fine. She went blind and had kidney failure.
I’m a Type 1 Diabetic. Most of the time, I wish I would die.I am tired of the lows. My body does not respond to a diabetic low. I just pass out! I can’t count the times my husband has called EMS to revive me. A couple of times they thought they lost me. This is a serious disease and many Type 1 Diabetics don’t take care of themselves. I’m a RN, my father was a Type 1 Diabetic and died at age 50. I know the horrors of diabetes. I have a Dexcom and when I have alarms, it’s too late. I am scared to leave the house. I was driving and running into curbs. The ER at the hospital treated me like a drunk. They performed am ethanol test and blood work that was unnecessary.I wear my Dexcom Meter and my Diabetic necklace. I was given Glucagon and sent to the ER. The hospital milked me for all they could.
Diabetes is not easier now. It’s just as hard as yesterday. You have highs, you have lows – you can’t win and don’t expect your neighbors to understand. I had one tell me, “go home and drink juice.” They know more about AIDS that has been cured and it was recently discovered in the 1990s. Diabetes has been around since the beginning of time. No cure in sight.I will die from it. I wished the movie would of been more realistic concerning the HORRORS OF DIABETES, but they skimmed the surface. The author lost his sister, for GOD’s sake. There is nothing funny about this movie and there is nothing funny about Type 1 Diabetes.
I actually disagree with your post entirely. You’re basically saying you wish the media would portray Diabetes as if it’s just no big deal. I don’t think that’s necessary because that’s how the majority of the public already regard it – at least here in Canada. Most people think of Diabetes as a treatable “condition” and not a disease at all, but that’s not true. It is a disease – and a serious one. Having type 1 Diabetes instantly takes years off your life – and even if you take care of yourself things like kidney failure, blindness, neuropathy, amputation, impotence (in men), etc. are not RARE at all – especially after age 50 if you’ve had the disease for 40-45 years. I think it’s good that the media portray it a serious. I’ve known two Type one Diabetics who have died under the age of 30, a client of mine was found dead in his apartment at age 45, and my best friend is in stage three kidney failure right now at 53.
Well, my type1 husband turns 44 this year and he’s nothing like that when his blood sugar gets low. I rewatched the movie today was like what in the world is that horse manure going on in the salon! My husband accepts help gratiously because he is too weak to fight like a cornered animal when his blood sugar is low. Somehow a little slip of a girl has the energy to react like a frightened cow? Sounds more like people who get combative have an underlying personality disorder, prone to histrionics. Really, that was crazy town, right there. Needing people to force her to get her sugars up? My husband’s survival instinct in strong, he is stubborn as a mule but highly intelligent. He knows what to do and on the rare occasion he is taken unawares, never acts crazy. A little drunk or ready to pass out only. And he isn’t always compliant with checking his sugars but he follows a strict low carb diet. The only way I see type 1 being this dangerous is if the person in question is stuffing themselves with carbs and sugars and hasn’t been taking charge of their health. I think they way they portrayed type 1 diabetes was misleading at best. Too many liberties taken, and not enough realism. He also has autism…you should hear his thoughts on Rain Man. He is not a fan. Hollywood likes portraying the most edgecase dramatic medical conditions they can find, ignoring the majority who share the diagnosis. Not one thought goes into how this might stigmatize the community, because: who cares as long as they make their money and win awards.
I really appreciate your way of writing. Thanks for sharing this information with us.
I love this movie! I have watched it a hundred times at least. Although your experience and those of others may differ, this is a familiar extreme to others. My sister was an extremely delicate (doctor’s words, not mine) diabetic. We thought we would lose her many time, but after she had her child we did lose her, even more dramatically than depicted in the movie. She did have epilepsy that was linked to her diabetes. I am grateful for you that your diabetes isn’t like that of the fictional character Shelby, or my sister Shelby’s diabetes, but as we know everyone is different and everyone’s experience is different. I watch this movie because it reminds me of Shelby.
I do not agree with this writer. I have been a type-1 since childhood in the 1950’s. I have certainly had diabetic low-blood sugar events as bad or worse then portrayed in the movie. This was more common before blood testing was available and strips were covered by insurance. But even then, most diabetics never had enough strips to keep completely in control. Insulin pumps and CGMs have completely changed the situation now and I have not had severe low blood sugar reactions since using these technologies.
Importantly, blood glucose testing strips did not become available until the 1990’s. As noted above, before that, type 1’s were literally flying blind. Also, with the insulins used during that time period wherein an injection of basal would be given in the morning, there is always background insulin in your body and if circumstances are imperfect, a low blood sugar even would happen.
The movie was made in 1989, before blood test strips. Moreover, the events occurred years before 1989. So the writer above either is not familiar with diabetes in past ages or is purposely being overly critical.
I thought the movie portrayed a good example of a brittle diabetic. I was a brittle diabetic and during my 50 yrs of diabetes I had reactions like this or worse…many times. Fortunately, when I turned 50, I received a pancreas-kidney transplant. I thought it was a good movie, but rejection would not happen immediately. Still a good movie
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