#141: Thom Solo | Speaking Things Into Existence

The diabetes community is fortunate to have so many one of a kind warriors and Thom Solo is top of the list in my opinion. His advocacy efforts at an early age + pursuit of art as a career = my dream guest. In this episode we discuss Thom’s artistic journey, runway lows, diabetes and dating, his fashion family, the LGTBQ+ community, and speaking things into existence.

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#138: Marwin Begaye | What’s Your Sugar, Diabetes in Indian Country

I’ve known Marwin Begaye for years and stumbled across one of his pieces that stopped me dead in my tracks titled, Super Size Angels. In this episode we discuss he and his families journey to prevent a diabetes diagnosis, holistic medicine, the growing numbers of diabetes within the American Indian communities, and the controversial body of work he created around this topic.

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Tuesday Topic: Does Diabetes Limit Your Career Path?

Artist Painting

The DDG received a heartfelt message from a woman who has dominated diabetes for 60+ years.   I wept while listening because SO much of her message hit home. She described her passion for art and successful career as an artist while battling diabetic retinopathy. Feeling defeated by a recent trip to the eye doctor, she couldn’t enjoy a single moment of her exhibition. Diabetes had robbed her of happiness and replaced it with a dark cloud. Could she still be an artist if/when she lost her eyesight?

I rarely talk about it, but I was fortunate to receive vocational rehabilitation to assist me with my tuition, books, etc. Even though I was thankful for the help, I was limited as to what I could study and art was on that list.   (more…)