Judge Sotomayor's Diabetes: Not a Weakness But a Strength

From The Nation (5/27/09):

Judge Sotomayor's Diabetes: Not a Weakness But a Strength
by John Nichols

...Sotomayor's most important service as a role model may be as a Type 1 diabetic -- someone who has, since the age of eight, had to deal with what has variously been referred to as "childhood," "juvenile" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes.

This is a big deal.

..."In the days leading up to this nomination, there were several media reports suggesting that Judge Sotomayor should not be considered for this position simply because she has type 1 diabetes," explains R. Paul Robertson, MD, who serves as president for the medical and science sector of the American Diabetes Association. "The advancements in the management of type 1 diabetes have been just amazing over the last two decades and the ability of people to manage their diabetes successfully has been proven. People with diabetes can function and live a long and healthy life."

The ADA adds, "As this process moves forward, the diabetes community expects that Judge Sotomayor's nomination will be evaluated based on her qualifications and years of experience -- and not her diabetes. To evaluate her in any other way would be a disservice to the United States."

Fair points, well made. But let's not be too quick to dismiss the fact of Judge Sotomayor's long struggle with a particularly serious form of diabetes. That experience is an asset for a judicial nominee, especially at this moment in history.

Remember that Judge Sotomayor's diabetes affected her career choices. As a girl she had been drawn to Nancy Drew novels. She wanted to be a police detective. But she determined at an early age that her disease might make it difficult for her to do the job. That's when she made the decision that would eventually lead her to the federal bench.

"If I couldn't do detective work as a police officer, I could do it as a lawyer," she explained in an interview with the New York Daily News...

...It is also important for a court that will deal, increasingly, with healthcare access and medical-research issues.

To have a judge who understands, through personal experience, the challenges and the needs of Americans with serious diseases, lifelong conditions and profound hopes for medical breakthroughs.

This is another piece of the diversity puzzle, an essential piece that ought not be underestimated.

In a very real sense, the disease that steered her toward a legal career and a place on the federal bench is one of the greatest strengths that Judge Sotomayor would bring to the Supreme Court.

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Comments

[Mike Zelley]

As a person who has been a paraplegic for 30 years, father of 7 children and owner of a business who's 20 employees paid over $150,000 in taxes last year, I speak with some authority to state that Judge Sotomayor's disability is a experience that will add to her effectiveness as a Supreme Court Justice when making rulings on employment and education law. Congratulations to President Obama for a wise nomination. Mike Zelley

[Mrs. Eileen Curras]

Certainly the issue of Judge Sotomayor condition has placed her with her Diabetes condition close to the cause of Person with Disabilities but do not make a mistake. This issue has being fought with experts on her behalf and I hope that these so call experts do not disappear as many physicians tend to do. Diabetes is her strength not a weakness otherwise we will see an insensible side of America. I hope that Sotomayor most important service as a role model may not be forgotten as many other role models tend to do in our society. I believe that the Media has had a field day with her nomination. The truly concerns of the common citizens are not truly consider by the media reports. The media clearly is playing other game which clearly is not assuring the issues of importance at hand for the citizens. Sadly the advancements in the management of type one diabetes have not been available to the common citizen but to a hand full of the society. I hope that the AAPD will ask for the process of her certification to move forward discussing the issues that the community expects to be discussed for Judge Sotomayor and the community needs to hear them. Her nomination needs to be evaluated based on her qualifications and years of experience but the common citizens do not have exposure to these discussions and we need to have them. Federal employees live in a control sort of environment which does not give too much exposure to them. She should be evaluated in those restrictions any other way would be wrong to the United States. Clearly the point is that the fairness of health treatment of her condition should be available to everybody, not the chosen ones. I hope that the struggle of judge Sotomayor can be put to good use. She used her choices in life. It is important for a court to deal with healthcare access and medical-research issues. I hope that the judge personal experiences, the challenges and the needs of Americans with serious diseases, lifelong conditions and profound hopes for medical breakthroughs will be put to good use. In a very real sense, the disease that steered her toward a legal career and a place on the federal bench is one of the greatest strengths that Judge Sotomayor would bring to the Supreme Court. We need for the ADA Law to be enforced in the territories of the United States. Puerto Rico needs to enforce the ADA Law. We need to protect the Constitutional Rights of Citizens.

[Syndromes]

Excellent comment I suffer diabetes and I like to read about this disease to have more knowledge.

Sotomayor can stand against this disease, I'm sure of that.

[Tooth Whitening]

As President Obama's first nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor approaches the bench with a number of firsts. If she is confirmed to the lifelong post, as is widely expected, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to sit on the high court, and she would also be the first Justice with Type 1 diabetes.
The nominee's chronic condition is worth noting, since it puts her at increased risk of several serious medical conditions, including heart disease, kidney problems, blindness and nerve damage — and an increased risk of early death. Studies show that adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely than non-diabetics to die of heart disease. But when treated correctly, say doctors, Type 1 diabetes patients are able to lead relatively healthy lives. The latest data suggest that patients can successfully manage the disease for four or five decades with no serious health complications.

yes and I believe that these people have a more healthier life and the rest, because they have to take care more! I lived this with my grandfather
tatiana

In the days leading up to this nomination, there were several media reports suggesting that Judge Sotomayor should not be considered for this position simply because she has type 1 diabetes