Ric

[Adelaide]

Am I right in thinking that when Robbie stood on the needle in the bush, it tuned out to be a needle belonging to Ric, whose explanation was that he is an insulin dependent diabetic? Only there has been no reference to Ric and his diabetes since. You never seen him injecting himself or restricting his diet. It seems a little strange, as normally soaps tend to use medical conditions to play into big storylines, and it just seems to have been overlooked.

[girl_from_uk]

Am I right in thinking that when Robbie stood on the needle in the bush, it tuned out to be a needle belonging to Ric, whose explanation was that he is an insulin dependent diabetic? Only there has been no reference to Ric and his diabetes since. You never seen him injecting himself or restricting his diet. It seems a little strange, as normally soaps tend to use medical conditions to play into big storylines, and it just seems to have been overlooked.

Yes he is a diabetic but I think they will be a reference latrer on when he gets battery aciod poured over him i think

[Foxy]

Yes, I'm sure Ric injecting himself every other episode and discussions about his diet would make for thrilling entertainment.

[Reo]

I think it has been mentioned twice..

When alf caught him injecting himself and then again when henry was going through his locker and robbie found out it was him..

Then again in another storyline in a few weeks..

I think it should be mentioned more,otherwise what is the point in giving it to his character? it seems that it was just mentioned so he would have another problem with alf,when they first met,giving him the excuse to want to live somewhere else(sally and flynns) and get to know him from a distance.

[Foxy]

Lot's of people have things wrong with them that they don't tell absolutely everyone they meet, and they don't feel the need to be talking about it every minute of the day. And that's without even considering the use of dramatic license.

Are you saying that if people in real life that have it and aren't talking about it then what's the point in them having it in the first place?

It comes up only when its absolutely necesary, and that's the way it should stay.

[Reo]

Im not saying that it should be mentioned every episode or anything,but Ric's life should be suited to it,his eating and stuff and maybe making excuses to leave to go and take the insulin..it doesnt have to be much..i just find it weird that they just forget about it until it comes up in a storyline..

[Tulip]

Yeah, it seems to be used only for convenience. I think the writers could have used it more to inform viewers of diabetes, especially within a young person like Ric.

[katya]

I agree with you Reo, I don't understand why there is never any mention made of Ric's diabetes. My cousin was diagnosed with it when she was younger and she had a terrible time coming to terms with it. I think it would be worthwhile to show how Ric copes with it, and how it has altered his lifestyle. I think it would add a lot in terms of realism.

[Reo]

They had kane,colleen and sally,coping with cancer and beating it,then flynn having cancer and losing his battle then the effects it has on his family during it and then living without him..

Even people that never liked flynn felt for that storyline beacuse it was done so well and showing how they all coped with it..and it really happens in life.

I think if a character is given a illness even if it doesnt effect every second of their life they should still refer to it when needed in just ordinary day life not when it is needed for a storyline,like when meeting alf and with robbie and the upcoming storyline..just everyday stuff and they dont have to show him with a needle all the time,they dont have to show it on screen,they could show him putting the stuff away after,anything..

I think just having it for a storyline is abit mocking those who deal with it everyday in life..

[katya]

Yea, I agree. Although it's an illness that is easily incorporated into everyday life (for some people at least), it still makes sense for the characters to refer to it, if only because it reflects real life.

I also believe, like you, that it would raise awareness of diabetes, and that this is a good thing - the cousin I mentioned earlier was bullied at school when she was first diagnosed because her classmates didn't understand why she was injecting herself and why she couldn't eat certain things.