Hungry Caterpillar Set to Become New Spokesperson for Diabeetus Awareness
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After years of looking for a new spokesperson, Liberty Medical and the American Diabetes Association has selected the Very Hungry Caterpillar to become the new face of diabetes awareness.
The caterpillar, who is best known for his insatiable appetite, will appear in a series of public service announcements and educational materials aimed at teaching children about diabetes.
“We were very sad when Mr. Brimley passed a few years ago, but we are excited for this new chapter,” said a spokesperson. “We couldn’t think of a better person to help raise awareness and help people recognize that their eating lifestyle is a high contributor to early onset diabetes.”
The Hungry Caterpillar has long been open about living with Type 2 diabetes, but critics are finding it hard to somehow feel sorry for this insatiable little shit since he brought it on himself.
The caterpillar has already appeared once in a commercial for the glucose monitoring system along with previous spokesperson Wilfred Brimley before he passed in 2020, and many saw the commercial as a passing of the hat from one generation to the next.
The commercial, already an instant classic, showed Brimley and “Hungry Cat” just eating a bunch of danishes until slipping into diabetic comas.
The decision to use the Hungry Caterpillar as a spokesperson for diabetes awareness has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised the move, saying that the caterpillar's story is a powerful reminder that even the smallest changes can make a big difference. Others have criticized the decision, saying that the caterpillar is an inappropriate role model for children who are struggling with diabetes.
The Hungry Caterpillar has long been open about living with Type 2 diabetes, but critics are finding it hard to somehow feel sorry for this insatiable little shit since he brought it on himself.
“With diabetes 1, my immune system attacks my pancreatic islet cells,” said one angry person who spoke out. “The caterpillar just refuses to stop eating. He’s no hero, and he gives those legitimately suffering from diabetes a bad name.”
The American Diabetes Association has defended its decision, saying that the Hungry Caterpillar is a "lovable and relatable character" who can help children understand the challenges of living with diabetes. The organization also said that the caterpillar's story is a reminder that "even the smallest steps can lead to big changes."
“How?” responded the outspoken critic. “He does nothing! It’s all metamorphosis. He just keeps eating until chrysalis forms around him. He did nothing but eat poorly his whole juvenile life and now we are supposed to take advice from that fat grub!”
Regardless of the negative feedback from the diabetes awareness community, Liberty Medical hopes that the Hungry Caterpillar will become as classic and quote-worthy as Brimley before him. Just got to teach him how to say “die-a-beet-us now.”
We reached out to the Hungry Caterpillar for his response to the controversy and he emailed us back with the script from his first TV commercial which will run in-between shows on PBS Kids:
I am the Hungry Caterpillar. I love to eat. I ate one apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries, five oranges, six bananas, seven figs, eight grapes, nine pickles, ten chocolate cakes, eleven ice cream cones, twelve cupcakes, and one slice of watermelon.
But then I got sick. I went to the doctor, and he told me I had diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that makes it hard for your body to use sugar for energy. I had to start taking medicine and eating a special diet.
But now with my free blood glucose meter, I’m never caught in a hyperglycemic shock. I can just keep eating like a disgusting shithead. So if you have diabetes, please talk to your doctor to learn more about Liberty Medical.