Stumble It!
Why Google Won’t Doodle Diabetes
People touched by diabetes everywhere want Google’s help! We’re working fastidiously to gather signatures for a grassroots campaign to get the web search magnate to display a special decorative “doodle” on its home page to mark World Diabetes Day, coming up Nov. 14. But despite nearly 10,000 signatures gathered already — and the fact that diabetes plagues 250 million people worldwide — it’s not looking good. And I’ll tell you why.
First, let me point out that this effort was launched by the TuDiabetes and DiabetesDaily communities, and is supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the Diabetes Research Institute along with virtually all the active online diabetes resources including My Diabetes Central, dLife, Diabetes Talkfest, and of course, all us bloggers. Here’s the latest word from organizers Manny and David, whose goal is to gather more than 20,000 signatures by Nov. 1:
Such a good and relevant cause, and so much support — so how can Google possibly say no?
I thought I’d take advantage of my connection with Google Health Product Manager Missy Krasner, so I approached her at last week’s Health 2.0 conference in San Francisco to broach the subject. Surprisingly, she told me that she “sympathized,” but that Google chooses its doodle subjects by pure metrics: “diabetes” is searched for a good bit in America, but not enough worldwide to make the doodle short list.
What? Doesn’t Google feature doodles for some rather obscure causes, like the birthday of Louis Pasteur?
I pursued the conversation via email and soon found myself corresponding with a woman from Google’s Corporate Communications department, who replied:
“Generally, we choose doodles from a variety of categories, such as those that celebrate holidays, 
anniversaries, and the lives of artists and inventors. Is there a particular event related to diabetes that you were thinking of? While we know our list of doodles is not exhaustive, the doodle team tries to select doodles for events that show creativity and innovation in a fun, quirky way. Remember: this is Google, so doodles are often super nerdy like a celebration of the recent particle accelerator experiment in Europe. =) We also try to be sensitive that a doodle is not the most appropriate way to recognize certain events, especially those that are more somber in nature. I hope this helps explain.”
A particular diabetes event?! Why yes, Ma’am! So I sent her all the details on WDD and information about the many, many signatures collected. Unfortunately, this is what came back:
“It’s exciting to hear that many people are psyched about a diabetes doodle! Diabetes awareness is obviously a very worthy cause. Our doodles are planned months in advance, so unfortunately this year’s World Diabetes Day won’t be an option. We can, however, submit this internally for consideration for next year. I do think it’s important to note that there are many worthy causes–even just in the health space alone–and we simply can’t do a doodle for each of the thousands of requests we receive. Also, as I mentioned, many events are selected for doodles because of their quirk factor and fit with our brand. I know that’s not a very satisfying answer, especially when this cause is so very personal to you, but I hope it helps explain why there are so many events and causes that are not ultimately made into doodles.”
So I’m not holding too much hope that we’ll get our doodle this year. Still, 20,000 signatures is a lot of patient power. Let’s not give up yet! Not only that, but imagine mobilizing those 20,000 voices for some other cause(s) pertinent to diabetes. I bet we could collectively start to change the world.
Explore posts in the same categories: D-News Examined, Diabetes Blogs and Web Stuff
Amy, thanks for getting in touch and posting that exchange. There’s a lot of good information there. I think the quirk factor can work in this case. When the London Eye and hundreds of distinctive monuments are lit up in blue, then the logo in blue is a quirky and fun way to be part of a global initiative. Let’s keep pushing for this in the year to come. Again, thank you and thank you!
Posted by: David Edelman | October 30th, 2008 at 6:42 amI think even if we get something for 2009 World Diabetes Day, it will still be an accomplishment, so while I hope Google reconsiders (Louis Pasteur more important for a doodle than WDD … WTF?) its position, I still think this is worthy of consideration and the petition is solid evidence that Google should move for 2009!
Posted by: Scott | October 30th, 2008 at 6:55 amRe: Pasteur over WDD — Pasteur was one of the innovators in medicine, and the father of vaccination. Outgrowth of his work has resulted in the global eradication of smallpox and a serious drop in the number of people affected by polio worldwide. Even those who choose not to vaccinate are affected by Pasteur’s work, since they are exposed to fewer potential sources of contagion.
On the flip side, while many people are afflicted with diabetes, it is not universal, and it tends not to affect the lives or lifestyles of many older patients with Type 2 diabetes (”I just take a pill for it and use Splenda in my coffee instead of sugar”). The adverse news reports concerning Avandia and Byetta do not help in making diabetes awareness an “upbeat” cause for those without glucose metabolism disorders.
If one were to try to convince Google to honor diabetes, one might consider that “quirkiness” factor and choose instead the anniversary of the first successful use of animal-based insulin (it gives the artists an excuse to draw cute little pigs and cows instead of just one blue circle). We may need to “think outside the box” of traditional advocacy…
Posted by: tmana | October 30th, 2008 at 7:20 amtmana, the pigs comment is spot-on. My wife and I have been discussing what would qualify as quirky all morning.
Posted by: David Edelman | October 30th, 2008 at 8:06 amI am sad to hear this but I understand Google’s position.
But this is not just about America, Canada and Europe…..this disease IS universal in that it IS International:
India is the diabetes capital of the world with estimated 41 million Indians having diabetes.Every fifth diabetic in the world is an Indian.It is believed that about one third of the Diabetic in India do not know they have Diabetes. (http://malayalidoc.blogspot.com/2008/10/call-for-google-doodle-for-world.html).
I understand that there are many “causes” out there, many diseases in which many are affected. But diabetes is an International disease affecting Millions.
Quirkiness is good, the pig is good. Next year is good.
Collectively I think we can do some good, no doubt.
Many were looking forward to having a doodle this year.
Thanks again Amy, tmana for your informative comments as always (so many people learn so much from you) from Manny and David for pushing this great venture out into the DOC.
Posted by: CALpumper | October 30th, 2008 at 8:27 amI have noticed that Yahoo! alters their header for certain events. Maybe Yahoo would be interested.
Posted by: Chris | October 30th, 2008 at 9:48 amWhat if the Doodle was accompanied by dancing bottles of insulin and glucometers? How’s that for quirky?
Hmm. Do you suppose we could combine diabetes with invention, such as the anniversary of the discovery of insulin?
Posted by: Hannah | October 30th, 2008 at 3:40 pmMeh, tmana beat me to that one. Oh well! Kudos!!
Posted by: Hannah | October 30th, 2008 at 3:41 pmWe all have to do every thing for helping people with doabetes, google also have to do something.
Posted by: pre diabetes symptoms | October 30th, 2008 at 9:36 pmPerhaps, we could all begin doing Google searches for diabetes related topics, so it becomes a highly searched word that’s on the short list in time for 2009’s WDD.
Posted by: Natalie | October 31st, 2008 at 6:47 pmI won’t take no for an answer… not yet, at least. Just posted this:
Posted by: Manny Hernandez | October 31st, 2008 at 8:06 pmhttp://tudiabetes.com/forum/topics/not-taking-no-for-an-answer
Dancing glucometers and insulin bottles, I can get behind. But I am an animal lover, and I think it’s morbid to have little pigs to remind us of those who supplied the first animal insulins. I am so glad there are rDNA insulins now.
Posted by: Lauren | November 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm.. I was going to suggest that folks grab hold of the Google logo and have fun creating a “doodle” for WDD 2009. But then I realized that if you did, Google would sue the pants, skirt, and knickers off you.
Posted by: Robb | November 5th, 2008 at 5:45 pm.. So, do NOT open up your Adobe Photoshop or your Paint.net and make your own WDD doodle using the Google logo. Do not mess with the Google logo using Windows Paint or G.I.M.P. Don’t even think about taking Corel PaintShop to the Google logo and trying to make a fun and quirky doodle.
.. You have been warned! Now, please excuse me. My Paint.net is blinking down on my task bar and I must tend to it…
all I can say is “shame on you google”
Posted by: martin | November 14th, 2008 at 10:09 aman opportunity to possibly save so many lives by creating awareness and they choose not to! Quirkiness- who cares about that, diabetes is awareness and the effects of diabetes far out weigh any quirkiness factor that would be needed!
Pathetic, that’s all I can say!
It is too bad that such a large company such as Google has all these excuses for not supporting a cause like diabetes. I myself never thought much about it until my ten month old son was diagnosed in oct of 2007. I was surprised to find out how little support there is for this disease compared to other ones such as breast cancer and heart disease. i think that more needs to be done to let the world know what diabetes can do to a person, and that insulin, pills and glucometers are only a treatment and not a cure. Shame on Google for not stepping up to the plate on this one. Its pretty sad day when you have to pick a cause to support based on how much money is generated from searches or advertisement. To all those who help support diabetes research, I thank you.
Posted by: Brian | November 18th, 2008 at 12:12 pmMorning-
Can’t you guys do something to help out these folks?
Thanks,
Posted by: Jay Larsen | November 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 amJay Larsen