Comedian Samara Suomi Embraces Diabetes on Stage
This content material initially appeared on Beyond Type 1. Republished with permission.
By Alexi Melvin
Comedian Samara Suomi at all times felt pulled towards comedy, however after a kind 1 diabetes analysis on the age of sixteen, she was gifted with infinite materials to attract from. We sat down with Samara to debate her perspective on life with sort 1 diabetes (T1D), how she incorporates diabetes into her comedy exhibits (like altering her steady glucose monitor on stage!), and her hopes for the long run.
Beyond Type 1: How do you incorporate sort 1 diabetes into your units?
Samara: I’ve 15 minutes of fabric in all probability that I do on sort 1. My jokes are extra about how folks don’t know something about it. And it’s enjoyable to shift the attitude.
That’s a factor I like about comedy. You sort of get to take no matter components of your life have an effect on you in several methods and you may shift the attitude into something you need. And so I’ve plenty of enjoyable.
It’s enjoyable to take one thing that folks make enjoyable of anyway. Everybody is aware of the diabetes jokes. I’ve heard all of that earlier than and typically simply dwelling life as any person with sort 1, folks will say insane issues to you and also you’re similar to, “Oh, people don’t know anything about this.”
I believe that’s so humorous — you possibly can take one thing that you just have been identified with and that typically you’ve sort of felt a bit of bit outlined by, however you possibly can actually simply swap it and be like, “No, this is how I define it.”
It may be as ridiculous or as actual as I would like it to be, as a result of it’s one thing that I reside with on daily basis. It’s grow to be so routine to me that it’s enjoyable to speak about as a result of no one actually is aware of what it’s until you’ve got it.
Have you ever fearful in any respect that T1d would get in the best way of performing, or do you simply roll with it?
I’ve had a few alternatives to do bizarre exhibits on the town. We’ll do completely different takes on standup — there was this presentation present; you needed to do a enjoyable presentation a couple of subject. I did mine on diabetes and I really modified my [continuous glucose monitor] sensor on stage.
I had the FreeStyle Libre on the time and it was tremendous enjoyable to stroll folks by the steps of stabbing one thing into your arm. People freaked out once I did it. And it was similar to, “I do this every day. This is offensive — why are you grossed out about this?”
It’s additionally enjoyable to mess around with if one thing have been to occur; I haven’t had it occur but. But if my insulin pump went off whereas I used to be performing, I believe it’s only a enjoyable strategy to incorporate that. Like, “Oh my time’s up,” one thing silly like that. You can do actually something.
So it hasn’t actually gotten in the best way. Honestly, I believe it will virtually assist me if it did. If some sort of technological factor occurred whereas I used to be on stage, it will be extra enjoyable to work with. So I sort of sit up for one thing taking place, nevertheless it hasn’t but.
How did your journey lead you to comedy?
It’s one thing that I’ve at all times actually needed to do. I’ve at all times been an enormous fan of comedy. I grew up watching… actually, it’s actually attention-grabbing now due to all the social points going on and all the pieces. But I grew up with my household, watching Louis C.Okay. and Bill Cosby. And we watched George Carlin and we watched Joan Rivers.
I grew up watching among the big-time legends and I simply actually beloved their perspective on life. Obviously, a few of them didn’t go on dwelling one of the best lives. So I’ve since modified my position fashions, however I do love comedy. And for me, I haven’t at all times had the best time and one of the best situations thrown at me. But I believe my humorousness has gotten me by most of those chapters in my life.
You carry out in Madison, WI. Did you develop up there?
No, I really grew up in Stevens Point, which is a small city in Wisconsin. I went to varsity there. I used to be going to maneuver out of my hometown after school, however due to some points in my household — nicely, probably not points, however well being issues in my household. I misplaced my mother. So I made a decision to remain a bit of longer than anticipated and I really simply moved to Madison 4 years in the past now.
What was that have like for you at that age?
It was a tough couple of years. I discovered that I had a temper dysfunction once I was 15, after which bought identified with diabetes at 16, after which my mother died at 18. Those three years have been sort of tough.
And so [my diagnosis] simply blended in. I didn’t actually perceive how severe it was or comprehend how a lot it was going to impression my life till a bit of bit later on. It didn’t actually appear as severe as I later processed. Then I used to be like, “Oh yeah, this isn’t going away.”
What occurred once you started to essentially course of the fact of your analysis?
Now as an grownup (and having to navigate the medical health insurance system) it has grow to be far more related in my life. I sort of miss the times of being distracted by different issues. It’s such a bizarre factor to reside with on daily basis. At that age [when I was diagnosed] you don’t actually perceive something that’s going on. Everything simply sort of is terrible on a regular basis once you’re a young person in a technique or one other, all the pieces appears so large. All the issues that don’t matter appear to matter extra.
Did you become involved within the diabetes group in any respect after your analysis?
I didn’t actually become involved a lot. My hometown, the docs there, weren’t one of the best. I didn’t get an insulin pump or a Dexcom or any sort of know-how till I moved to Madison. My hometown docs instructed me my life-style didn’t match the wants of a pump, and so they didn’t assume I’d profit from it.
Editor’s Note: Healthcare suppliers are nonetheless studying about diabetes know-how too. Sometimes, they don’t advocate know-how like insulin pumps or steady glucose displays, even after they could be useful to your blood sugar management or normal high quality of life. Do your analysis to see what could also be greatest for you; in case your healthcare supplier just isn’t open to working with you on what you are feeling could be greatest to your well being, discover one who will.
I didn’t actually know something about having sort 1. So, I didn’t actually really feel like part of [the diabetes community] as a result of I didn’t actually really feel like I used to be educated on it till I moved to a distinct metropolis and discovered the advantages of all these applied sciences. I’m nonetheless not tremendous concerned locally so far as teams or donations or something like that, however I’m conscious of these issues greater than I used to be earlier than. It may be very cool understanding what’s on the market and that there are much more teams and communities forming.
How does your humorousness and comedy make issues a bit simpler for you?
It’s sort of grow to be a coping mechanism. It’s how I cope with stuff. I’ve at all times been one to attempt to lighten the temper and snicker at no matter is occurring, regardless if I ought to or not.
When I moved to Madison, I used to be in a completely completely different scenario than I’m now. I moved with this man who ended up dishonest on me and left me in Madison all on my own. And I had determined earlier than I even moved that I needed to maneuver to Madison to pursue extra comedy as a result of there have been no open mics in my hometown.
Where did your motivation come from after you have been left alone?
I used to be like “Okay, I have no friends here. I don’t know anybody. The only support system I had just left. I have literally nothing. What is stopping me from trying? What’s the worst that’s going to happen if I go on stage? Nobody knows who I am, I’ll just never do it again.”
I went up with some jokes that I had written over the yr or in order that I used to be attempting to work up the braveness to start out. The very first open mic I did was on the comedy membership right here on State Street. The open mic right here attracts over 100 folks. It’s actually an unrealistic glimpse into what an open mic is. It’s very glamorous and most open mics are usually not glamorous.
I made a decision I needed to only attempt to go large and do my first mic on the largest stage I may. Because like I mentioned, I had nothing to lose after which I simply did it. I didn’t do nicely, I didn’t do unhealthy, I did all proper. But I used to be, “I’m hooked I like can’t stop.”
The subsequent open mic I did was a neighborhood mic at a espresso store with 10 folks versus the 200 folks I simply carried out in entrance of the day earlier than. I used to be like, “Oh, I love all aspects of this. I love the no audience, I love the big audience, I just love telling my perspective for a given amount of time and people relating to it.”
It’s such a cool efficiency artwork that I’m simply sort of hooked on. And I didn’t count on to get so into it. I at all times knew I needed to do it and I needed to strive, however now that I’m actively attempting and a few cool issues have occurred, it’s similar to “Oh this is perfect; so much more than I wanted it to be.”
What are your plans to your profession going ahead?
I’ve plenty of hopes for comedy so far as targets with performing particularly on this world with know-how. And it looks as if some folks, whether or not it’s they get found off of social media or one thing, there’s at all times one thing taking place to any person. I by no means wish to financial institution on something like that occuring. I assume my targets are simply to sort of preserve doing what I’m doing and at all times take pleasure in it.
Whether my comedy takes off and I generate income off of it and might stop all the roles that appear mundane or whether or not I’ve to work a 9 to 5 the remainder of my life and simply do comedy on the aspect… both means, so long as comedy is concerned, that’s about it.
Right now, I’m simply attempting to determine what is going to make me completely satisfied. I don’t know. I’m simply sort of snug the place I’m at. Maybe not career-wise. I want I had higher jobs. I want I had a wage or one thing, however these are issues that may come over time. But I assume proper now, what I hope to do is simply what I’m doing, however hopefully receives a commission a bit of bit extra.
What could be the final word objective?
My final objective is to be a voice actor and assist draw an animated cartoon. But if that doesn’t occur, so long as I’ve what I’ve proper now, I’m fantastic.
It’s plenty of enjoyable. I can’t complain. I’m simply completely satisfied that I’ve discovered the group I did and the chums that I did and the connections that I’ve made.
Check out Samara’s comedy right here.
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