Low Priority is a fictional narrative film based on the lived experiences of people with diabetes experiencing homelessness by Calgary Diabetes Advocacy Committee (CDAC). (A sequel to the short film Low.) When Bobby, a man living with diabetes experiences a dangerous low blood sugar in a shelter bathroom, his journey to the hospital is not just a medical emergency — it becomes a revealing portrait of how stigma and judgment follow people experiencing homelessness through the health care system. Through his eyes, the film spotlights the resilience required to navigate not only a life-threatening condition in an impossible situation, but also an overburdened system that tends to see the circumstance before the person, challenging us to confront our assumptions about care, dignity, and humanity.
Interested in learning about the healthcare experiences of patients with diabetes who are experiencing homelessness? Join us for a screening of the short-film and a brief discussion with the film-makers. Lunch will be provided. (Please RSVP by April 15.)
This film is produced by Dr. David Campbell, whose research informed this story. He is an endocrinologist and an associate professor at the Cumming School of Medicine (University of Calgary). He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions prior to his current role. Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Campbell conducts health services research, including community-based participatory research, with the objective of improving diabetes care and outcomes for individuals who face various forms of social disadvantage.