Sufficient Sleep May Help Protect Men Against Diabetes: Study

Title: Sufficient Sleep May Help Protect Men Against Diabetes: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 6/29/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/30/2016 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/29eTzXW

Health Tip: When Your Blood Glucose Rises

Title: Health Tip: When Your Blood Glucose Rises
Category: Health News
Created: 6/30/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/30/2016 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/29keg2e

'Hacking' a Diabetes Cure?

Title: 'Hacking' a Diabetes Cure?
Category: Health News
Created: 6/29/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/29/2016 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/299uzzy

Access to diabetes medications and supplies are a necessity, not a luxury

Mississippi State Representative Jeffrey S. Guice’s June 27, 2016, email message to a family regarding Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of diabetes supplies demonstrates a lack of knowledge about the daily and life-long challenges and costs of living with diabetes. We hope that this is an opportunity for Rep. Guice and many others to learn more about diabetes.

Diabetes is a complex and often misunderstood chronic health condition that affects nearly 30 million Americans, approximately one out of every 11 people, and includes approximately 200,000 children. It is also one of the nation’s leading chronic health care crises. According to the American Diabetes Association’s report, Economic Costs of Diabetes in the United States in 2012, the national health care costs of diabetes exceed $245 billion each year. The human costs are measured in the horrific complications, including blindness, amputation, heart disease, kidney failure, and death, that families like the one who wrote to Rep. Guice are seeking to avoid by having the tools they need to successfully manage diabetes.

According to the 2012 Economic Costs report, a person with diabetes can expect to have annual health care costs that are approximately 2.3 times, or an additional $7,872, more than someone who does not have diabetes. Because diabetes is a complex health condition, the challenges and costs associated with diabetes care can vary significantly from person to person. Some people are able to use less expensive prescription medications to effectively manage their diabetes, while others must use insulin and prescription medications and test their blood glucose many times a day. Being able to obtain the medications and supplies to manage diabetes is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Nicole Nichols, the mother of the child with type 1 diabetes who wrote to Rep. Guice, sought help with recent changes in obtaining diabetes supplies under Mississippi’s Medicaid/CHIP program. This situation is just one example of the difficulties individuals with diabetes and their families experience accessing the care they need to remain healthy. It was appropriate for the mother of the child with type 1 diabetes to alert elected officials to a problem with her state’s Medicaid/CHIP program and to seek help to rectify that problem. That’s advocacy, and it’s important.

The American Diabetes Association hopes Mississippi will take the steps needed to ensure vital diabetes supplies are available to those in the Medicaid and CHIP programs, and encourages open and respectful dialogue to engage, support and advocate for people with diabetes.

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Robert E. Ratner, MD, FACP, FACE
Chief Scientific & Medical Officer
American Diabetes Association

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/29aPFiu

25 Legends: Eric James

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of two American Diabetes Association^® signature fundraising events—Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes^® and Tour de Cure^®.

Every dollar raised at these events supports people living with diabetes and funds our life-changing research and programs.

The “25 Legends” blog series highlights personal stories from some of the Association’s most dedicated walkers and riders who are affected by the disease.

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My name is Eric James and I reside in Columbia, South Carolina. I have now lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly thirty years. My personal connection to diabetes, however, stems from long before I was diagnosed.

In 1973, my older brother, Bobby James, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 6 years old (I was only 3). Diabetes management was substantially different back then—he used urine strips to measure his blood glucose levels. Despite the rudimentary tools available to my brother, he seemed to handle his diabetes well and also managed to become the best big brother. 

In 1987, diabetes changed my own life forever. I was training for my 10th and final year of football and was in excellent physical condition. Despite being slim and muscular, I lost 10 pounds in the span of a week. As my appearance turned gaunt, it became clear that I needed to visit the doctor. Soon thereafter, I was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes—with a blood glucose reading of 1,200! My reaction to this news was stoic, perhaps predictably, as my big brother had already lived with the disease for 14 years. In an odd way, it gave me comfort to be more like him.

In our minds, my brother and I were invincible. And we lived that way. But though we did not want to admit it, diabetes was very much in control of our lives. We were two healthy-looking guys, but slowly and surely, our health entered a state of decline. On Dec. 25, 2002, my brother suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at the age of 36 due to complications from diabetes. This was a devastating blow to my entire family. Bobby was a central figure in our lives—and he was gone in an instant.

I knew I needed to drastically improve my own care, connect with the diabetes community and, ultimately, support others affected by the disease. When family members asked if I would consider riding in the 2003 South Carolina Tour de Cure, I jumped at the opportunity and said, “YES!”

That was when my Tour de Cure experience began. Since then, my team, “Bobby’s Bikers,” has had as many as 73 cyclists, ranked as the 12th-largest fundraising team in the nation and, to date, raised well in excess of $100,000 for the American Diabetes Association! I’m a Team Captain, a 14-year Red Rider veteran and a tenured member of the South Carolina Tour de Cure committee.

Since I began participating, my health has also taken an incredibly positive turn. Successfully managing carbs, activity and blood glucose are a part of my daily regimen thanks, in part, to Tour de Cure. I do not currently use an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor, but I will likely embrace these tools in the coming years. Today, I can honestly say that diabetes no longer controls my life—I control it.

I continue to live, learn and share in my amazing community and will continue participating regularly in Tour de Cure, to make a difference for everyone affected by diabetes.

Together, we CAN Stop Diabetes.

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The Association is so grateful of our 25 Legends! Their tireless efforts as walkers and riders are a tremendous support and inspiration to people with diabetes.

Sign up today! Learn more about these events and find out how to get involved at diabetes.org/stepout and http://ift.tt/1qKFQGM.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/29k8A6R

Diabetes Ups Risk of Heart Attack Death

Title: Diabetes Ups Risk of Heart Attack Death
Category: Health News
Created: 6/24/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/27/2016 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/29085jV

Your Rights, One Voice: Jazmyne’s Story

One day at school in late January 2016, 7-year-old Jazmyne Codes, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, received her insulin dose an hour late. The assistant principal informed her mother, CaTasha, of the incident. When CaTasha asked why that happened, she was told that the regular school nurse wasn’t available. She also learned that nobody else, including the two substitute school nurses, had been trained as backup to provide Jazmyne’s diabetes care.

Jazmyne, who is in first grade and has type 1 diabetes, was okay. But CaTasha was concerned about the rest of the school year.

Jazmyne’s medical challenges had caused her to miss a lot of school over the past couple of years. She has allergies and a weakened immune system from another condition, so any cold or other airborne illness can hurt her. CaTasha didn’t want Jazmyne’s diabetes to cause her any extra problems, such as possibly being penalized for missing too many school days—or even being held back a year because of absences. After all, she was a straight-A student.

To help prevent that from happening, CaTasha tried to get Jazmyne approved for the school district’s homebound medical program. That program allows students to receive instruction at home on days when they can’t attend school for medical reasons. But, Jazmyne was not approved for the program.

CaTasha realized that Jazmyne needed special consideration and accommodations from the school.

She needed to stay medically safe, avoid a repeat of the January insulin issue and continue doing well academically—then advance to the second grade on time. Although CaTasha knew a bit about what the school could offer students with medical needs and about the plan that was already in place for Jazmyne, she didn’t know the details. She also didn’t know if the existing plan fully protected Jazmyne. But she did know that she wanted the best for her daughter.

CaTasha contacted the American Diabetes Association® for help.

One of the Association’s Legal Advocates gave her information about their rights and guidance on how to move forward. It included the suggestion to schedule a 504 Plan meeting to discuss improvements to Jazmyne’s plan. A thorough 504 Plan would help Jazmyne by listing the details for her diabetes care at school, including which staff members would be trained to administer insulin. CaTasha took that advice, had the 504 meeting and achieved the results she needed.

Jazmyne now has a 504 Plan in place.

The school administrators assured CaTasha that Jazmyne’s medical care and educational needs would be met at school. That included training all of the school nurses about diabetes care. CaTasha is not only happy for Jazmyne, but also for other children in the district who have diabetes.

CaTasha says, “I really appreciated the help I received from the Legal Advocate at the American Diabetes Association. She was so wonderful, helping me through the process and providing the information I needed to understand the rights of children who have diabetes.”

She adds: “As parents we are the advocates for our children. We need to go above and beyond to ensure that they are okay. We should not have to worry about their health during the school day.”

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The American Diabetes Association leads the effort to prevent and eliminate discrimination against people with diabetes at school, at work and in other parts of daily life. If you need help, call 1-800-DIABETES or visit http://ift.tt/1zCIiW2.

Through our nationwide Safe at School program, the Association is dedicated to making sure that all children with diabetes are medically safe at school and have the same educational opportunities as their peers. Visit our Safe at School website for information and resources.

Give the gift of fairness — donate now to help people with diabetes facing discrimination, just like Jazmyne.

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