“This Is My New Math. This Is Diabetes.”

Siani looks like a typical college student. She goes to the campus dining hall for breakfast, takes classes in Business Administration during the day and dances with her friends at parties in the evening.

What you don’t know is that inside her purse, she is carrying juice, snacks and insulin. You don’t know that she’s counting carbs for everything on the menu at the dining hall. You don’t know that the reason she occasionally misses class is because she has to take care of her diabetes. “You don’t always have somebody there with you,” she says. “I have to always take care of myself first.”

Siani was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes shortly after her 10th birthday. This is her story.

During American Diabetes Month^® we’re sharing the stories of people affected by diabetes, just like Siani. What do YOU want the world to know about this disease?

If you or someone you know is living with diabetes, share your story during November using #ThisIsDiabetes. And learn more at http://diabetes.org/adm.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2fULnyk

Laughing Out Loud with Yvette Nicole Brown

Your Rights, One Voice: Brody’s Story

Picture this: You have two sons, both in the same school district, and both excited to attend a school-sponsored summer camp with their friends. Your youngest son, a 6-year-old, will attend for the first time.

But along with the normal anxiety that accompanies a child going to camp, another looms large: This son lives with type 1 diabetes and may require extra care during the day. Then, after applying to the camp, only one son is accepted—your youngest is denied because of his diabetes. What would you do?

Angela Smith and Patrick Adam of Los Alamitos, California, faced this situation with their son, Brody, who hoped to join his older brother at their school district’s summer day camp program, Camp Fun in the Sun. Unfortunately, the Los Alamitos Unified School District didn’t feel that it could provide proper diabetes care for Brody, although it was familiar with Brody’s needs during the school year.

Brody and his family

“When we first applied to the camp, we didn’t have any idea that Brody might be denied because of his diabetes. Particularly since he attends school in the same district that offers this summer camp—including [attending] the same after-school camp throughout the school year,” Angela explains.

“The district was familiar with his needs and how to test his blood sugar, [handle] snack times and so on,” Angela continues. We also made it very clear that since we work close by, we could be ‘on call’ and come to the camp as needed to be present to administer lunchtime insulin each day. At the time we weren’t aware that it’s unlawful for a school or camp to even require this.”

Brody faced discrimination because of his type 1 diabetes. Not only is it unlawful for parents to be required to be present for insulin administration, it’s also illegal to deny a child entry to public summer camp programs simply because of diabetes. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination in instances like this.

Angela and Patrick weren’t satisfied with the school district’s rejection. They took to the internet to find a solution, quickly discovering that the American Diabetes Association^® was there to help them advocate. Our Legal Advocacy team provided Brody’s parents with the backup they needed, such as information on federal protections and program obligations for public summer camp programs. We also supplied sample letters for the family to use, copies of Title II settlements and a fact sheet about the rights of children with diabetes at camp.

With this knowledge and information, Angela and Patrick were able to successfully advocate on Brody’s behalf: “After working with the Association, we forwarded this same information to the camp supervisor who had denied Brody’s acceptance. She advised it was being reviewed by the district’s legal representative. We waited nearly two weeks, but finally learned that Brody would be accepted into the summer camp program.”

After the Association provided information on the rights afforded to kids like Brody, the school system arranged for a nurse (the same one who leads Brody’s diabetes care at school) to train summer camp employees on how to assist with diabetes management. Finally, Brody could safely join his brother at Camp Fun in the Sun.

Without the Association’s resources, this story may have had a completely different outcome. “It was such a relief to feel like we had the support of a knowledgeable, credible organization,” Angela notes. “We had a whole team already advocating for Brody before we even knew it.”

Thanks to Angela and Patrick’s initiative and our dedicated Legal Advocates, Brody was able to enjoy a great summer camp experience—one that every child deserves.

“Brody had a very, very positive camp experience,” Angela reports. “We won’t let his diabetes stand in the way of having ‘normal,’ healthy, happy, exciting, educational and fun-filled days! We’re so thankful to have the support of the American Diabetes Association to help us educate, advocate and inspire positive changes.”

---

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 Brody.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2eoRr1f

25 Legends: Laura Nolan

This year marks the 25th 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.

---

Summer 1973: I had just finished the eighth grade. I was a little nervous but very excited at the prospect of starting high school and a new chapter in my life.  But little did I know just how much my life was going to change over the next few months.

Ever since I was a young adult, I have always spent a great deal of time outdoors. I especially loved going on walks and bike rides with my dad because they felt like a fun adventure. Suddenly, however, they became a different kind of adventure—as we needed to search for places to stop so I could quench my ever-increasing thirst and go to the bathroom.

My life at home was also changing for the worse. It seemed like all I did was drink ice water, run to the bathroom and sit around completing crossword puzzles. I quickly lost weight and ran out of energy. When my parents finally called my pediatrician on June 26, he thought the symptoms were related to my asthma. But later that day, I slipped into a coma.

I remember hearing the emergency room doctors tell my parents that I might die—my blood glucose was 1,500 and I was extremely sick. I wanted so badly to tell my parents that I could hear them and I would be okay, but I could not speak. When I awoke from the coma the next morning, I found out that I had type 1 diabetes. I was told I would have this disease the rest of my life. I would have to take insulin injections because my body could no longer produce insulin. I was terrified.

Five years later, I began nursing school and was still relatively unfamiliar with diabetes, despite having lived with it for a while. The program taught me not only how to help others with the disease, but also how to improve my own diabetes management. In March 1980, I started using an insulin pump and, within three weeks, I found my passion in helping others begin pump therapy. Since finishing nursing school and becoming a certified diabetes educator, I have placed thousands of patients on insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Watching the technology improve their lives, like it did mine, was amazing. 

Over the course of my life, I have worked for multiple hospitals and for Medtronic Diabetes, and I’ve owned my own business—ABC Diabetes Consultants—which offers diabetes education programs. I have also volunteered extensively with the American Diabetes Association Phoenix office.

Laura, center, with Pump Squad walkers Joan and Grace.

I discovered Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes in 1991 and immediately reached out to my family, friends and colleagues to create a team. We originally called ourselves the Valley Insulin Pumpers, followed by Control Diabetes and Wacky Walkers. In 2001, however, my daughter (who was 12 years old at the time) proposed Pump Squad in honor of my insulin pump and those of my patients walking with us. Pump Squad has remained the team name for the past 15 years.

Pump Squad has been recognized as a Top 10 Fundraiser multiple times in my region. Last year, we raised over $9,000. In addition, three of us were Champion fundraisers—raising over $1,000 each. I am very grateful for my family, friends and patients for coming out to the walk each year.

Participating in the walks inspired me to join my local office’s Speakers Bureau, Diabetes EXPO Volunteer Committee and Step Out Planning Committee—all while working as a nurse and diabetes educator. Finally, I volunteered at Camp AZDA in Prescott, Ariz., for eight years. Watching children and young adults adjust to life with diabetes and support one another is a truly rewarding experience.

Although diabetes is difficult to live with, it has made me a better, stronger person. If it were not for diabetes, I may not have pursued a career in nursing or diabetes education—or found a supportive community. Each year, watching my Pump Squad walk to help others affected by diabetes makes me so proud. My daughter, who is now 27 years old, recently reminded me that I used to take her in a stroller during the first several walks. Neither of us can believe we have participated for 24 years. As I write out my donations request letter for the 25^th time, I am more motivated than ever to help others with diabetes and to find a cure.

---

Together, we CAN Stop Diabetes.

The Association is so grateful for 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/2d9O8MA

#IDriveMyHealth: Lisa’s Story

Nearly three in four NASCAR^® fans are impacted by diabetes, which affects approximately 30 million people nationwide. The Drive to Stop Diabetes^SM campaign, presented by Lilly Diabetes in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association^®, strives to empower Americans with diabetes to live well. The face of the campaign, NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Ryan Reed, has type 1 diabetes and is an inspiration for all people with the disease.

---

As we have all realized at one point or another, life is full of surprises. Type 1 diabetes was definitely not one of the better surprises I received. Despite being born 20 years ago, I feel like my story really began in August 2007 when I was diagnosed with diabetes.

Although I always try to make lemonade out of lemons, adjusting to life with diabetes was not easy. Since I was only 11 years old when I was diagnosed, I could not fully comprehend the disease and did not realize how much of an impact it would have on my life.

Diabetes management is a lot to learn—you constantly need to remember things that never used to matter (i.e., counting carbohydrates, taking insulin, checking your blood glucose multiple times every day, maintaining a fitness routine). However, being the adaptable person I am, I believe I dealt with the change quite well. With my family’s support, I accepted that I did not have a choice—this was the way my life had to be.

Nine years later, diabetes has come to be a part of me just like my hair, nose or anything else. It’s just there. I am not limited by it. Anything I want to do in a given moment is up to me—I just have to keep my blood glucose in mind. The only moments I consciously think about diabetes are when, once in a while, someone asks me about the machine that’s in my pocket or the odd cable that’s attached to me. And, with a smile, I educate the person about my situation and at the same time raise awareness about diabetes.

I am an athlete. I show jump on international arenas—and diabetes does not distract me from my goals. I dedicate at least four hours every day to horseback riding. As a rider, it is my duty to train and prepare my three young horses for any challenges we might face in competition. My discipline and passion, stemming partly from diabetes and partly from caring for my horses, have had a significant influence on my approach to the sport.

Although I have diabetes, it is not the most significant thing about me. So, I suppose now would be a good time to start over and formally introduce myself. My name is Lisa, and I am 20 years old. I was born in New Jersey but currently live in Warsaw, Poland—my family was born there and I compete in show jumping championships such as the World Cup Qualifier for the Central European League. When I am not riding my horses, I spend each day in this beautiful city studying or socializing at my university. I have a Facebook page that I use to inspire others to pursue their ambitions despite diseases such as diabetes. I encourage them to embrace and accept their challenges, whatever they may be.

I support Ryan Reed and the Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign because it motivates people to continue enjoying life, even when diabetes is along for the ride. The moment people lose sight of that, the disease wins. Ryan Reed is an inspiration, and just as he encourages his fans to stay active and healthy with diabetes, my #IDriveMyHealth message is to know that diabetes is just a part of you. It doesn’t have to define you.

---

Are you a NASCAR fan impacted by diabetes? Share your healthy lifestyle tips with us on social media, using #IDriveMyHealth.

To learn more about the Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign and find out how to get involved, visit http://ift.tt/1Orwomd.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2damMBO

Live. Work. Play: Eric’s Diabetes Story

Working for the American Diabetes Association^® means making a difference for millions of people and working toward a future free of diabetes and all its burdens.

We all have a story to share. Some of us live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes or prediabetes. Others have loved ones with the disease or have lost someone to the fight.

The following are personal stories from the Association’s staff about why we are so committed to the mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

---

Eric Cortes
Senior Manager, Social Media & Digital Engagement
Home Office (Alexandria, Va.)

I’m almost two times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. Why? Because I’m Latino.

When I started working with the American Diabetes Association in July 2015, this statistic became forever etched in my memory: Compared with non-Hispanic whites, the risk of being diagnosed with diabetes is 1.7 times higher among Latinos/Hispanics. Did it make me think twice about my eating habits and exercise regimen? It most certainly did. It also made me think about my family history.

I remember that after learning about my career move, my father mentioned that my mother was on the brink of developing prediabetes. She wasn’t diagnosed yet, but her doctors recommended she watch her eating habits and start moving more. This news made my father push her to exercise more often. “Go out for a walk during lunch,” he regularly tells her.

My grandmother was living with type 2 diabetes, but she recently passed away. I didn’t want my mom to face a similar type 2 diagnosis and its complications. When I visit my parents, I push my mom to take a walk and avoid those pesky eating habits we grew up with—and sometimes maintain today. When I was growing up, our family would constantly eat at fast-food restaurants.

In addition, after I told my brother and his wife I was moving to Virginia for the job, my sister-in-law mentioned her very close friend, Claire, who is living with type 1 diabetes. You may remember her from a recent Diabetes Stops Here blog post written by her mother, Marcie. Since meeting Claire, I’ve learned more about her, including how she manages her diabetes and the awesome fact that she’s been participating in Tour de Cure^® for many years!

Team Moxie from left: Eric , Marcie and Claire.

Claire spoke to me about her involvement with the Association’s local D.C. office and then asked if I wanted to join Team Moxie, the top Tour de Cure Family and Friends team in the local area. I gladly accepted the invitation to the event, which took place in June. It was going to be my first long ride—a challenging 36 miles—but I knew it would benefit my health in addition to raising funds for the Association. The ride was also a great opportunity to work with the local office and Claire to record a Facebook Live during her ride. (Go Red Rider! You can watch the recorded stream on our Tour de Cure Facebook page.)

And thank God for rest stops! I’m in no way an avid cyclist. I was happy to take quick breaks along the course. The raisins and energy drinks provided by volunteers boosted my will to keep going and finish. After completing the ride in about three and a half hours, I felt wonderful. In fact, the feeling was so good that I continued to ride my bicycle. I ride twice a week to and from work—4 miles each way—for a total of 16 miles a week. This is also helping me train for an upcoming 50-mile Tour de Cure!

So why did I become involved with the American Diabetes Association? It was an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of all people with diabetes. In the past year, I’ve learned so much that has helped not only with my own health, but also with the health of my family and friends. Working in social media also provides an opportunity to speak with people across the country and hear their stories. I’ve worked on many projects and campaigns that benefit the diabetes community. The disease can be scary, but I smile anytime I read or listen to a story on perseverance and overcoming the many obstacles diabetes throws at you.

It’s disheartening to read that 12.8 percent of the Latino/Hispanic population in the United States lives with diabetes. However, I’m happy to know that everything I work on—from a short tweet to an extensive Facebook Live video—makes a difference.

---

To learn more about nationwide employment opportunities and life at the Association, please visit diabetes.org/careers.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2dp6rgu

25 Legends: Cristie Field

This year marks the 25th 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.

---

When I cycled in my first Tour de Cure five years ago, I had no idea that it would become one of my biggest passions and an event I look forward to every year.

Cristie Field, pictured right, with husband Joshua Field.

My name is Cristie Field. I am 35 years old and currently live in Chicago. My husband and I began participating in the Chicagoland Tour de Cure five years after I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The diagnosis came as a huge surprise and completely changed my life—I was only 25 and had recently graduated college. I always lived a reasonably healthy lifestyle and was a ballet dancer for many years. However, the summer after college, my weight fluctuated and I felt constantly exhausted. I just did not feel like myself.

It was Bell’s palsy that finally landed me in the hospital in August of that year—but the doctor seemed more concerned about something else. I vividly remember him asking if diabetes ran in my family, and me telling him to calm down when he mentioned my blood glucose was high. After all, I had just consumed a small Frappuccino® and part of a Rice Krispies® treat. Little did I know that my blood glucose was nearly 600mg/dL and my A1c was 12.6. Needless to say, I had diabetes.

From that moment on, I was forced to constantly count carbohydrates, poke myself with needles and worry about potential complications. I was terrified. However, I channeled those feelings into an effort to get as healthy as I could–and I did! The support I received from my family and friends is more than I could ever ask for. They are patient when I’m “hangry” and always make sure there is something for me to eat in case my blood glucose goes low. More notably, they have supported my small, but mighty, Tour de Cure team, the A1Cyclists, for the past four years.

My initial Tour de Cure left me feeling nothing short of inspired. I became committed to raising funds for research and children’s camps, as well as advocating for all of us in the diabetes community. Each year, my family and friends raise at least $3,000, and my mother and I are proud to be Champion Tour de Cure fundraisers. Not only do I ride for those living with diabetes, but I also ride for my family members and friends who are affected by it daily.

At the Tour this past June, my appreciation for my support system amplified. I was unable to ride because I was 17 weeks pregnant at the time, so I spent the day volunteering in the American Diabetes Association’s Red Rider tent. I cheered on cyclists and provided them with snacks, cooling wraps and all the moral support they could need. I also participated on the local Red Rider Planning Committee this year, raising awareness and helping newly diagnosed individuals. This role enabled me to give back to an organization that gives so much hope and support to those with diabetes.

Being pregnant with diabetes is no easy feat. In fact, the disease held me back from becoming a mother for years. However, with the amazing support of my family and friends, my OB-GYN and my maternal- fetal medicine team, I know I am in good hands and a healthy pregnancy is possible. I closely monitor my blood glucose, visit the doctor every other week and do not give in to late-night ice cream cravings. It is definitely a challenge, but I know that my health—and my growing baby boy’s health—is well worth it.

In 2017, I look forward to rejoining fellow Red Riders on the cycling trail, as well as continuing my involvement on the Red Rider Planning Committee. And I cannot wait to bring my son (due in November) to his first Tour de Cure next year!

---

Together, we CAN Stop Diabetes.

The Association is so grateful for 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/2cncm5J

Diabetes Advocacy With a Crown

“And the winner is . . .”

Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999

You’ve just been crowned Miss America. Imagine hearing these words in front of thousands of people in the audience and millions watching at home. Now you will be on the road for more than 360 days out of the year supporting your platform. Your cause: Diabetes Education and Awareness.

While winning the title of Miss America can only happen to one person each year, many state titleholders promote their platform locally. But for those who do win the title of Miss America, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And it’s made even more special if the contestant has a close connection to diabetes—or even lives with it herself.

Nicole Johnson, PhD, was the first contestant with type 1 diabetes to win the Miss America competition in 1999. She was also the first to visibly wear her insulin pump on the runway.

“Becoming Miss America allowed me to have a voice and a platform that were immediately legitimate,” says Nicole. “At 24 it was incredible to go from college student to national advocate and spokesperson in a moment.”

The title of Miss America was a beginning, but certainly not an ending, for Nicole. Since she won the title, she has expanded her education and skills to help more people with diabetes than she ever could have imagined: “Today, I conduct diabetes behavioral research, run national programs and train others. Miss America was an incredible blessing—and something I continue to learn from even today.”

Nicole set the stage for many other contestants with a diabetes connection. In 2014, Sierra Sandison also chose to wear her insulin pump during the swimsuit portion of the Miss Idaho competition and won the state title. Her Facebook photo quickly went viral and inspired many young women to share their own pump photos with the #showmeyourpump hashtag.

Daja Dial, Miss South Carolina 2015, made it her mission to educate people about diabetes, in honor of her older brother. You can read more about her connection to diabetes via Diabetes Forecast magazine. Dial placed in the top 7 during last year’s event.

Age doesn’t limit your capacity to advocate. At the age of 17, Emily Brewer, Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen 2016, has supported American Diabetes Association® events and advocacy programs at the local and state level. She recently won the Teens in Action award for her platform, Winning Against Diabetes, during the Miss America Outstanding Teen competition.

“I chose my platform because my uncle passed away at 23 due to complications with type 1 diabetes,” says Emily. “My great-aunt has type 2 diabetes, and both types are very common in my family. It’s something that I’ve seen firsthand and am very concerned and passionate about.”

Caroline Carter, Miss New Hampshire 2016

This year, Caroline Carter, Miss New Hampshire 2016, will compete on the national stage and attempt to follow Nicole Johnson’s footsteps. Carter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 12. She recently wore her insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor during the swimsuit portion of the Miss New Hampshire competition. “The diabetes community went wild,” Caroline says about winning her state’s title. “Ever since April, even to today, I have been getting pictures of children proudly showing their diabetes supplies.”

Caroline’s personal platform is “1, 2, We: Diabetes Advocacy.” During her year of service, she hopes to spread diabetes awareness and education, and break some of the stereotypes surrounding the disease.

“[Winning the Miss America title] would be such an amazing opportunity for me!” says Caroline. “I would have the ability to meet thousands of people with diabetes along my journey, and as Miss America, I would be able to educate not only my community, but also the nation on the dangers of this disease and ways to live with it.”

Whether you’re in front of a national audience or speaking locally with government officials, advocacy is an important part of the Association’s work. Thanks to advocates like Nicole Johnson and others across the country, we can transform the lives of all people with diabetes.

For more information on how to become a diabetes advocate, visit diabetes.org/advocate.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2bKJz4U

Live. Work. Play: Kaylee’s Diabetes Story

Working for the American Diabetes Association^® means making a difference for millions of people and working toward a future free of diabetes and all its burdens.

We all have a story to share. Some of us live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes or prediabetes. Others have loved ones with the disease or have lost someone to the fight.

The following are personal stories from the Association’s staff about why we are so committed to the mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

---

Kaylee Gronau
Associate Manager, Development
Phoenix, Arizona

Kaylee, Blake and Morgan at a reunion ,12 years after meeting.

My adventure with the American Diabetes Association began when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on Nov. 4, 1996, less than a month after my seventh birthday. My parents reached out to the organization, which provided resources and support for managing diabetes at home and school. This was especially important, as my diagnosis was in the middle of the school year. We soon discovered the Association had even more to offer a child new to diabetes, including Diabetes Camp!

Now let us fast-forward to the summer of 1997. I was signed up for my first year at Camp Needlepoint in Hudson, Wis. My parents cried the first time I went off to camp; they didn’t want to leave me alone. It was my first sleepover camp and my first time away from them—the first time someone else would help me with my diabetes. I, however, was very excited about the possibilities of developing new friendships and learning from my counselors. I learned so much from my camp friends and counselors, such as taking insulin shots in places besides my stomach, and got better at carb counting.

At camp, I began what has become a 20-year journey of lifelong friendships, memories
and a passion to work for the organization that was—in all senses of the word—a lifeline for me and my family. Camp Needlepoint is where I started to make lifelong friendships. I was a camper until I was 18 and then became a camp counselor (at Camp Needlepoint and Camp Sioux in North Dakota). Two of my best friends, Morgan and Blake, are a HUGE part of my life even though we live in different states (Minnesota, Utah and Arizona). We still get together every summer for at least one trip or weekend.

Camp is about creating a welcoming experience for kids with diabetes so they can create a bond with their fellow campers. It gives them the life-changing opportunity to be understood by those going through the same fight. This is why I was happy to develop such strong relationships with Morgan and Blake. Camp was also an opportunity to learn more about diabetes—and the possibility of working for the Association.

I now work for the Phoenix office on a variety of projects, including School Walk for Diabetes®, camp reunions at Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes® and Tour de Cure,® and the Young Professional Leadership Council. I love our Diabetes Camp program and I hope to continue with the organization to someday become a camp director. When my schedule allows, I still return to Camp Needlepoint and Camp Sioux to help out as a counselor. It’s always a fulfilling experience to help kids learn more about managing their diabetes.

Working for the Association lets me connect with other staff and volunteers who have the same ambition. It gives me the opportunity to share my story and hear the stories of others fighting the same battle. Sometimes I get a message from a former camper asking me about my job and how he or she can follow the same path I did. It is the best feeling to hear from young adults who are just as committed to following their dreams.

My experiences growing up with camp will always be the memories that shaped me to be so passionate about this cause.

I would never wish diabetes on anyone, but it is a blessing to know the Association has given us all the opportunity to connect with others. I will forever be grateful for its support from beginning to end. The Association staff and volunteers have become my family.

And this Nov. 4, I will celebrate 20 years of conquering diabetes, and I will do so in the best way possible: by participating in our local Step Out the following day! I will be marking the occasion with hundreds of people who all share my desire to STOP DIABETES.

---

To learn more about nationwide employment opportunities and life at the Association, please visit diabetes.org/careers.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2cf8Zfk

Your Rights, One Voice: Carol’s Story

It’s probably one of the worst fears there is for a parent of a child with diabetes: That their child could suddenly not have access to life-saving diabetes medications.

That is what happened to Carol. Her 31-year-old son Dan, who has had type 1 diabetes since age 18, was sentenced to 60 days at a Minnesota county jail for a misdemeanor offense. It may not seem like a very long time, but for someone with type 1 diabetes, 60 days of potentially receiving very poor diabetes care can be life-threatening.

Just 10 days after being incarcerated, Dan was already experiencing physical symptoms from constant high blood glucose levels. He was being denied access to appropriately timed insulin—and was being punished for demanding to see a nurse or requesting insulin. Dan was extremely anxious and felt helpless about his situation. He resorted to not eating in order to keep his blood glucose from going even higher. This resulted in jail officials deeming him a danger to himself and placing him in lock-up.

Dan was doing his best to advocate for himself from within the facility. On three different occasions, he filed grievances about the lack of diabetes care, and those grievances were refused. He requested to be taken to the emergency room because of how ill he was feeling (weakness, blurry vision, back and side pain that he associated with his kidneys, etc.) and that was also refused.

Carol used the facility’s online system to put money in a phone account for Dan, so he could call and inform her of what was going on. Dan was scared and begged for help. He told his mother this was the worst situation he’d ever been in. He had never felt as ill because of his diabetes as he did when he was in jail, and he feared for his life and well-being.

Carol, too, was trying to advocate for better care for her son from her home in Michigan, but to no avail. She had Dan’s personal doctor send his prescribed insulin regimen and medicine to the jail in an effort to educate the jail medical unit. Carol also spoke with jail officials and was told that they limit insulin in order to protect staff and themselves from liability. Carol also spoke with the Sheriff on two occasions, but those conversations were not productive.

Aside from the poor diabetes care he was receiving, Dan was also denied access to a work release program that the judge approved him for—a program that would have allowed him an earlier release from jail. Officials were denying him access because his blood glucose levels were too high, a condition that they were responsible for causing and that only they could correct.

All of this amounted to one thing: Dan was being discriminated against because of his diabetes. He went five weeks without proper diabetes care. It was a horrifying experience.

Then, Dan told Carol about a time that he fainted in front of other inmates and guards; rather than get him medical help, the guards removed him and put him in isolation. That’s when she called the American Diabetes Association® for help for her son.

Carol spoke to a Legal Advocate who gave her information about her son’s rights and guidance on how to move forward. The Legal Advocate also sent information directly to Dan and referred the case to Tim Phillips, a Minnesota attorney who is a member of the Association’s Advocacy Attorney Network.

Dan used the information and sample language provided by the Legal Advocate to write a fourth grievance, which was finally accepted by jail officials. At the same time, Phillips sent letters to the Sheriff’s office and to the jail’s medical unit demanding adequate care and access for Dan.

Immediately, Dan began receiving his insulin as prescribed, including corrective insulin, and blood glucose checks as needed. His health improved and he was allowed work release for the last few weeks of his sentence.

Phillips was very pleased that jail officials finally decided to do the right thing. He encourages other attorneys to take on these cases: “Prisons and jails aren’t safe for anyone. Attorneys should intervene on behalf of people whose rights are violated, whether by writing letters or filing lawsuits.”

Dan did not stop there. He shared the information he received from the Association with other detainees with type 1 who were not receiving adequate diabetes care. He talked to them about their options and used the materials to educate them about their rights.

“This is when he learned how important it is to have a family member or someone on the outside to assist with making contact with administrators, sheriff, prosecutor, among others,” Carol says of her son. “So many inmates do not have the benefit of a caring family member or friends.”

“Thank you [ADA] so much for all your help in getting him the help he needed during his time in [the] Minnesota jail system. We are both very appreciative of your efforts, calls, referrals and materials that gave Dan a voice in his diabetes care during incarceration.”

---

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.

Learn about the rights of individuals in detention and strategies to obtain adequate medical care.

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

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2bwUE9q

Your Rights, One Voice: Jennifer and Allie’s Story

Allie, left, with her brother at Tour de Cure.

It was surreal. Unimaginable. I still remember my daughter Allie’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis like it was yesterday.

My name is Jennifer Holdgreve, and that day in May 2011 changed my life forever.

Allie was only 6 years old, and she exhibited all the signs of diabetes: frequent urination, nonstop exhaustion, drinking tons of water and losing weight. When my husband and I eventually took her to the doctor, it took him all of one minute to hear the symptoms, smell her breath and realize what was wrong. We were whisked away from Centreville, Maryland, to a hospital in Baltimore via pediatric transport. We spent days in the intensive care unit getting her blood glucose under control and learning about this disease and our daughter’s new world.

We were sent home trying to comprehend that we were now responsible for literally keeping Allie alive, in addition to the regular demands of day-to-day parenting. We realized that we also needed to inform others about this new world, including Allie’s school—even when we still knew so little about diabetes ourselves. Since only one month of the school year remained, I spent my vacation time in the classroom with her. I did not know what else to do about her diabetes care at the time.

During the summer we were even more lost. We became increasingly concerned about the upcoming school year—we knew we could not spend each day in class with Allie. My husband and I felt as though we were drowning in a sea of uncertainty and confusion.

Then, one evening in August, we found our life raft. We attended a Safe at School meeting, having received a promotional flyer in the mail from the American Diabetes Association®. There, I met Crystal Jackson, Director of the Safe at School program, as well as staff from the local Association office.  All of a sudden, we were pulled back onto a boat, a big boat full of people who understood the challenges of diabetes—people who could help. We learned about 504 Plans, how to open up the lines of communication with school staff and ensure that school personnel were trained in managing Allie’s blood glucose.

From that moment, we developed a relationship with the American Diabetes Association office in Maryland and worked with them to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes. We recognized this need because we were that family who did not originally understand the causes and complexities of diabetes. Because we did not know the signs, we just as easily could have let Allie go to sleep the night of her diagnosis—and might not still have her with us today. We were that family who believed the misconceptions and did not realize there were multiple types of diabetes. We wanted to make sure others understood, so no one else would become that family. The American Diabetes Association gave us a voice to do this.

We recently used that voice to pass Safe at School legislation in our state. Just last year, we testified before our Maryland State House committee, sent letters, made phone calls and watched the governor sign the Safe at School bill. We also used that voice to improve our relationship with school staff, which enabled Allie to become her own advocate at school and guaranteed she would receive appropriate diabetes care while she’s there. Her school now has designated a Diabetes Awareness Day to recognize her and the other students living with diabetes. It was amazing see our legislative process in action and how we as advocates can make a difference.

Much like that day five years ago when Allie was first diagnosed, the night of the Safe at School meeting changed my family’s life—but this time for the better. We were finally rescued from the sea of uncertainty and given a voice to improve our daughter’s life.

---

View Jennifer’s Safe at School Facebook LIVE chat with Crystal Jackson to learn more about her legislative experiences and the rights of students with diabetes.

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 Allie.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2bNfYZs

Calling All App Developers – New ChallengeDiabetes App Contest

Diabetes can be a time consuming and expensive disease — and no one understands this better than the people who live with it.

In the United States, diabetes and prediabetes cost us a staggering $322 billion each year in direct medical expenses and reduced productivity. And studies have shown that people with diabetes spend 2.3 times more on their health each year compared to people without diabetes, making it one of the most costly conditions plaguing communities and straining health systems — not just here, but around the world.

People living with diabetes are at an increased risk of many serious health complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, hypertension, amputation and heart attack. It’s because of this that the day-to-day management of diabetes is so critical. The amount of information people living with diabetes need to keep track of can become overwhelming, from monitoring food intake, exercise and blood glucose levels to managing medication and doctors’ visits. There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed, and technology is helping to rapidly improve the quality of life for individuals with diabetes.

In the spirit of innovation and as part of our mutual commitment to the diabetes community, the American Diabetes Association^® (Association) and IBM Watson Health have launched the ChallengeDiabetes App Contest to kick-start the development of cognitive mobile apps to support people living with diabetes and prediabetes. (Developers: Work fast, because the deadline for submitting is Sept. 15! More here: http://ift.tt/1tt0lyx.)

Dr. Jane Chiang, Senior Vice President of Medical Innovation

We spoke with our Senior Vice President of Medical Innovation, Dr. Jane Chiang, about the cognitive app challenge to hear how these new technology solutions could help the diabetes community — from patients to caregivers to health care providers — to improve clinical, research and lifestyle decisions for better diabetes management.

Can you give an overview of the current tools available to people with diabetes today?

Most people today use traditional tools like the glucose meters and insulin syringes to treat diabetes. Continuous glucose meters (CGMs) and insulin pumps are higher-tech tools, with an artificial pancreas soon on the horizon.

A big part of living with diabetes is self-management. What are some of the challenges a person living with diabetes experiences every day?

The daily and sometimes minute-by-minute issues, like counting carbs, dosing insulin and managing lows, are the toughest part. Technology can help with the tough decisions and ease the burden.

Why should a mobile app developer want to participate in this challenge?

Developers and companies should apply because if they have a wellness app currently on the market with a good tool to support people with diabetes or prediabetes, the Association’s and IBM’s expertise and technology can amplify its capabilities and reach. We will provide advice from diabetes experts and access to diabetes related content, and IBM Watson Health will provide insights from cognitive analysis of the data collected by the app. We will also provide consulting on business and market models.

We want to see the innovative ways app developers can empower individuals to manage their diabetes or help their loved ones. We know there are many useful apps out there already. The goal of this challenge is to showcase the most effective ones. The Association and IBM will also offer consulting on the apps go-to-market strategy, to help accelerate visibility and process for the winning app.

Why is it important for diabetes patients, caregivers and providers to have access to cognitive tools?

Technology tools and mobile apps need to be personalized in order to be most effective. Each individual is different. If tech tools can be customized and hyper-personalized to an individual’s exact situation, then we anticipate that the outcomes would be better.

For patients and caregivers, cognitive tools for people living with diabetes or prediabetes could be developed to provide tailored information and insights, reflecting individual factors such as demographics, disease stage, treatment regimen and behaviors.

Why is a cognitive app challenge like this important for the diabetes community?

This is the future of health care. “Cognitive” computing refers to systems that learn at scale, reason with purpose and interact with humans naturally. Rather than being explicitly programmed, these systems learn and reason from their interactions with us and from their experiences with their environment to provide relevant, actionable insights.

Nowadays, there is so much information that it’s tough for us to process it all. Cognitive apps have the ability to bring together siloed data, or data from a variety of sources, so that providers, caregivers and even patients themselves can get the insights they need, when they need, to make better health decisions.

What do you think developers bring to the table that the medical community wouldn’t traditionally offer to people with diabetes?

The medical community is rich with content experts and expertise — they tell you what to do. The tech community is filled with experts at the delivery — they can help with how you do something . . . like manage your diabetes.

---

The ChallengeDiabetes App Contest is officially open! Developers are invited to apply for the opportunity to enhance their current cognitive mobile apps by leveraging the Watson APIs and the Association’s deep data repository of clinical and research data. The purpose of the contest is to advance the use of technology to promote health and to ultimately help improve the lives of those living with diabetes or prediabetes.

 The contest is open for submissions, and developers can visit http://ift.tt/1tt0lyx to obtain an application and learn more. Deadline to submit an application is Sept. 15, 2016.

 

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2beRWFi

25 Legends: Charlie Cole

This year marks the 25th 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.

---

Charlie Cole, third from left, with other Team Dignity members.

My name is Charlie Cole. If you, like me, have type 1 diabetes, you know how difficult it is to put life with the disease into words.

Three years ago, I started a new job at Service Corporation International in Houston, and my colleagues asked me to do just that during a Tour de Cure corporate team meeting. Although I was thrilled that the organization supported the American Diabetes Association, I was nervous about discussing my disease publicly.

I do not remember what came out of me when they asked me to speak. There were 20 years of waking up in the middle of the night in fear of severe hypoglycemia. Twenty years of making sure I was able to afford my insulin and diabetes supplies in addition to general living expenses. Twenty years of worry, struggle and frustration—but also 20 years of hope that everything was going to be okay.

After I finished sharing, I felt raw. My eyes were full but I did not cry. Everyone in the room was silent for a few moments, and Mike, one of the committee leaders, eventually said, “I don’t think you have any idea how much you are going to bring to the table for this cause.” Those words completely put me at ease. I now think of that moment as a pivotal experience in my life—and the end of my silent journey with diabetes.

I spent the next several months telling my story to fellow employees. I went floor to floor and gave presentations to recruit riders for our Tour de Cure team, Team Dignity. Each time I spoke, someone would come up to me afterward to say that they lost their father to diabetes or went through similar struggles. After giving numerous presentations, I felt as though something had changed in me. The disease that I always fought in solitude became public. I was no longer hiding my wounds—I was sharing them with the hope of having an impact.

My physical health was also improving. After multiple invites from coworkers, I began jogging during my lunch break. This inspired me to exercise more outside of work, and I even participated in a half-marathon. I also started using a continuous glucose monitor in order to better manage my blood glucose during exercise.

Starting this new chapter of my life was a big deal. For many years, I did not maintain healthy habits. At one point, I had no job or health insurance and did not have the strength or resources to carry myself. As I trained for the upcoming Tour, I thought about my support system and how my life was changing for the better.

The first Tour I rode in with my colleagues was 57 miles. My coworker Rone, another diabetes advocate, stayed by my side for the last 30 miles. Without him, I have no doubt that I would have given up. That’s the thing about diabetes—it’s not something we can fight on our own, it requires a collaborative effort. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and their continued efforts to help people affected by diabetes. In 2014, my corporate team in Houston raised more than $100,000, and in 2015, we raised over $230,000! Nationally, Service Corporation International has raised over $1 million.

Riding in Tour de Cure proves to be more and more meaningful each year. After meeting other people with diabetes at these events, I have come to realize what champions we are. Diabetes is not easy to manage—you can eat the same foods and exercise at the same times each day, but still have different blood glucose readings. It’s expensive. And it is not something you can see from the outside, it’s hidden.

Thank you, Tour de Cure, for providing me the chance to break my silence and make a difference for other people with diabetes!

---

Together, we CAN Stop Diabetes.

The Association is so grateful for 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/2bJElIR

Why Diabetes Won’t Hold Back Olympic Athletes

We all have goals we want to accomplish, both short- and long-term: improving diabetes management, losing weight, traveling more, earning a higher degree, reconnecting with family and friends.

For some lucky and talented people, it’s being awarded an Olympic medal.

Most people won’t ever get the chance to compete in the Olympics—and to do so while living with diabetes may seem downright impossible. However, diabetes hasn’t stopped many athletes from competing in sports and extreme competitions. And with the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil on our minds, it turns out there’s no shortage of professional athletes and Olympians living with the disease.

“I truly believe that people with diabetes can do anything,” says cross-country skiing star Kris Freeman. “I’m not sure that would have been possible decades ago. With the medical advances we’ve had, anything is possible. As much as diabetes stinks to have, we are by far in the best time in history to have the disease.”

Freeman, who lives with type 1 diabetes, has competed in every Olympic Winter Games since 2002.

“Being an Olympic athlete with diabetes is similar to being a diabetic in normal life,” he says. “Everything is a little more complicated. [For example,] you have to time your meals.”

Freeman recently traveled across the country as part of the Lilly Camp Care Program, inspiring adults and kids alike with his positive outlook. “Diabetes only gets in the way when you let it. It can be very difficult at times, but you’ve got to push through the hard times. It’s not always going to go right, but if it doesn’t go right, you can learn better for next time.”

Support from the diabetes community, family and friends is important to success. Matheus Santana, who’s been living with type 1 diabetes since he was 8 years old, was released from the Brazil men’s swimming team in 2013 due to fear that his diabetes would interfere with his swims. But he didn’t let this moment be the downfall of his swimming career.

After he was let go by his local team, Santana’s swimming club, family and friends helped raise his spirits. His family also helped find the best doctors to treat his diabetes. Santana was able to rejoin the team, and now he has his heart set on a gold medal in the 4x100m relay during the Olympics in Brazil.

While every year brings new advances in diabetes care, high performers aren’t a new phenomenon. Billy Mills was running with type 2 diabetes when he won the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Summer Olympics. And he hasn’t stopped running!

There are also many young athletes who have dreams of competing in future Olympic Games, marathons and other high-intensity events. Seventeen-year-old Leeann Hewitt, who also lives with type 2, won first place in the 2016 Florida state girls’ weight-lifting tournament. She has also competed with the USA Powerlifting world team and holds six world records for her age group. She’s got her eye on the prize: A spot in the 2020 Olympic Games.

So again, we ask, what are your goals in life? If you want to become a high-performance or even professional athlete, don’t let diabetes get in the way. Pro athletes with diabetes like Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, NASCAR driver Ryan Reed, LPGA golfer Michelle McGann, former Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr., marathoner Missy Foy and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Sam Fuld will agree: Diabetes shouldn’t stop you.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to become more active throughout the day, you can reach your fitness goals — and even receive a gold medal of your own.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2aAIcrI

25 Legends: Marcie Miller

This year marks the 25th 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.

---

My name is Marcie Miller, and here are two facts about me: 1) I do not like riding bikes and 2) I really do not like asking people for money.

You may find it surprising, then, that I have been the No. 1 fundraiser for the Northern Virginia Tour de Cure for the past three years, riding the 36-mile route each time. I have participated in this event 11 times—raising a total of over $100,000 with the hope that we will soon find a cure for diabetes.

My daughter Claire has had type 1 diabetes since the age of 3, and she is the reason I ride. A couple of weeks ago, Claire posted the following personal experience with insulin shock, or severe hypoglycemia, on Facebook—and it made me even more determined to find a cure:

“You wouldn’t know by looking.… You wouldn’t know I almost lost my life last night to insulin shock. You wouldn’t know that both cheeks are swollen from being bit. You wouldn’t know that I fell out of bed while convulsing. You wouldn’t know my entire body is bruised from the seizures. You wouldn’t know that I’m too weak to do everyday tasks. You wouldn’t know that I’m terrified to go to sleep every night because I’m afraid my blood sugar will go too low and I won’t wake up. You wouldn’t know by looking, but I have type 1 diabetes, and I fight this battle every hour of every day. My family and close friends are fighting this battle with me. And just like other people fighting their own battles—just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean we aren’t fighting tooth and nail.”

From the day Claire was diagnosed 30 years ago until the day she went to college, I slept with a baby monitor in her room in fear of overnight hypoglycemia. If Claire went into shock overnight—which happened frequently—I woke up from the sound of her odd breathing pattern. Now she is 33 and lives on her own, and a baby monitor does not reach the 20 miles between her house and mine. But I still don’t sleep.

When she called me to tell me about going into insulin shock again, I cried because I was unable to prevent it. Thankfully, by some miracle, she came out of the seizures long enough to call her friend who has a key to her house in case of emergencies like this. He could not fully understand her words, but he recognized she was having a hypoglycemic episode and gave her juice and a granola bar*. I am very grateful to Claire’s friend for his quick thinking—and I let him know that if it ever happens again, he should feel free to call 911, then me!

Diabetes is relentless. I often wonder how different my life would be if I had not gotten involved with the American Diabetes Association 11 years ago. One of my coworkers sent a company-wide email to announce that she started a Tour de Cure team. Since I’m not an avid cyclist, I almost deleted the message. For some reason, however, I decided to read the rest of the email and learned that the goal of Tour de Cure was to raise money to support people with diabetes.

When Claire was 3 years old, I told her that I would do whatever it takes to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes. I realized that even though I had not cycled in 20 years, I had to sign up and begin a training program.

I started by cycling just one mile and eventually worked my way up to 36—the length of my Tour de Cure route. Training was not easy, but finding the motivation to continue was: Whenever I started to struggle and felt like I could not pedal anymore, I thought about Claire, and the millions of others who wish they could quit their struggle against diabetes. I know that they can’t stop; they have to keep fighting even when they do not want to anymore. That always gives me the strength and courage to keep on pedaling.

After I’d been cycling in Tour de Cure for a few years, Claire said, “Mom, next year, I’m going to ride with you!” I am proud to say that this year, Claire is the top Red Rider fundraiser—that is, a participant who lives with diabetes—and our team, Team Moxie, is the top Family and Friends team in our area.

I will keep cycling, keep working hard and keep fighting for Claire until there is a cure!

---

Together, we CAN Stop Diabetes.

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.

*Note: It is not medically recommended to feed people who are unresponsive, seizing or not fully conscious. The American Diabetes Association recommends dialing 911 or their health care provider, administering glucagon and rolling the patients onto their side.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2aWyimK

Live. Work. Play: Lynda’s Diabetes Story

Working for the American Diabetes Association^® means making a difference for millions of people and working toward a future free of diabetes and all its burdens.

We all have a story to share. Some of us live with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes or prediabetes. Others have loved ones with the disease or have lost someone to the fight.

The following are personal stories from the Association’s staff about why we are so committed to the mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

---

Lynda Jimenez
Regional Association Director, Online Marketing and Digital Engagement
Phoenix, Arizona

From Left: Lynda Jimenez and Tiffany Bennish, Step Out Committee chair, at a Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes kickoff

During my freshman year of high school, my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. His diagnosis was scary, but at the time I didn’t think much about what diabetes meant for me.

Fast-forward four years later to when I was a college freshman. I was having recurring infections, and my doctor thought they could be caused by high blood glucose, so he requested I have my A1C tested. A few days later, on a Friday, he called me and said, “Well, you have diabetes.” My A1C was 11.1.

Since it was a weekend, I was instructed to not eat any carbs and to come back in the following week. (By the way, I’ve since switched providers and have added an endocrinologist to my team.)

When I called my parents to tell them I had diabetes, I was scared. I thought that they would be disappointed in me for doing this to myself. I thought that they would be ashamed of me and my diabetes. But they were not. They were very supportive.

My dad stayed on the phone with me as I went to the corner store to try to buy some food to get me through the weekend. I was near tears reading food labels over the phone, and I kept asking him, “Can I eat this?”

Eventually my doctor gave me more information along with a prescription, and I got my blood glucose meter. I overhauled my diet and started exercising once, sometimes twice, a day. I got my blood sugars under control. But I still felt ashamed, alone and scared.

That summer I was searching online for information about diabetes resources in my area and I came across the American Diabetes Association website. I found that there was an event coming up, the Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes. I signed up as a Team Captain.

I actively shared my story via email and social media and asked my friends and family to walk alongside me. Step Out served as a platform to motivate me to take better care of myself, and I made sure to share that as I was asking for fundraising support. To help reach my goal, I also coordinated a raffle with contributions from local companies.

A few weeks into my fundraising, I received a call from the local walk manager asking me to speak at the kickoff about my story and my fundraising success. I readily agreed! At the kickoff, I listened to other Team Captains share their stories with diabetes and I shared my story for the very first time.

I didn’t know it at the time, but sharing my story at that event would change my life.

I developed a friendship with the walk manager and she invited me to apply for an internship with the Association. I was thrilled to be assisting with the Step Out event in Phoenix.

Since that internship, I have been part-time temporary staff twice and I have held three different full-time positions at the Association. In total, I have worked and volunteered with this amazing organization for over five years.

My work has helped me accept my diagnosis and given me the passion and drive to take better care of myself.

I also love helping people who may be facing the same challenges I had back then, as a young adult suddenly faced with type 2 diabetes. My hope is to help others educate themselves on diabetes so that they may prevent or delay type 2. And if the day comes that they find themselves lost in a diagnosis, I hope to connect them with the Association to show them that they are not alone.

We are a community of support and, sometimes, as in my case, that can be life-changing.

P.S. I am happy to report that I just received my latest A1C results, and I am down to 6.3!

---

To learn more about nationwide employment opportunities and life at the Association, please visit diabetes.org/careers.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/2amhymN

13.1 miles closer to a life free of diabetes

At 13.1 miles, half marathons aren’t for the faint of heart—the level of time, discipline and practice it takes to adequately prepare for a run that long is a good litmus test to determine if you define yourself as a runner.

Brooke Kaplan definitively falls into that category, as she recently completed the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon on June 4, 2016. The race was held in scenic Loudoun County, about an hour away from where she lives.

After initially learning about the race through a friend, Brooke was hesitant to participate, due to the intensity of the training. But that changed when she visited the website and saw that the American Diabetes Association^® was the official nonprofit partner of Destination Races. The chance to fundraise on behalf of the organization made running in the race all the more personal for Brooke, as a person with type 1 diabetes.

As a healthy college sophomore in 2007, Brooke never thought she could be at risk for diabetes. But an appointment at the health center on campus revealed a kidney infection, UTI and blood glucose level of 388. This startling news sent Brooke to the hospital, where she was later diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. As a college student, Brooke was starting to buy and cook food for herself for the first time, and she suddenly felt “more mature and mindful of [her] food and body than most” because she had to keep blood sugars in check.

But the disease hasn’t slowed her down—as proven by her participation in Destination Races. Even prior to the race, Brooke was active, taking Zumba classes and weightlifting. The Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon was not only her first-ever half marathon, but her first run longer than a 5K. She entered into what she called a “tough” training plan, running one to three times a week, in addition to her normal exercise routine. The running intensified, too, as she added an additional mile to her run with each week leading up to the event.

Brooke was concerned about making sure her blood sugar levels during the race—during her 8- and 11-mile training runs, her blood sugar had dropped, but she didn’t realize until after the fact—but that didn’t stop her from completing it. Quick checks pre-and post-race showed that her levels stayed within the normal range. Yet even if they hadn’t, Brooke’s supportive husband was waiting for her at the finish line, ready with trail mix from the American Diabetes Association tent to make sure she’d be okay.

Brooke’s story served as the foundation for her fundraising: Using both social media and email, she shared her experiences with friends, family and Zumba classes up until race day. She spoke directly about the symptoms, complications and dangers of the disease that impacts her daily life. Brooke believes that telling a real story and educating others, over asking directly for donations, was the key factor in how she was able to raise nearly $2,500!

As for her experience during the race, Brooke says that running a half marathon was never something that she’d considered doing before, but the donations pushed her to persevere. The end of the race was breathtaking – quite literally, as she struggled for breath crossing the finish line.

But overall, Brooke said she and her fellow runners felt a “huge sense of accomplishment. It was a really tough challenge, but I’m really happy I did it.” The fact that she completed the race with diabetes “made the sense of accomplishment all the better.” That happiness is sincere, as she hopes to sign up for another race soon.

We thank Brooke for the blood, sweat, tears and hard work she’s put in on behalf of the American Diabetes Association.

Sign up for a Destination Race near you!

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

All in the Family: Jessi’s Diabetes Camp Story

The American Diabetes Association^® is proud to offer its camps as a way for children living with diabetes to just be kids and enjoy traditional summer camp activities—all while learning important self-management skills from trained medical professionals and gaining self-confidence by spending time with peers who also live with diabetes.

This story comes from Jessi Thaller-Moran, a 19-year veteran of our Diabetes Camp program. Read on—then find out how to become a Camp Champion.

---

I attended Camp Carolina Trails (C.C.T.) for the first time in 1997, at the age of 9—three years after I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Like many of our campers, C.C.T. marked a milestone for me: It was my first week away from my family, and my first time in a community where it wasn’t “weird” that I had to take injections or eat snacks at certain times.

Cameron Thaller and Jessi Thaller-Moran at Camp Carolina Trails, circa 2003.

I don’t remember much about that week other than learning how to walk to the shower in flip flops, but by the following Saturday, I was hooked! I proudly introduced my parents to the camp’s motto (P.M.A., or “Positive Mental Attitude”), eloquently explaining that it was “a pretty big deal.”

It turned out that P.M.A., and the Diabetes Camp community, would play an even larger role in my life than I expected. My two younger siblings, Daniel and Cameron, also were diagnosed with type 1 at a young age. More recently, my cousin, Kyle, started attending C.C.T. after being diagnosed with type 1 last year. To top it all off, my wonderful mom, Julie, ended up losing her battle with a brain tumor in August 1998, just a year after my first trip to camp.

In the midst of those challenging life changes, though, the three of us kids always looked forward to camp. It was a constant in our rapidly changing lives, a week with our “diabetes family,” and probably the only time our dad slept. It gave us a week to just be kids.

That community remained an invaluable part of my life as I grew older. When I spent the summer in a Washington, D.C., “bedroom” made from a curtain strung across half of a living room, three camp friends drove all the way from North Carolina to visit me for one unforgettable trip. Two of my three bridesmaids had type 1. The surprise flash mob (!) at my wedding, which featured several camp friends, used choreography from a 1999 camp talent show act set to a Backstreet Boys song.

And perhaps the best proof of camp’s influence on my life: This June, I returned for my 19th year at C.C.T.! (These days, I’m a counselor.)

I take so much pride in the atmosphere that we foster for our campers—we show our campers the value of P.M.A. in life, in diabetes care and in personal relationships. We conquer the high ropes, summit mountains and play camp games. We share personal stories and aspirations, often in the same breath that we “talk shop” about our favorite way to adjust insulin before exercise, or the latest pump skins. Diabetes is an important part of our lives, but it does not define us.

Cameron Thaller, Kyle Thaller, Daniel Thaller and Jessi Thaller-Moran at Camp Carolina Trails, 2016.

As a now-veteran counselor, one of my favorite parts of camp is seeing the growth in campers from Sunday to Saturday, and then from year to year—campers who come with concerns about injections, but by the end of the week are interested in an insulin pump; campers who arrive homesick, but hide from their parents when it’s time to go home; campers who begin as strangers and go on to become college roommates.

Diabetes brings us together, but there is so much more to this community that makes it special.

---

Want to get involved with Diabetes Camps? Become a Camp Champion! By donating to the Association’s Diabetes Camps, you’ll help Team Tackle—an initiative uniting current, former and upcoming players from all 32 professional football teams—provide life-changing experiences for children with diabetes. Learn more at http://ift.tt/1P576ut.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/29I5ahs

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.

---

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

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