Medical device-related pressure ulcers

Source Chronic Wound Care Management and Research http://ift.tt/2bHyWiN

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

Insulin Resistance

Title: Insulin Resistance
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 2/10/2004 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2016 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/1NfYnXv

Glucovance (glyburide/metformin)

Title: Glucovance (glyburide/metformin)
Category: Medications
Created: 3/2/2005 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2016 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/2c2kXIz

Diabetes Diet (Type 2)

Title: Diabetes Diet (Type 2)
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 5/5/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2016 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/2caoZvN

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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.

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