Health Tip: Controlling Diabetes During Hot Weather

Title: Health Tip: Controlling Diabetes During Hot Weather
Category: Health News
Created: 7/13/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/13/2015 12:00:00 AM

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

Living Long and Prospering with Diabetes: Cyndie Gantt Owen

Recently we asked our Facebook community to tell us about people who have lived long and well with diabetes – people who have lived 20, 30 or even 40 years or more with the disease. Having received a lot of great responses, we’re privileged to present these favorites on the blog this week. We’re hope you’re as inspired by these personal stories as we are!

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Name: Cyndie Gantt Owen
Age: 52 (diagnosed at 4)
Location: Silver Lake, Ind.

I was diagnosed type 1 diabetes in 1966 and am now 52. Fortunately I am in good health, thanks to my mom’s excellent care so long ago in the dark ages of diabetes management.

I have heart issues that began in 2008, partly due to family genetics and partly due, they expect, to my lifelong dance with diabetes. Other than that, I have no other complications and I know I am a very lucky girl.
My hubby and I have two kids: a 26-year-old daughter and a 23-year-old son who was diagnosed with type 1 at age 10. That rocked our world, but thankfully he is doing well!

We both use insulin pumps and they are life-savers. We’ve been waiting for, hoping for, a diabetes cure for a very long time, though.

Diabetes has given us a unique bond and understanding of each other, typically over the negative parts of our lives, such as: “I’m low” or “My set hurts…” We have our own type of fun though too, like giving each other a high-five for a good glucose reading after a tricky meal like pizza! Or laughing over the looks we get when one of us says in public, “I’m high. . .” The fact that he and I can relate to one another has offered a built-in support system. I would prefer that he and I have didn’t have this bond, though, if you know what I mean!

There have been so many advancements since my diagnosis, and so many more on the horizon that are exciting. The glucose meter was HUGE for me! Looking back at former testing options, I don’t know how any of us survived as well as we did. And then there’s the insulin pump. My life completely turned around when I obtained my first pump in 1995. It offered flexibility that I had never known, and I cannot imagine my life (or my son’s) without it.

My motivation for diabetes management is threefold:

* Because my mom took such good care of me in the beginning, I strive to continue her good work, out of my love and respect for her and all she sacrificed back then.
* Because I love my hubby and kids.
* Because I want to be as healthy as I can be, for me! On the days that diabetes does not play fairly (which is most days), I just remind myself I am stronger than it is. My friends and I like to say we are kicking Big-D’s butt.

If you’re new to diabetes, or a parent of a child with diabetes: Hugs! Although your whole world is spinning at this moment, you will survive. Find a buddy and support group as soon as possible.

Find an American Diabetes Association or JDRF walk to join. You will be amazed to see how many of us there are, and that you are not alone.

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/1CAI2KN

Uncontrolled Diabetes May Boost Dementia Risk

Title: Uncontrolled Diabetes May Boost Dementia Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 7/9/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/10/2015 12:00:00 AM

Source MedicineNet Diabetes General http://ift.tt/1SeB5kx

Diabetes Myths – Busted.

Diabetes myths sure have been in the news lately. A heated debate, which took place primarily via social media, peaked last week and is still being discussed among our diabetes community and beyond. And for good reason. It’s clear that we have a lot of educating yet to do about diabetes.

Diabetes, in its many forms, is a complex disease. It is a topic that doesn’t fit easily into 140 characters, try as we might sometimes.

There are many myths that make it difficult for people to understand the hard facts about diabetes—such as, it is a serious and potentially deadly disease affecting nearly 30 million Americans. Jokes or shaming to supposedly spread awareness, or perpetuating ignorant stereotypes, compound the hurt.

Diabetes threatens those we love. It is lived—and battled—every day by real people and families. It is treated by knowledgeable and caring doctors, nurses, diabetes educators and other health care professionals. Scientific researchers dedicate their careers to improving diabetes treatments and finding a cure.

We join the diverse diabetes community in setting the record straight. Let’s start with some fundamental fact-checking.

Type 1 diabetes is an unpreventable, life-threatening autoimmune disease for which there currently is no cure. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. It was formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1 is caused by genetics and unknown environmental factors that trigger its onset. Just to survive, people with type 1 must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continually infuse insulin with a pump. Multiple blood glucose checks and healthful eating and regular physical activity are also part of everyday treatment.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 95 percent of cases. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin properly, called insulin resistance, and may not make enough insulin. Type 2 is influenced by genetics, family history, age and inactivity. Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing type 2, but it’s important to remember that most overweight people never develop type 2, and many people with it are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight. Type 2 is treated with healthy eating, physical activity, oral medications and sometimes insulin or other injectables. There is no cure for type 2 either, though it can often be prevented or delayed through lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and healthful eating.

Diabetes is NOT directly caused by eating too much sugar. Research has shown that drinking sugary drinks is linked to type 2 diabetes, but this is far from a cause-and-effect, and it is not the only factor. A diet high in excess calories from any source contributes to weight gain, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Sugar-sweetened beverages are a major source of those extra, empty calories. The American Diabetes Association specifically recommends that people avoid drinking sugar-sweetened beverages to help prevent type 2 diabetes. These beverages include regular soda, sweet tea and fruit drinks.

By the way, it’s also a common myth that people with diabetes cannot eat sweets. If they choose to, people with diabetes can eat sweets in moderation as part of a healthy meal plan or combined with exercise—just as people without diabetes can. And there are even times when sugar is a must: If your blood glucose level drops too low, food and drink containing rapidly absorbed carbohydrate is essential for treating dangerous hypoglycemia.

We need a constructive national dialogue about the rise of diabetes and its impact on our country. We face devastating diseases that affect millions of people young and old and of all races, shapes and sizes. Diabetes dictates how they organize their day, what they eat at every meal, how they choose to be physically active and even how they spend their money. Together diabetes and prediabetes cost our country $322 billion a year. This impact can also be measured in blindness, amputation, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack and other complications. We believe that resources spent discussing diabetes would be better spent on raising awareness about all types of diabetes and funding and conducting research to help us uncover new answers and to ultimately find a cure.

In the face of the hard facts and statistics, diabetes is best fought with knowledge and compassion. There is no “good” type of diabetes. There is no “bad” person with diabetes. The diabetes community we know and love sticks together, stands up for each other, and comes together to educate and advocate through highs and lows.

Thank you @nickjonas for standing up for people with #diabetes!

— Kevin L. Hagan (@KLHAGAN) July 2, 2015

Finally, I applaud and appreciate the #T1D and other health-related communities for coming together to educate and advocate. — Derek Rapp (@JDRFceo) July 6, 2015

Those who live with diabetes, and their caregivers, are our heroes and our inspiration. They are the reason we work every day to stop diabetes through awareness, education, research and advocacy.

We will continue this fight, united, until there is a cure.

Learn more and get the facts at diabetes.org and jdrf.org.

 

Kevin L. Hagan, CEO American Diabetes Association

Derek Rapp, President and CEO JDRF

 

Source Diabetes Stops Here http://ift.tt/1JZjP0C

Discounts From NeedyMeds.Org

If you're looking for lower-cost sources of your diabetes management medications, perhaps NeedyMeds can help you. Visit this page to get a preview of the current list of discount coupons from the NeedyMeds.org website. You might see discounts for medications that your doctor already prescribes to you.

Source Diabetic recipes, free diabetes magazine & more! http://ift.tt/1dOAk3W

Cost a Barrier to Healthier Diets for Diabetic Kids, Study Shows

Title: Cost a Barrier to Healthier Diets for Diabetic Kids, Study Shows
Category: Health News
Created: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/8/2015 12:00:00 AM

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

Your Rights, One Voice: Marissa’s Story

Four-year-old Marissa was happily attending a Head Start preschool program in Philadelphia. This publicly funded program was a calm and safe place for Marissa to be during the week, since her family was struggling with health and financial issues. Her dad uses a wheelchair and her mom had been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.

So attending this program was good for Marissa and good for her family. School was a place where she could learn, have fun and play with other children.

But everything changed after Marissa was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

After learning about Marissa’s diagnosis, the school district said that she could not come back to the Head Start program. The family was told that, since there was nobody to provide diabetes care throughout the school day, the only way Marissa could attend was if they hired and paid for a nurse themselves. But that was simply not possible. So–just like that–Marissa was out of school and stuck at home.

For the next few months, Marissa’s mother, grandmother and other family members tried and tried to figure something out. They called their state representative, contacted education groups, anything to get Marissa back to school. But nobody could help them. Tired and frustrated, they thought nothing could be done.

Then a family friend suggested that they call the American Diabetes Association. They finally got the help they needed.

A Legal Advocate (a lawyer experienced with diabetes discrimination) at the Association let the family know that Marissa had legal rights. By denying her the ability to attend school, the school district had broken federal law.

The Legal Advocate referred Marissa’s case to Alan Yatvin, a Philadelphia member of the Association’s Advocacy Attorney Network. At no cost to the family, Mr. Yatvin reached out to the school district. He presented information about the law and tried to work with school officials to solve the problem. When that didn’t work, he filed a lawsuit in federal court demanding that the school district provide diabetes care for Marissa at school and allow her to return. The district then backed down and agreed to assign a full-time nurse to the school.

After almost five months, Marissa was finally back in school.

Sadly, her mother, Evelyn, died two weeks after Marissa returned to school. Although it was a hard time for the whole family, it helped them to know that Marissa was safe at school, where she belonged.

“I am disappointed that school officials didn’t understand this terrible denial of Marissa’s basic rights. But I am so happy that with the resources of the American Diabetes Association, we were able to help this sweet little girl and her wonderful family. The Association’s Legal Advocacy program made the difference.” – Alan Yatvin

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

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

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

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