(by 14 people)
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes, this lens was written for you. Like you, someone I love has diabetes, and my hope is that this lens will help you get answers to manage this terrible disease.
Research, advocacy, better awareness and diligent care can really have a positive impact on the quality of life for people stricken with this disease. Below are some ways for you to take action and gain some control over diabetes.
Definition of Diabetes
diabetes mellitus (dye-a-BEE-teez MELL-ih-tus):
a condition characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from the body's inability to use blood glucose for energy. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin and therefore blood glucose cannot enter the cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body is unable to use insulin correctly.
a condition characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from the body's inability to use blood glucose for energy. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin and therefore blood glucose cannot enter the cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body is unable to use insulin correctly.
Definition: Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and plays a vital role in metabolism. Insulin allows cells to absorb blood glucose. High blood sugar levels that accompany diabetes are a result of the body's inability to make or use insulin.
Three Types
There are three major types of diabetes:
1.) Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, usually develops in childhood but can also strike at any age. The disease cannot be "outgrown." It is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Genetic predisposition combined with exposure to viruses and/or stress are the main risk factors. Treatment consists of carefully monitored insulin replacement, typically via injections or a continual infusion pump.
2.) The most common type of the disease is Type 2 diabetes, previously called adult-onset diabetes. It usually develops because the body fails to use insulin properly. It occurs in people, including children, who are overweight; other risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, ethnicity, and a family history of diabetes. Treatment includes a healthy diet, weight loss, and regular exercise. Many patients require daily insulin injections or oral medications that help the body utilize insulin.
3.) During pregnancy a certain number of women develop gestational diabetes, sometimes labeled Type 3, as a result of changing hormonal levels. Blood sugars often return to normal after delivery, but a large percentage of the women who experience gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.
1.) Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, usually develops in childhood but can also strike at any age. The disease cannot be "outgrown." It is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Genetic predisposition combined with exposure to viruses and/or stress are the main risk factors. Treatment consists of carefully monitored insulin replacement, typically via injections or a continual infusion pump.
2.) The most common type of the disease is Type 2 diabetes, previously called adult-onset diabetes. It usually develops because the body fails to use insulin properly. It occurs in people, including children, who are overweight; other risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, ethnicity, and a family history of diabetes. Treatment includes a healthy diet, weight loss, and regular exercise. Many patients require daily insulin injections or oral medications that help the body utilize insulin.
3.) During pregnancy a certain number of women develop gestational diabetes, sometimes labeled Type 3, as a result of changing hormonal levels. Blood sugars often return to normal after delivery, but a large percentage of the women who experience gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.
The First Three Things You Should Do After Being Diagnosed
- Keep an open dialogue with your doctor and diabetes educator. Bring lots of questions- one place to know what to ask is to go to www.helpafriend.com.
- Connect to people who already deal with the disease to learn about diabetes' medical and emotional impact. For Type 1 diabetics, the best place to connect is through JDRF's Online Diabetes Support Team . Parents with children with diabetes can connect on www.childrenwithdiabetes.com.
- Keep tight control of blood sugars through knowledge. Learn, learn, learn. Below are resources to get you started.
Don't leave home without it!
This book is indispensable and lists carb counts for every major food chain out there. We keep a copy in each car as a handy reference to keep tight blood sugar control. The book also has measurements for staples like: rice, potatoes, etc. It's a cool tool for diabetes management that's worth every penny.
2008 CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter (Calorie King)
Here's the latest edition for 2008. The book is updated every year - after all restaurants change their formulations and recipes often.
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/26/2008)
What it's like to Control Blood Sugars
The Airplane Analogy
Scott Hanselman has come up with a very interesting way to educate folks about what living with diabetes is like.
In brief, his analogy goes something like this:
You are flying from L.A. to New York. You have to maintain a consistent altitude the whole way.
Food raises blood sugar (altitude.) Insulin lowers it. Non-diabetics don't have to think about altitude, as you all have a working pancreas (autopilot) and don't sweat altitude. Diabetics, on the other hand, have to constantly wonder if they are at a safe altitude. Staying at a consistently high altitude (high blood sugar) will eventually make you sick; while a low altitude (low blood sugar) will kill you quickly.
Here's where the analogy gets interesting. Remember in the analogy we are flying from L.A. to New York, except we only get to check our altitude seven times. And, we only get to change altitude (take insulin) less than ten times. But, when I check my blood sugar, I'm actually seeing the past. I'm seeing a reading of what my blood sugar was 15 minutes ago. And, when I take insulin, it doesn't start lowering my blood sugar for at least 30 minutes.
Now, imagine yourself in that plane with an altimeter that shows you the altitude 15 minutes in the past, and a yoke that changes the altitude - but when you press on the yoke, your altitude won't change for a half-hour. It would be a challenging trip.
In brief, his analogy goes something like this:
You are flying from L.A. to New York. You have to maintain a consistent altitude the whole way.
Food raises blood sugar (altitude.) Insulin lowers it. Non-diabetics don't have to think about altitude, as you all have a working pancreas (autopilot) and don't sweat altitude. Diabetics, on the other hand, have to constantly wonder if they are at a safe altitude. Staying at a consistently high altitude (high blood sugar) will eventually make you sick; while a low altitude (low blood sugar) will kill you quickly.
Here's where the analogy gets interesting. Remember in the analogy we are flying from L.A. to New York, except we only get to check our altitude seven times. And, we only get to change altitude (take insulin) less than ten times. But, when I check my blood sugar, I'm actually seeing the past. I'm seeing a reading of what my blood sugar was 15 minutes ago. And, when I take insulin, it doesn't start lowering my blood sugar for at least 30 minutes.
Now, imagine yourself in that plane with an altimeter that shows you the altitude 15 minutes in the past, and a yoke that changes the altitude - but when you press on the yoke, your altitude won't change for a half-hour. It would be a challenging trip.
Beating Diabetes
Funding a Cure and Diabetes Advocacy Links
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- The best way to fight diabetes is to cure it. Founded by parents of children with type 1 juvenile diabetes, JDRF has always focused on a single goal-accelerating research progress to cure diabetes and its complications.
- The Joslin Center
- Affiliated with Harvard Medical School, the Joslin Center is one of the leading diabetes research institutes with clinical and educational programs.
- Get off your butt and Get Involved
- Finding a cure takes more than a simple donation. It takes the commitment to look for ways to do your part to raise awareness, get involvement from others and advocate governmental change. One great guide that I've found is Michael's Lens on Charity walks.
- Squidoo Shop
- Seth Godin created a cool lens that's all aboutshopping to find a cure. Whenever you buy any of the most poular DVDs, books or CDs that make up his lens- a portion of the sale gets donated to JDRF. Buy here and fund a research grant.
Flickr Photos from the 2007 JDRF Walkathon
Cassie's & Gray's Cure Company - JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
Every year our little walk team tries to raise money to fund research for JDRF. This year our small group grew to over 240 walkers and raised over $80,000. Everyone can take part in beating diabetes- even 9 year olds!
My Diabetes Blog
A Parent's Field Guide to Type 1 Diabetes
Below are the latest entries on my blog, www.diabetesblog.org.
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From the Producers of dLife...
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byDiabetes Links- The Best Information Online
Points on the internet that explain diabetes
Below are some of the best online resources to learn about the disease.
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
- Provides educational materials to increase knowledge and understanding about diabetes among patients, health care professionals, and the general public.
- Children With Diabetes
- Provides information and an online community for kids, families and adults taking care of a child with diabetes
- Diabetes Handbook
- Presents chapters about the types of diabetes, how to cope, monitoring, exercise, diet, medication, foot care, traveling, and sick day management.
- Diabetes Home
- Describes the disease and covers glucose, insulin, diet, exercise, pills, complications, and research. Written by a Canadian physician.
- Lifeclinic Diabetes Channel
- A comprehensive resource on diabetic symptoms, hypoglycemia, diet, treatment options, chart records, blood glucose, and other vital medical information.
- eMedicine Health - Diabetes
- Consumer health resource center providing an overview of diabetes and its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
- Diabetes Watch
- Covers the aspects of this disease, management, diet, nutrition, fitness, myths and facts. Includes a newsletter and forum. By Aventis.
- How Diabetes Works
- Fully-illustrated tutorial looks at how your body handles glucose. Shows what insulin is, what it does, and how the lack of it affects your body. Includes current and future treatment. From How Stuff Works.
- dLife - For Your Diabetes Life
- Learn about the different types of diabetes, disease management, become a part of the community, and find articles from experts. Includes news and resources.
- Diabetes and Diabetics
- Lists symptoms, causes, types, risk factors, management, complications, and discusses diet regimen.
- Abate Diabetes
- Provides a fact sheet on diabetes addressing the causes, symptoms, preventions, and treatment available. Includes a self test.
- Yahoo Health: Diabetes Health Center
- Find information on type 1 and type 2. Includes symptoms, diagnosis, complications, and treatments.
- The Hormone Foundation: Diabetes Information
- Features an overview, symptoms, treatment options, lifestyle issues and prevention; as well as other diabetes-related resources.
- InteliHealth: Diabetes
- Features articles on type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Contains interactive tools, news, ask the expert, and provides a search for medical literature.
- MedicineNet: Diabetes Overview
- Medical information about diabetes therapies, complications, research, and treatment. Provides a support group and news via RSS feed.
- National Diabetes Education Program
- Covers diabetes control, prevention, resources for children, and awareness campaigns. From the National Institute of Health and Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
- American Diabetes Association
- The ADA funds educational and support programs for people stricken with diabetes. This website also offers lots of information to help manage type 2 diabetes.
- BBC News: Study suggests 'type 3 diabetes'
- Research showing that the brain produces insulin as well as the pancreas points to a third type of diabetes.
Books About Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes: A Guide for Children, Adolescents, Young Adults--and Their Caregivers, Third Edition
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/26/2008)
Insulin Pump Therapy Demystified: An Essential Guide for Everyone Pumping Insulin (Marlowe Diabetes Library)
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 07/26/2008)
WeeklyTrack Diabetes Management Kit (The Complete Diabetes Self-Management Log Book)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Practical Management Of Type 1 Diabetes
Amazon Price: $17.12 (as of 07/26/2008)
Teenagers with Type 1 Diabetes : A Curriculum for Adolescents and Families
Amazon Price: $28.90 (as of 07/26/2008)
JDRF Video
Diabetes DVDs
Moving Forward... With Diabetes
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Tai Chi for Diabetes
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 07/26/2008)
Yoga for Diabetes
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 07/26/2008)
It's Time to Learn about Diabetes: A Video on Diabetes for Children
Amazon Price: (as of 07/26/2008)
Diabetes from Google
Up to the minute type 1 diabetes news from Google
- Brownfield overcomes obstacles of Type 1 Diabetes, experiences ...
- (Chris Hedberg/Paradise Post) Paradise resident Jordan Brownfield thought his life was over when his...
- (Re: "Diabetes fight given $741M" in the July 23 edition of the ...
- While I applaud Health Minister David Caplan's effort in regards to free insulin pumps for peopl...
- Long-Acting Insulin Enhances Glycemic Control Only Slightly
- Compare the efficacy of intermediate-acting and long-acting insulin replacement for glycemic control...
- NICE prescribes greater role for insulin pumps
- Patients with type 1 diabetes can be treated with insulin pumps when doctors believe conventional in...
Diabetes Mine Blog
by Amy Tenderich
San Francisco based Journalist Amy Tenderich has recently (2003) been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and offers a steady stream of insight and news to help you manage diabetes.
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