What I Want You To Know

Hi,

You are reading this because you are or have a love one who has diabetes. You may be reading this because a friend or family member sent this to you. You may be reading this because you are bored. Whatever the reason...I have your attention. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. If you fall into the category of not knowing about this disease; count yourself lucky. Please indulge the diabetes community this one month to post facts, dispel myths and give you a glimpse of what it's like to fight diabetes 365/24/7. My hope is that we are able to educate at least one person who can be a champion in diabetes awareness.

These are some things I would like you to know:

1. NO ONE causes themselves to get diabetes. I don't care what Type.

2. Eating sugar does not cause diabetes.

3. Diabetes canNOT be reversed or outgrown.

4. Diet DOES help all types of diabetes...but doesn't diet help us all? Diabetes or not?

5. Diabetes is not "One Size Fits All". Every diabetic is different. Believe me, I know. Having two Type 1 daughters who eat the same thing and blood sugars do two different things.

6. Diabetics can eat anything they want in moderation and you can too! They just need some insulin or a pill to help cover the food they eat.

7. Diabetes has a mind of its own. Seriously.

8. Diabetes is a chronic illness and can be life threatening at any given time.

9.People with diabetes and caregivers welcome questions not judgement.

10. Diabetes can strike anyone, of any age, of any race, at any time.

I could go on but I want you to let these settle in. The next time you hear "oh, I have diabetes" or "oh, Little Suzy was just diagnosed" stop and think about some of these facts and know that it wasn't their fault.

Thank you.

This Ain't Your Granny's Diabetes

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month! For some of us, so are the rest of the 11 months out of the year.  For me, this is one month I get excited about. I like to try and educate at least one person to the world of diabetes. To give them a glimpse into our family life. To dispel myths.

This was my first introduction into diabetes:

ahh! Yes, Wilfred Brimley. And good heavens, man! It's pronounced: Di-a-be-tes... So as a kid I thought old people got it.

If this is your perception of what diabetes is...erase your memory, bleach your eyes out...do anything that will get rid of what you think diabetes is.

Wilfred Brimley is just ONE face of diabetes.

There are so many others. Faces that are young, old and in between.

This ain't your Granny's diabetes.

Diabetes IS...

for Type 1 diabetes (T1D) it is an autoimmune disease. The pancreas no longer makes insulin and therefore blood glucose cannot enter the cells to be used for energy. T1D patients did NOTHING to cause them to get diabetes.

for Type 2 diabetes (T2D) either the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body is unable to  use insulin correctly. There is a big genetic component to T2D. It's not just for the obese. If that were the case everyone who was considered obese would be diagnosed as Type 2. There are plenty of fit, thin people being diagnosed with Type 2.

For both types there is NO CURE. I don't care what you read on the cover of Women's Daily as you are waiting in line in the checkout at the grocery store. Diabetes canNOT be reversed, grown out of or disappear when eating salad.  Diabetes is a serious disease...no matter the type.

What I would like you to know is both types suck. Who wants to have to worry about taking blood sugars, taking insulin shots or pills everyday...sometimes several times a day. If you or your loved one live diabetes you know what I'm talking about...if you received this because a love one or friend shared it with you please take the time to educate yourself about diabetes.  I encourage you to ask questions. Help us dispel the myths about diabetes. Help us raise awareness for diabetes.