Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of people everyday. Almost half of the people that are affected by it, don't even know they have it. The disease is not contagious, by any means. Diabetes is a serious condition, but if treated properly, not fatal.

Here is some information specifically about Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. (Thanks to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation)

More than one million Americans have Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes. It can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed in childhood. In Type 1 diabetes, a person’s pancreas produces little or no insulin. Although the causes are not entirely known, scientists believe the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Because insulin is necessary for life, people with Type 1 diabetes must take several insulin injections a day for the rest of their lives.

The Truth About Type 1 Diabetes

It’s one of the most costly, chronic diseases of childhood and one you never outgrow.

While insulin allows a person to stay alive, it does not prevent the complications of diabetes, including blindness, heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, nerve damage, and amputations.

To survive, people with Type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily and test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times per day. While trying to balance insulin injections with their amount of food intake, people with Type 1 diabetes must constantly be prepared for potential hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions which are life threatening.

Despite rigorous attention to maintaining a healthy diet, exercise regimen, and always injecting the proper amount of insulin, many other factors can adversely affect a person’s blood-sugar control including: stress, hormonal changes, periods of growth, illness or infection and fatigue.

Statistics and Warning Signs

Life expectancy of people with diabetes averages 15 years less than people who don’t have it.

Each year 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with Type 1, over 13,000 of whom are children. That’s 35 children each and every day.

Common symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include: excessive thirst, constant hunger, excessive urination; sudden weight loss for no reason; rapid, hard breathing; sudden vision changes or blurry vision, drowsiness or exhaustion; fruity odor on breath. These symptoms may occur suddenly.

What is it like to have Type 1 diabetes?

Ask people who have Type 1 diabetes. It’s difficult. It’s upsetting. It’s life threatening. It doesn’t go away.

Here is a picture of the minimed 507C insulin pump. I would recommend it to anyone who has a desire to acheive better glucose control. It takes a lot of will and hard work, but it is well worth the long-term benifits.

(Mine is translucent blue)

Every year, $40 billion dollars is spent treating people with diabetes, but only 1% of that is actually used towards researching for a cure. The American Diabetes Association has set a goal to get 250,000 on-line signatures for a petition to get the government to start spending more money on finding a cure for this horrible disease. Anyone can sign the petition, you can even get all your friends and family to sign as well! All you have to do is click on the link below! Thankyou for your help!

This background compliments of:

Diabetes Links

The American Diabetes Association
Joslin Diabetes
Mini-Med Web (Insulin Pump Info.)
Diabetes.Com
The Diabetes Monitor
NIDDK

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris
HOME