"Diabetes doesn’t have to slow you down” Alert Day – Get Tested!
Today, March 22nd is Diabetes Alert Day; I want to support the ADA in spreading the word... it is a one-day "wake-up" call asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. You can take the Diabetes Risk Test now!
I am especially worried about young adults and teens – the YOUNG American public, who may not visit their doctor too often; or they are away from home at college or for whatever reason doesn’t think they are “old enough” to have Diabetes. In the minds of some young people, they associate all illnesses with “getting older” or “not taking care of yourself”. Diabetes has no label at all; you can be any age, race or religion. However, race, age, your weight and family history “can” determine whether you are at risk. I am posting this blog, in honor of my son, who was diagnosed with Diabetes this year.
It is important to take the test, and I will tell you why... several years ago, my sister in law (who was a young mom) was curling her hair and all of a sudden fell to the floor, thank goodness my other sister-in-law was there and performed CPR. It turns out that she had diabetes and went into a diabetic coma for a few weeks. She had no idea that her sugar was high; whenever she “wasn’t feeling right”; she attributed it to stress, work, fatigue or her thyroid condition. Thank God, she is doing well today due to the oral meds and ADA diet. Last year, my son (age 18) became increasingly thirsty, but since he is at the doctor’s office routinely for other conditions, I didn’t think anything was serious. After all, I am with him all the time, he isn’t overweight and he eats well; no junk food in his daily routine except for an occasional Coke or Hershey candy. He doesn’t even have ANY cavities! However, the day he drank over 30 glasses of fluids... I was worried. An immediate visit with our family physician showed his blood sugar was 478 on an empty stomach!!! Average glucose levels fall between 70 and 140 mg. Levels typically are lower in the morning, and rise after meals.
Many young people were shocked a few years ago to learn that Nick Jones of the Jonas Brothers was diagnosed with diabetes, read his story: Diabetes Won't Stop Nick Jonas. He is now the spokesperson for Bayer (see his blogs at “Nicks Simple Wins”) . Nick has all sort of helpful items on the site, such as the dog tags and the Nick Jonas' CONTOUR USB Meter (a USB drive meter, so you can check easily and keep records on your computer) Proceeds from each sale will be donated by Bayer to the Jonas Brothers' Change for the Children Foundation.. Nick Jonas says the Contour USB Meter is best for him because of his hectic schedule. Nick Jonas is the same age as my son.
Let me tell you the main reason for young people to get treated if you learn that you ARE Diabetic... it’s because there are different types and many plans of treatment, and in some cases, the sooner that you are treated MAY make a big difference on your life plan. If you’re a child and get diagnosed as Diabetic, it’s called Juvenile Diabetes aka Type 1; and if you’re an adult with Diabetes, it can also be Type 1, but usually is Type 1.5 or Type 2 - here are the differences:
If you have diabetes, the amount of blood glucose is too high - a condition called hyperglycemia. This happens for one of two main reasons:
· The body is producing no insulin - this is Diabetes Type 1
· The cells do not respond correctly to the insulin - this is Diabetes Type 1
· Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults (LADA), also known as Diabetes Type 1.5, is used to describe slow-onset Type 1 autoimmune diabetes in adults.
Type 2 Diabetes sometimes called “insulin resistance” can be a diagnosis related to other conditions that young people have such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) – but there are other illnesses that health care providers now believe can be associated with “insulin resistance”.
However, in young people, many are newly diagnosed in a “honeymoon phase”, where the body may still be producing some insulin. This needs to be treated carefully, sometimes with insulin AND oral meds; many doctors believe that a combination of meds can be instrumental in an effort to preserve some of the beta cells that have not been destroyed. Treatment with insulin may allow the beta cells to recover and produce some amount of insulin. As a result the doses of injected insulin can be decreased and blood sugar control is improved. The honeymoon period does not occur in all patients.
Other things to check out... when my son was just diagnosed, he was very moody, depressed, and tired. After he knew what we were dealing with, he was still annoyed at having to give up some foods, but after a while, he learned to enjoy other foods in moderation and in balance with his glucose values for the day. It’s all about making the right choices, eating the correct portion sizes and doing it in moderation. Medication adjustments have been going on all year, but we have been “reducing” the oral meds, which may just be temporary... but at least “we know that”.
Please check yourself... you will feel better just *knowing*.
Take the Diabetes Risk Test for free in one of three ways:
• Take the Diabetes Risk Test in English or Spanish
• Call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)
• Text JOIN to 69866 (Standard data and message rates apply)
