Diabetics, not by L. Ron Hubbard

My daughter Melissa is a type-1 diabetic and has been for almost two years now. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, she survived a diabetic coma that should have killed her. Since then, she takes 4 injections per day and must watch her carb intake closely.

Such is the life of a type-1 diabetic. If you don't know the differences between type 1 and 2, let me explain them.

Type 1: This person has little to no pancreatic function. The pancreas secretes insulin to break down food into useable sugar. Insulin regulates blood glucose (BG), better known as blood sugars. Type 1's must take insulin either delivered in an injection or by use of an insulin pump to survive. Type 1 is also juvenile onset (before age 18).

Type 2: The pancreas is able to produce some insulin but not enough to effectively regulate BG. Type 2's do not necessarily require insulin injections. With proper diet, type 2 diabetics can almost erase the disease completely. However, there are many type 2's, like my wife, that take shots each day.

Research is showing that type 1 diabetes is hereditary. The misconception about diabetics is they are all overweight and eat too many sweets. That is a myth. The disease lies within the genes of the individual and can erupt due to stress, prolonged illness, and a variety of factors. There are myriad reasons type 1 diabetes surfaces.

My daughter was a fairly healthy teenager and all of the sudden, she hit rock bottom. There are warning signs, but sometimes they are hard to detect. Insatiable thirst, increased need to urinate, sluggishness are but a few of the signs there could be a problem.

If you suspect your child may be diabetic, doctors can administer an A1C, or hemoglobin test which gives a picture of the last three-months blood sugars. Don't wait until your kid is flat on his or her back in an ER to find out.

The primary reason I wanted to share this with you is to educate you on one of the fastest, and least funded, diseases in the nation. Medical experts estimate there are 14 million diagnosed diabetics in the United States and millions more that don't know it.

In September, the National Walk for Diabetes will be held around the country. Please check with your local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation office (JDRF) to see when the walk is scheduled in your community. If you're from Amarillo, ours is September 8, at 9:00 am, out at Thompson Park.

Please give to this cause. Chances are you know someone who is affected by diabetes. A cure is just around the corner and every dollar helps.

Thanks, God bless, and Ever Forward!!!



--TFR