Posts Tagged ‘pre-diabetes’

Today is American Diabetes Association’s Alert Day

Posted on March 22nd, 2011 by Jessica H.

Today is the 23rd annual American Diabetes Association’s Alert Day – which marks not only the Association’s one-day “wake up” call, but also the official start of the “Join the Million Challenge.”

The “Join the Million Challenge” is a four-week challenge – which ends on April 22 -  the challenge aims to rally one million people to help Stop Diabetes® by taking the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and inspiring their friends, family members and colleagues to do the same.  It builds on the success of 2010, the year in which we surpassed our goal of inspiring one million Americans to be part of the American Diabetes Association’s Stop Diabetes movement.

The Diabetes Risk Test asks users to answer simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Risk Test shows users whether they are at low, moderate or high risk for type 2 diabetes. If an individual is at high risk, he or she is encouraged to talk with their health care provider.

Take the test today!

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CDC releases new diabetes facts

Posted on February 3rd, 2011 by Jessica H.

Jessica Hein, member of VSP's Eye Health Management Team

New diabetes numbers were released this week in the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Fact Sheet is a collaborative effort of the CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Diabetes Association, and 11 other agencies and organizations.

Some of the noteworthy facts and figures include:

  • 25.8 million Americans have diabetes (18.8 million diagnosed, 7.0 million undiagnosed)
  • 1.9 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year
  • 215,000 Americans under 20 years of age have diagnosed diabetes
  • 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes
  • 18% of pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes
  • Approximately 5% of Americans with diagnosed diabetes have type 1 diabetes (~940,000)
  • Detecting and treating diabetic eye disease with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50% to 60%.
  • Appropriate eyeglasses can help about 65% of adults with diabetes and poor vision.

VSP is helping fight this epidemic by helping to get people with diabetes the care they need to maintain their sight and quality of life. VSP also launched the Eye on Diabetes Campaign to help promote the connection between eye exams and diabetes. Find out more about diabetes and eye health at VSP’s Diabetes Discovery Center:

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DiabetesSisters – An Online Community for Women with Diabetes

Posted on June 9th, 2010 by Melissa W.

Laura Ely, Team Type 1's Triathalon TeamGuest Blogger – Laura Ely competes as a member of Team Type 1′s Triathalon team. She works as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Marketing Coordinator for the University of North Carolina Diabetes Care Center Clinical Trial Program and is also a Communication Coordinator for DiabetesSisters, an online diabetes community for women. Laura was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four.

Diabetes is a different disease for men and women.  Diabetes provides its share of ups and downs with constant carbohydrate counting, insulin adjustments, and 24/7 life-long management.  For women, the diabetes rollercoaster (as some call it) is further complicated by the continual change in hormones – whether it is puberty, menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.  Throughout my life I’ve relied on the support of my female friends with diabetes to deal with the daily ups and downs of the disease.  I am one of the lucky ones.  Not many other women out there have a tight-knit support system that I have.

One amazing woman, Brandy Barnes realized the lack of this support system in the diabetes world and decided to do something about it.  She created an online community, DiabetesSisters, that would allow women to connect via the web and share their experiences as a woman with Type 1, Type 2, gestational or pre-diabetes.  I was fortunate enough to meet Brandy at a diabetes event and I fell in love with the organization.  At the time, I knew how important my girlfriends with diabetes were to me but knew that not everyone shared my fortune.  Every woman living with diabetes deserves to have this type of support system to help her live to her fullest potential.  Since it began 2 years ago, DiabetesSisters has grown to become a 501c3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health and quality of life of women living with or at risk of developing diabetes, and to advocate on their behalf. Read more »

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Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at Age 4

Posted on April 23rd, 2010 by Melissa W.
Laura Ely, Team Type 1, Triathlon Team

Laura Ely, Team Type 1, Triathlon Team

Guest Blogger – Laura Ely competes as a member of Team Type 1′s Triathlon Team. She works as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Marketing Coordinator for the University of North Carolina Diabetes Care Center Clinical Trial Program and is also a communication coordinator for DiabetesSisters, an online diabetes community for women. Laura was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four.

I have a very vague memory of my initial diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes.  I was four years old at the time.  After showing the telltale signs of diabetes, weight loss and constant thirst, I was told by my mother that I would need to go to the hospital that night.  I have a horrific memory of my four-year-old self, sobbing as doctors in a small room surrounded me.  They tried to settle me down, gave me IV fluids and placed me in a room to try to get a good night’s rest.  However, as soon as I arrived at that room, I looked down at my hand with the IV needle and saw blood seeping through the bandage and tape.  More crying and horrific thoughts ensured and thus began my life with diabetes.

The next year was my first year in kindergarten. My mother came to school each day at lunch to check my blood sugar to make sure that it was at an acceptable number.  As a pretty modest child, I did not like the extra attention.  I refused to talk about my disease and refused to tell any of my friends that I had diabetes.  I was convinced that if anyone else found out I would be a social outcast. 

The years progressed and I continued to keep my diabetes a secret.  At times I did not want to eat snacks during the day to avoid the stares from the other kids wondering why I could eat and they could not.  I got low blood sugars during class and instead of treating them by eating a snack I would will my blood sugars to go up on their own.  Obviously, that did not work and I’d finally give in when I’d be shaking so hard it was difficult to write, sweat dripping down my back. Read more »

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