Posts Tagged ‘Type 1 diabetes’
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!
File under: diabetes | Tagged: American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Alert Day, Diabetes Risk Test, join the million challenge, pre-diabetes, STOP Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, VSP Vision Care
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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:
File under: diabetes, eye exam, eye health | Tagged: American Diabetes Association, center for disease control national diabetes fact sheet, diabetes, diabetic eye disease, eye exams, Eye on Diabetes, national institute of Health, pre-diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, VSP Vision Care
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Posted on December 15th, 2010 by Lisa P.
The Rwanda Campaign
Our professional cyclist friends at Team Type 1 recently participated and finished a nine-day Tour of Rwanda. This race was special in that they had a greater mission than just racing. They brought 35,000 test strips and 350-plus glucose monitors to help children in Rwanda diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, donated by sponsors Sanofi Aventis, Abbott Diabetes and of course VSP Vision Care. During their trip, the team also met with the health ministry and set out a plan to assist the Rwanda Diabetes Association for the next three years.
As for the race, the team finished together in Kigali after 1117 kilometers on the road and more than 13,000 meters of climbing.
Congratulations to Team Type 1 for completing the race and a special thank you for helping the diabetes community here in the U.S. and all over the world.
About Team Type 1 and VSP Vision Care
Team Type 1 is a group of athletes living with diabetes. The team includes professional race teams, a triathlon team and a development team. Team Type 1 strives to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. VSP® Vision Care is proud to be their exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider.
File under: diabetes, eye health, Team Type 1 | Tagged: Abbott Diabetes, children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, diabetes, Rwanda, Sanofi Aventis, Team Type 1, Tour of Rwanda, Type 1 diabetes, VSP, VSP Vision Care
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Posted on November 14th, 2010 by Lisa P.
Blue is the color of World Diabetes Day, reflecting the sky that unites all nations. Here is a photo of VSP's building lit blue (2009)
Celebrated every year on November 14, today is World Diabetes Day. Because diabetes continues to be a growing, global concern, the International Diabetes Federation created World Diabetes Day to draw attention to this disease. And today, millions of people from all corners of the world will engage in diabetes advocacy and awareness.
TuDiabetes is recognizing today with their event called The Big Blue Test. Today, at 14:00 (local time), they are asking everyone with diabetes to test their blood sugar, do 14 minutes of exercise, test again and share their results online. Check out this video for more information on The Big Blue Test.
Our headquarters is located in Sacramento, CA and our community is recognizing this day by lighting up the State Capitol in blue. Find out how you can participate in this year’s World Diabetes Day by looking up an event in your neighborhood.
File under: diabetes | Tagged: Blue, California State Capitol, diabetes, November 14, The Big Blue Test, tudiabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, VSP, VSP Vision Care, World Diabetes Day
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Posted on November 9th, 2010 by Lisa P.
Guest Blog Post from Jessica Hein, member of VSP’s Eye Health Management Team.
According to a recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), they project diabetes numbers to triple to about one in 3 U.S. adults by 2050. Currently, roughly 24 million Americans have diabetes, and one-quarter of them don’t know they have the disease. The study goes on to say diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2007 and is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults under age 75.
Did you know eye exams are the only non-invasive way to view blood vessels to check for signs of diabetes? By looking at these blood vessels, the eye doctor can detect signs of diabetes, hypertension and several other chronic conditions. Eye doctors are in a unique position to change the current trajectory of diabetes in our country based on ease of accessibility, the ability to detect chronic conditions during an eye exam, and the opportunity to influence patients to make behavioral changes to protect their eyesight. VSP Vision Care is encouraging everyone to visit their eye doctor annually to maintain healthy vision and overall wellness. Find a VSP Provider near you to schedule your next appointment. More on the new CDC study.
Here’s a short video about why I want to help Stop Diabetes. Submit your 30-second video for a chance to win a prize as well as be part of the American Diabetes Association‘s Stop Diabetes public service announcement.
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File under: diabetes, eye health | Tagged: American Diabetes Association, annual eye exams, CDC, centers for disease control, diabetes, dilation, eye exams, STOP Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, VSP, VSP Vision Care
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Posted on June 8th, 2010 by Liz B.
File under: diabetes, Top Posts | Tagged: Bill Nye, dental vision, diabete, diabetes, diabetes effects, diabetes eye retinopathy, diabetes facts, diabetic eye, diabetic retinopathy, eye health, eye insurance, eye problems, eye sight, eye test, eye vision, The Science Guy, Top Posts, treatment, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, type diabetes, vision benefits, vision problem, Vision Service Plan, VSP, VSP Vision Care
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Posted on April 23rd, 2010 by Melissa W.
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 »
File under: diabetes, sports, Team Type 1 | Tagged: DiabetesSisters, gestational diabetes, Laura Ely, pre-diabetes, Team Type 1, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Weekend for Women Conference
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Posted on April 13th, 2010 by Melissa W.
Team Type 1 and 23andMe announce a strategic partnership to research and understand Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes through 23andMe’s Personal Genome Service. 23andMe, an industry leader in personal genetics, conducted a genetic analysis of all 88 members of Team Type 1, to investigate diabetes and how genes impact athletic performance. The analysis was conducted at Team Type 1’s training camp in Georgia where saliva samples from each team member were collected.
The process by which 23andMe genotypes DNA uses the latest in DNA technology. Once the lab receives a sample of a person’s saliva, DNA is extracted, cut into smaller, more manageable pieces and applied to a DNA “chip.” The DNA chip is a small glass slide with millions of microscopic beads on its surface. Attached to each bead are “probes”—bits of DNA complementary to sites in a person’s genome where their single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, are located. SNPs act as biological markers and allow scientists to locate genes associated with disease.
Shawn Milne of Team Type 1’s Professional Men’s Team takes part in the 23andMe research study.
The last time a study like this was conducted was in 2009 when over 100 players from the NFL were recruited for a study to understand how genes impact athletic performance. It was the largest genetic examination ever conducted on professional American athletes.
Read more »
File under: diabetes, Team Type ! | Tagged: 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, diabetes, DNA, genes, Phil Southerland, research, Shawn Milne, Team Type 1, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes
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Posted on December 14th, 2009 by Jill N
Last week in San Francisco, Exploratorium guests were invited to peer into the science of seeing with VSP Vision Care. During an Exploratorium Free Wednesday on December 2nd, kids and families had the opportunity to tour SeeZar, one of the VSP Mobile Eyes® clinics, Ask the VSP eye doctor, Jim Winnick, all sorts of questions (which animal has a brain that weighs less then its eye?), spin a prize wheel, and participate in intriguing, eyes-on activities inspired by the Exploratorium’s Seeing exhibit collection. As if all of this wasn’t enough fun for the day, we had one more surprise in store for everyone, a visit by San Francisco’s Kyle Rose, member of the Team Type 1 professional cycling team!
Guests had the opportunity to ask questions about diabetes, cycling and receive autographs and pictures with the local star during his last appearance stateside as he prepared to move to Paris, France, where he will be racing for the 2010 season.
Kyle interacted with the kids…”you get to ride bikes for a job??” “Do you ride bikes with Lance Armstrong?” “I have a purple bike…but it’s broke.” “I bet you need really good eyes to see where you are going.” “Have you crashed before?” (OK, this last question was actually me. And yes, he just finished healing from a gnarly crash where he was clipped by another rider, flipped over his handlebars into a ditch and broke multiple ribs!) Read more »
File under: diabetes, VSP in the Community | Tagged: American Diabetes Association, California, children, diabetes, early detection, Exploratorium, eye diseases, eye exams, eyecare, facebook, France, Free Day, insulin pump, Kyle Rose, Lance Armstrong, Paris, San Francisco, Seeing Exhibit, SeeZar, Team Type 1, twitter, Type 1 diabetes, VSP Mobile Eyes, VSP Vision Care
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Posted on November 2nd, 2009 by Liz B.
Liz B. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month and as a National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), VSP is committed to joining to the fight to STOP DIABETES.
Studies show that diabetes accounts for about 24,000 new cases of vision loss each year. The most prevalent eye disease in patients with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which blood vessels in the eye leak fluid and cause vision impairments including: blindness, blurred vision, floaters, shadows or missing areas of vision.
It is imperative that people with diabetes have annual eye exams as most diabetes-related blindness can be avoided.
Throughout the month of November, you’ll see multiple posts on the VSPBlog educating about the impacts of diabetes to millions of Americans affected by the disease. Read more »
File under: diabetes | Tagged: American Diabetes Association, blurred vision, diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month, diabetes-related blindness, diabetic retinopathy, eye diseases, eye exams, eyecare, floaters, healthcare, missing areas of vision, STOP Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes
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