Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and amputations. Some people with diabetes have symptoms. If you or someone you know experience extreme thirst, frequent urination, and/or unexplained weight loss, you should contact your doctor immediately.
You are at increased risk if you are:
# a member of one of the following ethnic groups: African American, Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
# over the age of 45
# under active
# overweight
# have a family history of diabetes
# a woman who has had a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth
Living with diabetes and being healthy
My name is Juliana, and I am 7 years old. I’m in second grade at Ocean City Elementary School. I love horse-back riding, especially cantering and jumping. I’ve been living with Type 1 diabetes since I was 3.
People call diabetes a chronic disease, but I’m writing to tell you that I’m a happy, healthy, energetic, and smart young lady who can do anything I want to. I’m not planning on being sick with diabetes, but there are things you have to do to keep it under good control.
I check my finger stick blood sugar between six and 10 times a day. I check as soon as I get up in the morning, at school, before I eat, two hours after I eat, before bed, and my parents check me in the middle of each night. I take insulin about ten times a day, so my blood sugar stays around 100. I wear an insulin pump so that makes getting the insulin much easier. I change my insulin pump site every other day. Well, my mom or dad pokes in the needle, but I’m trying to learn how to do this myself.
I exercise, swim, run, ride horses, go to the beach, and do anything any other healthy kid does. I eat fruits, vegetables, snacks, and even birthday cake at a celebration. I just need to watch everything I eat and give the right amount of insulin for it.
I go to Baltimore to see my diabetes doctor (pediatric endocrinologist) every three months and they check my A1C to make sure my average blood sugar is on target. They also make sure they check my thyroid, kidneys, and cholesterol each year. I go to the eye doctor every year too to help so I don’t get any eye problems.
As long as I eat well, exercise, and see my doctors on time, I plan to live a normal, long and happy life.
Come join me Saturday at the Salisbury Zoo for the ninth annual America’s Walk for Diabetes. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at the east entrance. For more information, visit www.diabetes.org or call 1-800-diabetes.
# Carlos Mir is marketing manager at the American Diabetes Association of the Eastern Shore.
Copyright ©2006 The Daily Times.
« Healthy food at parties part of wellness policies | 9th Circuit Rejects Overtime for Adjusters in Farmer’s Insurance Class Action »