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I don't talk a lot about my journey with diabetes here because I don't want to turn off my readers who can't relate to living with this condition. But I do want to highlight diabetes today on World Diabetes Day because it is so important to know where you and the children in your life stand.
Many people should be taking steps to prevent the onset of diabetes by making some very basic lifestyle changes, but don't know how important that is or how close they are to being diagnosed with diabetes. I didn't pay attention until I was told I had an A1c of 13% (more than twice the normal 6%) and that I had to do something to protect my life.
You can assess your diabetes risk by using the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Risk Calculator:
Diabetes Risk Test
You should also familiarize yourself with the common symptoms experienced by people who have undiagnosed diabetes:
Diabetes Symptoms
In addition to talking to your doctor about your risk factors and symptoms, take a few minutes to download the World Diabetes Day booklet and educate yourself about the particular issues facing children and adolescents.
World Diabetes Day 2008 Booklet
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Content by Diana E. Lee.
2 comments:
Public education is important, and your post is probably helpful. But if media attention to a disease-cause was looked-at like a medicine, we would call it a placebo.
In the morning paper I just read, there is a photo of the Alamo lighted with blue lights to mark world diabetes day. In the same newspaper section, 4 pages in, is an article titled Texans will get fatter.
I just think media campaigns help only the media. We have come to believe that 'awareness' will effect change. It does not.
I encourage you to write with the intent to help people change their behaviors that lead to diabetes. Once they notice the symptoms, it's too late, eh? -Well, for type 2. I guess it's important for recognizing type 1 as early as possible. But more and more children are developing type 2.
World Diabetes Day doesn't prevent any new cases, isn't green, makes the organizers feel better (doing something!) and makes profit for media publishers.
Barbara
Making money is not part of what I do here at this blog. I just about cover my expenses, which is great for me.
I choose to write about subjects that are of interest to me, plain and simple.
I'm new on the diabetes journey, and I'm still learning a lot about how to manage it. I don't feel I'd do anyone a service by talking out of my butt about how to handle your diabetes or prevent it. I'm not knowledgeable enough.
Further, the sooner you find out you have T1 or T2, the better. Every minute you leave either type of diabetes untreated you are causing permanent damage to your body. Of course prevention is the ideal, but early treatment is just as important.
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