Understanding Diabetes

Any idea how many food-related decisions you’re confronted with each day? How about more than 200!! But, often we don’t even recognize those moments as an opportunity to make a different and better decision- we eat mindlessly. Interested in learning how you can eat more effectively? This video could help.
Any idea how many food-related decisions you’re confronted with each day? How about more than 200!! But, often we don’t even recognize those moments as an opportunity to make a different and better decision- we eat mindlessly. Interested in learning how you can eat more effectively? This video could help.

There’s a new online resource specifically for those with type 2 diabetes, and we thought you should know about it. Type2Diabetes.com provides a combination of educational and practical resource information, and an online community for connecting with other patients. Online communities can be extremely valuable in building a virtual group of friends who understand your challenges.

A great way to introduce yourself to this new resource might be to review the results of their survey of people with type 2 diabetes. The results offer some interesting insights you can compare with your own experiences, and the site offers a new survey question frequently. Toby helped “vet” the main survey, and you’ll find her contributing other content now and then. Enjoy.

Yesterday was “Diabetes Alert Day” which urges people to take a diabetes risk test, and talk to a health care provider when their risk is shown to be high. Diabetes Alert Day looks to address the alarming estimate that more than 25% of diabetes cases have not been diagnosed (therefore, are not being treated). I couldn’t help but think how effective this campaign might be if every television ran the alert similar to a tornado warning- beep, beep, beep- severe diabetes alert!!!

The undiagnosed issue is only one element of the “severe diabetes alert.”  In 2001 the CDC published a report about the rising incidence of diabetes in the U.S. The warning was that diabetes cases in the U.S. would approach 30,000,000 cases by the year 2050. This projection is represented by the dashed blue line above. Guess what? We made it to 30,000,000 cases 37 or 38 years ahead of schedule, as illustrated by the red line based upon the most recent report filed in 2011.

Coming in ahead of schedule may be desirable in some cases, but certainly not this one. And, while there may be some qualification to the data (use of A1C for diagnosis in 2011 numbers), that would only make previous estimates higher- the projection for 2050 looks more like 100,000,000 now, and that should be startling. Diabetes is clearly a public health emergency, and some wise people consider it a national security issue (based upon the economic impact).

We have managed to make remarkable “progress” heading in the wrong direction. The question is, how do we do an about face, and make equally remarkable progress in reducing the incidence of diabetes. Changing lifestyles is the only reasonable answer, and many political and economic interests have created a stiff headwind for sure. National diabetes months and alert days are always celebrated by those of us fighting this battle every day- it’s time those in power took note of these alerts. Sound the alarm.

After 45 years with diabetes, I’ve always been different from my peers. But, that’s never stopped me from experiencing the wonderful things in life.  I’m now on an amazing trip to Paris France with three fellow dietitians.  We came from different parts of the US, and the three of them met in Atlanta to fly together (barely beating the ice storm). I flew solo from Chicago, and we met in Charles DeGaulle Airport at about 2:00 AM Chicago time.

The four of us have been chatting for weeks about all the things we want to see and do while we are in the most awesome and mesmerizing “city of lights.”  In the beginning everyone was talking about packing only a carryon piece of luggage EXCEPT for me.  I knew that I was different because of all my diabetes supplies.  I know I need to bring double extra “just in case.” With extra supplies and ready to eat foods for the many “just in case” moments, I must pack a carry on plus check a piece of luggage.

I’ve talked about planning numerous times- in my book, in my videos, and in my posts on social media.  Planning as much as possible eases the stress when confronted with a situation such as a low blood glucose reading, or the need to test a couple extra times a day because your activity is so very different as you tour a new city……and adjust to a 7 hour time difference…..and eat new food. We can’t predict everything we may encounter, but planning lets us “go with the flow” and enjoy marvelous experiences like this without worry.

I know I’m different, but that’s OK. Giving in to the demands of diabetes just a little bit, by planning ahead and being prepared, lets me relax and enjoy the companionship and the unique culture of Paris.