National Diabetes Association Alert Day
March 28, 2017
Today is National American Diabetes Association Alert Day. This day was created by American Diabetes Association in 1986 to bring awareness to people about Diabetes. Since this particular disease hits close to home in my family, I thought I would participate in sharing some information with y’all about Diabetes.
Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. With Type 2, your body does not use insulin properly, meaning you are insulin resistant. Your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, eventually, it isn’t able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Type 1 diabetes, your body does not produce insulin at all. With this type of diabetes, your body breaks down the sugars and starches you eat into a simple sugar called glucose, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body
There is a ton of information on this disease and I have included a link here to the American Diabetes Association that will give you some wonderful tips on how to live with diabetes and how to check to see if you are at risk!
On a personal level, my husband was diagnosed with Diabetes approximately 4 years ago. It has been an uphill battle, trying to keep his blood sugar under control. My husband also has severe back issues (herniated disks, bulging disks, degenerative disk disease) and as a result , he is not able to do a lot of activity. Because he is not able to move much and his physical activity is very limited, it has caused him to put on a lot of weight. The excessive weight gain over the past 10 years has now added to the reason why he ended up with diabetes. So far, we have been able to manage his diabetes with oral medications, but recently that has been an issue and his sugar is now at a point where it is no longer under control. Of course, due to insurance restrictions, he is limited on what medications he can use, but we are fortunate to have found a new medication that is working fantastic! His doctor has given him some samples of Trulicity, and it is working wonders with his blood sugar management!! The best part is he gives himself a shot, one time a week and that is it. It is not an insulin type of medication, yet still does the job!! The problem with this medication is that once his doctor is no longer able to give him samples, we won’t be able to afford it. The crazy part is that the company will offer you a discount, and you only have to pay $25 , HOWEVER, if you have only MediCare like my husband and sooo many other people, you are NOT eligible for the program!! It seems to me THOSE are the people that the manufacturer should be helping!
So many families have had to deal with similiar issues as mine! I would love to hear from you in the comments if you have been affected by this disease? How do you manage your diabetes?
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I do not have diabetes; however, I have good friends and family members who do. Thank you for making aware of this day.