Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by catchbehr on May 14, 2008 at 12:04pm

Hey Lady,I feel like this One Is know more as serious as the next.Both Types are Life Treatening.1-2 and now I hear they may have another type 3 which Is really bad Its twice the Blood sugar.I dont know how true It Is Now but I read that on one of my Diabetic News Letters via E-mail.So lets not point the finger but lets use that to get the job done together. Stay strong,Stay Blessed. Keep your Faith In God,and our Hands. Peace.!!!!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sara on May 1, 2008 at 4:36pm

I agree that the majority of media attention is dedicated to type 2 diabetes, and it angers me that the stories of T1's aren't shared in stories about the "diabetes epidemic." But, I think we need to be careful about calling one type more serious than another. Both types are serious, both types can lead to complications, and there is a range of testing and dosing that occurs across types, not within one or the other.

I used to think that my diabetes was worse than type 2, that I had it harder, but seeing the discussions of T1's and T2's in this community I have learned that each type comes with it complications. T2's have a lot more roadblocks in getting specific types of medication (especially insulin) and the attention of specialists, even if more medications are available to them. People with both types have a hard time getting access to the supplies we need to test frequently, and I have heard stories from T1's and T2's about the horrible advice given to them on how often they should test.

Also, to be a bit divisive myself (and a bit selfish), I have a problem with focusing solely on the children affected by the disease, including the continuation of the term "juvenile diabetes." I am Type 1, but I never had it as a child. I got it as an adult (well, 19, so young adult), and it changed my life just as much as it changes anybody's life. I understand that there are a lot of parents here who are not D but have D children, and that may be part of why the focus is often on the children, but diabetes isn't something that gets easier with age. Time, maybe. Age, no.

I'm not saying that I want the entire focus to be on adults, but I do think we should represent a range of ages and lifestyles.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michelle Curtis on May 1, 2008 at 4:49pm

Thank you for your thoughts. Let me just put this out there...nothing is worse than having a 2 year old with diabetes, well maybe having a one year old with diabetes. As a parent of a son who was diagnosed at 2 and is now 10, it is MUCH easier now than it was then. Illness for example is so much easier to deal with now than when he was 2. At two we were in the hospital regularly. Now we haven't seen an ER due to diabetes in years (knock on wood). I think that as parents we are extremely frustrated. I made the video to try to get a news media to explain our frustration, which by some of these posts is EXTREMELY needed. Please, and I hate to say this, make your requests for type 1 specifically. They really are two different diseases.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda Gauvin-Miller on May 1, 2008 at 11:18pm

Greetings Michelle....how is your son's diabetes handled while at school? Are the staff allowed to treat lows? At what point are you contacted? There was a girl in grade 3 at the school where I teach, whos teacher sent her unaided to our staffroom downstairs, so that she may retrieve a snack from the fridge to treat a low! Unbelievable! I had asked her if she was allright, and she replied...my knees are wobbly! Of course I went down with her, and later educated her teacher who fully defended her course of action.....also, the child's parents at one time, were not contacted when the girl had a reading of 33 ( that's 594 by U.S. standards!!!)...yet the powers that be at the school, are confident that "they know what to do" in a diabetic emergency...we are also 2 staff members with D....Rather unsettling, isn't it!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michelle Curtis on May 2, 2008 at 9:01am

Linda, we homeschool. But when we were in school we had those same issues. You can read more about our school story here: http://hometown.aol.com/mcurtis596/myhomepage/index.html

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda Gauvin-Miller on May 1, 2008 at 10:48pm

Yes, Sara...I too believe the show, if there is to be one, needs to cover more than one type. I realize that there is a big push toward awareness of type 2, which is in part due to the fact that it doesn't come on as agressively as type 1, and that more people are afflicted with type 2 than type 1....more the reason to bring added awareness to T.1... Complications, however and unfortunately, are insidious in both types. I have seen the ravages done by the complications of D. to diabetics across the board. It is nonetheless heartbreaking to test & inject a 6 month old, or to plead with a toddler to eat. My heart goes out to all those parents, such as my cousin, whos son is now in his thirties, and was diagnosed as a wee babe.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jan on May 2, 2008 at 4:57pm

The mom who created the video is trying to bring attention to the CHILDREN with diabetes. While adults do get diagnosed with Type 1, I believe the majority of people diagnosed with Type 1 are diagnosed as children. While I do feel for any adult with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, I just do not feel you can compare getting diabetes at the age of forty or even twenty, with getting diabetes in its most severe form at the age of two or eight. My niece will have diabetes 20 years when she is 28. I know someone whose son was diagnosed at 24 months. Unless she is extremely lucky, she will start having complications in her thirties. Not in her fifties or sixties. Because Type 1 diabetes is so very difficult to control in children, she is out of range fifty percent of the time on a bad day and thirty percent of the time on a good day. So I have no illusions any more about being able to keep her blood sugars under control most of the day and night. There has been much discussion about this on the children with diabetes forum. I am very sorry the video was posted here, because it looks as if these children will be overlooked ONCE AGAIN! P.S. Yes, Type 1 diabetes if initially diagnosed when an adult is MUCH, MUCH easier. There are no growth hormones you have to fight and adjust basals for every few days. Of course, by the time she is nineteen, she will have had diabetes for ten years, and it will have progressed. So if you have to get it at all, the later the better. Being an older person, I would gladly take it on if I could from a younger adult, because 19 is also way to young to have to deal with this.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michelle Curtis on May 2, 2008 at 9:23pm

Thanks, Jan, for understanding. I can say that I am relieved that the video is off the front page. I have a feeling there are way more type 2's on this site and way more adults than parents dealing with children with type 1. I posted the video on tudiabetes in an effort to stir up attention for type 1 and unfortunately it wasn't received how it was intended. Thank god for CWD...somewhere I feel understood and there isn't this needless bickering about the poor type 2's or the poor adults with type 1. I like this site, Manny is the best, but CWD will always be home.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda Gauvin-Miller on May 3, 2008 at 3:49am

I disagree...I feel this site is mostly populated with type 1, while still bringing awareness to all types. However, I do agree, as I have mentioned earlier, that there is much focus on type 2. I believe the Oprah show should open with bringing home to the general public the differences between type 1 & 2...as to drive in the complexities, (because the general public DOES NOT UNDERSTAND)... then move on to CHILDREN wth type 1.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by catchbehr on May 14, 2008 at 11:54am

We are all In the same Boat here and yes we must do everything we can to save the children If you got Love.save the children.I was asking Ms,Oprah to do the show and just have the children are as many people with Type 1 and as many people with Type 2 and Mr.Manny Hernandez,Along with foot Drs,Specialist,the scientist,people that can explan how far we come.are how far we got to go,and what Is the world going to do about helping our children with Type1and getting them the Meds they need.So If you think about It ,It not about leaving the children out are who gets the most time It about Love and helping one another find a cure soon.!!!!! Stay Strong,Stay Blessed,and Keep the Faith. We will get there together.Were theres a will theres a way. Thank God.!!!!!

▶ Reply to This

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4