Wednesday, November 14, 2007

World Diabetes Day

Today is World Diabetes Day.

It's also my birthday.

So, for my birthday, here's what I want:
If you don't know anything about diabetes, find out about it. Really find out about it. Don't just ask your great aunt Nelly who lost a leg to diabetes. Check out the American Diabetes Association or dLife for information on type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Check out the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or Children With Diabetes to find out the vast, VAST difference between the two diseases. Because, seriously, people, there's a big, big difference and people with type 1 get a little peeved at being told they can cure their diabetes by going on Atkins or by losing weight or that they must have brought it on themselves with a poor diet. And people with type 2 are sick of the guilt and blame and shame thrown out there by the media and general public.




Every 10 seconds, someone dies from diabetes. Every. Ten. Seconds.

This is a serious disease, with serious complications. It requires meticulous attention just to maintain a relatively normal life. It is expensive - one test strip costs one dollar. My daughter tests 10 - 12 times a day. That's $70 - $84 a week, just for strips. Add in insulin and pump supplies and you are talking about $600 per month for supplies. Thankfully, we have health insurance that covers much of those costs, but what about the millions of people in the US who have no insurance? What about those in other countries who lack even basic supplies like meters and syringes to administer insulin?

Learn about the disease. Learn the symptoms, learn the differences between the two, educate yourself so that if this disease ever enters your life, you'll know what to do.


That's all I want for my birthday.

18 comments:

If not a mother... said...

Yours is definitely the best message of the day.

Major Bedhead said...

Thanks, Rachel. :)

Stomper Girl said...

Happy Birthday.

Caro said...

Happy Birthday!

The gift that you've asked for should be so, so achievable. A cure may be difficult and some way off, but people understanding about this disease? It should be a given. I wish we didn't need to be wishing. Here's hoping that with the help of events like WDD, the word spreads wider.

The London Eye looked awesome in the flesh too :-)

TSintheC said...

Happy Birthday! You were born on my Mom's birthday.

And - Thanks for the very timely message. I promise I'll read every word. And point others.

Cristina said...

Happy birthday!! That's awesome of you to think of others on your birthday.

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday!!

Very cool of you to be thinking of others on your day.

Paige said...

great post!

happy belated!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! Consider it done.

floreksa said...

Happy Birthday!!!

You have a "YO" over at MZ.

Hope you had a great day!

Sandra Miller said...

Terrific post, Julia.

Happy (belated) Birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Major. I really didn't ever give much thought to how difficult diabetes can be. I am definitely going to read up. Thanks.

Naomi said...

Happy Birthday! Forget about unpacking and GO GET A MASSAGE!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!

Off to go read up on Diabetes now...

Amanda said...

Here from the Hotfessional. I'll do my part to make it a happy birthday for you :)

TSM Oregon said...

Long time no commenty....

Me daddy has type II, and when that all came down, you can bet it made all us kiddos pony up and learn what we needed to help him along. He's doing really well, but it really opened up a whole new world.

Kind of like in that movie Constantine.

Lea said...

Happy Belated Birthday!

Unknown said...

ok, i'm late to the party, but happy birthday, julia.

your wish is my command.

(ok, i already know all that shit b/c i've lived with type 1 for 19 years, but still...)