These are the textbook definitions. Send in a comment on what diabetes means to you and how it has affected your life...
Type 1
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. Sensitivity and responsiveness to insulin are usually normal, especially in the early stages. This type of diabetes can affect children or adults, but is termed "juvenile diabetes" because it represents a majority of cases of diabetes affecting children and young adults. Insulin injections or "shots" are required as in most cases the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas stop producing this hormone.
Type 2
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is due to a combination of defective insulin secretion and defective responsiveness to insulin (often termed reduced insulin sensitivity). In early stages the predominant abnormality is reduced insulin sensitivity, characterized by elevated levels of insulin in the blood.
Gestational Diabetes
Onset generally at pregnancy and symptoms are shortlived. Sugar levels often return to normal after pregnancy.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Aims and Objectives
This blog is my attempt to accomplish the following goals:
To Educate and inform
To Engage in Advocacy for issues that affect diabetics – legal, financial, etc …
To Establish a network for diabetics
To Establish a Diabetes Information Centre
I have often heard that the treatment of diabetes is a team effort that includes the patient, doctor, dietitians and related service providers. But my experience has been to the contrary. I had to personally seek out help and advice. Doctors do not provide a complete service and those doctors who specialise in treating diabetics are very expensive and sometimes inaccessible. My goal is to encourage diabetics to take "control" of their future. Everyday we are engaged in a battle to control our sugar levels. So lets take control of our lives as well!
To Educate and inform
To Engage in Advocacy for issues that affect diabetics – legal, financial, etc …
To Establish a network for diabetics
To Establish a Diabetes Information Centre
I have often heard that the treatment of diabetes is a team effort that includes the patient, doctor, dietitians and related service providers. But my experience has been to the contrary. I had to personally seek out help and advice. Doctors do not provide a complete service and those doctors who specialise in treating diabetics are very expensive and sometimes inaccessible. My goal is to encourage diabetics to take "control" of their future. Everyday we are engaged in a battle to control our sugar levels. So lets take control of our lives as well!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Welcome
Welcome to Diabetic Life South Africa!
This month, February 2007, will be 21 years that I have been a Type 1 Diabetic. Yes for the past 21 years I have been taking insulin shots 4 times a day and coping well with this disease. I feel that it is about time that I shared my trials and tribulations with the rest of the world. It is widely known that there is no cure for Diabetes, only treatment. They say that education is the key to living with Diabetes. It is my hope to create a network of Diabetics who are thriving in spite of the difficulties we face on a daily basis. There are many people who are doing great work for diabetics. But I believe that we (Diabetics) should take "control" of our own future. We should be directly involved in helping ourselves and helping our fellow diabetics who are afflicted by this disease. So keep in touch and look out for news and information. In the meantime send me your comments and watch this space...
This month, February 2007, will be 21 years that I have been a Type 1 Diabetic. Yes for the past 21 years I have been taking insulin shots 4 times a day and coping well with this disease. I feel that it is about time that I shared my trials and tribulations with the rest of the world. It is widely known that there is no cure for Diabetes, only treatment. They say that education is the key to living with Diabetes. It is my hope to create a network of Diabetics who are thriving in spite of the difficulties we face on a daily basis. There are many people who are doing great work for diabetics. But I believe that we (Diabetics) should take "control" of our own future. We should be directly involved in helping ourselves and helping our fellow diabetics who are afflicted by this disease. So keep in touch and look out for news and information. In the meantime send me your comments and watch this space...
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