Sports

Aliza with Diabetes

Aliza Chana Zaleon of Aliza with Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes; November 2001

“About my day to day life living with type one diabetes, while attending college and striving to lead as normal a life as possible. I also have multiple other medical problems that complicate my d-life, but I’m thriving and living positively! Diabetes doesn’t have me — I have diabetes!”

Aliza with Diabetes

I’m Aliza, and I’m twenty five years old! I have multiple chronic illnesses and I try not to let that define me, and rather, I decide to DEFY the odds! A year ago, I would never have imagined myself in this position and a year from now, who knows where I will be?!? I have Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes and I’m on an insulin pump, continuous glucose monitor, and I have an A1c of 5.6! I have taken on Diabetes blogging as part of my goal to help define myself and redefine myself, so please join me on this ride! My twitter is @alizachana.

I am also beginning my own non-profit organization, Bags of Love and Hope to support Adult patients in hospitals and with chronic medical problems. I’ve recently been able to go back to school to begin my work on my degree so that I can start the process of getting on the track to get my combined MPH/MSW so that I can help others with chronic conditions advocate for themselves as I have done for myself. My goal is specifically to become a CDE and my concentration in my Public health degree is nutrition counseling. That is part of why I’ve started this Diabetes blog. I’m really passionate about what I do, and I love helping people!

I especially am passionate about making sure that young adults – specifically those in high school and college – take good care of their Diabetes as they are old enough to understand what Diabetes means, and how to care for themselves. Long term consequences in many cases can be prevented with proper care and control, and I am an advocate for access to the best tools available to maintain tight control!

Filed Under: Members, News & Analysis, Parents of D-Kids, Sports, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes Tagged With: blog, healthcare, NC, nonprofit, USA

Insulindependence

Peter Nerothin of Insulindependence
Type 1 Diabetes, April 2001

“Insulindependence is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that inspires people with Diabetes to set personal fitness goals, educates them on adaptive management strategies through hands-on experience, and equips them to explore their individual capacities.”

Insulindependence

Estimated annual expenditures for Diabetes-related care are as high as $92 billion dollars in direct medical costs alone (CDC, 2008). This means that one in ten healthcare dollars spent in the U.S. can be attributed to Diabetes. With the rate of diagnosis increasing, this amount is expected to grow by more than $8 billion a year (ADA, 2008).

Insulindependence is addressing these issues and the quality of life of thousands of individuals by improving the health of the Diabetes community through its various recreation programs. Unlike any other organization of its kind, iD empowers people with Diabetes by surrounding them with peers and role models who share their condition, while teaching them the value of communication through positive and challenging experiences, and encouraging them to embrace self-management through active living.

Insulindependence changes lives by offering real-world experiences to help individuals with Diabetes overcome challenges and fears. Program participants gain enhanced self-images, fresh life-perspectives, enduring friendships, and deeper self-understandings that lead to improved self-management of their disease. Ultimately, this affords a higher quality of life to individuals and society as a whole.

Filed Under: LADA, Members, Parents of D-Kids, Sports, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes Tagged With: CA, community, fitness, nonprofit, USA

Team WILD

Mari Ruddy of Team WILD: Women Inspiring Life with Diabetes
Mari; Type 1 Diabetes, 1981

“WILD empowers women with Diabetes through athletics & cutting edge Diabetes education. We are national, virtual and open to women of all abilities.”

Team WILD

Mari Ruddy has successfully lived with Type 1 Diabetes for thirty years. However, since her father was diagnosed with Type 1 when she was 1 year old, technically, she has lived with Diabetes her entire life. Mari was diagnosed with Diabetes when she was sixteen. Her brother was diagnosed with Type 1 when he was twenty. When she was thirty nine, she found out she had breast cancer, for the first time. She then founded the Red Rider Recognition Program for cyclists with Diabetes now used at over eighty Tour de Cure events put on by the American Diabetes Association. When she realized most of the cyclists were men, she founded Team WILD: Women Inspiring Life with Diabetes, a fitness and wellness organization for women who want to take charge of their health. Mari has been a high school principal, a high school Spanish and Leadership teacher, a strategy consultant for small education and family wellness non-profits and is currently coaching education leaders at colleges, high schools and non-profits throughout the United States. She plans to do her first Ironman event in 2012.

Filed Under: LADA, Members, Sports, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Women with Diabetes Tagged With: community, education, fitness, USA

The Diabetes Resource

Gina Capone of The Diabetes Resource
Type 1 Diabetes, November 2000

“The Diabetes Resource is to be the largest and most in-depth global online directory for people with Diabetes and those who want to learn more about it.”

The Diabetes Resource

The Diabetes Resource is a comprehensive Diabetes directory covering every aspect of Diabetes, such as: medical professionals, Diabetes support groups, endocrinologists, blogs, camps, insurance resources, accessories as well as national Diabetes events, online monthly chats with experts and more.