Former dlife.com contributor.

Former non-profit executive.

Now? Plotting. Author of  ThePerfectD

T1 since 1983. Wife since 2007. Mom since 2011. Perfect since never.

Diabetes education opportunities can happen anywhere; a TSA screening before a flight is not an optimum time. Being prepared and knowing your rights can help ensure a fast and painless navigation through security. Here’s how:

BEFORE YOU FLY 

• If you have questions about the screening process, you can call TSA Cares toll free line at 1-855-787-2227. They’re open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. EST and weekends and Holidays from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST. They will answer your questions and even coordinate checkpoint support with a Passenger Support Specialist to assist you (or your family member). You must call at least 72 hours in advance for checkpoint support. This is a new program comprised of TSA volunteer employees. Their role is to assist the passenger and get them through screening and on to the gate.
  From the TSA Blog: PSS’s are Transportation Security Officers, Lead TSOs and Supervisors who have volunteered to take on the responsibility of assisting passengers who may need a little help at the checkpoint. They receive additional training involving scenarios such as resolving traveler-related screening concerns and assisting travelers with disabilities and medical conditions.

• Print out the Disability Notification Card for Air Travel. This is a fillable PDF form that you can discretely hand to the TSA screener to let them know you have diabetes/wear an insulin pump/wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), etc.
• Put all of your diabetes supplies that you carry into clear plastic zippered bags. This will expedite the screening process, as you’ll need to separate them at screening from the rest of your carry on items.
• Understand the 3-1-1 rule (and the exception)  = TSA allows one zippered clear plastic bag for liquids in 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) per passenger. If you have medication that is more than 3.4 ounces (100ml), it must be declared before the screening and it will require additional screening. (The TSA cautions us about “reasonable quantities” for the length of your stay, so be prepared.) It’s recommended that you keep the liquid in the original bottle with the prescription label on it.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND TSA POLICIES

It behooves all air passengers with diabetes to become familiar with TSA policies that impact us. TSA.gov has particular sections which we feel should be reviewed before traveling:

• Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions
• Passengers with Diabetes

• External Medical Devices (At this time, the TSA has not formally created a policy for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) but would fall under the category of external medical device.)
• Traveling with Children has a section regarding children under 12 years of age and medical conditions.

Please be cognizant that neither you nor your supplies and devices are exempt from screening (or additional screening) by showing the Disability Notification Card or telling a TSA screener that you have a medical condition.

BEFORE THE SCREENING

Prepare

• Have your Disability Notification Card ready to hand to the TSA agent if you wish to use it.
• Decide your choice of screening: imaging technology/metal detector or patdown.
• Gather your supplies to declare. You have the right to request hand screening of your supplies or place them on the X-Ray belt.

Declarations

• You must declare your diabetes supplies (including freezer or gel packs) before the screening. These can go through the X-Ray machine or you can ask that they be inspected by hand. (This is your right to ask.)
• Freezer or gel packs are permitted through screening and are treated like a liquid if they are slushy or partially frozen. Frozen or not, they may be subjected to additional screening.
• Any liquid or gel more than 3.4 ounces will require additional screening and you may be asked to open the container for inspection. If you do not want the container opened, you must inform the TSA officer before the screening. According to the TSA website: “Additional screening of the passenger and his or her property may be required, which may include a patdown.

• Let the TSA agent know if you are wearing an insulin pump or CGM and express your choice of screening: imaging technology, metal detector, or a thorough patdown. You are not required to remove your pump or CGM sensor. The pump or CGM will be subject to additional screening and the passenger will have an explosive trace detection hand sampling during screening after holding the device. (You have the right to choose your method of screening of yourself and your insulin pump and/or CGM.)

SCREENING

If you choose imaging technology or a metal detector:

• Be aware that you may still be subjected to a patdown if the alarm sounds. To help avoid the alarm, remove all metal jewelry, metal accessories, and pocket contents. The TSA also suggests avoiding clothes with a high metal content. Pumps and sensor filaments will not normally set off an alarm.
• Pumps and CGMs will have additional screening (and the hands holding the devices will be swabbed) after you step through the imaging technology or metal detector.

If you choose a patdown (or the alarm has sounded on imaging technology/metal detector):

• You will be screened by a TSA agent of the same gender. If you do not wish to have the screening conducted in view of the security line, you can request a private screening. You will be escorted to a private area with the screening agent and an additional TSA employee. You can bring a companion to be present during the private screening.
• It’s helpful to point out to the TSA agent where the device is attached to the body or where a sensor resides. If that area is hidden by clothing, the agent will pat down and around that area. No agent should ever ask you to lift a piece of clothing or reveal a “sensitive body part”. If this happens, request a Passenger Support Specialist or TSA Customer Service Manager immediately. 
• Pumps and CGMs will have additional screening (and the hands holding the devices will be swabbed) after a patdown.

WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS AN ISSUE

There have been instances in which a passenger with diabetes has had issues during a screening. Some TSA agents, despite training, are unfamiliar with insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM). If you feel that you are being asked to subject yourself (or a family member) that is not within the TSA’s right, you have the right to the following:

• Ask for a Passenger Support Specialist during the screening. They are your TSA employee advocates at the security area.

• Ask for a TSA Customer Service Manager onsite. If there are not Passenger Support Specialists available, you have the right to request a Customer Service Manager.

• If you feel that your issue was not fully resolved onsite, you should file a claim after the screening has been completed. While it may not help you, filing a complaint will help travelers with diabetes in the future. All claims are assigned a specialist and are resolved within 90 days, with those incidents found to be “unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation” addressed through training or additional measures.

Many Diabetes Advocates have shared their viewpoints, experiences, and suggestions to the TSA regarding security screening with diabetes. Take a moment to check their opinions and personal anecdotes here:

Christel Marchand Aprigliano

DA Members and Other Social Media on Air Travel:

Here’s a link to Air Travel info from the American Diabetes Association, including the How to Get Help page. If you feel you have faced discrimination during air travel because of your diabetes and would like to pursue the issue outside the TSA’s own claim system, consider reporting your experience to an organization that advocates for fairness:http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/know-your-rights/discrimination/public-accommodations/air-travel-and-diabetes/?loc=when-you-travel

The TSA blog wrote a response based on one of Sara Nicastro’s posts on Diabetes Daily a few years ago!

http://blog.tsa.gov/2009/03/traveling-101-for-diabetics.html

Christel Marchand Aprigliano: http://theperfectd.com/2013/03/26/feeling-frisky-with-the-tsa/

Barb Wagstaff: http://diabetesadvocacycom.blogspot.ca/2012/05/your-pump-and-airpor…

Riva Greenberg: https://myglu.org/articles/what_to_do_to_travel_smart_and_safe

Mila Ferrer: http://jaime-dulceguerrero.com/preguntas-y-respuestas-diciembre-14-…

http://jaime-dulceguerrero.com/preparandonos-para-viajar/

Kerri Sparling:

http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2013/03/i_have_the_right.html

http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2013/02/pants_off.html

http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2012/12/dexcom_g4_the_airport.html

Mike Lawson: http://sociallydiabetic.com/2013/03/31/this-is-the-one-about-tsa-an…

Kelly Kunik:

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2011/12/navigating-the-friendly-skies-w…

http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2012/01/tsa-as-diabetes-br…

http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2011/06/dont-bullsht-me-or…

http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2011/06/traveling-with-dia…

http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-diabetes-travel…

http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2010/02/flying-friendly-sk…

http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/search/label/Traveling%20w…

Jane K. Dickinson: http://www.janekdickinson.com/traveling-with-diabetes/

Diabetes Blog Week!

Sign ups are rolling along for the 4th Annual Diabetes Blog Week, with about 110 bloggers participating right now. Diabetes Blog Week starts on MONDAY so please join in! You can use this form to sign up, preview the topics here, and find all of the details over here. I could not be more excited to see what next week brings!

What is Diabetes Blog Week? For those of you who haven’t participated before, the idea of Diabetes Blog Week is that bloggers sign up to post about a set topic each day for a week. This way, readers can jump around the D-Blog Community and get a plethora of different perspective on a single topic.

When is Diabetes Blog Week? The fourth annual Diabetes Blog Week will take place next week, from May 13th through May 19th.

Where can I find the Diabetes Blog Week topics? You can find the topics for next week on the Topics and Posts page. They’ve been posted in advance, just in case you want to start drafting your posts this week. Use these topics as a starting point for your post each day and see where it takes you. Write as much or as little as you like. There are no right or wrong answers – just read over the topic and start blogging! I’ve also included two wild card topics to choose from. If one day’s topic doesn’t inspire you, feel free to post about one of the wild card topics instead!

Who can participate in Diabetes Blog Week? DBlog Week is open to anyone who blogs about diabetes – be it Type 1, Type 2, LADA, or gestational, and it’s also for parents, spouses and caregivers to someone else with diabetes. If you blog about diabetes in any capacity, please join us! If you don’t have a blog but have thought about starting one, now is the perfect time. There are free blogging sites you can use (such as Blogger or WordPress) and members of sites such as TuDiabetes or Diabetes Daily have a blog built right into their profile!

Can blogs done by groups, organizations and companies join? I like to make Diabetes Blog Week as inclusive as possible, so yes, group blogs and professional blogs are welcome to join. However, the posts should be written by a blogger with a diabetes connection and product plugs / advertising will not be allowed.

What if I can’t write posts for all seven days? Of course, the idea for Diabetes Blog Week is that everyone who signs up to participate will post on all seven days. Although that is the goal, I understand that life sometimes gets in the way, so if you end up falling short of seven posts that’s okay. Diabetes can be stressful enough, so let’s keep DBlog Week fun and stress free!

How do I sign up? Once again, I’ve created a form to submit your information. Fill it out and you will be signed up and added to the Participant’s List within 24 hours. There is a space on the form for you to let me know if you have any questions, and you can also email me at any time at DBlogWeek@bittersweetdiabetes.com.

The Diabetes Hope Conference

The Diabetes Hope Conference is a free virtual event that is open to all and will be held via Google+ Hangouts. We’ll be discussing life with diabetes, life with diabetes complications, and living with diabetes and hope. I think this virtual conference is a really cool idea and something that is much needed, and I’m thrilled to be participating on one of the panels.

Diabetes Co-Stars Video

Last weekend a new Diabetes Co-Stars Video premiered at the ADA Expo in L.A. It stars actress Elizabeth Perkins, who has T1, and the winners of last year’s Diabetes Co-Stars casting call. It’s a great video showcasing the need for support, but that’s not the only reason you should watch it. Once the video gets 10,000 views, Sanofi will donate another $10,000 to the Diabetes Hands Foundation. (This is in addition to the $10,000 donation they made last year.) The DHF runs many important programs including the Diabetes Advocates and it’s great that taking just 15 minutes to watch the video can help bring in more funding!

Jay started advocating for Grandparents of T1D Kids shortly after his granddaughter’s diagnosis. He and his  wife quickly realized they needed to be proactive and play a meaningful role in their family’s response to T1D. Supporting their children’s emotional needs and becoming effective caregivers for their granddaughter were paramount.

Jay has been fortunate in how well his family has adapted to the “new normal” world of T1D. Through Diabetes Advocates we hope that others with T1D grandchildren will share their experiences, support each other, and learn how to become more effective caregivers within their families.  There is strength in numbers.

Jay H. Rosenfeld
Houston, Texas
April 12, 2013

Dear Grandparents,

On June 13, 2011, our granddaughter was diagnosed with T1D.  Although symptoms prepared us for the news, we still were not prepared for the reality.  It seemed so surreal – this could not be happening to our family.

My wife and I quickly realized we needed to be proactive and play a meaningful role in our family’s response to T1D.  We dried our tears, packed our bags, and drove from Houston to Austin.  We quickly set two goals: 1) provide emotional support for our children (our granddaughter’s parents) and 2) learn how to become caregivers for our T1D grandchild.  We knew dealing with our emotions would be challenging, but secondary.

It has been almost 21 months since that watershed day.  As a family, we have made very good progress adjusting to the “new normal”.  Our children provide wonderful care for our granddaughter, and we are able to support them emotionally.  Also, it has become easier for us to provide the medical care needed (carb counting, testing, treatment, unusual situations), which enables our granddaughter to spend time with us in Houston and allows her parents to travel occasionally.

We consider ourselves fortunate.  We are a stronger family today, and have learned two valuable lessons.  One is managing T1D is as much an art as it is a science.  You need to use your head, as well as listen to your heart.  The other is understanding care and treatment is an ongoing educational process.  The positive result is our family has not let T1D prevent our granddaughter from being a fun-loving child.

JDRF Austin has played a large part of in our progress providing us education, emotional support and caring.  Through our relationship, we generated the idea for a Grandparent Outreach program – one where we, the grandparents of T1D kids, can determine our educational needs and how to get relevant training.  And perhaps the most important aspect is the emotional support we can provide each other.

We encourage other grandparents, not just in Texas but everywhere, to be active in the T1D world both personally and in the Diabetes Online Community.  We can learn from each other how to best support our children and grandchildren.  Please join our Grandparents of T1D Kids forum on TuDiabetes, an internet community of people touched by diabetes.

Join here: http://www.tudiabetes.org/group/grandparents-of-t1d-kids.

We look forward to your participating with us in the exchange of experiences, information and ideas.

Sincerely,

Here are some other resources of interest for our group.  Please share any others you use as a comment here.

Friends For Life
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/activities/orlando2013/

Baby-sitters, Grandparents and Diabetes
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/centers/BarbaraDavis/Documents/book-understandingdiabetes/ud24.pdf

Diabetes Health
http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2009/04/14/6153/grandparents-play-an-important-role-in-coping-with-diabetes/

People in the Know: How Grandparents Can Help
http://spoonful.com/type1/how-grandparents-can-help

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I’ve also been living with type 1 diabetes for over 26 years. Like so many others, I have concerns about the possible risks (and rewards!) associated with pregnancy and diabetes, but I also know that so many other women before me have experienced healthy pregnancies while managing their diabetes. Careful planning and the diligent care of a competent health team can help minimize the potential risks.

Having diabetes does not mean that a healthy pregnancy isn’t possible. And even though your pregnancy may be very healthy and uneventful, so to speak, pregnancies with pre-existing diabetes are considered “high risk”. Don’t let that label get you down – while you may be “high risk”, it also means that you will get lots of extra attention!

Your medical team will be very important to you throughout your pregnancy (and beyond), so if you are planning a pregnancy, you will want to start assembling your A-Team well before conception. Your team may include:

• An endocrinologist who is familiar with pregnancy and diabetes, and is willing to help you manage the drastic changes in medication you may need, as well as monitor things like thyroid levels, blood pressure, cholesterol, and kidney function
• An obstetrician familiar with managing high-risk pregnancies
• A Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor (specializes in high-risk pregnancies) whom you may see for higher level ultrasounds and screenings
• An ophthalmologist who can monitor your eyes for any changes that may occur during pregnancy

Pregnancy with diabetes will mean some (okay, a lot) of hard work on your part. It’s totally possible, though – you can do this! Some changes you can expect:

• checking your blood glucose more often
• aiming for numbers post-prandial and fasting glucose numbers that are lower than you are accustomed to
• HbA1c goals of under 6.5% or 6.0% (your doctor will help set individual goals for you, which may differ from what I’ve listed here)
• lower insulin needs in the first half of pregnancy, while the second half of pregnancy generally increases insulin resistance (and therefore increases insulin requirements by two, three, or even four times as much as you are used to taking)
• changes to other medications, such as thyroid medication, vitamins, blood pressure medications or anti-depressants
• all of the expectations for non-diabetic pregnant women: balanced diet, pre-natal vitamins along with increased folic acid, regular (but not strenuous) exercise, increased fluid intake, and plenty of sleep.

There are many women in the diabetes online community who have shared their personal stories of pregnancy while living with diabetes, and organizations who have put together resources specifically for people like us – be sure to check out the list of resources below.

Kim Vlasnik

Resources: 

JDRF’s Pregnancy Toolkit:

From JDRF, “Take care! Pregnancy or planning a pregnancy with type 1 diabetes (T1D) requires special consideration to help ensure a healthy outcome for mother and child. This guide provides information for parents-to-be or future parents-to-be with T1D—explaining the disease management goals for pregnancy and reviewing how to obtain the best possible support from healthcare providers at every stage.”

http://jdrf.org/life-with-t1d/pregnancy/

Diabetes Forecast’s Guide to Pregnancy:
[online] http://forecast.diabetes.org/baby-oct2012

Kerri Sparling
[blog] Six Until Me: http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/diabetes_and_pregnancy/

Cheryl Alkon
[blog] Managing the Sweetness Within: http://www.thesweetnesswithin.blogspot.com/

[book] Balancing Pregnancy With Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby: http://www.amazon.com/Balancing-Pregnancy-Pre-existing-Diabetes-Healthy/dp/1932603328/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Melissa Lee
[blog] Sweetly Voiced: http://www.sweetlyvoiced.com/2011/11/tell-me-sweet-little-lies.html, http://www.sweetlyvoiced.com/2012/02/this-time.html, http://www.sweetlyvoiced.com/2012/02/so-how-did-we-do.html

Guest posts on DiabetesMine
[blog] http://www.diabetesmine.com/2012/08/gina-capone-how-pregnancy-with-diabetes-saved-my-life.html, http://www.diabetesmine.com/2012/01/c-sections-vs-natural-birth-in-diabetic-moms.html

Jane Dickinson, RN, PhD, CDE
[blog] http://www.janekdickinson.com/diabetes-control/

Holly at “Arnold and Me”
[blog] http://arnoldandme.blogspot.com/search/label/Pregnancy

Jacquie Wojcik
[guest post] WhatToExpect.com: http://www.whattoexpect.com/wom/pregnancy/it-s-always-complicated.aspx
[blog] Typical Type 1: http://typicaltype1.com/tag/pregnancy/

Christel Marchand Aprigliano
[blog] theperfectd: http://theperfectd.com/2013/03/21/fall-down-seven-stand-up-eight/ 

Honorable Presidenta Cristina Fernández de Kirchner,
Durante el día de ayer usted promulgó un discurso del lanzamiento del Plan Argentina Innovadora 2020 en la Casa Rosada. Como parte de los proyectos investigativos que presentó, se encuentra la creación de un tratamiento para diabetes utilizando un tubérculo parecido a la papa. Con mucha seguridad usted expresó lo beneficioso que sería el “Proyecto Yacon” para los diabéticos del Mundo. Como miembro de los Diabetes Advocates agradecemos la búsqueda de tratamientos para esta condición, pero valoramos aún más que se eduque más acerca del tema.

Sus palabras textuales fueron:

“Ustedes saben hay 80 millones de diabéticos en el Mundo, que además tienen un alto poder adquisitivo. La diabetes es una enfermedad de gente de alto poder adquisitivo, por que son sedentarios, porque comen mucho… eh, eh, en fin por lo cual obvio es para todos.”

La realidad es opuesta a sus comentarios. Estudios indican que la tasa de diagnóstico de la diabetes está inversamente relacionada con el ingreso de las personas. Los diagnósticos de diabetes siguen aumentando en todas las clases sociales pero los que están más en desventaja social están experimentando la mayor carga.Cuando las poblaciones de bajos ingresos son diagnosticadas con diabetes, tienen peores resultados con mayores complicaciones.

Los miembros del Diabetes Advocates intercedemos, apoyamos y defendemos de manera pública a las personas que, como muchos de nosotros, vivimos con diabetes. Buscamos a través de la educación mejorar las vidas de los miembros de nuestras comunidades que viven con diabetes y procuramos clarificar las dudas, mitos y estereotipos de esta compleja condición crónica de salud.

Si usted no vive con diabetes, desconocen lo que viven a diario las personas con diabetes. En la difícil crisis económica que atravesamos a nivel mundial, son muchas las familias que a diario hacen hasta lo imposible por poder suplir las necesidades para manejar de manera correcta su diabetes y evitar complicaciones futuras; complicaciones futuras que a los gobiernos le cuestan millones anualmente, no solo por los altos costos médicos sino por la falta de productividad de estas personas.

Respetuosamente, compartimos con usted unos datos sobre diabetes:

• La diabetes afecta a 371 millones de personas en el mundo
• 4 de 5 personas con diabetes viven en países de ingresos bajos y medios
• La diabetes no discrimina por edad, sexo, educación o clase social
• Existen varios tipos de diabetes y algunos de ellos no guardan ninguna relación con la alimentación o sedentarismo

Algunos factores que aumentan el riesgo de padecer diabetes son:

• Antecedentes familiares de diabetes
• Síndrome metabólico
• Tener más de 45 años de edad
• Sobrepeso
• Etnicidad/Raza
• Los estilos de vida sedentarios son solo uno de los factores que influyen en el desarrollo de diabetes tipo 2

Las personas que viven con diabetes no han escogido vivir con esta compleja condición crónica, que a diario representa un gran reto y preocupación tanto para la persona que lo padece como para su familia.

Sus comentarios afectan mucho nuestras luchas constantes por alcanzar mayores y mejores cuidados para nuestros seres queridos. La diabetes es una condición muy costosa y requiere mucha educación al paciente. Las aseguradoras escuchan sus comentarios y se basan en ellos a la hora de limitar la educación y cubiertas de medicamentos o equipo médico necesario para un mejor manejo de la condición.

Somos más de 371 millones de personas los ofendidos con sus declaraciones y muchos más los indignados ante la falta de asesoría. La invitamos a haga algo por las personas con diabetes a quienes ha afectado con sus comentarios, rectificando sus palabras, informándose más sobre la diabetes, y aprovechando la oportunidad para educar a quienes sus comentarios han desinformado.

Mila Ferrer
¡Edúcate, Apoya y Empodérate!
Jaime-dulceguerrero.com - Twitter - Facebook
Queremos conocer tu sentir, comparte tus comentarios con nosotros. Nuestra comunidad debe ser escuchada. Avísanos si escribes sobre esta situación, para incluir el enlace a tu post a continuación.
Post Relacionados:
Good Diabetes Education and Crossing Language Lines (Your Diabetes Many Vary)
La Diabetes Es De Ricos (Canal Diabetes)
CFK: “La diabetes es una enfermedad de gente con alto poder adquisitivo” (EsTuDiabetes)

Honorable President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner:
During yesterday’s speech of the launching of Plan Argentina Innovadora 2020 at Casa Rosada, you presented as part of the research projects, the creation of a treatment for diabetes using a potato-like tuber. Very confidently, you expressed the benefits that “Project Yacon” would bring to people living with diabetes around the world. As members of the “Diabetes Advocates” (DA), we thank you for supporting the research for new treatments for this condition, but, please, before making any announcements or statements like the one you made yesterday, you should educate yourself about the issue.

Textually your words were:

“You know there are 80 million diabetics in the world, whom also have a high purchasing power.” “Diabetes is a disease of people with high purchasing power; they are sedentary, because they eat a lot… eh, eh, so it obviously is for everyone.”

Studies show that the rate of diabetes diagnosis is inversely related with the person’s income. Diabetes diagnosis keep rising in all social classes, but those whom are at most social disadvantage are experiencing a higher burden. When low income populations are diagnosed with diabetes, they have far worst results with greater complications.
The members of the Diabetes Advocates intercede, support and publicly defend the people who, like many of us, live with diabetes. We seek to improve the lives of the members of our communities who live with diabetes through education and seeking to clarify the doubts about this complex condition.

If you don’t live with diabetes, you have no idea what diabetics experience on a daily basis. In the difficult economic crisis we are experiencing at a global level, there are many families who struggle daily to afford the proper medications and diabetes related medical supplies needed, in order to insure a proper management for their diabetes and prevent future complications; future complications that costs governments millions annually.

Respectfully, we share with you some diabetes related data:

• Diabetes affects 371 million people around the world
• 4 of 5 people with diabetes live in low and middle income countries
• Diabetes does not discriminate by age, sex, education or social standing
• There are several types of diabetes, and some of them bear no relation with diet or a sedentary lifestyle

Some diabetes risk factors include:

• A family history of diabetes
• Metabolic syndrome
• Being over 45 years of age
• Overweight
• Ethnicity
• A sedentary lifestyle is just one of the factors that influence the development of type 2 diabetes

People living with diabetes have not chosen to live with this complex and chronic condition, which represents a major challenge and concern to the people who suffers it and for their families.

Your comments affect our constant struggles to achieve greater and better care for our loved ones. Diabetes is a very expensive condition, and requires constant education to the patient. Health insurance companies listen to your comments and based on them they limit the necessary diabetes education and coverage of medications or supplies.

With your statement you offended more than 371 million people, and many more are shocked by your lack of trustworthy, and reliable counseling. We invite you to do something for people with diabetes whom you have affected with your comments, rectifying your statement, informing yourself better about diabetes, and taking the opportunity to educate those whom you have misinformed through your comments.

Mila Ferrer
¡Edúcate, Apoya y Empodérate!
Jaime-dulceguerrero.com - Twitter - Facebook
Let us know what your think, please share your thoughts with us. Our community needs to be heard. If you blog about this situation, please let us know so we may list your blog post below.
Related Posts:
Good Diabetes Education and Crossing Language Lines (Your Diabetes Many Vary)
La Diabetes Es De Ricos (Canal Diabetes)
CFK: “La diabetes es una enfermedad de gente con alto poder adquisitivo” (EsTuDiabetes)
La Sra. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner la diabetes y los adinerados  (Jaime, mi dulce guerrero)
La ignorancia mata. Actuemos contra la ignorancia ¡YA! (Educa dies)

Scott and Arden

Scott is a stay-at-home dad of two, Cole and Arden. He started  writing about being the parent of a child with type I diabetes in the summer of 2007. Since then He’s folded a literal ton of laundry, wrote a few things online that seem to resonate with folks and had a couple of ideas that seem to have found traction in the world. Scot just finished writing a book, ‘Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Dad‘. The book (which he likes very much and think you would too) will be in stores this April.

Most new type 1 parents felt that way too. We did. We found connecting with peers “who get it”  helps. There is a community for that. we call it the diabetes online community or DOC for short. 

Here is a little welcome letter that community from Scott Benner, a diabetes dad. Below there links to more folks like him and a community that can be your new emotional lifeline.

Hi, I’m Scott.

Every person and situation is different, but there are only so many human responses for our bodies and minds to choose from when we experience an unexpected shift in our reality. When the doctors told me and my wife that our daughter Arden had type I diabetes, I broke down and sobbed uncontrollably. I found it impossible to look my wife Kelly in the face, I didn’t want her to see me so destroyed and I definitely couldn’t find it within myself to witness her heart breaking. The days, weeks and months that followed felt otherworldly, my head was ringing and I constantly felt like someone had reached down my throat and was strangling my heart. I struggled at times to look Arden in the eyes for fear that I would cry.

I began to slowly find my footing in our new world but the steps that I took were always uncertain and never in full stride.The only thing that kept me afloat as I searched for a way out from under the fog that type I blanketed or home with – hope. Eventually that hope blossomed into a desire to positively effect my daughter’s life with diabetes. I began to write online about my life with type I, and the connections that I made saved me.

I found places like the Children With Diabetes and their CWD forums, the Diabetes Online Community weekly #DSMA chat on Twitter and scores of other diabetes bloggers all doing what I was – trying to help someone else to feel a little less alone. Since then, I think that I’ve made a difference in others lives and I want very much for you to know the relief that comes with finding community and making real connections with other people just like you.

The first time that I was impacted by the DOC opened my eyes to the benefit of finding commonality and community as we live with type I diabetes. I wrote something on my blog that struck a cord with a reader in England. The woman wrote to me and thanked me for sharing, she told me that my transparency helped her. I never expected that my experiences shared, could relieve another’s anguish. The DOC provides support like this every day through the human connections that are made because of it. When I read her note further, I fell the rest of the way in love with this community. The woman offered me support. She wasn’t a victim, not a person adrift searching for hope online… she was a fellow combatant and she wanted me to know that she had my back. I’ve never once been alone since. You are all with me at two in the morning, in my car and when I struggle. I never feel like I can’t, because I know that somewhere you are living bravely despite the obstacles that we all face. You are my support on the days that I need it, and I am heartened to be yours when I can. We are a family. The DOC is home.

Welcome Home

Scott

Arden’s Day

http://www.ardensday.com

http://www.ardensday.com/diagnosis/

Other Parents Stories and Resources for Newly Diagnosed Families

Parents Blogging about Diagnosis

Eating disorders are common, but despite the serious health consequences associated with them, people are reluctant to discuss them. It is no surprise that those with diabetes are more susceptible to developing eating disorders because managing diabetes requires patients to be vigilant about dietary management. Thankfully, efforts are being made to raise awareness, educate patients, and support those in need.

Diabetes Advocates is partnering with National Eating Disorders Association for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, February 24th – March 2nd, promoting this year’s theme, Everybody Knows Somebody. Diabetes Advocates is proud to broaden and amplify the conversation on diabetes-related eating disorders by offering information and resources to the diabetes community, including those at risk and those in need of support, and encouraging participation in NEDAwareness Week through social media outlets.

How common are eating disorders with diabetes?

A report published in Diabetes Spectrum showed that having type 1 diabetes doubles the chance of developing an eating disorder¹, and multiple studies have shown that eating disorders can lead to significantly higher rates of diabetic complications and mortality rates.^2,3 Even more alarming is that one study indicated that 35% of 15–30 year olds manipulate or omit their insulin in order to lose weight, a practice known as diabulimia.⁴ For patients with type 2 diabetes, some research has suggested higher rates of binge eating disorder^5, which is associated with poorer metabolic outcomes.⁶

Less severe, but still clinically significant, patients are at risk of developing disturbed eating behaviors, which are also associated with poorer metabolic outcomes, higher rates of diabetic complications and mortality.⁷ This is not surprising since behaviors that characterize eating disorders are often behaviors encouraged and praised by doctors with patients who have diabetes.Such behaviors include:⁸

• Weighing, measuring and counting food portions
• Keeping records of food consumed and exercise
• Increased focus on body weight, weight management and BMI
• Monitoring certain food components, i.e. carbohydrates, fiber and fat

National Eating Disorders Association is promoting dialogue and information sharing about eating disorders, and Diabetes Advocates is encouraging the Diabetes Online Community to engage in this important conversation. By highlighting the blog posts and projects of its members, Diabetes Advocates illustrates that disordered eating in the diabetes community affects people of all ages and genders. Michael Hoskins writes on Diabetes Mine about using emotional eating as a coping mechanism for feelings, and how it is not considered “manly” to struggle with such issues. Natalie Sera shares her story on Diabulimia Helpline about discovering she had a “young person’s” disease at the age of 64. Ginger Vieira has written a new book titled Emotional Eating with Diabetes that helps people with diabetes cope with the conflicted feelings about food that they often experience.

Lee Ann Thill, art therapist and founder of Diabetes Art Day, introduces VIAL Project: Voice-Insulin-Art-Life, a social network for people with type 1 diabetes and food and body issues to share creative expression and connect. VIAL project is a doctoral research project investigating the experience of living with diabetes and food and body issues, and participants’ experiences using creative expression and social networking. Erin Akers is CEO of Diabulimia Helpline, the only non-profit in the U.S. devoted solely to supporting diabetics with eating disorders, and their families. Diabulimia Helpline runs a support group on Facebook, where people with diabetes and eating disorders can share their struggles with recovery, and offers a 24-hour hotline to those in need.

The goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is to promote public and media attention to the seriousness of eating disorders, their biological as well as environmental triggers, and to combat the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that can contribute to them. In a culture saturated with unrealistic body-image messages, most people know somebody struggling with an eating disorder. Education can lead to earlier detection, and intervention to help those who are struggling, ultimately improving the likelihood of full recovery.

Diabetes Advocates offers these suggestions to the Diabetes Online Community for participating in NEDAwareness Week:

1. Bloggers can share their personal experience managing food and body issues
2. Read, comment and share links to blog posts
3. Share links to the projects and organizations listed in this post: Diabulimia Helpline, VIAL Project, Emotional Eating with Diabetes, and NEDA (Additional links are listed below)
4. Participate in related discussions on diabetes social networking websites, Facebook and Twitter

By taking these actions during NEDAwareness Week, the Diabetes Online Community can raise awareness, educate others, and promote ongoing dialogue in support of those struggling and those at risk.

We can all help because Everybody Knows Somebody who needs it.

Erin, Lee Ann, Natalie

Notes
1. Daneman, D. Eating Disorders in Adolescent Girls and Young Women with Type I Diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum 2002; 15 : 83-105.
2. Steel JM, Young RJ, Lloyd GG, and Clarke BF. Clinically apparent eating disorders in young diabetic women: associations with painful neuropathy and other complications. British Medical Journal 1987; 294: 859-62.
3. Takii M, Uchigata Y, Tokunaga S, Amemiya N, Kinukawa N, Nozaki T, Iwamoto Y, and Kubo C. The duration of severe insulin omission is the factor most closely associated with the microvascular complications of Type 1 diabetic females with clinical eating disorders. The International Journal Of Eating Disorders, 2008 Apr; Vol. 41 (3), pp. 259-64.
4. *5 Goebel-Fabbri A. Insulin Restriction and Associated Morbidity and Mortality in Women with Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care (2007).
5. Papelbaum M, Appolinário JC, Moreira Rde O, Ellinger VC, Kupfer R, and Coutinho WF. Prevalence of eating disorders and psychiatric comorbidity in a clinical sample of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria (São Paulo, Brazil: 1999) [Rev Bras Psiquiatr] 2005 Jun; Vol. 27 (2), pp. 135-8.
6. Mannucci E, Tesi F, Ricca V, Pierazzuoli E, Barciulli E, Moretti S, Di Bernardo M, Travaglini R, Carrara S, Zucchi T, Placidi GF, and Rotella CM. Eating behavior in obese patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. International Journal Of Obesity And Related Metabolic Disorders: Journal Of The International Association For The Study Of Obesity, 2002 Jun; Vol. 26 (6), pp. 848-53.
7. Goebel-Fabbri AE. Disturbed eating behaviors and eating disorders in type 1 diabetes: clinical significance and treatment recommendations. Current Diabetes Reports, 2009 Apr; Vol. 9 (2), pp. 133-9.
8 Affenito, SG, Adams CH. “Are eating disorders more prevalent in females with type 1 diabetes mellitus when the impact of insulin omission is considered?” Nutrition Reviews 2001; 59: 179-82.

About NEDAwareness Week

http://nedaw.myneda.org/about
http://nedaw.myneda.org/become-a-partner
http://nedaw.myneda.org/sites/default/files/resources/NEDAWOrgPartn…

Diabulimia Helpline
www.diabulimiahelpline.org
24-hour hotline (425) 385-3635

We Are Diabetes
http://www.wearediabetes.org/forum/thread.php?tid=142

The Butter Compartment - An Ounce of Prevention
http://www.thebuttercompartment.com/?p=6889 

Diabetes Mine
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2013/01/a-confession-and-a-new-book-about-emotional-eating.html

Natalie’s Story
http://diabulimiahelpline.org/in-our-own-words/our-stories/story-detail?id=13

Emotional Eating With Daibetes
http://emotionaleatingwithdiabetes.com

V.I.A.L project; Voice, Insulin, Art, Life.
VIAL project

SixUntilMe
Body Image- http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2008/07/body_image.html
Articles Forbidden - http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2013/02/articles_forbidden.html 

Your Diabetes May Vary
Food for the shrink – http://www.ydmv.net/2008/09/food-for-shrink.html
Cheating - http://www.ydmv.net/2013/02/eating-cheating-with-diabetes.html

MyGlu
•Blood Sugar Roller Coaster (over-treating low blood sugars)
https://myglu.org/articles/the_blood_sugar_roller_coaster
•Rules Around Food that Do More Harm Than Good
https://myglu.org/articles/rules_around_food_that_do_more_harm_than…

The Butter Compartment – Previous posts
Peace of Cake: http://www.thebuttercompartment.com/?p=6265
Overdue: http://www.thebuttercompartment.com/?p=5981
New Year’s Revelation: http://www.thebuttercompartment.com/?p=4763

The Odd Duck Out
Has a very poignant graphic of how diabulimia happens.
http://theoddduckout-natalie.blogspot.com/2013/02/initiating-eating-disorder.html 

Texting My Pancreas – Everybody Knows Someone
http://www.textingmypancreas.com/2013/02/everybody-knows-somebody.html

The Blue Heel Society – No Body is Perfect
http://blueheelsociety.blogspot.com/2013/02/everybody-knows-somebody-nedawarenes.html 

Diabetes Mine - Diabetes and Eating Disorders: Fellow PWD Shares Her Diabulimia Story
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2013/02/diabetes-and-eating-disorders-fellow-pwd-shares-her-diabulimia-story.html

DSMA Live
DSMA Live ‘Rents – Feb 18 – Lee Ann: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diabetessocmed/2013/02/19/dsma-live-rents
DSMA en Vivo con – Feb 26 – Lizmari:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/diabetessocmed/2013/02/27/dsm-en-vivo-con-lizmari 

The Angry Type 2 Diabetic
http://theangrytype2diabetic.blogspot.com/2013/02/finding-balance-in-unbalanced-world-of.html

Diabetes Forecast - Hope in the World of Eating Disorders and Diabetes
http://forecast.diabetes.org/disorders-mar2013

Me and D: You Know Me
http://www.meanddblog.com/2013/02/you-know-me.html

Diabetesaliciousness: #NEDAwareness Week: We All Know Someone~
http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2013/02/nedawareness-week-we-all-know-someone.html

Bitter~Sweet: Disorders and Issues
http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/2013/02/disorders-and-issues.html 

Strangely Diabetic: I’m One of the Disorderly
http://strangelydiabetic.com/2013/02/28/national-eating-disorders-week-im-one-of-the-disorderly/

Encuentro Fortuito
http://nictetrujillo.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/nedawareness/

Jezebel.com
http://jezebel.com/5989924/diabulimia-eat-anything-you-want-lose-weight-and-seriously-put-your-health-at-risk

thePerfectD
http://theperfectd.com/2013/03/22/the-knickers-in-a-twist-club/

http://theperfectd.com/2013/03/29/for-want-of-a-nail/

My crazy life with my diabetic service dog
http://tarraandduchess.blogspot.com/2013/02/everbody-know-someone.html