Diabete’s is personal. For me, it meant many family members who I loved struggled with diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2.

What’s the difference?

Diabetes is a life long chronic disease where your body does not produce enough insulin to breakdown and move sugar (aka glucose) into your body’s cells. Why is this important? That sugar gives you ENERGY.

If your body is not producing enough insulin to help this process then the sugar remains in your bloodstream. Eventually, too much sugar sitting in your bloodstream can lead to other complications including blindness, nerve damage, non-healing foot sores which could lead to infections or amputation,  kidney problems, heart disease, and so much more.

Type 1 Diabetes is sometimes called Juvenile Diabetes because it is commonly diagnosed in childhood with the disease, but that is not always the case. Some people may go their entire childhood, well into their teens, with diabetes and without having it diagnosed.

Type 2 Diabetes is usually, but not always, diagnosed in mature adults. One major effect is the amount of your body fat. Because fat creates a challenge for insulin to be produced and move properly into the cells, many people are finding out at earlier ages that they have developed diabetes over time.

DIABETES AFFECTS US ALL!

Diabetes can lead to serious medical complications. What’s worse, people can walk around with diabetes and not realize it.  The signs are sometimes not so obvious, including fatigue, hunger, thirst, and increased urination. Sometimes blurred vision and feet/hand numbness occurs.   The ONLY way to know if you have diabetes is to be tested.

Testing is simple. A small prick in the finger can give produce enough blood to test on at blood glucose meter.

In the meanwhile, the battle against Diabetes continues on.

The Alabama Juvenile Diabetes Foundation  is here to help!  Alabama has a wonderful organization with offices located in Birmingham and Huntsville.  There you can find educational materials, support group information, latest research news, and meet others who continue to fight the battle against diabetes.

Yes, diabetes is personal to me. Having lost several family members to the complications of diabetes and also knowing the challenges of trying to keep my own blood sugar within normal range, it crucial that we continue to fight this battle together-FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!