Once again it’s World Diabetes Day and while I’m not big on “causes” this cause is close to my heart as diabetes is part of my life. I’m not going to write a lot about what today means to me because I’ve written about it the last few November 14ths. You can read about it here and here and here.
Nov
14
Today is World Diabetes Day. I mark this day as a way of remembering I’m not alone and that there are many people in the world fighting on behalf of myself and others to make this disease a thing of the past. It’s nice to know there is an international community thinking about it along with me today.
Visit this link to see pictures of monuments around the world that are lighting up in blue today in recognition of World Diabetes Day. The Secretary-General of the United Nations issued a press release regarding WDD and the threat diabetes poses in low income countries around the world.
The theme for 2007 and 2008 is diabetes in children and of course that is close to my heart as I was a child when I was diagnosed. Â If you are a parent or caregiver of small children you should be aware of the symptoms of diabetes as it is the most commonly diagnosed chronic illness in children. Â Here’s what you need to be looking for:
- excessive thirst (I was thirsty even after downing several glasses of water)
- frequent urination (when I was diagnosed I was literally peeing every 10 or 15 minutes)
- increased hunger
- weight loss
- fatigue
- vomiting/stomach pain
- blurred vision
- trouble concentrating
When diabetes isn’t diagnosed early enough it can cause brain damage or even death so it’s important to be aware of these signs. Â It’s always best to see a doctor if you have questions as it’s very quickly diagnosed. Â It can show up at any age, in adolescents or small children and even babies so you need to notice the habits of very little ones who aren’t old enough to tell you when they aren’t feeling well.
If that sounds scary, I don’t mean it to be! Better to live a long healthy life with diabetes than die a premature death because of it. Diabetes management has changed dramatically since I was diagnosed 16 years ago and even more since our parents’ generation. In fact, generation by generation diabetes is becoming less debilitating and much easier to manage and live with.
That said, insulin isn’t a cure. So let’s get it done. If you want a good cause to support, diabetes research is a great one. And I’m not just saying that because I’m tired of poking myself with needles. Still, sixteen years is enough!
