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Many people are aware that for years we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Diabetes Research and have asked us what organization we support and why. We have never publicly explained our choice before, but we do have a favorite organization and there is a very important reason we support this organization.
So, for the first time ever, we are explaining why we support the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Years ago, before our family and the two of us decided who we would support, we researched the different diabetic organizations to see whose primary focus was to cure diabetes and then, who was best qualified to accomplish this goal. After months of research only one organization met and even surpassed our stringent criteria, JDRFI, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, which was founded by parents of children with diabetes and one of the main reasons for their success is that JDRFI is a volunteer driven organization. This means the volunteers partner with JDRFI staff and together they keep the focus on our mission...to support research that will cure diabetes and its complications.
Our family began by reviewing the financial reports of the different organizations, we wanted to know how much money each group raised annually, how they spent their money, and in particular how much money was spent directly on finding the cure for diabetes. We were looking for a very lean, streamlined foundation, one that spent the majority of the money they raised on diabetes research and not on overhead. We looked to see which organization had the most effective government relations department. Did they have an organized, well trained, and motivated volunteer base, were they being effectively utilized, were they compelling, and could this grassroots movement successfully influence diabetes related legislation. We needed to know that Congress and the White House were being positively impacted by the joint effort of volunteers and JDRFI staff. In the end, the only organization that met and still meets our benchmark, is JDRFI, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International!
More than 85 percent of JDRFI's expenditures directly support research and research-related education. As a highly esteemed organization they are recognized for their effectiveness, efficiency and integrity. JDRF has received top rankings from the American Institute of Philanthropy and other independent sources that rate charitable giving! JDRFI is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide and their mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research; attaining this goal helps ALL diabetics, type 1 and type 2!
Since JDRFI's founding in 1970, they have awarded more than $1.16 billion to diabetes research, including more than $137 million in 2007. Furthermore, in 2007 JDRF funded 700 centers, grants and fellowships in 20 countries. In only thirty-seven years, JDRF has made a difference diabetics can believe in; JDRF will lead diabetics to the cure! For these reasons and more, we support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, their goal is our goal and together we will CURE DIABETES!
PLEASE join us and support JDRF, the JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION International!
Mary Tyler Moore has been and always will be our hero!! This is a woman who selflessly gives of herself to help millions of people suffering with diabetes. For years, she has silently endured the difficulties that come with having Juvenile Diabetes, and bravely wore her famous smile while speaking on behalf of others. Mary Tyler Moore knows first hand the challenges that all diabetics face, yet in typical Mary Tyler Moore fashion, she boldly forges ahead, convincing anyone and everyone who will listen to her concerns, of the need to increase funding for Diabetes Research. Mary Tyler Moore, is admired by millions of television fans, but to diabetics around the world she epitomizes hope and is our inspiration. Yes, Mary is our hero, she gives us the strength to follow in her footsteps, so like Mary, we too will never give up the fight to find the cure.
Photo Credit: Pop Layout Blog The Jonas Brothers
As most young diabetics will atest to, being open about having Juvenile Diabetes lends itself to ridicule, embarrassment, and yes, even discrimination. If you ask any diabetic, it would probably be difficult to find one that hasn't experienced these problems. So, when a prominent young celebrity demonstrates the character and confidence to openly talk to his fans about being a Juvenile Diabetic, we applaud him, his brothers, and his family for having the courage to be such wonderful role models; you may never know the difference you have made in soooooo many lives...THANK YOU!
Peyton Manning
Gary Hall
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More than 10 years ago, the Diabetic Angels were founded. In 1998, we were faced with a challenging situation that seriously impacted our lives, one that nearly every diabetic has experienced. Ultimately, this demoralizing incident became a blessing in disguise and resulted in the formation of a special group that raises funds and provides education and support for diabetics, their families, and friends…The Diabetic Angels.
At the age of 10, we were having the time of our lives, we enjoyed school, had a great group of friends, and were becoming increasingly more involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, life was great…until we found out the hard way how diabetes is painful in more ways than one. The incident to which we are referring began when we had been invited to our friend's 10th birthday party. Ecstatic, we ran home to tell our mom and for the rest of the night, going to the party was all we thought about.
The next day, our friends and us excitedly talked about all the fun things we were going to do at the party. By the time we completed our morning classes, we looked forward to lunch so we could do what we did before school, talk about the party. As usual, all of our friends sat together at the same table, and shortly after we sat down, there was a lull in the conversation as all of us started eating. However, the silence didn't last long when the birthday girl took advantage of the full mouths and made an announcement. The birthday girl looked across the table at us and matter-of-factly said, "Oh, by the way, I have to uninvite you to my birthday party Mollie…because my mom said Diabetics are a hassle…but Jackie you can still come ." We were so stunned, we couldn't talk, but worse, Mollie was humiliated and brought to tears, there was nowhere to hide, no where to run. I, Jackie, did my best to console Mollie, but no amount of comforting was going to erase the pain. Somehow, we made it through the rest of the day, we tried to wear a smile and put up a brave front, but it only lasted until we walked off the school grounds and into our mother's car before the two of us just started sobbing. My heart broke for my sister, I felt so helpless, and it was obvious that nothing I could say or do could give back her self-esteem. Mom looked at us and instead of driving off, pulled the car over and seeing how devastated we were, made us tell her why we were crying. I could see the pain in her eyes; it was the same way I felt, angry and powerless, and above all unable to protect Mollie. However, as it turned out, mom wasn't helpless, and began to correct the injustice. Later that night, mom contacted the parents of this child and explained to them that she understood they had the right to invite anyone they wanted to their child's birthday party, but to tell one child, and in particular, Mollie, that she was a hassle because she was a diabetic, was way out of line. Mom went on to explain why Mollie was not a hassle, as she was a well managed diabetic who knew exactly how to take care of herself and whose twin sister also knew how to help her and what to do should there ever be an emergency (which had only happened once when Mollie was 4). Our friend's mother agreed that she didn't know about diabetes, admitting that she had made a mistake and didn't mean to hurt our feelings.
A few days passed and Mom let us feel bad and try to come to terms with our emotions before she sat us down and all of us talked about what happened, why we thought it happened and what, if anything, we could do about it. At first, we didn't think we could do anything to make it better, but the more we talked with mom, the more we realized that maybe there was a way of preventing other young people from experiencing this kind of humiliation and pain. After having talked for hours, mom explained to us that most people weren't intentionally cruel. She told us that she believed the reason people say hurtful things such as, "Diabetics are a hassle," is a direct result of ignorance and fear based on misinformation. All of a sudden, we understood what she had been saying, there was something we could do to stop the ignorance and the fear; that something was to find a way to help all young people who lived with a chronic disease, or who faced additional challenges.
The sadness we had been feeling for days began to diminish, as joy and hope replaced our grief and anger. By the end of the weekend, we were feeling empowered and motivated to take on the challenge of educating everyone that crossed our path about the reality of diabetes. We believed that if we could teach our friends, our peers, and our classmates, they in turn would educate their parents, their friends, and their peers…and so began the concept of the Diabetics Angels.
In the end, our mom helped us understand that we couldn't change what had been done to us, but that dwelling on it would only bring about more sadness and accomplish nothing. She told us we needed to take this negative situation and turn it into a positive force, and that in actuality this incident was a blessing in disguise. The truth is that the embarrassment, humiliation and sorrow we felt left a scar, but it is also true that the wound healed when we found hope in the idea of changing the world one friend at a time.
Over the next few months, we mounted an attack on ignorance. We invited our classmates to join us in knowing more about diabetes than most adults (which sounded like a lot of fun at the time!). We asked them to agree to learn the basics of diabetes, what it meant to have normal, low, or high blood sugar, as well as, the symptoms of high or low blood sugar and then how to respond in case of a diabetic emergency. Furthermore, we asked them to agree to become diabetic advocates, which included writing their congressional representatives regarding the funding of diabetes research and technology. The "Diabetic Angels" also raised funds for medical research by asking people to sponsor them, as they joined our Walk Team, "Mollie's Diabetic Angels," in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF's) annual "Walk To Cure Diabetes." Finally, the "Diabetic Angels" joined us when we made public appearances, which in the end turned out to be one of our most enjoyable endeavors.
What started as an initiative with 7 girls quickly grew to become one of the coolest clubs in school. Although learning about diabetes was a serious subject, we realized the importance of making our meetings fun, and with this in mind, we put the fun back in FUNdraising!! For example, we help meetings at the local water park, on a camping trip, as well as, at our house with a sleepover and a pizza party. Our objective was met, we had fun, our friends learned more about diabetes than we ever could have imagined, and in turn, they shared their knowledge with everyone who crossed their paths, one "Angel" even used the knowledge she had gained to save her grandfather's life…that alone made the formation of the "Diabetic Angels" worthwhile.
Since the first meeting in 1998, our lives have changed dramatically, as we watched the "Diabetic Angels" spread to 5 continents and positively impact diabetics, their families, and their friends. Today, we are proud to say that our mission to cure diabetes and teach others about the importance of diabetes awareness, advocacy, education and fundraising is succeeding! And as our story continues, we leave you with the meaningful thoughts of two of our heroes who have inspired us and hopefully will also inspire you. Oh, and by the way, since there are two of us writing the story of the "Diabetic Angels" and we couldn't agree on just one quote, I, Jackie, have selected Mother Theresa, who once said, "There is a tremendous strength that is growing in the world through the sharing together, praying together, suffering together, and working together" which we still do with our friends, both old and new…and I, Mollie, have chosen Albert Schweitzer, whose words taught us that if we, "Do something wonderful, people may imitate it!" We have spent many years imitating the good deeds of people we love and respect and it is our dream not only to cure diabetes, but also that the "Diabetic Angels" become a rippling effect of kindness and giving that spreads around the world.
Help CURE Diabetes through
Advocacy, Awareness, Education and Fundraising.
A Diabetic Angel is anyone who…
Dares to have fun, Dares to be Cool, and Dares to help cure Diabetes!
DA’s are grade-schoolers, middle-schoolers, high school and college students, and yes-even adults. A Diabetic Angel is that very special person who passionately cares about others and is willing to learn about diabetes and support a diabetic. DA’s are celebrities, politicians, teachers, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, classmates, best friends, co-workers and anyone, who wants to improve the very challenging life of a diabetic.
You too can be a Diabetic Angel if you Dare to have fun, Dare to be Cool, and Dare to help Cure Diabetes!
Whether you want to be an individual DA’s or you want to start your own Chapter of the Diabetic Angels, everyone who becomes a Diabetic Angel will learn the basics of diabetes, including what diabetes is, what it means to have low or high blood sugar and how to distinguish between the two. You will also learn why diabetics need insulin, along with how and why everyone, especially diabetics, should eat nutritiously and exercise regularly.
You will also learn how to recognize and handle a diabetic emergency and how to be a diabetic advocate. With this knowledge you will be needed and you will be admired, because you will be... a Diabetic Angel!
Have you ever thought of yourself as a hero?
When you become a Diabetic Angel and help cure diabetes, you are every diabetic’s hero!
DA’s demonstrate character, credibility, and compassion, the foundation of the Diabetic Angels.
DA’s develop leadership skills, gain self-confidence and raise their self-esteem.
You will meet new people and make new friends, learn how to be heard by Congress and how to raise funds to help cure diabetes.
Diabetic Angels offer hope and encouragement and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
Why become a Diabetic Angel? Because being a DA gives you the chance to experience the kind of love and appreciation that you can only feel when you give of yourself to help another!
The Diabetic Angels do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment…the material contained in DIABETES 101 or anywhere on this website, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The contents of Diabetes 101 contained on this website are for informational purposes only.
WHAT IS DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic (continual) disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is needed to move glucose (blood sugar) into cells, where it is used for energy. If glucose does not get into the cells, the body cannot use it for energy. Too much glucose will then remain in the blood, causing the symptoms of diabetes. *Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
There Are Two Main Types of Diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes are completely unable to produce insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cells don't respond to it. In either case, the glucose can't move into the cells and blood glucose levels can become high. Over time, these high glucose levels can cause serious complications.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
Previously known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset, is characterized by a lack of insulin production. Without daily administration of insulin, Type 1 diabetes is rapidly fatal.
Symptoms of type 1 Diabetes?
Extreme thirst
Frequent urination
Fatigue, lethargy
Sugar in urine
Sudden vision changes
Increased appetite – constant hunger
Sudden weight loss
Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath
Heavy, labored breathing
Stupor, unconsciousness
If you think you have diabetes, call a doctor immediately, and drink fluids WITHOUT SUGAR to prevent dehydration.
*These symptoms may occur suddenly.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin.
Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually. Most people with the disease are overweight at the time of diagnosis. However, type 2 diabetes can also develop in those who are thin, especially the elderly.
Although no one knows for certain what causes type 2 diabetes, there seems to be a genetic component to developing it. In fact, it's estimated that 45% to 80% of children with type 2 diabetes have at least one parent with diabetes and may have a significant family history of the disease. In some cases, a parent may be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the same time as his or her child.
Most children and adults who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight. Excess fat makes it harder for the cells to respond to insulin. And being inactive further reduces the body's ability to respond to insulin. In the past, doctors called this type of diabetes adult-onset diabetes because it almost exclusively affected overweight adults.
* Today, that description is no longer accurate. More kids and teens are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, probably because more kids and teens are overweight. Family history and genetics play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.
*Other risk factors include:
Race/ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups also tend to be more prone to developing type 2 diabetes, including people of Native American – African American – Hispanic-Latino and Asian-Pacific Island descent. Age greater than 45 years
High blood pressure
History of gestational diabetes
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
Often, people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all.
If you do have symptoms, they may include:
Increased thirst
Increased urination
Increased appetite
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Frequent or slow-healing infections
NORMAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
Is between 70 and 120 mg/dL. Keeping blood sugar levels within this range may be difficult, especially in children with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, an individual's doctor may adjust the target range (for example, 80-180 mg/dL).
People with diabetes can't always maintain blood sugar levels within the target range; no matter how hard they try. A person's varying schedules and eating habits, as well as the physical changes that occur as they grow, can send blood sugar levels out of range for no apparent reason. A person with type 1 diabetes should never be made to feel that it is their fault if their blood sugar levels are out of range.
HIGH BLOOD SUGAR or HYPERGLYCEMIA:
Hyperglycemia occurs when the blood sugar level becomes too high…(greater than 160), and should be treated immediately. High blood sugar may be a warning that this individual is getting sick.
High Blood Sugar in type 1 Diabetics: Follow doctor’s orders for correcting high blood sugar.
CAUSE of High Blood Sugar: Too much food
Too little exercise or physical activity
Skipped or not enough diabetes pills or insulin
Insulin that has spoiled after being exposed to extreme heat or freezing cold
Stress, illness, infection, injury or surgery
A blood glucose meter that is not reading accurately
*High blood sugar generally develops over a longer period of time.
SYMPTOMS of High Blood Sugar include:
Rapid, heavy breathing, vomiting, increased thirst, drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, sweet-smelling breath, frequent urination, confusion, blurry Vision and in severe cases, More frequent infections, Slow healing cuts and sores, Unexplained weight loss, unconsciousness.
WHAT TO DO FOR HIGH BLOOD SUGAR –
If blood sugar is over 240 mg/dl, it is suggested that the diabetic check for ketones.
When a diabetic experiences high blood sugar drink water (It is recommended to drink a minimum of 8 glasses each day),
Or sugar free drinks, 1 - 2 cups per hour, but no regular soda or juice.
If your blood glucose is 250 or greater and you are on insulin, check your urine for ketones.
If you have ketones, follow your sick day rules or call your healthcare team if you are not sure what to do.
Ask yourself what may have caused the high blood sugar, and take action to correct it. Ask your healthcare team if you are not sure what to do.
Try to determine if there is a pattern to your blood glucose levels.
Check your blood glucose before meals 3 days in a row.
If greater than your target level for 3 days, a change in medication may be needed.
Call your healthcare team or adjust your insulin dose following well day rules.
Call your healthcare team if you are currently using diabetes pills.
LOW BLOOD SUGAR or HYPOGLYCEMIA: A low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia or an insulin reaction, is defined as a blood glucose level below 60 to 70 mg/dl.
*NOTE: People with type 1 diabetes have symptoms of low blood sugar at various readings. Some people with type 1 diabetes feel perfectly fine at readings below 70. Others begin to show low blood sugar symptoms at readings somewhat above 70.
*Remember: When you correct for a low blood sugar do not over eat, or you can begin a blood sugar rollercoaster.
CAUSE of Low Blood Sugar or Hypoglycemia:
Low blood sugars or insulin reactions can occur whenever insulin is used. Although less frequent, it can also occur with use of drugs that stimulate insulin production in Type 2 diabetes, such as Diabenese, Glyburide, Glipizide, and Starlix.
*other causes include skipping meals and snacks – not eating enough food at a meal or snack time – exercising longer or harder than usual without eating some extra food – getting too much insulin – not timing the insulin doses properly with meals, snacks, and exercise.
SYMPTOMS of Low Blood Sugar or Hypoglycemia:
shaking, Blurred vision, seizures, sweating, Dizziness and confusion, pale appearance, numbness of the lips, confusion, irritability, frequent sighing, hunger, headache, personality change, tingling, fast heart rate, sudden tiredness, poor concentration, nausea or vomiting, loss of consciousness.
Nighttime lows can be particularly hard to recognize. If you wake up during the night with any of the symptoms below, check your blood sugar immediately. (Or eat quick carbs and then check – it may be helpful to keep snacks at your bedside, i.e. juice, crackers).
Nighttime Symptoms:
Nightmares – waking up with a fast heart rate
Waking up very alert
Damp night clothes or sheets
Restlessness and inability to go back to sleep
People often sleep through nighttime reactions and have symptoms the next morning that they may not recognize as resulting from a nighttime reaction. If you have any of these symptoms, suspect an insulin reaction during the night. It is strongly recommended that you test your blood sugar at 2 a.m. for a few nights. This can do wonders to identify and correct this potentially dangerous situation.
Symptoms of Next Morning Low Blood Sugar Reaction:
An unusually high blood sugar after breakfast or before lunch
Waking up with a headache
Waking up "foggy headed"
Loss of short-term memory
*Having one insulin reaction increases the risk for another. In one study, 46% of the people who had a reaction had another reaction the same day and another 24% had a reaction on the second day. 
Unfortunately, the second reaction is harder to recognize because stress hormones, which create symptoms like sweating and shaking, are largely depleted by the first reaction for the next 2 to 3 days!
HOW TO TREAT LOW BLOOD SUGAR – HYPOGLYCEMIA
1. If blood sugar levels are slightly low and the person is alert and lucid, he or she: SHOULD NOT EXERCISE, but they Should EAT…After eating; check blood sugar level again to make sure it is within the target range. The person may require another snack later in the day and continue to check blood sugar levels regularly.
2. If blood sugar levels are low and individual is showing signs of low blood sugar but is still able to eat, He or she should immediately eat or drink a fast-acting source of glucose (i.e., juice, glucose gel, or tablets). He or she may need to eat more food after that (i.e., crackers or other complex carbohydrate). Continue to check blood sugar levels regularly.
3. If blood sugar levels are low and individual is showing signs of low blood sugar and is unconscious, convulsing, and/or an unable to swallow: REMAIN CALM – DO NOT administer food or drink to an unconscious person, as it may obstruct the airway. Position the individual on the floor on his/her side to prevent falling, injury, or choking.
Call 911.
Administer emergency glucagon shot (unconsciousness may last up to ten minutes post-glucagon).
Continue to check blood sugar levels regularly.
Give additional food (i.e., crackers or other complex carbohydrate) when able to eat and if needed, in order to keep blood sugar levels in target range.
Blood Glucose Levels Before Meals:glucose levels should be between 90 and 130 mg of glucose per deciliter of blood.
Blood Glucose Two hours After Meals: blood sugar should be less than 180 mg/dl.
Blood Glucose Levels At Bedtime should be between 100 and 140 mg/dL.
According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Physical exercise is especially important for people with diabetes. The steps a person with diabetes takes to improve overall fitness can be greatly beneficial, because regular exercise helps lower blood sugar levels and keep them in target range.
Exercise makes insulin work more effectively because it takes less insulin to balance the carbohydrates consumed. Therefore, children who begin to exercise more may find that taking their typical doses of insulin before eating a typical amount of food may result in lower blood sugar levels.
REMEMBER:
Do Not exercise if blood sugar is low
Do NOT exercise if blood sugar is > 250 mg/dl and ketones are present.
Do NOT exercise if blood sugar is > 350 mg/dl with or without ketones.
For Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes can be difficult to understand and even though people care, it is common for them to ask questions that reflect a lack of knowledge about type 1, here are some of those myths.
Myth: You can catch diabetes from someone else.
FACT: No! Although we don’t know exactly why some people develop diabetes, we know diabetes is not contagious. It can’t be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.
MYTH: Taking insulin cures diabetes.
FACT: Taking insulin keeps people with type 1 diabetes alive, but does not cure the disease. While progress toward finding a cure has been substantial, there is still no cure for diabetes.
MYTH: Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for you, insulin should not be taken.
FACT: Both the UKPDS (United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study) and the DCCT (Diabetes Control & Complications Trial) have shown that the benefit of glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of weight gain.
MYTH:Diabetes is caused by obesity, or eating too much sugar.


FACT: While obesity has been identified as one of the "triggers" for type 2 diabetes, it has no relation to the cause of type 1 diabetes. Scientists do not yet know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but they believe that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Eating too much sugar is not a factor.



MYTH:People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses.

FACT: No! You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu shots. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose management, putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels and, for those with type 1 diabetes, an increased risk of ketoacidosis. 

MYTH: People with diabetes should never eat sweets.
FACT: Limiting sweets will help people with type 1 diabetes keep their blood sugar under control, but, with advice from their doctor or nutritionist, sweets can fit into their meal plan, just as they would for people without diabetes. And there are times when sweets are a must: if the blood sugar level drops too low, sweets (or juice, or soda) can be the surest to raise it, and prevent the onset of hypoglycemia (Low blood sugar).
MYTH: People with diabetes can't engage in athletics. 

FACT: Physical exercise is important for everyone's health, and is especially important for people with diabetes. Regular exercise helps lower blood sugar levels and keep them in the target range. There are countless examples of athletes who have had great success, from Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Gary Hall to baseball great Ron Santo to hockey great Bobby Clarke. 


MYTH: Only kids get type 1 diabetes.


FACT: Type 1 diabetes, also known as "juvenile" or "juvenile onset" diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. However, people may develop type 1 diabetes at any age.


MYTH:Insulin is addictive.
FACT:You cannot become addicted to insulin. It is a natural substance that the body requires. It is understandable that using a needle to inject insulin might provoke thoughts of drug use and addiction, so if using syringe needles in public causes you concern, talk to your doctor about other methods you can use to administer your insulin.
MYTH:It does not matter where insulin is injected.
FACT:Where you inject your insulin determines rate of absorption. Injection around the abdomen has the fastest rate of absorption, while the thighs and buttocks are the slowest. Injecting in the arm falls somewhere in between. Wherever you inject your insulin, be sure to inject into a fatty area of your body. Also, it is a good idea to rotate injection sites. Multiple injections in the same place can cause fat deposits to build up under the skin, which can delay insulin absorption.
MYTH: Insulin injections hurt.
FACT: A fear of needles is a common complaint for many people taking injections. However, today’s insulin syringes and pens are virtually painless. The best way to overcome this fear is to try insulin injections yourself. Your primary care physician can show you how to administer the injection. If you try it yourself and still feel pain, discuss this with your doctor. Your injection method and even the temperature of the insulin could be a factor.
MYTH: Women with diabetes shouldn't get pregnant. 


FACT: Thanks to advances in diabetes research, the outlook for pregnant women with diabetes is significantly better today than it was a generation ago. However, diabetic pregnancy requires extra effort and commitment, excellent blood sugar control, and education in all areas of diabetes management.
MYTH:No matter what you do, a person with diabetes for years will eventually get complications.
FACT:Complications are not inevitable. The mechanisms that cause complications are not yet fully understood, and the extent to which they develop varies from person to person. Tight blood sugar control is the only method demonstrated to reduce the risk of developing complications, but their occurrence remains unpredictable in any individual. Some individuals with type 1 diabetes may be genetically predisposed to develop complications (one of the critical issues being addressed by JDRF's research).
FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
MYTH: Kids don't get type 2 diabetes.


FACT: Though type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adulthood, increased obesity and other factors have led to a recent "epidemic" of this form of diabetes in young adults and children under 10. Still, most children diagnosed with diabetes get type 1. 


MYTH: Diabetes is rare in the United States.


FACT: Diabetes mellitus affects 13 million people (6% of the population) in the United States. Over 5 million of these people have the disease but do not know it. The direct and indirect cost of diabetes mellitus is $98 billion per year in the United States alone. It is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
MYTH: The only form of treatment for diabetes is insulin.

FACT: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is treated with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.
MYTH: You can have a little bit of diabetes.
FACT: There is also no such thing as a “touch of sugar†or being “borderline diabetic.†Either someone has diabetes or they don’t.
MYTH: Insulin injections will disrupt my life.
FACT: If your doctor prescribes insulin, don’t panic. You will not be confined to home, destined to never travel again. Instead you will find in time that insulin injections will simply become a part of your daily routine. Your doctor can design a dosing schedule that will fit your lifestyle and various types of insulin are available for different needs. Convenience devices like insulin pens and pumps may provide even more flexibility in your daily life.
MYTH: Taking insulin means I have failed at managing my diabetes.
FACT: Using insulin is not a sign of failure to control your diabetes. Nor is it an indication of severe health problems or proof that your risk of diabetes complications has increased. Try as you might, the beta cells in your pancreas are not under your control. After years of successful management, it is not uncommon for people with type 2 diabetes to reach a point where improved glucose control can only be obtained by using insulin. This is not your fault. It is a natural progression of diabetes.
MYTH:Insulin is addictive.
FACT: You cannot become addicted to insulin. It is a natural substance that the body requires. It is understandable that using a needle to inject insulin might provoke thoughts of drug use and addiction, so if using syringe needles in public causes you concern, talk to your doctor about other methods you can use to administer your insulin.
MYTH:Insulin injections hurt.
FACT: A fear of needles is a common complaint for many people taking injections. However, today’s insulin syringes and pens are virtually painless. The best way to overcome this fear is to try insulin injections yourself. Your primary care physician can show you how to administer the injection. If you try it yourself and still feel pain, discuss this with your doctor. Your injection method and even the temperature of the insulin could be a factor.
MYTH: It does not matter where insulin is injected.
FACT: Where you inject your insulin determines rate of absorption. Injection around the abdomen has the fastest rate of absorption, while the thighs and buttocks are the slowest. Injecting in the arm falls somewhere in between. Wherever you inject your insulin, be sure to inject into a fatty area of your body. Also, it is a good idea to rotate injection sites. Multiple injections in the same place can cause fat deposits to build up under the skin, which can delay insulin absorption.
MYTH: Once you start insulin you cannot stop.
FACT: Type 1 diabetes is defined as such because insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas are gradually destroyed and eventually fail to produce insulin. Therefore people with type 1 diabetes require insulin. The treatment for type 1 diabetes also includes a proper diet and exercise. People with type 2, however, are still able to produce insulin at diagnosis but over time, the overworked beta cells of the pancreas can wear out completely and lose the ability to secrete insulin. People with type 2 may be treated with insulin at one time and then switched to oral medications. Some people may even be able to decrease their medications as their blood glucose improves and others still may find they are able to stop taking medications altogether once they lose weight.
MYTH: Using insulin means I can eat the way I want.
FACT:Great theory, but actually a poor diet means your insulin has to work even harder to lower your blood glucose. Insulin, like oral medications, are only a part of the diabetes treatment plan. The most effective way to use insulin is in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. However, insulin or any other diabetes medication cannot take the place of you taking care of yourself.
JDRF.org
diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
Joslin.org
dLife
Diabetes.org
diabetesnet.com
kidshealth.org
medicinene