". . . when we say that the Church is a family, we mean it quite literally. The Church is not a reflection of the reality that is "family"—quite the opposite. The family is a reflection of the reality that is the Church." -Fr. Robert Johansen

World Diabetes Day

Posted on Nov 14th, 2008 in Type 1 Diabetes | 2 comments

November 14, 2008 is World Diabetes Day

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases to affect children. It can strike children of any age, even toddlers and babies. If not detected early enough in a child, the disease can be fatal or result in serious brain damage. Yet diabetes in a child is often completely overlooked: it is often misdiagnosed as the flu or it is not diagnosed at all.

Every parent, school teacher, school nurse, doctor and anyone involved in the care of children should be familiar with the warning signs and alert to the diabetes threat.

Know the diabetes warning signs

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Increased hunger
Weight loss
Tiredness
Lack of interest and concentration
Blurred vision
Vomiting and stomach pain (often mistaken as the flu)

*In children with type 2 diabetes these symptoms may be mild or absent and even in type 1 not every child has every one of these symptoms

Type 1 and type 2

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot be prevented. Globally it is the most common form of diabetes in children, affecting around 500,000 children under 15. However, as a result of increasing childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles, type 2 diabetes is also increasing fast in children and adolescents. In some countries (e.g. Japan), type 2 diabetes has become the most common form of the disease in children.

Globally, there are close to 500,000 children under the age of 15 with type 1 diabetes.
Every day 200 children develop type 1 diabetes.
Every year, 70,000 children under the age of 15 develop type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is increasing in children at a rate of 3% each year
Type 1 diabetes is increasing fastest in pre-school children, at rate of 5% per year.
Finland, Sweden and Norway have the highest incidence rates for type 1 diabetes in children.
Type 2 diabetes has been reported in children as young as eight and reports reveal that it now exists in children thought previously not to be at risk.
In Native and Aboriginal communities in the United States, Canada and Australia at least one in 100 youth have diabetes. In some communities, it is one in every 25.
Over half of children with diabetes develop complications within 15 years.
Global studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by enabling individuals to lose 7-10% of their body weight, and by increasing their physical activity to a modest level.
Type 2 diabetes in children is becoming a global public health issue with potentially serious outcomes.
Type 2 diabetes affects children in both developed and developing countries.

No Child Should Die of Diabetes

Diabetes is a deadly disease. Each year, almost 4 million people die from diabetes- related causes. Children, particularly in countries where there is limited access to diabetes care and supplies, die young.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a build-up of excess acids in the body as a result of uncontrolled diabetes, is the major cause of death in children with type 1 diabetes. With early diagnosis and access to care, the development of severe DKA should be preventable.
Insulin was discovered more than 85 years ago. Today children in many parts of the world still die because this essential drug is not available to them.
Children with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar regularly to help control their diabetes. This monitoring equipment is often unavailable or not affordable.
In Zambia, a child with type 1 diabetes can expect to live an average of 11 years. In Mali, the same child can expect to live for only 30 months. In Mozambique the child is likely to die within a year.

What Can You Do?

Pray —for a cure and for all who are affected by this disease.
If you know a child with diabetes, help in any way you can. For type 1 children who require daily insulin, diabetes care can be overwhelming and all consuming at times.
Support the Iacocca Foundation one of the few research foundations that does not support embryonic stem cell research.
Promote healthy lifestyles to help prevent type 2 diabetes in children.

Thank you!

2 Responses to “World Diabetes Day”

Rachel says:

November 18, 2008 at 11:56 am

Hello- I recently received a great article on the connection between stem cell research and abortion… it also included some examples of successful uses of adult stem cells for the healing of Type 1 Diabetes. If you are interested in the article I can email it to you.
Many of my family members have Type 1 and 2 diabetes so I thank you for spreading the news about it.
Sincerely, Rachel
MicheleQ says:

November 18, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Hi Rachel,

Certainly, send it along. I mentioned the Iacocca Foundation for that very reason they do NOT support embryonic stem cell research which is of course connected to abortion in so very many ways. Because groups like the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation support EMBRYONIC stem cell research I will not support or promote them.

I do realize there’s promise in adult stem cell research and find it both puzzling and frustrating that we don’t hear more about it.