JDRF - Northeast Ohio Chapter Resources http://75.101.144.212/index.php en kdegardeyn@jdrf.org Copyright 2013 2013-03-21T15:41:13+00:00 Newly Diagnosed Overview http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/newly-diagnosed-overview http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/newly-diagnosed-overview#When:02:06:30Z A new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can spark a range of reactions including anger, sadness, and guilt.  Whatever your feelings, they are normal, and you are not alone.

Until there is a cure, we want to provide information that will help you cope with the burdens type 1 diabetes imposes, share with you the help that is available today, and keep you and your loved ones as strong and healthy as possible.

Education and Outreach Events - The NEO Chapter of JDRF hold support group meetings on the third Saturday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, and Nov).  These groups offer an opportunity for newly diagnosed and their families to talk with other families and medical professionals on a variety of issues that arise when living with type 1 diabetes.  These groups meet at the JDRF office from 9:30 to 11 AM.

In addition to support group meetings, speaker series are held throughout the year.  These educational topics address significant issues impacting life with diabetes.  Speaker Series dates and topics are announced via eNewsletter and posted on the calendar of events.

Bag of Hope - JDRF offers a free public outreach program to help families who have recently had a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 

For more information, please contact Rosie Mewhinney at 216-654-9320 or email: rmewhinney@jdrf.org.


Other Resources

 

]]> Newly Diagnosed Overview 2010-11-28T02:06:30+00:00 Bag of Hope http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/bag-of-hope http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/bag-of-hope#When:17:59:15Z
bag of hope
JDRF offers a free public outreach program to help families who have recently had a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  The intent of this program is to deliver a care package of information to help families learn more about type 1, the research for type 1, and the management and control of the disease.

Along with providing information and research updates, JDRF’s outreach program partners you and your child with another family who has been through a type 1 diagnosis.

To receive your bag of hope fill out the form below.


  Forms by Wufoo

 

]]> Bag of Hope 2010-11-27T17:59:15+00:00 Education & Outreach Events http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/education-outreach http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/education-outreach#When:14:01:45Z Support Groups
The NEO Chapter of JDRF hold support group meetings on the third Saturday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, and Nov).  These groups offer an opportunity for newly diagnosed and their families to talk with other families and medical professionals on a variety of issues that arise when living with type 1 diabetes.  These groups meet at the JDRF office from 9:30 to 11:30 AM.
For more information or to RSVP, please call 216-654-9320.

Aultman Hospital Teen Support Group
A Teen Support Group has started at Aultman Hospital on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Diabetes Education Center, Aultman Hospital Ground Level. This support group is open to any teen ages 12-17 with diabetes, with emphasis on type 1 diabetes.

Coffee Clutches
Several coffee clutches are held in Northeast Ohio. If you would like more information on these, please contact Rosie Mewhinney at 216-654-9320.

T1D Adult Social Hour
A social hour will be hosted by Mike Kubb on August 16th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The event will be held at Mavis Winkles on 5005 Rockside Road, Independence, OH 44131.

]]> Education & Outreach Events 2010-11-27T14:01:45+00:00 Why join Team JDRF…a Personal Northeast Ohio story… http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/why-join-team-jdrf http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/why-join-team-jdrf#When:13:24:51Z In 2012, I chose to join Team JDRF because I wanted to embrace the challenges of diabetes, to prove to myself and to the world that I could run a marathon (and run one as a type 1 diabetic!), and do something positive for my health while helping raise money for diabetes research.  Training to run 26.2 miles gave me a lot of time to think about why I chose to race for JDRF. I spent a lot of time reflecting about how my attitude towards my own health has changed for the best, and how being strategic about athletic training is related to making strategic improvements in diabetes management.

Even when I feel I have a handle on diabetes, a small mistake or moment of carelessness can lead to unexpected high blood sugars that can make me feel crummy, sluggish and irritable, or worse, possibly with a catastrophic low.  It can be hard to enjoy a moment, or “let go and live a little” without worrying that I could be compromising my health and safety.  By joining Team JDRF, I was able to connect with other people affected by T1D to share my feelings with and swap strategies with -making it a very meaningful journey. 
When it was time to prepare for race day, I was reminded of the bigger reasons why I chose to run for Team JDRF.  I have been reading a lot about the artificial pancreas, and hope it’s something that will be available to me very soon!  I also have been learning about stem cell research and transplants, and am hopeful that these strategies will lead to a cure.

As a new parent of a baby boy, I am now responsible for a little one.  Finding a cure for this disease would take away all the stress of managing diabetes daily, and the uncertainty and worry of complications.  It would give me and my family even more time and energy to devote to more important things - like our perfect, little newborn son.

It’s not too late to be a part of this amazing experience….Join us!
The Rite Aid Marathon is taking place the weekend of May 19th.

If you would like to be a part of Team JDRF and make a difference, please click here to register , click the link under run or walk, and select the Rite Aid Race -or for more information, email hreed@jdrf.org.

]]> Why join Team JDRF…a Personal Northeast Ohio story… 2013-05-02T13:24:51+00:00 T1D Parent Blog #1: Diagnosis of T1D http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/t1d-parent-blog-1-diagnosis-of-t1d http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/t1d-parent-blog-1-diagnosis-of-t1d#When:19:54:19Z My name is Tony and I’m a volunteer at the JDRF Northeast Ohio chapter. My wife Debby and I have 3 children, Anthony (11), Abriana (9), and Dominick (5). Our family became involved with JDRF 3-1/2 years ago when our son Anthony was diagnosed with T1D just a few days before Christmas. With no history of T1D in our families and not knowing anything about this disease, my wife and I were initially devastated by Anthony’s diagnosis and we struggled early on to cope with how to best take care of our son. I’ve decided to share some of our stories about our experience with T1D in the hope that you will know that you are not alone in your experiences and struggles with this disease.
           
One week before Christmas in 2009, my family was enjoying a train ride on the “Polar Express” - a train ride organized by the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad where kids and parents dress in their pajamas, board a train, and head for the North Pole. (The “North Pole” is actually Terry Lumber Supply in Peninsula, Ohio, that is decorated to look like the North Pole, complete with Christmas lights, elves, sleighs, and Santa Claus himself.)
 
During the 2-hour train ride, my son Anthony who was 8 years old at the time became extremely thirsty. He drank two bottled waters and argued with me for another bottle. After telling him that I would not buy him another bottle, he began licking condensation from the train windows as a way to quench his thirst. (Yea…this was gross on many levels.) That night, he woke up 4 times to urinate and get additional water to drink. This continued the following day…drinking and urinating every hour or two.
 
Otherwise, Anthony was acting normal and as a dad, I wasn’t overly concerned. I figured that he was urinating often because he was drinking so much water. Makes sense. No big deal. It didn’t occur to me that anything was wrong. My wife was more concerned than me, though. To be safe, she scheduled a check-in with Anthony’s pediatrician the following morning.
   
It was at 9:30 that next morning that my wife called me…“We’re rushing Anthony to the Cleveland Clinic… his blood glucose reading is somewhere over 800 and cannot be measured using the meters at the pediatrician’s office…he is still conscious, but you need to meet us at the hospital immediately.”
   
What just happened? What is a blood glucose reading and why was his so high? Get to the hospital immediately? What’s going on?
   
Fortunately, we got to the hospital and got Anthony an insulin injection before he lost consciousness (or worse) due to his high blood glucose level. We would learn later that morning that Anthony has Type 1 Diabetes, and during the next few days, the doctors, nurses, educators and dieticians would give us a crash course about T1D and how it was going to impact our lives.
   
The experience during the first few days was overwhelming. There was so much information being given to us about insulin, injections, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, sliding scales to determine bolus doses, basal insulin, how the pancreas works, and on and on. My wife cried often. I was trying to hold it together for her and my son, but I was so scared inside. We felt like our son’s future suddenly became so uncertain and that he wouldn’t be able to do the normal things that other kids his age were doing. Could he still play sports? Can he eat any sweets? What about his favorite foods…pasta and pizza? What was his life with T1D going to be like?
   
Anthony, on the other hand, was handling things really well. His time in the hospital was an adventure and he really didn’t mind being there (other than having to get his finger pricked and receiving insulin injections several times a day.) The staff set him up with a video game system and he had fun passing the time playing Super Monkey Ball and Mario Cart. Santa even stopped by a few days before Christmas to drop off some gifts.
   
We were sent home from the hospital on Christmas Eve, just in time to attend Christmas Eve services at our church. Again, we cried as we sat in church. After Mass, we went to my in-laws house for dinner and for the first time had to figure out carbohydrates and insulin on our own. We totally messed it up.
   
First, we told Anthony that he couldn’t have the snacks and appetizers that were being served before dinner. We had misunderstood the instructions from the nurses at the hospital and thought that you were supposed to wait at least 2 hours in between insulin doses, and therefore he couldn’t have the appetizers that were being served an hour before the main course. (We’ve learned since that the actual instructions were to avoid “correcting” for high blood glucose levels within two hours after receiving a bolus dose.) We then miscalculated his bolus dose at dinner, resulting in a BG reading of over 350. We ended the night by telling him that he couldn’t have any of the dessert that was being served. Way to go mom and dad.
   
The next day was no better, as I miscalculated a bolus dose to cover his carbs at dinner. His BG reading that evening was 450 and I was convinced that I couldn’t take care of my son and his T1D. I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing and I was afraid to mess things up and hurt Anthony. Things only got slightly better over the next few days as we struggled with bolus and basal doses, counting carbs, and figuring out which foods we were going to let Anthony eat.
     
It’s been over 3 years since Anthony was diagnosed. Looking back, I remember the emotions that my wife and I experienced in those first few days after his diagnosis… sadness, worry, anger, uncertainty. Despite great coaching and education on T1D at the hospital, there was so much that we didn’t know. And we were worried about the short term and long term consequences of T1D on our son.
   
It did, of course, get better with time. Over several months, we figured out carbs and insulin doses a little better. We figured out how to handle snacks at school and helped Anthony learn how to recognize when his BG is low. We learned that Anthony could continue to eat his favorite foods and have desserts (with moderation.) While there are still challenges that we face, we feel fortunate that T1D is a disease that can be effectively managed with diligence. There are many other diseases that cannot be treated as effectively. We are also optimistic that a cure for T1D will be found in Anthony’s lifetime, and that’s why we’ve become involved in volunteering in our local JDRF chapter….to support research to find a cure for our son.
   
If you are newly diagnosed with T1D or are caring for a loved one newly diagnosed and are experiencing the emotions and worries that my wife and I did in those early days, rest assured that things will get easier with time. You will figure out how to manage this disease. With diligence and care, you will minimize the impact that T1D will have on the health and well-being of you or your loved one. Having T1D will become the new norm and part of your life.  Just hang in there…
   

]]> T1D Parent Blog #1: Diagnosis of T1D 2013-04-04T19:54:19+00:00 Top Research Highlight - Winter 2012 http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/top-research-highlight-winter-2012 http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/top-research-highlight-winter-2012#When:15:41:13Z Interested in research news?  Check out our winter edition of Top Research Highlights. In this issue, you will read about:

  • a study that found that normal bacteria living in the intestines—called gut microbes—may influence the development of autoimmune disorders, including T1D
  • a JDRF-funded study that used pancreases donated to the Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes to determine that that people at risk of developing T1D have smaller pancreases and fewer insulin-producing beta cells than people who are not at risk for the disease
  • researchers using nanoparticles to potentially thwart the misguided immune attack on beta cells that eventually leads to T1D
  • an exciting partnership between JDRF and Tandem Diabetes Care to create a first-of-its-kind, dual-chamber infusion pump that can simultaneously deliver two hormonal drug therapies
  • a new award created to honor longtime JDRF friend and esteemed diabetes researcher Dr. George Eisenbarth, M.D., Ph.D.

Click here to read JDRF’s Top Research Highlights.

 

]]> Top Research Highlight - Winter 2012 2013-03-21T15:41:13+00:00 The Quest for the "Perfect" A1C Score http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/the-a1c-score http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/the-a1c-score#When:16:07:42Z Our 14 year old son has been living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for almost 7 years now.  That means we’ve had 28 A1C test under our belt.  Every three months, I brace myself for the dreaded “report card”.  So, as we are waiting in the lobby of our last appointment, I lean over and ask my son “are you nervous?”  I am.  I feel like the A1C represents the final score of the test we’ve been “studying” for day-after-day, minute-by-minute for three months. 

“About what?” asks my clearly confused son.  He has had T1D for half his life.  A1C test #28 is nothing compared to finger poke #13,000 or insulin shot #3,000 (which came before we switched to the 600 pump site changes).  This upcoming blood test is nothing compared to mom and dad’s constant “did you test”, “did you program” and the dreaded “what was your number?”  As we sit in the waiting room, knowing my son,  he is more worried about his upcoming hockey game, the project he has due tomorrow at school, and staying under mom and dad’s radar so he can sneak in some video game time… than he is about his A1C. 

As his parents, we’ve done our job well.  We were, after all, the ones who convinced him that “T1D does not have to define you, change you, or stop you.”  As a result, the teenage boy sitting next to me is clearly not as stressed as I am. 

I have to admit, I have learned how to put on a very brave face because T1D has (and still does) stop me in my tracks on any given day, at any given moment.  In a perfect world this story would end with a report that we scored a “6.5” and celebrated with extra insulin and a piece of cake.  But those of us who live with T1D know that the world is seldom perfect.  His A1C was 10.1.  I am horrified and sick to my stomach.  My mind automatically wanders to a visual of my son on kidney dialysis, because hey if you are going to worry… worry big.  Throughout the day I find myself working out a new diabetes management plan, and convincing myself that my teenage son will be totally on board and comply.  By the end of the day, I am resolved to winning the battle on the next A1C.

For me, that is how I think of the day-to-day management of this disease.  A series of small battles my son must fight.  And I think of JDRF as fighting the war.  Seven years ago, when my son was diagnosed, I felt so helpless and powerless.  I quickly realized that while I would do anything to take on this disease for him, I can’t.  I can’t test my blood sugar for him, or take the insulin shot, and I can’t give him a working pancreas.  Heck… currently, I can’t even fight teenage hormones or habits to get that perfect A1C score.  Because I hate feeling like there is nothing I can do, that is exactly when I begin looking for SOMETHING I can do.  I can talk and I know how to ask. 

Five years ago, I came to work for the NEO Chapter of JDRF.  Because… I can speak about the need for better treatments, prevention and a cure for T1D, and I can and will do whatever I can to help raise the money for the research.  Partnering with JDRF makes me feel hopeful about my son’s future living with T1D.  For me it is comforting to know that today, I did everything I knew to do to ease the future burden of living with T1D.

-Kim DeGardeyn

Marketing & Communications, Development Coordinator

Northeast Ohio Chapter of JDRF

]]> The Quest for the "Perfect" A1C Score 2013-03-20T16:07:42+00:00 Competing Overseas with T1D http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/competing-overseas-with-t1d http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/competing-overseas-with-t1d#When:15:45:09Z

Anna Vergon of Rocky River Middle School has type 1. She isn’t letting this hold her back. Anna and 9 other Cleveland area youth athletes are headed to Russia at the end of February to compete in the sixth Winter International Children’s Games.

Anna sent this statement to us:

“I am so excited to be traveling to Russia on Monday!! I am ecstatic that I have this opportunity to travel and ski race without my diabetes holding me back.  This is beyond what I ever could have imagined! To be able to do what you love (in my case ski race) and overcome the obstacle of a chronic disease is extremely empowering.  I hope that my experience will help someone else overcome an obstacle and reach their goals too.”

Children like Anna continue to inspire everyone touched by type 1. Here at JDRF, we wish Anna the best of luck at her competition in Russia. We are all rooting for you.

For more information on Anna’s event click here

]]> Competing Overseas with T1D 2013-02-22T15:45:09+00:00 Top Research Highlights - Spring 2012 http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/top-research-highlights http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/top-research-highlights#When:14:39:07Z Learn more about our research progress by from our most recent issue of Top Research Highlights. In the issue, you will read about:

  • Exciting news from JDRF-funded research at Oregon Health & Science University and Legacy Health, where researchers have developed a stable liquid formulation of glucagon, a key component in the development of bihormonal diabetes pumps and next-generation artificial pancreas systems
  • Positive results from two JDRF-funded outpatient clinical trials of artificial pancreas systems
  • Insight from the Joslin Diabetes Center’s 50-Year Medalist Study into the low incidence of severe diabetic retinopathy in Medalists
  • Successful results from JDRF-funded research in Canada in which a two-drug combination extended the functioning of pancreatic islet transplants in patients, restoring insulin independence to some transplant recipients
  • Breaking news about a $4.6 million grant from JDRF and The Helmsley Charitable Trust to the Diabetes Research Institute to fund research in beta cell encapsulation
  • The recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Lucentis as a treatment for diabetic macular edema

Click here to download the JDRF’s Top Research Highlights in pdf format.

 

]]> Top Research Highlights - Spring 2012 2012-12-21T14:39:07+00:00 Support JDRF at the Bob Evans Community Fundraiser http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/support-jdrf-at-the-bob-evans-community-fundraiser http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/support-jdrf-at-the-bob-evans-community-fundraiser#When:14:28:23Z Dine to make a difference
Go to any Bob Evans location on Wednesday, November 14, 2012

ALL DAY
Open to Close
Dine-in, carry-out and catering

Bob Evans will donate 15% of sales to JDRF when you present the the JDRF flyer. Click here for flyer. 

All Bob Evans Restaurant Locations.  Flyer must be presented at check-out. 

This is a great opportunity for JDRF, Bob Evans operates 565 family restaurant in 19 states. 

Opportunities to be a host family at a Bob Evans is available.  A host family, would simply stand outside Bob Evans and hand out flyers to customers.  If you are interested in hosting a Bob Evans, please contact Kim DeGardeyn at kdegardeyn@jdrf.org.

Flyers can be duplicated for distribution to family, friends and co-workers.

]]> Support JDRF at the Bob Evans Community Fundraiser 2012-10-31T14:28:23+00:00 The Personal Side of the Walk to Cure Diabetes http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/the-personal-side-of-the-walk-to-cure-diabetes http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/the-personal-side-of-the-walk-to-cure-diabetes#When:20:03:02Z
March 13, 2004…funny how that date has come to mean so much.  As a sophomore, Jacob was just coming off of his first high school basketball season and heading into track season. A casual comment at dinner of how often he had ‘peed’ that day threw us into the whirlwind with that initial run to the ER.

On March 13, 2004, Jake actually had felt fine, though his BG was 400, so we have been left to wonder just how quickly his was caught… the first of many things we would become grateful for. The proper insulin type and dosage was hit upon almost immediately, with very little trial and error to get it right…next thing for which to be grateful. Jacob got excellent nutrition lessons and materials from the hospital…grateful again.  With more excellent educating on diabetes care, we left loaded down with supplies and determined to live the same life as before…. with some extra steps to take and a bag of ‘stuff’ to carry around, grateful for what will keep him healthy.

Jake has worked well with this challenge. He says it has made him a better person….a healthier one. He is more aware of what goes into his body and what he does with his body. Jacob says that everyone deals with something, has a cross to bear, and this is just his ‘something’.

I don’t want us to sound pulseless…of course, we shed some tears there around March 13 (why of which Jake couldn’t understand). Yes, the learning curve in the kitchen was steep (with the first casserole I made after March 13 having to be deconstructed, taken apart,  re-measured, and re-calculated! Ever try separating bread crumbs from cheese sauce???

Yea, I cried then, too! Yes, I sometimes worry with him away at college and find myself checking how he is on Facebook! T1 is ever present, even when he isn’t. And so it is this gratitude that has brought us to JDRF and the Walk for the Cure. 

Why do we walk even though our son is almost full grown?

We walk for the 18 month old T1 toddler, having to be awoken in the night for testing. We walk for her mother, who never gets to sleep through the night. We walk for the brittle ones, who struggle for control. We walk for those for whom health care is ill-afforded…whose insulin is still being figured out…who don’t understand the spikes and the dips and the diet and the complex chemistry lab that is the body of the juvenile diabetic…for the child at school who’s staff really doesn’t get it…for the little ones afraid to eat the cupcake, but wanting so desperately to do so…for those with sore fingertips…for those with uncomfortable highs and scary lows…and those…and those…and those.

We walk for them because someone walked for us.

We walk because there is so much more;  to be learned,  studied, tested, and tried. 

 

]]> The Personal Side of the Walk to Cure Diabetes 2012-10-04T20:03:02+00:00 2012 Research Summit http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/2012-research-summit http://jdrfneo.org/resources/articles/2012-research-summit#When:14:07:10Z The goal of JDRF research is 1) to CURE T1D 2) develop better ways to TREAT T1D and 3) to PREVENT T1D from occurring. To that end JDRF has awarded more than $1.6 billion to diabetes research since its founding in 1970. Past JDRF efforts have helped to significantly advance the care of people with this disease, and have expanded the critical scientific understanding of T1D. In May 2012 JDRF hosted a Research Summit in St. Pete, FL. Below are videos from that summit that provide detailed updates on the most current research.

NOTE: These videos are password protected which is case sensitive.

]]> 2012 Research Summit 2012-08-29T14:07:10+00:00 T1D: A Parent's Perspective http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/t1d-a-parent http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/t1d-a-parent#When:15:30:22Z

I’d like to think that we are (or were) a typical family.  My husband and I met in college, married and while working towards careers, began our family.  We have three children, Laine, Jack and Maggie. 

On February 28, 2010 our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  He was 11 months old, and because less than 1% of children under the age of one years old are diagnosed with diabetes, Jack’s symptoms had been diagnosed as “colic”, “reflux” and “ear infections”.  He had become inconsolable and had lost weight.  The evening before Jack was admitted into the hospital, he had begun rapid, shallow breathing and was lethargic.  We took him to the hospital where we were told that Jack had “just a cold” and sent home.  So… if you can image… I am pregnant, have a toddler and have a very sick baby on my hands.  At this point, the “mom” in me says that Jack may not make it through the night.  So we make a return trip to the hospital and pretty much demand that they admit Jack. 

By the time Jack was admitted, he was severely dehydrated, which complicated the blood work need to be done.  Finally, they did a simple finger stick on Jack and with a blood sugar level of 921, Jack was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic.  Before Jack could be transported, he entered into a coma where he remained for four days.  Because Jack needed a central line to stabilize and hydrate him, he developed a blood clot in his leg (this would later require blood thinner shots for 4 months). 

Jack woke up on my 30th birthday with a smile, reaching for me… and I will never in my life receive a better gift.

We spent 7 days in the hospital learning how to take care of a child with type 1 diabetes.  How do you figure out the carb count of formula when it is not listed on the back of the can?  How do you give a shot to a toddler?  Not once but three to four times a day?  How will we know if he has a low blood sugar?  At one, his vocabulary was very limited. 

We learned… because our job as Jack’s parents is to help him grow and thrive.  At 15 months old, Jack went on an insulin pump.  It allows him a little more freedom because it give him insulin on a regular basis and then we can program additional insulin to cover any carbs he may eat.  At three Jack understands about “sugar”, he will ask “good choice for me?” when wondering if he can eat something or not.  Jack tolerates the 10 – 12 finger sticks per day to check his blood sugar, and the changing out of his pump site every three days. 

Lately, we added a Continuous Glucose Monitor (a CGM) to Jack.  This is a device that reads Jack’s blood sugar every minute and sends that reading to yet another device.  This is Jack’s shark-o-meter.  Jack loves sharks… so “shark-o-meter” it is.  The CGM will sound an alarm if Jack’s blood sugar falls below a certain number, raises above a certain number or begins falling to raising too fast.  It’s not perfect, blood finger testing is more accurate as of now, but it is helpful in letting us know what is going on in Jack’s body, since he is still too little to tell us. 

I am hopeful that as Jack grows, the technology to treat Jack will only get better.  I look at my little boy who at three knows not only his mommy and daddy’s name and cell phone numbers, but also knows to tell that he has diabetes, and I hope that one day, he will be cured of having type 1 diabetes. 

In the quiet of the night, generally after I’ve made a trip to Jack’s room to test his blood sugar and make sure that he will “make it through” the night, I worry.  I worry about when I have to send him off to kindergarten, or on a bus.  I worry about him driving a car, going away to college, and being able to eat a whole piece of cake on his wedding day.  I worry that my Jack will live his entire life without ever knowing what “healthy” really feels like.  That he may never know what it is like to not have to worry about your blood sugar.

It helps to know that JDRF is working on not only a cure for type 1 diabetes, but also preventing and treating this disease.  They are working hard for Jack and for all of those living with type 1 diabetes. 

Again, thank you for allowing me to share Jack’s story with you.  And thank you for supporting Lincoln Electric and JDRF.

]]> T1D: A Parent's Perspective 2012-08-27T15:30:22+00:00 Growing Up with Diabetes http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/growing-up-with-diabetes http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/growing-up-with-diabetes#When:20:45:47Z My name is Mike and I am 30 years old. I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes at the age of 2. At the time of my diagnosis my blood sugar was 1,400 (I was in a diabetic coma for two days). I currently live in North Ridgeville with my wife Kristy. We are expecting our first child on February 3rd (which is only fitting because we are die hard Cleveland Browns Fans and February 3rd is Super Bowl Sunday). The other day my wife asked me what happens if the Browns are in the Super Bowl and she went in to labor? I told hear that we have nothing to worry about.

One of the things Type I Diabetes taught me from an early age is not to make excuses. I can remember people telling me that you will have a different life style, but at the end of the day we are all different.

Even though I had people telling me negative things, I never let my diabetes get in the way of what I wanted to do. Growing up, I played baseball, basketball and football all the way through high school. Yes, I would have to monitor my blood sugar a little more but it still did not stop me from doing the things I love to do. To this day I still play basketball and have become an avid golfer.  And yes, I survived the dreaded college years parents of diabetic children often talk about. And no, they were not dreaded years for me.

There have been moments when having type 1 has brought back a memory that has made me laugh.  I think the best one I have is the time the police were called on me for basically being a diabetic. When I was in high school, I was at a restaurant with a group of friends. Before we ate, I went to the bathroom to take a shot of insulin. Well, one of the employees walked in and thought I was doing drugs. When I got back to the table and started eating next thing I knew the cops were there. It ended up being a laughing matter but from that point on I did wear some type of Type I identification.

On a more serious note, we know, that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease.  Its onset has nothing to do with lifestyle and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.  The pancreas just stops producing insulin.  It doesn’t discriminate.  Type I doesn’t care whether you are a toddler, going off to college, or having a busy career. Half the people diagnosed with Type I today are children, the other half are adults.  Thanks to the funding of JDRF and their partnership with industry leaders around the globe to push the research, the children diagnosed today will grow up to be adults. 

Managing type 1 diabetes is an ongoing challenge – the multiple finger pokes and insulin injections are really just the tip of the day-to-day struggles.  There is the constant balancing act of insulin and food as well as the need to be aware of your body in the event of extreme high or extreme low blood sugars.  That is just a short version of Type I, now I’d like to share with you a little about JDRF. 

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  This mission has been the focus at JDRF for over 40 years.  JDRF IS the leading funder and advocate of type 1 science, and will lead us to a cure.  JDRF is committed to serving people through every stage of diagnosis, from those living with this disease as well as those who have not yet been diagnosed.  Every dollar that JDRF raises makes a difference for people with Type 1 diabetes.  Approximately 80% of all JDRF expenditures go straight to research or research-related education.  JDRF doesn’t just fund basic research – they support scientific discoveries and translate them into solutions in an effort to better treat and prevent type 1 diabetes.  JDRF is funding research in 18 countries.  One of the biggest testaments to the movement of JDRF in the research field is the fact that JDRF is funding over 50 clinical trials currently-which is the most important part of the research development process.  Standards of care are truly advanced through these trials, and that number has grown to be the biggest it has been over the past few years. 

Why become involved in JDRF?  Because at the end of the day you are helping more than just the people you love.  After having Type I Diabetes for over 28 years I have experienced some complications from the disease. If it were not for people like you and organizations like JDRF I would probably be telling a different story. So don’t’ just think about the person you are affecting but think of all of the people worldwide you have an impact on.

]]> Growing Up with Diabetes 2012-08-17T20:45:47+00:00 Fun Ideas for Families to Fundraise for the Walk http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/fun-ideas-for-families-to-fundraise-for-the-walk http://jdrfneo.org/resources/blog/fun-ideas-for-families-to-fundraise-for-the-walk#When:16:29:31Z Many of the family teams who participate in the Walk to Cure Diabetes raise funds by hosting an event for families, friends, co-workers and their communities.  Here’s a few of family team events which support the Walk to Cure Diabetes happening around our town…

Wing Night

Host your own wing night! This is a great idea for the whole family. It is a night of fun and food and a creative way to raise that extra bit of money. Below is an example of a family hosting their wing night this year.

Event Details

Date: August 11th, 2012
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Place: Jocko’s Bar & Grill
Cost: $25 per ticket

The purchase of a ticket includes all-you-can-eat wings, pizza, pasta, salad, beer, wine, and well drinks. There will also be additional gift baskets being raffled off. An anonymous donor has offered to match whatever we raise from the event up to $5,000!

Scavenger Hunt

Another creative way to raise funds is to host a scavenger hunt. This is a great way to spend a day outside and have fun “competing” against each other looking for things. The winning group gets prizes and bragging rights. Below is an example of one family hosting their scavenger hunt for this year.

Event Details

Date: August 11th, 2012
Time: 1:00 - 3:30 PM
Place: Put-in-Bay Island, meet at Heinemann’s Winery
Cost: 2 person golf cart - $125, 4 person - $200, 6 person - $300

This is our 13th year! We hold this event to raise money for JDRF, the largest group raising money to support researchers to find a cure for T1D. The scavenger hunt is a blast. What a way to spend a day; on a “tropical” island riding around on a golf cart while hanging out with friends. All of this while raising money to find a cure for diabetes.

]]> Fun Ideas for Families to Fundraise for the Walk 2012-08-10T16:29:31+00:00