Let’s be one million percent clear from the onset: I, like the rest of the diabetes world, would love nothing better but to see a CGM communicate with an insulin pump for better control and to alarm the world when …
To this day it still happens. The phone rings and we’re informed by a friend/neighbor/colleague/friend-of-a-friend that someone new is diagnosed with T1D and can we find the time to speak to them and/or their family?
Well the answer is…………………..always.
But …
Those with diabetes must be incredibly cautious of any cut, blister, or other abrasion on their feet. These wounds often heal very slowly and can become a diabetic ulcer. If not treated, these ulcers can lead to amputation or life-threatening …
As is well-known, my last life was all about the theatre, television, and acting. There’s a saying in the theatre world that goes like this; there is no such thing as small parts…..just small actors.” I once directed a group …
Those with diabetes who live in rural areas often have difficulty regularly visiting doctors. With telemedicine, however, these individuals are able to more often speak to their treatment team, including their primary care physician and pharmacist. The North Carolina Health …
I heard this statement from a person at the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Conference in Orlando Florida this week.
“I refuse to let diabetes dictate what I do”.
I like that saying and I like it a …
A study looking at the risk of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and death for those who have and do not have diabetes and do not have coronary artery disease suggests that diabetes does not contribute to that risk. This study, …
Dear Nadia,
I have type 1 diabetes and my desire for sex has gone down because of my vaginal infection. My partner has been understanding but he does get sexually frustrated.
Judy H.
Dear Judy:
It can be very disheartening …
More Than Standing on Two Legs……….These Marvels DO It on Wheels……..Be Inspired!
To do the impossible. To march into hell for a heavenly cause. To do what others could only imagine. To go beyond the limits. To go beyond type …
My life in the diabetes community started at a young age as the secret keeper of my maternal and paternal Grandmothers. They both had type 2 diabetes and my days spent alone with them exposed me to their misunderstanding of how their diabetes really affected them. Eating candy bars, hiding the candy wrappers and smoking cigarettes seemed innocent enough to them. A decade later I married a type 1 person living with diabetes and experienced the full court of the diabetes spectrum with my type 2 family members and type 1 husband of almost 20 years.
My grandmothers, the type 2 have struggled with their diabetes as long as I could remember. Later my mother followed in her mother’s footsteps. Sadly, my brother followed in my mother’s footsteps and experienced an early passing at the age of 53. My brother Jamal’s passing had the greatest impact on me. Probably because were the Irish twins; eleven months apart and his departure devastated me.
As I tell most people, diabetes is not a glamorous profession. Most people that work in the industry have a personal connection. This is why I am still here publishing after 26 years.
On the flip side of the coin, helping and inspiring people is my mission. I understand the daily challenges you face regardless of your education, IQ and economic circumstance. I am not a healthcare professional. Simply a lay person who has lived with a Type 1 and Type 2 family member who struggled with their disease. My former Type 1 husband was a role model in how to manage your diabetes, while my intelligent family members were role models on how an invisible disease can be misunderstood, devastating the quality of their life while leaving heart broken family members behind.
The perils of my experience have taught me to never judge anyone. As knowledgeable as I am, I also realize that I have no idea of the strings that pull at each person heart.
What I love about the diabetes community?
Once I meet someone and we share that we have a common experience; their diabetes and my life long experience as a care taker, we tend to have an instant bond. Think about it. How many people do you meet who you feel really get you right after your introduction? The conversations that follow tend to be very personal. Not a common experience with all strangers.
I started this column because where ever I go, people tend to ask me a lot of diabetes questions.
My answers are my opinions and it is not to be replaced by your healthcare professional’s opinion. The answers to your question in most cases will include research and other links to give you a borader perspective on your question.
If you have a question for me, you can reach me at asknadia@diabeteshealth.com
Enjoy the columns and I look forward to reading and answering your question about diabetes.
