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Diabetes: Never a Day Off

It sounds simple enough - your child has diabetes, you give her a few shots of insulin or some pills, and everything is fine.  But that couldn't be farther from the truth.  The incidence of diabetes in this country has increased enormously, and the burden diabetes can place on a young family is beyond what most people could imagine.  On this episode one extraordinary mother, using a home video camera, takes us through a day in her life and shows us "Through Her Eyes" what it's really like.  Her kids need constant blood tests and just the right amount of insulin - five, six, sometimes 10 shots a day - or they could die.  The vigil continues all day. Every day. And there's never a day off.  Join host Dr. Winnie King as she introduces us to this remarkable family that lives with diabetes.  Learn how the national epidemic of obese children means that your child may be at risk - and hear what you can do to recognize diabetes in your child, and in some cases, to prevent it!

Guests:

Holly Schachner, MD - Assistant Director for Pediatric Diabetes, The Naomie Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center; Assistant Attending Pediatrician, Babies & Children's Hospital, NY
Neesha Ramchandani - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Diabetes Nurse Specialist, Weil Cornell Medical College
Sabina Gianini, MS, RD - Registered Dietician, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center
Jennifer Ross - Teen with Type 1 Diabetes
Alan Kellman - Teen with Type 2 Diabetes (in video report)
Nolan Kellman - Alan's Father (in video report)
Luis Ramirez - Type 2 Diabetes Patient

Tips:

There are two types of Diabetes:
Type 1 and Type 2

TYPE 1:

  • In Type 1 Diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes, the body does not produce sufficient insulin, and you must take it by injection or pump to stay alive.
  • Without insulin, the body cannot process sugar or glucose, and therefore it cannot use food as energy.

TYPE 2:

  • Type 2 Diabetes, which used to be called Adult Onset, is now affecting more and more children.
  • The chance of getting Type 2 Diabetes is significantly increased by weight gain and lack of exercise.
  • In Type 2 Diabetes, the body is capable of producing insulin, but - because of various sources of insulin resistance - cannot use it properly.
  • This kind of diabetes can be controlled with medication, or sometimes through diet and exercise.

At present, there is no cure for diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes:

  • Frequent Urination - both Type 1and Type 2
  • Excessive Thirst - both Type 1and Type 2
  • Fatigue - both Type 1 and Type 2
  • Blurred Vision - Type 2
  • Sudden Weight Loss - Type 2

Resources:

National Organizations & Resources

The American Diabetes Association
Phone: 1-800-DIABETES
http://www.diabetes.org

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Phone: 1-800-533-CURE
http://www.jdrf.org

Children With Diabetes
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com