Responding to realities

RESPONDING TO THE REALTIES OF DIABETES by Sarah Littman

published 9/6/2005

On November 10, 2004 my daughter’s life changed irrevocably, when she was diagnosed with Juvenile (Type 1) Diabetes. She was eight years old at the time.

Since then Amie has had to deal with testing her blood sugar, which involves pricking her finger with a lancet, at least six times a day, oftentimes more. Every other day, we have to change the site for her insulin pump, which involves sticking a needle into her bottom. Some days she feels like a human pincushion. But unlike school and homework, diabetes is not something from which she gets a vacation. It’s a constant worry trying to keep her blood sugar balanced; too low, she risks hypoglycemia, too high, a coma and the potential for long-term complications.

My daughter is not alone in this difficult balancing act. Each year, over 13,000 children are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. That’s 35 children every single day; kids who face the challenge of trying to live a “normal” life with all its inherent temptations (birthday cakes, ice cream, candy the math teacher gives out when you get the answer right) while still keeping their blood sugar under tight control so that they can avoid long term complications, such as kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness, stroke and heart attack.

Amie will be insulin dependent the rest of her life. Insulin is not a cure, but for now, until we find a one, it is Amie’s life support. It allows her to be a normal, active girl, who loves tennis, swimming, ice skating, writing and drama.

This isn’t just about kids. Over 18 million Americans, representing 6.3% of the population, have some form of this disease. A new case of diabetes is diagnosed every 30 seconds in this country. Over 1.3 million people in the US have Type 1, like Amie and her dad. Worldwide 194 million people live with diabetes and according to World Health Organization estimates, this number will more than double by 2030.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is working very hard to find a cure for diabetes. It is the largest charitable funder of Type 1 diabetes research world wide. JDRF has been ranked highly by charity watchdogs for its efficiency in directing donor dollars to research, earning a 91% score in Forbes annual ranking of non-profits.

Now is a particularly exciting time for diabetics and their parents, as there are several promising areas of research. Things like islet cell transplantation which has allowed some diabetes sufferers to live insulin free for the first time in years, but which presently requires chronic immuno-suppression therapy. The JDRF also grants $9 million a year towards all forms of stem cell research (both adult and embryonic), which show potential to serve as a replenishable source of insulin-secreting cells.

On Sunday, September 25^th, the Fairfield County Chapter of the JDRFis holding it’s annual “Walk to Cure Diabetes”, at Cove Island Park in Stamford. Last year about 1,500 people attended the three mile walk, raising over $580,000 towards diabetes research. I’m writing this because I hope that this year, readers of my column will join them.

We have registered a family team, called “Take the A Train,” in honor of Amie - and of course, the late Ella Fitzgerald, who died from the complications of diabetes, including severe circulatory problems that resulted in her having both legs amputated below the knee. We’re asking you to hop aboard.

To walk as part of our team, register online at http://walk.jdrf.org Select the state of CT, then the Stamford Walk, and then when you register your name, select “Take the A Train” from the drop-down list of teams.

If you are unable to walk, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution of any amount. Contributions can be made online by credit card at http://walk.jdrf.org (go to “Support a Walker” and look up Sarah Littman) Alternatively, you can send a check made out to JDRF to the Fairfield County Chapter office at 200 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 5H, Norwalk, CT 06854. Please be sure to include Amie’s name and Take the A Train on your check. Or you can buy a sneaker while paying for groceries at your local Stop and Shop, one of the many corporations sponsoring the event.

We still don’t know what causes diabetes. But we’re going to keep on walking, one step at a time, until they’ve found a cure. Amie, her fingers and her bottom (not to mention the rest of her family) thank you for your support.

Sarah Littman, who lives in Greenwich, is author of "Confessions of a Closet Catholic," published by Dutton Children's Books.