DFAN DIABETES NEWSLETTER
February 2000 Edition


This month we're working at DFAN towards getting all
of our websites tied together in a central location. We've
been toying with the idea of calling it "DFAN Town", but
that's still up in the air. Got any ideas of what we should
call it? Please send them in to dmmteam@...

Now that all of our websites are almost complete we can
concentrate on other DFAN projects. We're working on
"kits" that can be sent to you at home so you can study
and learn about diabetes in a more personal way. We're
also working on more motivational materials for children
as well as adults. Our Children's Writing Contest 2000
is now underway so please share the news with any children
with diabetes that you know.

We have a computer crash earlier this month so if you sent
in a request for anything and didn't get a response please
send it again.

We need articles! If you'd like to write about anything
related to diabetes (stories, poems, etc….) please send them
in. You can write us at dmmteam@... -or- belve@...


__________NEW MYJOURNAL WEBSITE__________

A new addition has been added to the DFAN website list!
This new site is called "MyJournal" and it will follow the
diabetes management plan of a person with diabetes. The
purpose of the site is to show how a real person with diabetes
copes with making the changes necessary to live a good
life.

It can be tough to explain how to get through the denial,
anger, grief, pain and other emotions that come along with
a diabetes diagnosis. Hopefully, this addition to our websites
might help others.

The URL for MyJournal is:

http://members.aol.com/belve/myjournal



__________LAST MONTH'S POLL RESPONSES__________

First, I want to apologize to a reader who responded
to last month's poll question. I had to re-format my
computer hard drive and I lost all of my files and e-mails,
including that poll response. Now let's read some
of the other responses we received.


Here is last month's poll question was:

Having diabetes isn't always something people want to
share with others, especially at the workplace. If you
heard some make these three comments:
__________________________
"All people with diabetes are just lazy. If they moved
around more they could get rid of that thing"

"I heard that diabetes can be controlled if they take a pill.
What's the big deal?

"Who cares about diabetes. It's just another excuse for people
to claim they're disabled



We received many responses. Here are a few:

Poll Response #1:

I explain diabetes to everyone who listens because if
they don't have diabetes someone in their circle does.


Poll Response #2:

I would say that is not true and it is genetic in Type 2
and probably viral in Type 1. I would also tell them
many thin, hard-working people get diabetes and there
is a new belief that actually the weight problems in
type 2 may be caused by the diabetes rather than the
other way around and then I would go on to explain it.

I would explain that even when it is controlled, it can
be a fatal disease. Sometimes too tight a control can
kill a patient but the worse complications related to
diabetes are stroke, heart problems, kidney problems,
and that diabetes is a long-tern chronic AND fatal
disease.

I guess I would remind them that there is an increasing
population of Type 2 because other diseases are
identified, and when it leads to blindness, loss of limb,
and CAD, then it leaves people disabled. I would also
look at them straight in the eye and say, "Do you really
think people prefer being disabled." they're disabled"


Poll Response #3:

I would be unlikely to hear these in my work place, since it is a
university/medical school biochemistry department. In the event that
such ignorant claims were made in my presence, I would simply and
definitely assert that the speaker was clearly unaware of the
different forms of diabetes and their causes and effects and of the
potential severity of complications. Any further discussion would be
backed up with specific details if necessary.


Poll Response #4:

I just found out I have type 2 diabetes a few weeks
ago, I didn't know that's what was causing me to
forget things, fall down, and a few other embarrassing
things. I had a few of my friends tell me to get off the
drugs and drink. After they found out I had diabetes
they told me I was faking these problems. I went and
got a bunch of medical brochures on diabetes and we
all sat down and looked them over. Some of them
understand the problems with diabetes now. Some
of them don't care enough to find out what this
disease is. I used to think just like them, until I met
my ex mother-in-law, she helped me to understand more.
If more people cared about anything but themselves,
more would know how serious it is.


__________NEW WEBSITE__________

DFAN FAMILY N' FRIENDS DIABETES
LEARNING CENTER

It's finally open! Our new Diabetes Learning Center is
open and it's specifically for the family members and friends
of people with diabetes.

This site caters to those who love us most, and is done
in a friendly atmosphere with easy to read files. There
are special sections for

Spouses, Boyfriends & Girlfriends
Others Like You
Parents

If you have family members or friends who want to learn
about diabetes but can't seem to understand the textbooks
please send them to our site. Please visit the site yourself
and let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas about
what should be added.

The URL for our site is:

http://members.aol.com/dmmteam



__________ARTICLE RESPONSE__________

We recently had a person write in asking for advice.
They were having problems coping with diabetes,
especially with taking insulin injections. Here is
a response we received:

Hi. I'm Ellen, 12 year old Zachary's mother. When
Zachary was 15 months old, a still nursing on
demand toddler, he was diagnosed with Type 1
diabetes. I had a phobia of needles prior to the
diagnosis and couldn't fathom piercing my baby
two times per day with injections and four times
per day with lancet device. But I knew I had to
do what I had to do to keep him alive. I also knew
that I had to raise him to feel good about himself
and his own care of his diabetes. For me, I found
that praising him made me feel good about what was
becoming routine. So my very humble words of
wisdom are - PRAISE YOURSELF. When you
give yourself the injection, no matter how long you
delay, or how much you hate it, - say aloud to yourself
"good job" "excellent work" or something similar.
Even if it feels funny at first, I truly believe it can
make a difference in your life.

I don't know how long you have had diabetes, but
perhaps reading the stories of the children who have
switched from insulin injections to pump therapy will
lead you to contemplate pump therapy for yourself. It's
been fabulous for my son. You wrote: "I despise having
to be on a schedule all the time. " The pump eliminates
the "schedule".

(Note: Ellen h as a terrific website devoted to children and
how their lives have changed since changing to insulin pumps.
Please visit this site!

The URL is: http://members.aol.com/CamelsRFun/index.html


__________POLL QUESTION__________

This month's poll questions deal with a little fantasy
and a lot of daydreaming.

If you could go away on a vacation for one week,
and medically be able to "forget" your diabetes (physically
and mentally) for that week. What two things would
you want to do before you came home?

Now, during this week any complications you now have
would be gone completely and you wouldn't have to take
any insulin or oral medications. Your eyesight would be
great and your mind would be clear.

Send your responses to: dmmteam@...


__________ARTICLE__________
BLAST FROM THE PAST

HEALTHIER NOW & OTHER THOUGHTS

By Laurie M. Green

Am I being naive to think that the article "Diabetes..talks" is
not quite right? Fear is so debilitating and the grief one goes
through already is hard enough to handle. Most of us suffer
depression at first and anyone not used to the lifestyle may be
scared to death! He sounds bitter.
The routine of this life gets to us all, but hope has to come
out strong above all else. Enjoying everything (except most
foods) God puts in our path, day to day. Without fear, this
life is much easier.
I am part of a drug protocol for a new drug that the FDA
is considering letting on the market. It is already in Europe
and been in use around 20 years. Since it's a double blind test,
no one knows if I am actually getting the drug. So the "beauty part"
is the doctors instruct their clinicians to teach us about food plans,
not diets. We start by losing as much weight as can be done without
stress. We do an aerobic exercise such as walking. Something cheap
and at your disposal! A set of inexpensive arm weights is around
$15 for adjustable weights. Arm curls and extensions are done in the
rainy weather or watching TV or when you can't walk. They are every
bit as effective and as aerobic as walking!
The secret is to control the blood sugar by aerobic exercise. At least
45 min 3 times a week or broken up into smaller pieces over
the week. Of course food is an important consideration, but that part
of the lifestyle seems to dominate everything!
I hurt my knee a couple months ago and couldn't walk.
So I found a local Parks & Recreation program that
allows injured or arthritic folks to swim at their own
pace. There is an exercise portion, taught by a lifeguard.
After that, a 20 minute period of freestyle swimming. The
program includes an adaptive lap class that lets us
non-Olympians go at the speed they find comfortable.
No screaming kids and no athletes impatient to get by.
If prescribed by a doctor, it's only $10/month. Otherwise
it's a mere $2 a session. Surely a local pool or YMCA
could be convinced of the need to start such a program
if one doesn't exist!
My fear is blindness. My diagnosis was hard for me but
the people at work were great. My boss lets me off for the
swimming and everyone has food if I ever need it (I try to
explain that as a Type II the low sugar isn't my problem,
but they think we all need sugar and take insulin. I explain
as much as possible, but it's hard) They are all so cool.
And diabetics at my campus came out of the woodwork.
It's like a club! Although it shouldn't be so secretive.
All in all it has been a positive experience for me to be
diagnosed. I know that sounds weird but I never would
have taken such an interest in my health if it hadn't been at risk.


__________DFAN Kids Writing Contest - 2000__________

Ok Kids! It's time for the annual DFAN Kids Writing
Contest! This is the year 2000 and we need a new
winner! You can write about anything that has to
do with diabetes. You can send in a story (real life
or made up) or a poem. Your contest entry doesn't
have to be long (unless you want it to be long). One
winning entry we received one year only had three
lines!

The prizes for this year's contest are:

First Prize
$25 Toys R Us Gift Certificate PLUS an envelope
full of DFAN Kids Stuff (trading cards, StoryCards, etc…)

Second Prize
$15 Toys R Us Gift Certificate PLUS an envelope
full of DFAN Kids Stuff (trading cards, Story Cards, etc…)

Third Prize
$10 Toys R Us Gift certificate PLUS and envelope
full of DFAN Kids Stuff (trading cards, StoryCards, etc…)

For more information visit the DFAN Kids Diabetes Webpage

http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Cove/9144/index.html

Send your entry in to us by March 15, 2000. The
winner will be chosen by April 2, 2000. All entries
become the property of DFAN.

Send your entries in today! If you have any questions
send them in! Write to: dfankids@... or dmmteam@...


DFAN WEBSITES

DFAN Diabetes Webpage
http://pages.prodigy.net/dfan/dfansite

Christian Diabetes Living
http://home.att.net/~belve/

DFAN Diabetes Weightloss Site
http://members.aol.com/belve/dfan

Christian Diabetes N' Weight Loss Site
http://members.aol.com/dfanonestep

Diabetes Angel Website
http://pages.prodigy.net/dfan/angel

Warm Fuzzies (Teddy Bears For Diabetic Kids)
http://members.aol.com/belve/fuzzy/

We have some DFAN e-mail discussion lists
you can join!

Christian Diabetes (dfan-Christian)
Diabetes & Weightloss (dfan-weightloss)

You can join these lists by sending a request
to dmmteam@...





Belver Ladson
Visit The DFAN Websites!
DFAN Diabetes Site: http://pages.prodigy.net/dfan/dfansite
Christian Diabetes Living: http://home.att.net/~belve

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