DFAN DIABETES NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2000 EDITION

October is here in the U.S. and the chill is in the air here
in the Northeast. When the temperatures dip it’s time
to get out the sweaters and go for a walk in the brisk autumn
air! It’s always a good time to go for a walk, huh?..<g>

This month’s newsletter contains an article about attitude and
how it can affect your diabetes management, an article from
an adult-child with diabetes to parents, as well as a provocative
poll question! I hope you enjoy this month’s reading!

As always, we need your diabetes related articles, poems,
stories, puzzles and anything else you can think of! It
doesn’t matter how long or short your piece is….please send
it in! This newsletter depends on your participation. You
don’t have to be a “professional” writer….just write your
story in your own words….we want to use it.

Send your articles, stories, questions or comments to:

dfanrequest@... -or- dmmteam@...



__________IN BETWEEN THE MOMENTS__________

I’ve come to a conclusion about the time I spend in
my life with diabetes. For years I’ve tried not to
think about it as if my lack of attention would make
it go away, but that doesn’t work. It’s taken a long
time but I’ve come to a conclusion….I’ll live in
between the diabetes moments in my life, but I’ll also
live in ALL the moments of my life.

My life used to be measured in the time I could spend
away from the diabetes. The time I could get lost in
reading a book or be involved in a project that would
keep me busy. It was always gauged against how much
time I could keep the diabetes out of my realm of reality.
I’ve learned that trying to run away from this disease
(even if only in my mind) isn’t going to get
me anywhere.

Acknowledging the diabetes in my life and going from
moment to moment is my life goal now. I may have a
moment that I don’t like (like pricking my finger) but
right after that is over I can grab my crocheting and
work on some new stitches. A new moment. I might
not like my trips to the doctor. But after that hour or two
is over I can get a magazine and read about something
that can bring some new knowledge into my mind.

It’s great in between the moments because that’s when I
can look forward to what I will be doing….and be thankful
for the time I’ve had.



__________POLL QUESTION__________

SCENARIO: Eddie has dealt with diabetes in his life for
five (5) years, since he was 9 years old. Adolescence has
brought out some rebellion in his behavior. He hasn’t tested
his blood glucose in 2 weeks and refuses to stick to his meal
plans. His room is full of empty snack food bags and the
only “plan” he is following is his own plan to eat whatever
he wants. His parents are at their wits end and decide to
take away his television for two weeks and ground him for
one week in an attempt to change his attitude.”

This month’s poll question is:

“Should the parent of a child with diabetes punish the
child if the child doesn’t test his/her blood glucose levels
or stick to their meal plans?”


If your children would like to chime in on this poll please
send me their responses too.

Send your responses to:

dfanrequest@... -or- dmmteam@...



__________ FREE LIFESCAN METER OFFER__________


Dana G. McGiboney, R.Ph. and Lifescan are offering free Lifescan
meters again. If you need a meter or know of someone who needs
a meter please visit this website:

http://www.mcgiboney.com.



__________ARTICLE__________

DIABETES FOR PARENTS – Part 1
By Darrin Parker

I've been type I for about 27 years. Being diagnosed
at 9 years of age; I am speaking as a big 9 year old
when it comes to diabetes.

From my own experience, kids must be encouraged to
vent their negative feelings and frustrations (not to feel
sorry for themselves nor dwell on negative aspects but
to vent) as much as they are encouraged to express the
positive aspects or else: The child may end up with
severe anger depression problems 10-30 years down
the road!

Indeed I find most of my anger comes not from what I
deal with now but what I was "forbidden" to deal with as
a child. I used to lead the fight against diabetes research
and cure by telling people "it wasn't so bad" and that it was ]
"not a big deal" and that it was "100% controllable" and that
"a cure is just a few years away". Was I ever wrong! This
however was what my family and doctors wanted to hear
me say.

Often parents' body language or words will show disapproval
of the test numbers. As a kid, we see the disappointment and
frustration on our parent's faces when they see a "bad" test result.
We grow up in fear of each test and doctor's appointment because
anything less than perfect blood glucose control may cause our
parents anger and frustration because of us; not the diabetes.

Please make sure you explicitly tell your child that your frustration
or anger is with the diabetes and not with him or her!

It's easy to deal with positive aspects and most people are in
denial of - or just too lazy to deal with - the negative aspects.
Children with any chronic disease (I was one) know from a
young age that the last thing their parents want to hear is
anything negative. So unless encouraged very forcefully,
we kids withhold all our frustrations about daily diabetes
management and our fears for the future.

You want to know what really creates anger? -- Being lied
to. As a kid, people would see the long term diabetics with
their dialysis and amputations and say: "That'll never happen
to you if you keep good control". This does two things:

1) It makes one feel guilty and inadequate when you do get
diagnosed with a complication and

2) It makes kids realize at some future point that they
were lied to. By far, many of us grew up lying about our
tests as the judgment passed on us for having "bad" tests
was too difficult to deal with.

Tests are facts to be dealt with. Test results are not good
nor bad. They are simply facts to use as a tool in trying to
achieve better control. Absolutely nothing more. Any health
care professional who does not understand this should not be
practicing. As the DCCT concluded; complications are not
directly correlated with how tight blood glucose control is.
Tight blood glucose control can delay the onset of
complications but will not prevent them.

The medical personnel will often even encourage a kid
to withhold their frustrations by using phrases like: "Now
we don't want to hear that. Do we?" or "...there, that's
nothing... ...just another little prick". These statements
instruct us kids to feel that it is shameful to express any
frustration to ourselves let alone the family group.

We swallowed the physical discomfort caused from
hours of high blood sugars. We accepted that high blood
sugars meant we were bad or poorly self disciplined (even
though the highs just happened despite our best efforts).
We rolled all the anger and frustration up into a dark, black
ball deep inside us. It was a shame to ever get frustrated
about a "disease which we could control" and it was a shame
or a sin to have frustrations; hence something must be wrong
with us?

Watch next month for part two of this thought provoking
article!

(To contact the author of this article send your
e-mail to dp@... )



__________NEED STRIPS & METERS__________

I want to send a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has
donated blood glucose testing meters and strips to
the Angel Network. Nine people have received strips
and/or meters because of your generous donations.

As always, we can use any extra testing strips and/or
new/used meters you may have. If you have any of the
following strips (that haven’t expired and/or meters
(new or used/in working condition) please send them in to us.

STRIPS WE NEED

Lifescan (One Touch, FastTake)
Dex
Accucheck
Precision QID

Meters – any new or used (in good working condition)

Lancing Devices

Check your shelves and drawers! If your have items
collecting dust please send them in! If you have the
manuals for meters you will be sending please send them
too.

The address is: Diabetes Angel Network, c/o Ladson,
P.O. Box 570324, Bronx New York 10457




__________POLL RESPONSES__________

Last month’s poll question asked:

“Would the fact that a candidate for President is
diabetic have any influence on whether or not you would
vote for him/her? Why or why not?”

Here are some of the responses we received:


Poll Responses # 1:

“No, being a diabetic would not influence me. I vote
for the agenda. I would be very interested on their
platform regarding diabetes, however.”


Poll Response # 2:

“It would make no difference if it were under
control”


Poll Response #3:

“The fact that a candidate for President is diabetic
will have any influence on whether or not I vote
for him/her, because they understand our problems
and will very likely fully fund the diabetes research.
In addition if there was someone that was not diabetic
but IF they came out supporting FULL funding for
diabetes research, as Vice President Gore has, that
WILL have some influence. George W. Bush not
only has not come out in support of funding for
diabetes research, but also has NOT answered
email I sent him, and I live in TEXAS. That
will help influence me to vote for Al Gore.”


Poll Response #4:

“Yes, I think that the fact that a candidate for
President is diabetic would have some influence
on whether or not I voted for him. I would think
that he would work harder for diabetics , trying
to pass laws that would make it possible to get
supplies that we need to get Medicare to pay
for them, Try to get it passed that Medicare
would also pay for at least part of our expense
for medicine that we need as diabetics. I'm
probably dreaming, a president has his all
paid for. He doesn't have to worry about it.”



Poll Response #5:

At first I started to say it wouldn't make a difference,
but the more I think about it, I do think it would
influence me. Anyone who has diabetes and has
reached candidacy for President has been successful
at self control and is strong. I would probably be
favorably impressed.


Poll Response #6:

regarding the poll question and the president
YES! it would effect who I should vote for
because to me the most important thing in my
life is my family and if I knew one was against
something I strongly believe would benefit one
of my family members especially my child then
I would not vote for them!!!!!!!!!



Poll Response #7:

“Is one of the candidates a diabetic? I don't think
that should change my vote if they were. I'm sure
there would be a nurse or MD on call at all hours
just in case of any emergency. More important to
me would be the stand he/she takes on healthcare
issues. We need reform there, badly. Monitors
and strips should be available to all diabetics FREE.
This would save lots and lots of money in diabetic
healthcare!”



Poll Response #8:

“I don't know. Would depend whether he/she was type
I or II. Hopefully, he would have the common sense to
eat right, take his meds or insulin, etc.

Although Jimmy Carter had an agricultural background,
he still placed an embargo against Iran if I remember
correctly. Wouldn't automatically mean more funding.
Would heighten awareness.

As the candidate or president, he or she would have
all the diabetic care available to him that is possible.

If a candidate, would want to know how carefully he
takes care of himself. Is possible for him to hide it,
John Kennedy was able to hide his Addisons disease.

The best person to be a diabetic would be either the
First or Second Lady. She could humanize the treatment.
Maybe someday we will.

I don't vote for a person on a single issue. Returning
to the question, unless the person is hypoglycemic, his
actions and temperament might be affected.

Mr. McCain has done so much for skin cancer awareness
already. He puts a human face on melanoma.”

Poll Response #9:

I would vote for a Diabetic President if I agreed with
his agenda. I don't feel that Diabetes has anything to
do with intelligence or the ability to perform if it is
taken care of. It would not sway me in any way.
Character is what I look at most.


Poll Response #10:

I would NOT vote for him: being a diabetic is
FULL-TIME WORK with much worry and anxiety
that would be better spent on thinking of the country's
problems not his own problems ;-)

Fortunately I am not a US citizen so it's irrelevant...

BTW I wonder if the erratic way Yeltsin managed his
country wasn't due to his being a diabetic.



Send all questions/comments/ideas to:

dfanrequest@... -or- dmmteam@...

Diabetes is a serious disease. This e-mail should not
Take the place of competent medical care.

DFAN WEBSITES

MyJournal! - http://members.aol.com/belve/myjournal

Diabetes Prayer Chain! http://members.aol.com/dfanonestep/prayer

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
Visit The DFAN Diabetes Webpage: http://pages.prodigy.net/dfan/dfansite
Visit Christian DiabetesLiving: http://home.att.net/~belve
Got any strips or meters you don't need? -
http://pages.prodigy.net/dfan/angel

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