DFAN DIABETES NEWSLETTER
JULY 2001 EDITION

Although I've had to cut back on a lot of my
DFAN duties the newsletter was one thing I wanted
to get completed. I want to thank everyone who has
sent well-wishes and prayers for my recovery.

Note: Many of our websites have new URL's
which are listed at the end of this newsletter.


_______I REFUSE TO GIVE UP_______

I refuse to give up
can't let this beat me
I refuse to give up
success will meet me

I refuse to give in
diabetes can't stop me
I refuse to stop trying
I won't let it rob me

Sure it might slow me
or throw me a loop
but life is just like that
a fast spinning hoop


____BATTERY FUNDRAISING WEBPAGE_____

The Diabetes Angel Network has received a donation of
78 blood glucose testing meters. This donation was
extremely appreciated, but the meters come without a
battery and lancing device. We've negotiated a deal
with an online medical supplier to give us the lancing
devices free of charge if we purchase the batteries
for these meters. The cost of each batter (6-volt J-cell)
is 7.54. We've set up a fundraising webpage to help
us get the funds we need for the batteries.

Those 78 meters can help a lot of people. If you can
only buy one of these batteries we would appreciate
it. We've set up a PayPal link at the webpage to help
collect the purchase price for each battery.

The link to the Battery Fundraising Page is:
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/angel/page15.html



_____CHARCOT FOOT STORY______

I would like to share a true story that happened in
Nov. of 2000. My husband was accidentally shot in
the right upper thigh while him and a buddy were
unloading guns after a hunting trip. After a week
long hospital stay and three surgeries later he

was discharged to home. A couple of months past
and he started complaining of pain in the foot and
ankle. We requested that x-rays be done in February
of 2001. The x-rays showed some "washing away
of the bone" (which is how the Dr. described it.

At that time he was told to continue to wear the sole
boot with the sheep skin lining in it. He was also told
not to put any weight on the foot, so this left him still
on crutches. In March, when x-rays were taken we
were given the Charcot-foot diagnosis. Treatment at
that time was a fiberglass cast that can be removed
two times a week for skin care. This allows him to
put a shoe on his foot and go through the motion of
walking with crutches. His Orthopedic doctor has
referred him to an Adult Foot Specialist.

We have been told the most important thing with
charcot foot is to protect the foot, from any type
of accidental bumping, tripping, etc. because of
the bones being brittle. My husband has always
been the type of person that has done manual
labor all his working life and it really bothers
him that he is not able to do the things he could
do prior to being diagnosed. The vibrations of
riding in an auto also causes pain in his foot.

My only advice for one or any family member
of a loved one that has charcot-foot is to keep
their spirits up and to help the person find hobbies
that they can do. Keeping their hands busy helps
to keep their minds off their problems. And please
remember through GOD all things are possible. Don't
give up the faith. Good luck to all Charcot-foot
patients and their loved ones.

To learn more about Charcot Foot Disease
visit our webpage at:

http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/charcot/


DFAN WEBSITES

DFAN Diabetes Webpage
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/dfansite/

Christian Diabetes Living
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/cdl/

Diabetes Angel Network
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/angel/

DFAN Poetry Page
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/poetry/

DFAN Charcot Foot Support Page
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/charcot/

DFAN Diabetes Bookstore
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/bookstore/

Weight Loss Motivation Kits
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/kits/

DFAN Diabetes & Weightloss Site
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/weight1

OneStep Christian Diabetes & Weightloss Site
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/weight2

Family N'Friends Diabetes Learning Page
http://www.geocities.com/dfanish/famfriend

DFAN Kids Diabetes Webpage - Updated!
http://www.geocities.com/dfankid

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@...