Diabetes Awareness Month

November is diabetes awareness month and if you are one of nearly 24 million people diagnosed with the disease, this month is for you. You can help shed light on this devastating disease, bring awareness to a cause close to your heart, share an encouraging story with someone newly diagnoses or simply answer a question.

Ever wonder if anyone cares to hear your story or is even there to listen? Yes, they are! Millions of people are searching for hope, searching for answers and searching for your words this month.

Raise your voice to this disease and share your story!

There are many wonderful organizations dedicated to bringing awareness to diabetes, educating those who are newly diagnosed and building a community around those who are affected. Here are a few organzations that are leading the charge in diabetes awareness.

jdrf resized 600 The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the worldwide leader for research to cure type 1 diabetes. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide. Its mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Lauren's Hope is a PROUD sponsor of the JDRF. Did you know that a portion of our proceeds are donated to the JDRF each year? To date, we've donated over $100,000.

Change can happen with just one person's voice rising above the others.

The American Diabetes Association is another wonderful organization that ada logo resized 600 brings awareness to diabetes. Their mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

The ADA...

funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes
delivers services to hundreds of communities
provides objective and credible information
gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes

TuDiabetes.org is a community of people touched by diabetes. Their members educate themselves and help one another take the steps towards healthy living. Today through November 14th TuDiabetes.Org is asking everyone to watch their Big Blue Test video. With each view a child with diabetes in need will receive a supply of insulin for one week! Please take a moment to watch the Big Blue Test video and pass it on.

photo407 resized 600 The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) is a leader in "cure-focused" research and has begun an online campaign called Be Part of the Cure. This campaign runs through December 31st and with a minimum donation of $10 you can submit a photo, along with a short story about how diabetes has affected your life. Animas and LifeScan photo2223 resized 600 are sponsoring this campaign and will match the first $25,000 in donations. For more information about the Diabetes Research Institute Foundatin and the Be Part of the Cure campaign, visit their website.

Raise your voice and share your story!

What's your story?
When were you diagnosed?
What words of wisdom do you have to share?
What cause do you support?
What questions do you have?

Tags: diabetes awareness month, diabetes

Comments

We found out October 26, 2009 that my, then 12 year old daughter, Kenzie had Type 1 Diabetes. It was very overwhelming for her and our family. She was put into the hospital and was there for 6 days! While she was in the hospital, they taught her and myself on how to take care of herself. What she could and could not eat, how to get her insulin ready to inject. Where she needed to inject and how she had to start checking her bloodsugar! Now a year later... she does it all on her own! She will be 14 December 10th and I could not be more blessed to have her as my daughter. She teaches me new things everyday, she is so strong.

I have to say though we have been having a hard time with her school! I think there needs to be more education with all of the teachers in all of the schools! People will tell my daughter that she should just go eat a candybar and make herself better. They tell her that she cannot check her bloodsugar unless she is in the Nurse's office, after the Dr. said that it is ok for he to check her bloodsugar whenever she needed to. So some days we struggle but it is with the school. Her Doctor and Nurses that work with her are wonderful! I thank God everyday that I have Kenzie in my life and I know since we are teaching her to take great care of herself now~ she will be able to live a full healthy life!

Posted @ Friday, November 05, 2010 10:37 AM by Heather Bernett

I am a 36 year old woman living in Santa Fe, NM. I enjoy spending time outside, in the constant sunshine of this place. I also enjoy learning Spanish.

When I was 15 years old, one week before my 16th birthday, I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. I think in the beginning, mom parents were more heartbroken than I. Being almost 16, I didn't really know what this diagnosis meant. It means a lifetime of hard work if you plan on staying happy & healthy. Over the next several years, finishing high school, going to college, I was lucky to avoid any serious health problems. At that time, I still wasn't really paying close attention to my condition. I didn't wear an medical ID tag (thank you Lauren's Hope for such beautiful options!), I took insulin daily, by injection, but only took my sugar levels once or twice a week! Then, when I was in my twenties, I met my future husband and realized that I had a beautiful & fortunate life and wanted it to be long and healthy so, I changed my habits! I have just "celebrated" my 20th anniversary of being diagnosed. I recently started seeing a CDE and switched from a rigid schedule of insulin therapy (Humulin Nph & R) to a basal treatment of Lantus and meal time uses of Humalog- with which I am no longer completely locked in for the day with, so to speak (once I took my "old" insulins, they were in my system for most of the day and would strictly control when I ate). I still get frustrated with highs, and lows, but, I realize I am lucky that there are treatments for this condition and I also get myself up each day, or even after a high, and start from there, with the goal of doing a little better! I hope each of us dealing with this disease, can find that little bit of strength to say, "it's not over. I can do this! Life can be good!" In fact, this disease has made me stronger and has given my husband and those close to me, the inspiration to push through any difficulties that life may present to them too! That's my story up to this point.....

Posted @ Friday, November 05, 2010 10:37 AM by WendyLou

Thank you Heather and Wendy Lou for sharing your stories. All of us at Lauren's Hope consider our customers to be the strongest and best role models we could ever hope to meet. We hope that doing our part (making you great med ID jewelry) makes your day a little brighter. You are awesome!

Posted @ Friday, November 05, 2010 1:21 PM by LeAnn Carlson

I just wanted to Lauren's Hope know that my daughter has just found a something from your website that she will wear!! I am buying it for her for her one year of doing the best job of taking care of herself reward! It is the Crazy Busy bracelet She can't wait to get it and I can't wait to give it to her! Just another way to help her and I thank you for that!!

Posted @ Friday, November 05, 2010 1:46 PM by Heather Bernett

I am 44 years old and I have been a diabetic since I was 3 months old, yes 3 months. I started give myself injections when I was 9 years old. I have been throught alot but I am still here and have a wonderful husband for 19 years and my son which is 9. I have been in two bad car wrecks one which they said I would not live. They alos said with me being a dibetic it would be hard for me to heal with GOD and my family I am still doing great. (Taking good care of myself has got me where I am today)Good doctors too.

Just wanted to say thank you for Laurens Hope I love your bracelets. I have receviced alot of comments on it. I did go awhile without one but not now I wear it all the time.

Joy(-:

Posted @ Friday, November 05, 2010 3:14 PM by Joy Lail

November is American Diabetes Month, a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. For the past 20 years, diabetes rates have been increasing rapidly and it is quickly becoming America’s new health epidemic. It is listed as the 7th leading cause of death in the US and over 24 million Americans have the disease. Another alarming statistic is that of those 24 million, 6 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know it.

As the prevalence of diabetes cases continues to rise, it is critical to become educated and raise awareness of this deadly disease. It’s easy to have a role in the fight against diabetes; here’s how:

Get tested!
Take control of your health and monitor your condition! I found a great website, personalabs.com where you can order a Complete Diabetic Profile for only $199. This panel is used as a routine follow-up survey of your diabetic condition. It includes the most common follow-up tests used to evaluate control of your disease as well as some associated condition. This test will help you and your healthcare provider know if any changes in lifestyle activities and/or medications are needed.

You can also monitor your blood sugar levels by ordering a Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) several times throughout the year. This test shows how well you’ve controlled your blood sugar during the preceding 3 month period and costs only $25.

Find out why the HbA1c test is so important for people with diabetes: http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/glycated-hemoglobin-test-hba1c

For American Diabetes Month, be proactive and take control of your health! Go towww.personalabs.com to order your blood tests.
**Make sure to use discount code LAB4NF to save money on your order!**

Posted @ Monday, November 08, 2010 11:41 AM by Nicole