Advertisement

Caregiving: Managing diabetes

By ALEX CUKAN, UPI Health Correspondent

ALBANY, N.Y., June 13 (UPI) -- About 85 percent of the complications of diabetes could be avoided with proper blood sugar management, but all too often a lack of information on diabetes or how to manage blood sugar results in needless eye, kidney, heart and foot problems.

"A survey found 80 percent of U.S. adults didn't know the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes -- they did not know that type 1 diabetes could not be treated by diet, exercise and medication," Jenna Scarsi, a certified diabetes educator, told United Press International's Caregiving.

Advertisement

Diabetes mellitus type 1, or type 1 diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that results in the permanent destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, so insulin via injections replaces the missing hormone.

Diabetes mellitus type 2, or type 2 diabetes -- also known as non insulin-dependent diabetes, obesity related diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes -- is a metabolic disorder that is primarily characterized by insulin resistance and is often managed by engaging in exercise and modifying the diet.

Advertisement

Scarsi was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, commonly known as juvenile diabetes, when she was 11, and she has developed a program, "Lights, Camera, Cure," as family movie event and diabetes fundraiser to provide diabetes education in a fun way for young people. But grandma can learn a lot too.

"Our goal is to empower children with diabetes to educate the community -- there are many misconceptions about diabetes; one of our messages is that type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented at this time, but we can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes," Scarsi said.

"We encourage people to be more active -- 30 minutes of exercise five days a week, and if you are not the ideal body weight to try and reduce a bit because some weight loss is helpful."

"Lights, Camera, Cure" began as a single event in November 2004 in Scarsi's hometown of Arlington Heights, Ill. Having won the $100,000 Bayer Dream Fund award, she will conduct "Lights, Camera, Cure" events at venues in five U.S. cities this year. The Indianapolis event was held April 28. On Saturday the event will be held at the Regal Cinemas in King of Prussia, Pa., beginning at 9:30 a.m. The movie "Surf's Up" begins at 11 a.m.

Advertisement

Other events are scheduled for Portland, Ore., on July 21; San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 13, and Nashville on Dec. 8.

Each of Scarsi's events kicks off with an interactive diabetes health fair and concludes with a screening of a newly released family movie. Scarsi donates proceeds from the $10 entrance fee raised in each city to local diabetes organizations.

There are six education stations that mix diabetes education with some fun and prizes such as diabetes bingo, explained Scarsi.

The inspiration for the Bayer Dream Fund came from John Dennis, who approached Bayer to fund his dream, which was to be the first and only person with diabetes to successfully compete in the historic Around Alone global yacht race.

"As a diabetes educator I get asked a lot about food, what can people eat and not eat; many think they can't eat anything with sugar or white flour, but as treatment improves the diet can be the same as for anyone -- a healthy, balanced diet," Scarsi said.

"For example, we stress healthy snacks -- yoghurt, fresh fruit, string cheese, peanut butter and crackers; we encourage eating protein snacks."

Some are wary of drinking juice, because although juice has become a staple beverage for the preschool set, it can have 27 to 34 grams of carbohydrates and more than 24 grams of sugar.

Advertisement

Scarsi recommends that instead of a whole 8-ounce glass of juice to drink only a half-cup.

"A half-glass is the regular serving size of juice, but it is much better to have fresh fruit instead of juice, but what everyone -- those with or without diabetes -- should be drinking more of is low-fat milk for the calcium, the vitamin D and to maintain strong healthy bones," said Scarsi.

"We also encourage those with diabetes to use a blood sugar meter -- especially if you are taking insulin -- to see how food, exercise and stress impacts your blood sugar."

A small drop of blood gives a blood sugar reading in 5 seconds, and over time checking blood sugar often can have a big impact, according to Scarsi.

"I'm excited to partner with Bayer because they have glucose meters that need no coding and Bayer is providing a free meter to everyone who attends 'Lights, Camera, Cure,'" Scarsi said.

"Blood sugar meters can now be purchased without a prescription and most insurance companies cover cost of test strips so people can test frequently -- it's important to test frequently because although you may eat the same foods all the time, stress or exercise can both change how your body reacts to food -- and the whole goal is smooth out the spikes in sugar levels, because that is what causes the complications."

Advertisement

In the past, glucose meters needed to be coded -- a type of calibration -- when they were used and if this was not done properly, over time the blood sugar readings could be off, according to Scarsi.

--

Alex Cukan is an award-winning journalist, but she has also been a caregiver since she was a teenager. UPI welcomes comments and questions about this column, e-mail: [email protected].

Latest Headlines