The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation wants every Bay Area parent to be “T1D Aware” to recognize the telltale signs of type 1 diabetes in order to prevent a potentially deadly complication that often occurs as a result of a delayed diagnosis. JDRF is launching the new educational campaign called “T1D Aware” to raise awareness of the key signs of type 1 diabetes including frequent urination and excessive thirst, and to encourage parents to seek medical attention if they notice these signs in their children. According to the National Diabetes Education Program, between 25 and 40 percent of the children who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA.

“The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can often be mistaken for the flu, urinary tract infections or other viruses,” said Bruce Buckingham, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Stanford Medical Center. “The longer we wait to diagnose type 1 diabetes, the more dangerous it can be. That’s why it’s so important to be ‘T1D Aware’ and to equate frequent urination and excessive thirst as a potential sign of type 1 diabetes.”

In addition to frequent urination and excessive thirst, lower than normal energy, tiredness and weight loss are all telltale signs of type 1 diabetes. Other symptoms include: increased appetite, sudden vision changes, fruity odor on the breath, heavy or labored breathing and/or stupor or unconsciousness. If parents, teachers, school nurses, coaches and even teenagers notice these signs, they should talk to a doctor immediately.

Many children who present with these symptoms also have DKA.  DKA, or diabetic ketoacidosis, occurs when the body breaks down fat for energy instead of sugar. When this happens, the body produces a poisonous acid called a ketone. High levels of ketones are very dangerous and can lead to a coma or even death, especially in young children. DKA is the leading cause of death and disability in children with type 1 diabetes.

Unfortunately, for Theresa Bergholz and her son, Benjamin, DKA was a harsh reality. Benjamin was 11 months old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He also was in full-blown DKA and spent three days in the ICU. “What I went through with Benjamin was traumatizing – I wish I had known more about type 1 diabetes,” said Theresa Bergholz. “I strongly encourage all parents to get informed so their children don’t suffer like Benjamin did.”

As part of the “T1D Aware” campaign, JDRF will be distributing information and conducting local events across the Bay Area.  For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/MyJDRF.

Downloads

Download the fact sheet >

Download the poster (as shown below) >

“T1D Aware” is made possible with support from Silpada Designs.

About Silpada Designs
Silpada Designs is the world’s largest and fastest-growing sterling silver jewelry home party company.  Silpada Design’s sterling silver jewelry is sold exclusively by 32,000 independent representatives throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.  Visit Silpada.com or call 1-888-SILPADA (745-7232) to learn more about our jewelry, to find a local representative or to learn how you can join the Silpada Design’s family as an independent representative.

Family Rallies are a great opportunity to meet other parents in the type 1 diabetes community. In addition to free entrance to the zoo, the rallies include important information:

• Learn how the dollars raised by Family Walk Teams translate into tangible progress toward the cure
• Hear about the progress being made in the field of diabetes research
• Gather information on how you can fight back by forming a Family Team

Thursday, July 22, 2010 | Oakland Zoo | RSVP

Saturday, July 24, 2010 | San Francisco Zoo | RSVP

About the Walk to Cure Diabetes

The Walk to Cure Diabetes is JDRF’s largest fundraising program. In 2009, Walkers raised $89,000,000,nearly half of JDRF’s total public support, thanks to the countless numbers of volunteer teams that support the Walk. The Walk to Cure Diabetes is a fun-filled event for you and your friends and family and it builds camaraderie among co-workers. It’s also an uplifting and encouraging experience and an opportunity to be part of the diabetes community. It is a chance to take action, to step up to the plate and do something positive. Walk is the way to the cure!

JDRF invites the Bay Area diabetes community to a free educational event: Taking “Control” Out of Diabetes, an evening with Jessica Bernstein, Psy.D. Psychologist specializing in type 1 diabetes/chronic illness;  “Blood & Honey” documentary film director and producer and living with type 1 diabetes for 38 Years.

• WHEN: Wednesday, April 21, 2010; 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

• WHERE: Calvary Presbyterian Church, 1940 Virginia Street, Berkeley, CA 94702

• RSVP: ceisen@jdrf.org or (415) 597-6317

*Please note – childcare will not be available for this event.

In a controversial talk, Psychologist Jessica Bernstein sparks debate about our current method of approaching diabetes care with the goal of controlling the condition. Dr. Bernstein, who has had type 1 diabetes since age one, will discuss two key questions:

• Is it possible to control diabetes?

• Is it healthy to approach diabetes care with the mindset of trying to control the condition?

Through excerpts from her documentary film (now in production) entitled “Blood & Honey”Dr. Bernstein will present varying views about the “myth of control.”  This talk will provide you with new ideas for approaching diabetes care that could improve the psychological experience of diabetes for anyone diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes, adult or child.

Visit the website at www.bloodandhoney.org.

Dr. Bernstein has a private practice in Oakland focused on people with diabetes.

For additional information, read this  Los Angeles Times article on Dr. Bernstein’s presentation “Diabetes May Create a Chasm Between Patient/Doctor.”

To find out about JDRF funded research, local services and networking, special events or the Walk to Cure Diabetes please visit: www.curetype1.org

Mark Sanchez, quarterback for the New York Jets, is helping the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) try to win $100,000 in grants as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project, an online campaign to fund programs that will have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Mark Sanchez

Voters can go to http://www.nfl.com/pepsirefresh and vote for Sanchez, or text ‘MARK’ to PEPSI (73774). Voting ends at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2010.

If Sanchez outpolls other Pepsi Refresh Project sponsors, the funding will help JDRF establish a nationwide program to educate people about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes – the most severe form of the disease – and get medical care before suffering the life-threatening short-term complications of high blood sugar. Symptoms for type 1 or juvenile diabetes can be mistaken for common illnesses, such as the flu, and if left untreated, even over a very short timeframe, can be deadly.

“I want to help establish a much needed, nationwide educational program with JDRF to ensure that the warning signs of type 1 diabetes will become household knowledge for medical personnel, parents, teachers, and friends,” said Sanchez. “Then, a quick and accurate diagnosis can be made and proper treatment given before it results in a life threatening situation.”

In addition to Sanchez, quarterback Drew Brees and linebacker Demarcus Ware are also participating in the Pepsi Refresh Project challenge

“We’re honored to have Mark Sanchez in the vanguard of our efforts to help save lives and eventually find a cure. Mark is an outstanding example of leadership on and off the field, bringing attention to a problem that can have an enormous impact on the 15,000 children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes annually – that’s 40 children a day,” said Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D., the President and CEO of JDRF. ”

All forms of diabetes are clearly on the rise, but the sad fact is that type 1 diabetes is far and away the most prevalent form of the disease affecting children, and so we are also grateful to the Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge for investing in a program that will positively impact so many lives.”

Happy World Diabetes Day!

Yesterday evening 100 people gathered just outside the Ferry Building to raise awareness of issues of importance to the diabetes world and to keep diabetes firmly in the public spotlight.  At the same time in cities around globe, thousands of others gathered to commemorate WDD by lighting buildings in the color of the blue circle symbol for diabetes.  The mood was festive as we lit candles, shined flash lights and passed out blue glow sticks and looked up in amazement at the steeple of the Ferry Building illuminated in shining blue color.

The Ferry Building on 11/14/2009

I admit to not quite understanding what the hype is all about.  I tried to find the important parts of this new International Diabetes Federation, World Health Organization and United Nations sanctioned and official world health day.  I read everything but I seemed to always end up in the same place….then what?   People I talked with who actually live with diabetes everyday seemed less than excited about an official world health day.  I was not even sure why I put on a blue shirt as I got ready to head downtown to the Embarcadero Saturday afternoon.  But I knew I should wear blue because I suggested it to others after I read it in the official What To Do manual.  The manual told me how to dress but it did not ever tell me what I really wanted to know.  What I wanted to know is how does lighting a building in blue have anything to do with raising awareness of the serious impact of diabetes on our communities?  There I said it.

I remember the day I joined the San Francisco WDD unofficial planning committee and asked Kelly Close and Alisa Bekins of diaTribe and Manny Hernandez of TuDiabetes, “how do I get a building lighted in blue?”  Turns out, that was the easy part.  As with everything, it is not what you know, it is who you know.  Later as we began to talk about the event that would mark the occasion of the lighting of the official building or monument on the UN’s sanctioned world health day I remember thinking, ” that’s it?”  No marching band?  No glad-handing politicians speaking to crowds with microphone? Silent auction?  Prizes?  An official panel discussion?  Just a meet up and make a little noise?

Mellisa and Patrick with a blue balloon.

Of course I was running late.  Late and somewhat apprehensive about what to expect.  Let’s face it.  It is a chilly Saturday evening at 5:30pm.  Who is going to be standing in a park across the street from the Ferry Building to “celebrate” World Diabetes Day?  I was just happy that Patrick McKowen from JDRF agreed to join me by giving up a couple hours of his Saturday night.  Patrick and I manage JDRF marketing and communications.  Thanks Patrick.

When I saw the Ferry Building for the first time, I was a bit relieved. It really was illuminated in blue.  Wow, we did it!  We really did it.  Its Blue.  Now what?

Christine is a proud supporter of JDRF. Thank you Christine.

Then I start to see familiar faces.   The fine people of Equity Marketing Solutions are an impressive group.  It is because of them, for example, that we have this blog as a communication tool.  Everyday, Equity Marketing Solutions provide Patrick and me with advanced website optimization and strategy development.  They do so because of a personal connection to type 1 diabetes.  They want JDRF be successful and to cure diabetes.  Christine and Melissa drove all the way from Santa Cruz to join the lighting of the Ferry Building.  They touched my heart.  Thank you ladies sincerely for making the effort, again.  Then they are off to make the journey back to Santa Cruz but just seeing them ignites my excitement.

Manny Hernandez of TuDiabetes

Then I see Manny and meet Kelly and Alisa for the first time.  Now I am starting to have fun.  I am pleased to see Charles Renfroe from Johnson & Johnson.  Charles greets me warmly.  Johnson & Johnson and JDRF sponsor the lighting of Ferry Building. I say hello to some old friends and meet some new people. Manny said that he was very pleased with the number of people that came out.  I was not there last year but I got the sense that tonight’s crowd was much bigger than the size of the crowd that gathered in 2008 at the San Francisco City Hall illuminated in blue.  Some of the organizers begin to speak briefly to the WDD crowd.  I am not sure anyone could hear what they were saying but as they speak I look out into the crowd and for the first time I see that people are happy.

Amy Tenderich, Kelly Close, Greg Martin and Charles Renfroe

Really happy.  Everyone is smiling.  People are saying thank you.  People had been saying thank you all evening.  I just say thank you right back.  I am so happy that people came out.  Happy to have 100 people to scream and shout and look up at the beautiful blue steeple on top of the Ferry Building.

Suddenly there it was.  Just do something; anything that feels right to you and that shows others that diabetes is a terrible disease and that people struggle everyday to keep their glucose within a small range of numbers considered normal.  I am really excited now because I had been feeling that maybe I didn’t do enough!  To the WDD crowd on Saturday night, we did it all.  One hundred people joined together, if for only an hour, by a common cause.

Me at the Ferry Building on World Diabetes Day evening.

Now I am feeling ten feet tall.  Suddenly, I can not wait until the first person asks me, “so how was your weekend?”  “What did you do this weekend?”  Because when they ask, I will say that I raised awareness of diabetes  because many people I care about live with type 1 diabetes and that is not okay with me.

The last person I saw before heading home was Lisa Shenson.  Lisa was on her way home but she had the biggest smile on her face.  We were too far away to be conversant but she yelled “thank you for doing this!”  I could see sincerely in her eyes and this made my night. Lisa does so much for others and fights tirelessly for the rights of children living with diabetes in school.

Lisa Shenson

If this celebration pleased Lisa, then I am one happy guy.  This morning Lisa sent me an email and included some of her photos.  Some of the photos in this blog are from Lisa Shenson.  Thanks Lisa.

I think Lisa’s email best summed up the evening.  Lisa wrote, “Tonight’s lighting of the SF Ferry Building in honor of World Diabetes Day 2009 was magical…for those of you who weren’t able to make it, we missed you! It was a warm gathering of the diabetes community that included some Bravebuddies families, JDRF, ADA, Amy Tenderich of DiabetesMine.com, Manny Hernandez of TuDiabetes.com, Kelly Close of DiaTribe.us …and me! Hope to see you next go ’round… -Lisa Shenson, Diabetes Parent & Advocate.

It was a magical night.  It may seem inappropriate way to acknowledge a disease awareness designated day but how else to end but Happy World Diabetes Day everyone.

So that is what I did for World Diabetes Day. What about you? What did you do to raise awareness of diabetes on World Diabetes Day or on any day?

Children of World Diabetes Day evening at the Ferry Building in San Francisco

Still looking for an idea on how you can get involved in World Diabetes Day on Saturday, November 14th?  Here are some suggestions.

Take the Test

Three million Americans have type 1 diabetes. Do you know the signs? wddusa.org.

Take The Big Blue Test: bigbluetest.org

PUT ON YOUR TWIBBON

Do you have a Twitter or a Facebook account? On World Diabetes Day, set your avatar as a big blue circle. It takes less than 30 seconds using Twibbon: twibbon.com/join/Diabetes-3.

SEND A LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL PAPER

Writing a letter to the editor of a local newspaper or TV station is easier than you think. Use this sample letter: wddusa.org/2009/09/sample-letter-to-the-editor.php and take five minutes to send one right now.  Read these tips on how to get it published: wddusa.org/2009/09/tips-on-writing-a-letter-to-a-newspaper-editor.php.

EMBRACE THE COLOR BLUE

Wear blue, light a blue candle, put up a blue light bulb or even paint your nails blue. Wear enough blue that people will ask: “Why are you wearing so much blue?” Let them know its World Diabetes Day and why it matters to you.

GET CREATIVE

Speak about diabetes in your children’s school or your church.

GET SCREENED

Get Screened for Diabetic Retinopathy if you are over 40.  Watch the video or visit this website geteyesmart.org.

GET INSPIRED

Visit Youtube.com and search World Diabetes Day 2009.  Just watch a few video and you will be amazed at what you can do with video.

JOIN OTHERS

Join the World Diabetes Day Walk on Saturday, November 14th at 10:00am in Petaluma.  The walk begins at the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility-3890 Cypress Drive in Petaluma, CA (next to Shollenberger Park).

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, at 5:30PM, Sacramento lights up the State Capital for World Diabetes Day.  Wear blue and join on the west steps of the State Capitol to light the Capitol building in blue, form a human circle and support the cause.

The San Francisco’s Ferry Building will be illuminated in blue this World Diabetes Day thanks to the generous sponsorship by Johnson & Johnson and JDRF!  Everyone in the Bay Area is invited to celebrate World Diabetes Day together.  So, bring your family and friends, dress up in blue, bring a flashlight and blue cellophane and bring a big blue sign and get ready to make some noise.  We begin at dusk on Saturday, Nov. 14th, at 5 pm.  You will find diaTribe®, JDRF, and TuDiabetes in the park between Ferry Building and Embarcadero.

What are you doing onWorld Diabetes Day 2oo9?

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14th. The WWD campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness. WWD was created in 1991 in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. WDD became an official United Nations Day in 2007 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/255.

The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. This year begins the first of a five-year campaign that will address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programs.

WDD is celebrated on November 14, to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.

Diabetes Education and Prevention is the World Diabetes Day theme for the period 2009-2013. The campaign slogan for 2009 is “Understand Diabetes and Take Control”.  The disease imposes life-long demands on the millions people now living with diabetes and their families. People with diabetes must deliver 95% of their own care, so it is of paramount importance that they receive ongoing, high-quality diabetes education that is tailored to their needs and delivered by skilled health professionals. The key messages for everyone are:

• Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs
• Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to
• Know how to manage diabetes and take control

WWD is celebrated worldwide by the over 200 member associations of the International Diabetes Federation in more than 160 countries, all Member States of the United Nations, as well as by other associations and organizations, companies, healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes and their families.

The WDD logo is the blue circle – the global symbol for diabetes which was developed as part of the Unite for Diabetes awareness campaign. The logo was adopted in 2007 to mark the passage of the United Nations World Diabetes Day Resolution. The significance of the blue circle symbol is overwhelmingly positive. Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health. The color blue reflects the sky that unites all nations and is the color of the United Nations flag. The blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic.

To commemorate WDD iconic buildings and sites throughout the world will be light in the color of the blue circle symbol for diabetes – the central component of the campaign logo. The landmark illuminations are testimony to the power of our combined efforts to alter the diabetes landscape. They also provide, of course, a strong visual element to attract attention to the diabetes cause. Last year 1107 monuments and buildings were light in blue around the world.

Every year diabetes organizations and individuals worldwide develop a wide range of activities to increase diabetes awareness. In San Francisco, the Ferry Building will be illuminated in blue on the evening of November 14 and a meet up begins at 5:00 pm just across from the building.

Other ideas for ways you can involved and get others involved is by forming your own event.  Some ideas to consider include illuminating your home in blue, light a blue candle, dress up in blue for the day,  organize  a dress-up-in-blue day for diabetes at your workplace,  diabetes walks and rides, press conferences, in-school activities, sports activities, Frisbee events, workshops and exhibitions.

What are you doing on World Diabetes Day?  Share your plans and give suggestions for raising awareness.  Whatever your idea, be sure to register your activity on the World Diabetes Day website so that you can share it with the world.  Register here. http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/