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Diabetic Friends Action Network (DFAN)
Online Diabetes Newsletter - January 1996
(Delphi Custom Forum 255)

This document (c) Copyright 1996, all rights reserved.
Redistribution of this document is hereby freely granted so
long as the document is redistributed in its entirety (here
interpreted as all text which was not automatically
generated by software as part of the distribution  process);
in particular, with attributions and this copyright notice.
______________________________
How many times have you asked the question, "Why?"  Why has
diabetes entered my life?  Why has it picked me to play around
with?  Why doesn't it just go away?

Asking "Why?" is a rational response to having a chronic illness
like diabetes enter your life.  We sometimes refer to diabetes as
a living breathing almost human-like creature.  At times it does
resemble a living, breathing part of our existence.  We're
forever trying to figure out how to live with it in our space
without having it take over and consume us.

There's also a fear that goes along with the questions.  If we
slow down and the diabetes overtakes us then we have to deal with
the complications.  But the complications can also come into our
lives if we take care of ourselves and our loved ones.  Then we
have to think about having the right tools to fight diabetes.  Do
we have enough strips, syringes, pills, or the right foods to
fight this battle?

There's a part of this fight that we all need to work on more.
That's where the motivation and will to survive come into play.
It's so difficult to motivate yourself.  If you're not a child
you may not have someone overlooking your every move when it
comes to your diabetes management plan.  If you live alone you
might not have someone who's interested in cooking and who will
fix you a variety of foods so you can stick to your meal plans.

Those are some of the difficulties that come along with diabetes.

What are some ways to deal with these problems?  There's no
one formula that will work for each person since we all bring
different problems into the equation.  Knowing that things can
get better helps.  It doesn't matter how long you've had
diabetes.  If you're not doing well with your diabetes management
plan make a change today.  If you don't know how to start just
ask.  We're here to help you.

Control isn't something you have to find.  It's there.  You just
have to reclaim it.

As always, we need articles for next month's newsletter.  So if
you have a story you'd like to tell us, or if you just want to
vent a little why not write it out and send it to us.  You don't
have to be a professional writer either...just jot it down and e-
mail it to [e-mail].  It doesn't matter if it's you or your
child, please send it in.

There was a problem with one of our disk drives and there were a
few requests to be taken off our mailing list that were not
honored.  If you sent a request to be taken off our distribution
list and it was not honored please send the request again.  We
send you our apologies.

_______________ARTICLE_______________

My Sister's Diabetes
by Parker Farabee  (4 years old)
(Kelsey's little brother)

My sister has diabetes.  First she was a baby before me.
She got diabetes when she was four.  If she gets high or low
she has to take glucose tablets.  She has to take finger
pokes and shots.  I'm sad because she has diabetes, but glad
because she's taking care of herself.

The End

(Kelsey's article appeared in the December 95' issue of our
newsletter)

_______________POLL RESPONSES_______________

Here are the responses we received to last month's poll
question:

Question: We have seen many marches on Washington.  Some
small, some large.  Do you think it would be good for
diabetics, their families and friends to have a march on
Washington?  If so, why?  Do you think it would do more harm
than good?  Why?

Response #1:

"I really don't see the need or the point of such an event.
I don't think I've led a sheltered life, but for me,diabetes
is just something that's become a part of my life-wanted or
not.  At the age of 55, I suspect that it's unlikely that
I'll see a cure.  I presently have control, hand hope to
keep it.  I'd vote no."


Response #2:

"At first let me say that my son, Christopher,  is 11 years
old and he is the family member who has diabetes.  So far
(he's had the disease for a year), he's doing pretty well.
His social and educational lifestyle has changed little.  He
doesn't mind the blood letting :)...and rarely complains
about the shots.  He's very physically active, which I found
is the easiest and surest way for HIM to keep his blood
sugar levels in a good range.

As I tried to formulate an opinion on a march, I kept trying
to think of areas in which the federal government has been
lacking in either support, education, or funding.  And in
the end I came up with  the conclusion that there isn't much
more they can do.  I don't think mandates to insurance
companies will help, (they'll raise all rates) and education
and support is plentiful within organizations such as DFAN.

I think energies are better spent enlisting support by way
of volunteerism and donations (for example the UPC labels
from LifeScan glucose strips)."


Response #3:

"I can't imagine why."

_______________ARTICLE_______________

It's All How You Look At It
By Julie & Dave Farabee
(Kelsey and Parker's Parents)

Top 9 Disadvantages of Parenting a Child with Diabetes

1.  Setting an alarm and getting up to do a 2 am blood test.

2.  Packing a snack to be eaten after picking the child up
from school, doing a blood test and driving to gymnastics.
Since she wants a snack no matter what her blood sugar is,
the snack bag includes one set of foods in case she's high
and one set of foods in case she's low.  The trick is to
keep them separate so she doesn't see the "low" foods when
she's high.  Dinner parties could be given with less advance
preparation!

3.  Trying to get a drop of blood from a cold finger.

4.  Stashing a meter, strips and glucose tablets in your
sleeping bag while camping, and hoping a bear doesn't smell
the glucose tablets.

5.  The inability to go anywhere without taking the meter,
strips, glucose tablets, and snacks.

6.  On those occasions when you forget, and go somewhere
without taking the meter, strips, glucose tablets and snack,
hearing the fabled "I feel loooow" (which always occurs
immediately following a snack).

7.  Explaining to a five year old why those adorable Lion
King candy bars are not a good food choice.

8.  Hearing "it's not fair" about food related things from
both my child with diabetes and her non-diabetic sibling.

9.  Spending 15 minutes trying to give a crash course in
diabetes to any adult who will be supervising my child for
more than 15 minutes.  (I can almost remember just dropping
her off somewhere . . .).


Top 9 Advantages of Parenting a Child with Diabetes

1.  Knowing the carbohydrate content of 25 different brands
of cereal.

2.  Having the ability to answer any trivia question about
the pancreas.

3.  Impressing people by knowing that 1/2 of a low fat
granola bar or 2 Tbsp. of an ICEE equals 15 grams of
carbohydrate.

4.  Diabetes family camp.

5.  Knowing an extra shot is okay on Thanksgiving so that
everyone can have seconds.

6.  Having Santa magically know which kids have diabetes and
providing sugar free chocolate in their stockings.

7.  Always having food available - make friends with men,
women and dogs who are hungry and not prepared.

8.  Getting to know many wonderful people who are also
living with diabetes in their families, and who we otherwise
would never have had the opportunity to meet.

9.  Finding a non-diabetic family willing to learn Diabetes
101 and give insulin injections, enabling our daughter to go
on a sleepover.

_______________ARTICLE_______________

DFAN Weight Loss Club!

Here it is!  The new DFAN Weight Loss Club!  We're here
to give you support, understanding, and knowledge which
are some of the things you need to lose weight.  If you
have diabetes and you're overweight, losing weight is probably
one of the first things your doctor told you to do.  But how?
That's what we're here for!  Join our club (it's FREE) and
we'll try to stick with you until you reach your goal weight.

We have text files available for you to read that will help
you gain control of your blood glucose levels as you shed
pounds.  It can be tough to lose weight, and having diabetes
can make it more difficult but it can be done.  It doesn't
matter if you have Type I diabetes or Type II diabetes.  If
you need to lose weight you can.

We're still looking for a name for our weight loss club.  So
far we've received suggestions such as "Less Is Best" and
"D-Lites".  If you have an idea for a name for our club
please send it in to us.

Since this club is going to start as an online club you have
a choice of what you'd like to receive.  There are text
files available to you.  Or you may want to be in our "Day
To Day Motivation" section.  You'll receive e-mails from the
club about four times a week that will include motivational
sayings and diet tips that will help you with your weight
reduction plan and with your diabetes management plan.


DFAN Diet Club Offers:

Receive motivational e-mails four times a week.

Website referral list - sites of interest to diabetics
trying to lose weight

Recipes (offered to those who request them. (Kept in a
digest form)

Articles & Stories dealing with weight loss and diabetes
(separate weight loss issue of the newsletter might be published)

DFAN D-Buddies (members who want to correspond with other
diabetics trying to lose weight)


Files Available For Upload To Your E-mail Box:

Glycemic Index - What Is It?

Free Foods

Exercising & Diabetes

Exercising With Neuropathy

Exercise Tips For A Beginner

How To Start Walking For Exercise

Alcohol & Diabetes

_______________CONTEST WINNERS_______________

Here are the winners in the first DFAN Writing Contest!

Adult Category:

First Place:  "I See The Big Picture"
Second Place: "What Would You Do - Sibling Rivarly"
Third Place:  "A New Lifestyle"

Children's Category:

Kelsey Farabee - "Me & My Diabetes"
Parker Farabee - "My Sister's Diabetes"

We'd like to congratulate all of our winners!  All prizes
will be distributed by February 20, 1996.

If you haven't read the winning articles and would like to
recieve them in your e-mail box just send a request to
[e-mail]

_______________ANNOUNCEMENT_______________

So far the Meter Bank has helped 20 people get Lifescan
Profile Blood Glucose Testing Meters, even as far away as
France!  The person behind the Meter Bank, Richard Thornton
is amazed at how many of you wish to keep your Lifepoint
and/or coupons donations anonymous.  Your generousity is
greatly appreciated.

In order to help more people the Meter Bank still needs
UPC/Lifepoint symbols from your Lifescan One Touch Strips.
They also desperately need the fullfilment coupons that have
to be filled out to receive the free Profile Meters.
Remember,these points and fullfilment coupons are helping
other diabetics get some much needed equipment to help control
their diabetes.

If you, or someone you know needs a blood glucose testing
meter but can't afford one please send an e-mail or write to
the address below.

Send e-mail to:

[e-mail]  -or- [e-mail]

Send snail mail requests for meters and/or Lifescan
UPC's/Lifepoints/Fullfillment Coupons to:

           Keeper of the Meter Bank
           Richard Thornton
           4207 Cantwell Drive
           Pasadena, Texas 77505-4421

_______________ARTICLE (Fiction)_______________

Frank faxed his blood glucose results to his doctor every week on
Friday.  He had everything organized and ready to go by 9 a.m.
The data would fly across the phone lines with electronic speed.
It would only take ten minutes for Frank's doctor to call him
back with his thoughts on the numbers.  Frank had gotten used to
waiting for the call.  His blood glucose readings had been very
good for the past six months so all the doctor really had to do
was give Frank a pat on the back.

The phone rang and Frank answered it on the first ring, "Hi doc.
Things are still looking good, huh?".

"Frank, I must say that you are one of the most motivated
diabetics I've dealt with in a long time.  I can't believe how
good you're doing.  I wish all my patients could be in control
like you."

Frank hung up the phone and decided to walk to work.  He decided
to get on a "health kick" when he was diagnosed and walking to
work had become as common as brushing his teeth some weeks.  It
only took him a half hour to walk to work but that was a half
hour of exercise.  This was a morning when Frank wouldn't walk by
himself.  When he reached the end of his block he saw his friend
Daniel.  "Daniel sure doesn't look too happy," Frank thought to
himself, "I wonder what's wrong with him."

Before Frank could ask Daniel about what was bothering him Daniel
spoke up.  "Frank, I found out that I have diabetes.  I'm real
scared.  You know me.  I'm a man's man.  I can't see myself
taking needles and poking myself all day long.  And oh yeah, that
would look real good if I faint while I'm working."

Frank didn't know what to say.  He knew he had good control over
his diabetes but how was he going to make his friend feel the
same way?  "Daniel, all I can tell you is that I've had diabetes
for the past six months and things are going well for me.  I'm
not taking insulin though, I'm Type II."

"That's what they say I am," Daniel said, "Don't you ever get
tired of sticking yourself all the time?  Doing all those tests?"

"Sure, sometimes I don't like it, but if I don't do it then I'd
have to deal with other things.  I don't want to end up in the
hospital because I didn't take care of myself when I had the
chance."

All Daniel could do was look at Frank.  Here was Frank, a bit
overweight and not the type of man Daniel would say was a
"control freak", but he was dealing with things ok.  Daniel had
to go back to the doctor in a week but he decided to try
something.  "Frank, would you mind if I stuck around for a day
with you.  I don't know how I'm supposed to act now.".

"What do you mean?," Frank asked.

"Well, I just think that if I stuck around you for a day I'd know
how I'm supposed to take care of myself.  My doctor just told me
that I'd have to change some things in my life.  The nurse gave
me some pamphlets to read. That's about it."

Frank thought about it for awhile and then decided it might be a
good idea for Daniel to be his "D-buddy" for a day.  The next day
Frank didn't change anything in his schedule.  Daniel showed up
about 7 a.m. so he could see what Frank ate for breakfast.  He
was surprised to see Frank eating an egg and english muffin.
"Eggs?...you eat eggs?"

Frank paused for a bit and then responded. "Sure I eat eggs.  I
don't eat them every day and I don't fry them too often, but you
can eat eggs Daniel.  You're not going on a crash diet.  You just
have to learn to eat in moderation.  This is something we have to
do for the rest of our lives.  If you make it into something you
hate you'll never stick with it."

The rest of the day Daniel watched Frank test his blood glucose
levels and get his daily exercise (Frank's walk to work).  Daniel
was amazed at how Frank was able to live a somewhat "normal"
life.  When Daniel got his diagnosis all he could think about was
needles and sitting in a rocking chair for the rest of his life.
That day with Frank really opened his eyes.

_______________POLL QUESTION_______________

THIS MONTH'S POLL QUESTION:

When you (or your child, friend, or family member) was diagnosed
with diabetes do you feel you received enough information about
diabetes and how it would affect your life?  If not, what type of
information do you think you should have received?

_______________ARTICLE_______________

Do you get angry, upset, or go into a rage when your blood
glucose levels are high?  Does this seem to happen to your child?
We're looking for people to interview for an article that is
going to be in a future issue of this newsletter.

The interview will be conducted online (via e-mail).  If you'd
like to participate in the research for this article please send
an e-mail to [e-mail]


BACK ISSUES:  If you'd like to receive any or all of our back
issues just tell us which ones you'd like uploaded to your e-mail
box.  If you need to see our list of back issues just send an e-
mail to [e-mail]