Cream of the Crop 20/Cream of the Crop 20 (Terry Blount) (1996).iso/faq/dfan9606.zip/DFAN9606.TXT

Text File | 1996-06-21 | 25KB | 594 lines

Diabetic Friends Action Network (DFAN)
Online Diabetes Newsletter - June 1996 Edition

June is the month for flowers, pools, barbecues and suntans.  It's
also a month of oppressive heat.  If you're going to be outside
take special care of your diabetes supplies.  Keep your insulin in
a place where it will stay cool.  Don't put it right next to the
ice in your cooler or it might freeze.  There are cases available
that will allow you to keep your insulin, syringes and other
diabetes supplies in a safe place during the summer.  If you can't
find any at your local pharmacy try to get a copy of Diabetes
Forecast and look in the ad section.

Our weight loss club now has 106 members so far and I'm happy to
say that it's still growing!  If you need to lose weight or would
like to maintain your weight why not join our free weight loss
club?  Our daily club e-mails include a phrase for the days,
motivation, information, and daily club news.  We also have weekly
club files, recipes, and a club project that will help you with
your diabetes management plan in some way.  If you're interested in
joining or would like to receive a sample club e-mail send your
request to: [e-mail]

We have no articles or poems for next month's newsletter so if
you'd like to send one in please don't hesitate.  It can be fiction
or non-fiction.  Your story can be happy, sad, angry, fearful or
any other emotion you'd like to share with out readers.  This
newsletter depends on your stories.  Your story or poem can be five
words or five hundred.  It's up to you.  Send your stories or
inquiries to: [e-mail]

Our text file offers have been a great success so and we'd like to
thank all of you who requested them.  This month we are offering
the following files for upload to your e-mail box:

File #1: Chromium & Diabetes
File #2: Diabetes & Vascular Damage (Diabetic Complications)

If you'd like to read any of these files please specify that you
want the "June Files".  State if you want "#1", "#2", or "both".
Send your request to: [e-mail]

One more thing.  Last month my computer crashed.  About 80 e-mails
got deleted so if you requested to be taken off the distribution
list or requested an e-mail address change please send me another
e-mail and you'll be removed.  Also if you were on the weight loss
club distribution list and stopped receiving club e-mails please
let me know so I can add you back to the list.


_____ARTICLE_____

/BLAMING NO ONE

I wasn't used to "being a diabetic" so when I was told I had
to go see a dietician I was happy that I would finally be
learning something about what I could and couldn't eat.  I was
scared too, but that had to be put on the back burner.  It was
time to get some of the knowledge I needed.  My father was
with me for this visit with the dietician.  At that time he
had Type II diabetes for about five years.  He was coping with
it very well.  My Dad was the first diabetic I had known
personally so I was relying on him a lot.

We were a bit early so the dietician wasn't at her office.  My
Dad and I made small talk while we waited.  Finally the
dietician arrived and she started to tell me about how what I
ate would have a great influence on my diabetes control.  I
spent about a half hour with her learning everything from how
to prepare my meals (very little frying, low-fat foods,
etc...) to what I should eat when my blood sugar went low.

The conversation then moved on to how I got diabetes.  This
wasn't on my mind much because I was too busy being nervous
about things.  The dietician explained to me that my diabetes
was passed down to me from my Dad.  When my Dad heard that he
really got upset.  He asked, "What do you mean I made her get
diabetes?".  The dietician went on to explain how diabetes is
passed from the parents to the children.  My Dad just got more
upset.  He said, "I didn't give her diabetes!"  I could tell
that if I didn't get my Dad out of that room things might get
out of hand.  So the visit was cut short and we left.

I didn't think about what happened for a long time.  Then one
day I started wondering how my Dad must have felt.  To feel
that he had been "blamed" for giving me this disease that no
one wants to have.  "Blamed" for giving me this disease that
brings daily challenges into my life that sometimes leaves me
in tears.  The dietician and I didn't blame my Dad for
anything.  Yes, some of his genes may have made me susceptible
to getting diabetes but it isn't anything that he did
deliberately.  He has diabetes too so I know he would never
want me to have to go through what he's gone through.

My Dad hasn't always told me what I wanted to hear.  Sometimes
I don't agree with the choices he makes.  But I do know one
thing.  I know he isn't the one to "blame" for me getting
diabetes.  No one is to blame.


_____ARTICLE_____

LOSING WEIGHT FOR BETTER CONTROL

A weight reduction plan can be another "tool" you can use in
your diabetes management plan.  Yes, losing weight can help
you just as much as insulin, oral medications, and blood
glucose testing strips.  Losing weight isn't easy for anyone
to do and when diabetes is also involved it can bring new
challenges and obstacles to your weight reduction plan.
Although it can be difficult to lose weight there are things
you can do to help shed some pounds so you can feel better
and get your diabetes under better control.

First, always make sure the weight reduction plan you want
to use is approved by your doctor.  There may be certain
foods you're not supposed to eat or certain exercises you're
not supposed to do.  For example, people with retinopathy
should stay away from weightlifting since they could
re-injure their eyes.  So check it out with your doctor
FIRST.

Linda shares, "The first thing my doctor and I discussed
after diagnosis was weight loss.  Our next appointment will
be totally dedicated to weight loss."

If you were overweight prior to being diagnosed with
diabetes the fact that you have diabetes might be the only
incentive you'll need to lose weight.  For some Type II
diabetics losing weight is all that is needed to get their
blood glucose levels down closer to normal range.  That can
be a powerful incentive to slim down.

When asked if it was easier for her to lose weight after she
was diagnosed Linda says, "Actually, I have found it easier
to lose weight since I was diagnosed.  I now have an added
incentive to lose weight.  Now I know weight loss will make
me healthier and if I don't drop the pounds I am putting
myself at increased risk."

You may also need to deal with some emotional issues in
order to lose weight.  You may have eaten for years eat
because of stress, anger, or sadness and you'll have to find
another way to deal with these emotions besides eating.
Finding
another outlet for these emotions may be difficult but it's
worth the effort.

Pat, a Type II diabetic who has been overweight most of her
life says that she had to learn how to cope with anxiety and
tension without eating, "Fat and sugar were my consolation
friend when I was hurting from the pain of the day, whether
it was pain from stress or some other emotional pain.  I
could always eat a big bowl of ice cream and find myself
humming a happy tune."

Losing weight can be thought of as a complete lifestyle
change that will last for the rest of your life.  Don't
think of it as something you only have to do for a limited
amount of time.  If you want to lose weight and get your
diabetes under control, your new weight reduction plan must
be in effect constantly and consistently every day from now
on.

Ken, who has dealt with Type II diabetes for six years also
has heart disease.  He has reached his goal weight and
shares, "I was overweight for ten to fifteen years.  When I
was diagnosed with diabetes, I began to watch both my sugar
and carbohydrate intake and added regular exercise.  But I
believe the exercise made the difference."  Ken walks for
thirty to forty-five minutes daily, (weather permitting) and
also u