People with diabetes
Just saw this online:
The number of Americans with diabetes increased by 15 percent in two years to 24 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 8 percent of the population now has the disease, mainly Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and sedentary living, the agency said in a report using data from 2007. A quarter of people ages 60 and older had diabetes, the agency said. The number of people worldwide with diabetes will double to 366 million by 2030, according to the World Health Organization, which calls the disease an epidemic. Most people with diabetes have resistance to insulin, which the body uses to convert blood sugar to energy. The C.D.C. report was its first update of the prevalence of diabetes since 2005, when it reported that about 21 million Americans had the disease.
What that means is that 21 million people need to monitor blood sugar carefully and take medication — none of it cheap — to avoid devastating side effects like blindness, kidney failure, amputations because of infections, heart attacks and stroke.
Studies have shown again and again that people who are able to manage their diabetes have fewer side effects. But diabetes supplies are expensive. Blood-glucose monitors, test strips, syringes, oral medications, when covered by insurance, are affordable for most people. But without insurance, it’s nearly impossible to control blood sugar properly.
People who don’t have access to medical care to manage the illness die sooner than those who can see a physician regularly.
How much less expensive would it be to manage the disease? Billions. Right now, people show up in the emergency room in renal failure and then need dialysis, or with massive infections that end with an amputation.
As with all chronic illness, we pay now or we pay later. Too often, the cost is a life.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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