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


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.


Just a short note to all of you.  Our weight loss club is growing
every day so if you need to shed some pounds to help control your
diabetes join our club!  We can also send you a sample club e-
mail so you can decided whether or not it's for you.  Just send
an e-mail to: belve@aol.com

As always, we need your articles.  We need your stories.  We need
your anecdotes.  It doesn't matter if the story is happy, sad,
angry, jealous, or whatever other feeling it shows.  Please send
it in.

There are three new files available to anyone who would like to
read them.  The list is:

File A: How To Cope/Deal With A Diabetic In Your Life Who Isn't
Taking Care Of Themselves (for family & friends of a person with
diabetes)

File B: Facing Your Diabetes (for diabetics)

File C: Needle Injection Anxiety - Some Solutions (if you're
having problems adjusting to giving yourself injections)

If you'd like to read any of these text files state which files
you want (A, B, C, or ALL) and send your request to:

          xjmv62@prodigy.com  -or-  belve@aol.com


_______________ARTICLE_______________

ALWAYS A SOLUTION

My brother is diabetic also and has been blind for about 10
years.  His 3 year adopted son saw football on tv one night and
at bedtime he asked his father, "Can I play football when I get
older". Yes, said my brother.  "Will you play with me", he asks.
"I can't" said my brother, "my eyes are broken?.  "Can't God fix
your eyes", the son asks.  He can says my brother but I don't
think he will.  The son then says, "Can't he use a battery".  No,
my brother says.  "How about three batteries"?.  No.

The next night, the little boy was whimpering about his father's
inability to play football.  "Can't God use a screwdriver to fix
your eyes".  "No, I'm sorry" he is told.  The next night the boy
says "Daddy, Jesus will fix your eyes". My brother just hugged
him.

My comments "Who knows, maybe He will!  I told my brother his son
sounds like he should be related to me, I never give up, I am
always looking for solutions to a problem just like he is
learning to do.



_______________ARTICLE_______________

DM & The Family - 911 Training


Diabetes is a family affair.  If you're the adult in the
family it touches the lives of your children as much as it
touches your life.  If you experience a hypoglycemic
(insulin reaction) your child might be forced to perform
tasks that could lead to your life being saved so it's
important /they know exactly what to do, and what to say in
case of an emergency.

Make sure your child knows how to pronounce "diabetes".  It
might seem like something simple but young children might
not be able to remember the correct pronunciation of this
work in a stressful situation.  So practice saying the word
with them.

Be sure your children know their correct address.  The
emergency personnel need to reach you in the least amount of
time possible so make sure your child knows if he lives on a
"street" or "avenue".  Make sure they know their apartment
number.

You might even want to teach your child the word "insulin".
If they can't remember the word "diabetes" or "diabetic",
they can tell the operator "(Mommy or Daddy) took too much
insulin."

Have practice drills with your child.  Make sure they know
how to dial 911.  This is another thing that might seem
simple to us but can be a major task for a four year old
who's upset.  You can pretend to be the 911 operator and ask
your son/daughter questions.  Have these practice drills at
regular intervals.

This subject strikes close to home.  I was teaching my
brother and sister (seven years old at the time) how to tell
a 911 operator I was having a hypoglycemic reaction.  My
little brother did fine up until the time he had to say what
was wrong with me.  He said, "My sister needs help.  She has
diarrhea".  I laughed about it at the time but that just
made me know that more training was needed.



_______________ARTICLE_______________

Last month's poll question asked what you thought about
diabetics being required to get proof that their diabetes is
in control before they're allowed to drive.  Here are some
of the responses we received.


Response #1:

I feel that it is unrealistic to think that insulin
dependent diabetics "in tight control" will not experience
hypoglycemia from time to time.  So,  what are we going to
do...refuse to allow some (or all) diabetics to drive?  I
believe that being prepared for potential hypoglycemic
reactions is the way to go.  Most have "warnings" when their
glucose is dropping.  Hopefully, they can pull over to the
side and "take care of business" before anything adverse
happens.


Response #2:

I don't think a diabetic should have to get anyone's
"permission" to drive as long as they do not have any other
complication that would prevent any individual from being
allowed to drive, such as legal blindness.  In my state, a
person who has had a heart attack and undergone surgery,
from angioplasty to quadruple bypass, is only restricted
from driving for 1 to 2 months. After that time period there
is no restriction or requirements for a doctor's approval of
any nature. Why should a diabetic be treated like some
immature child?  I think a better alternative is for a state
to allow a doctor to file a notice that an individual is a
driving risk due to a health risk, such as uncontrolled
diabetes, severe heart damage, blood clots in the leg or
other situation that could cause imminent and sudden danger
during driving.


Response #3:

I personally think the laws are not only unfair but are
stupid.  In our little town of Beaverton, Oregon just within
a few months of last year there were three auto accidents
caused by diabetics whose blood glucose readings had gone
too low.  They were either on pumps or were trying for
really tight control and when their blood sugar had dropped
below a safe level they became disoriented.

One case was very personal to me.  An elderly lady wound up
in a deep ditch in front of my daughter's house.  As she
swerved back and forth across the street she barely missed
my grandchild and his dog before she wound up in the ditch.
April recognized immediately the signs of a person who might
be in diabetic distress and asked the lady right away if she
was a diabetic.  She said yes.  After drinking the juice my
daughter got from the house, the woman became more aware and
intelligible enough to be able to give my daughter her son's
phone number and all was well.

When the woman's son arrived he told my daughter that his
mom had been under the care of a doctor who was trying for
tighter control.

The bottom line is this.  While some of us may be able to
handle really tight control, is it always safe and should we
be forced to be treated like second class citizens because
of our disease?  Rules and restrictions forcing us to rely
on our doctor instead of our own common sense for our
ability to drive are wrong.  It is merely one more way for
the government to interfere with the running of our private
lives and in my opinion puts a label on us that says we are
incompetent.  Now that we have diabetes we are "different"
and no longer "normal" and therefore should be treated as if
we were children or senile.



_______________ARTICLE_______________

LEARNING ABOUT DIABETES - BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

If you want to learn more about diabetes reading will bring you
an abundance of knowledge.  Choosing the right books to read can
be like finding a needle in a haystack.  If you were just
diagnosed and  choose a book that's too technical you won't
understand it and put it down quickly.  On the other hand, if
you've had diabetes for a long time and want a book that gives
you a more technical aspect of diabetes reading a "beginners"
book won't give you what you want.  Here are two books that you
may want to pick up at your local library or bookstore:


Title: Diabetes - Caring For Your Emotions As Well As Your
Health
Authors: Jerry Edelwich & Archie Brodsky
ISBN#: 0-201-10608-6
Price: $12.95

This book is great for any person with diabetes.  It deals
specifically with the emotional aspects from diabetes and
covers everything from the impact of diagnosis, making
rational decisions, to the effect diabetes has on family
life.  This book is 276 pages long, and is a great resource
for anyone wanting to know about the human side of diabetes.
We need straight medical advice but we also need good advice
about the emotional aspect of diabetes too.


Title: Diabetes - The Facts That Let Your Regain Control Of
Your Life
Authors: Charles Kilo, MD   Joseph R. Williamson, MD
ISBN#: 0-471-85801-3
Length: 196 pages
Price: $10.95

This book is a great resource for not only newly diagnosed
diabetics but for anyone who would like a "refresher course"
on diabetes.  This book speaks about diet and exercise,
obesity, medication, stress, the complications of diabetes,
as well as giving a basic knowledge of what diabetes is and
how it effects our bodies.  It also has a section on meal
planning for those of us who need help.


_______________POLL QUESTION _______________

Do you feel that diabetes should be kept as a personal issue,
only to be discussed with close family and friends?  Keeping
diabetes as a close secret is one way some people deal with
having this disease in their life.  Do you think discussing
diabetes only with family and friends makes it easier to cope
with diabetes?


_______________ARE YOU MARRIED?_______________

Are you married and you or you partner have diabetes?  We're
working on an article about marriage and diabetes for an upcoming
issue and we need people to answer a short questionnaire.  You
won't have to reveal any secrets and if we use your thoughts we
can keep it anonymous.  If you would like to help us with an
article we're working on please send an e-mail to: belve@aol.com



_______________ARTICLE_______________

Sample Mealplans (Calories)

If you need to set up a mealplan and are confused here are some
samples to help you out:

A 1200 calorie diet is most often used for quick weight
loss.  A 1200 calorie diet is very restrictive and might
be put into a meal plan as follows:

1200 Calorie Diet

Breakfast - 240 calories
Lunch     - 420 calories
Dinner    - 420 calories
Snack     - 240 calories

A 1500 calorie diet is also restrictive and might be
used for quick weight loss.

1500 Calorie Diet

Breakfast - 300 calories
Lunch     - 525 calories
Dinner    - 525 calories
Snack     - 150 calories

An 1800 calorie diet is most often used for weight
maintenance after you reach your goal weight.

1800 Calorie Diet

Breakfast - 360 calories
Lunch    -  630 calories
Dinner   -  630 calories
Snack    -  180 calories

A 2100 calorie diet is also used for weight maintenance
depending on your activity level.

2100 Calorie Diet

Breakfast - 420 calories
Lunch     - 735 calories
Dinner    - 735 calories
Snack     - 210 calories

People who are moderately active might use a 2400
calorie diet for weight maintenance.

2400 Calorie Diet

Breakfast - 480 calories
Snack     - 240 calories (midmorning)
Lunch     - 720 calories
Dinner    - 720 calories
Snack     - 240 calories (evening)

People who are extremely active might use a 2700
calorie diet for weight maintenance.

2700 Calorie Diet

Breakfast - 540 calories
Snack     - 270 calories (midmorning)
Lunch     - 675 calories
Snack     - 270 calories (mid-afternoon)
Dinner    - 675 calories
Snack     - 270 calories (evening)


_______________ANNOUNCEMENT_______________

The Meter Bank is still helping people.  To date 54 meters have
been sent to people with diabetes, free of charge.  To help with
the current project the Meter Bank desperately needs the
fulfillment coupons for the Lifescan Free Profile Meter Offer.
They also need Lifepoints from Lifescan Blood Glucose Testing
Strips.

If you can help the Meter Bank by sending Lifescan fulfillment
coupons, Lifepoints, information about new or used meters you can
donate, stamps or envelopes please let us know about it.

There is also a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) file about the
Meter Bank.  If you'd like to read it send your request to:

          xjmv62@prodigy.com  -or-  belve@aol.com

Remember, this is a way to help other diabetics with things you
might normally throw in the trash (except for new meters, of
course)  If you'd like write the person who runs the Meter Bank
(Richard Thornton) send your e-mail to:

       batman@phoenix.net  -or-  arthur@tenet.edu


_______________ARTICLE (Fiction)_______________
Secret Lives

A long winding road led to the brightly painted mansion at
the end of the road.  A large tree limb blocked the road so
if anyone wanted to get to the house they had to get our of
their vehicle.  How convenient.  The whole town of
Wondervale knew of the old Montique Mansion.  "It's a legend
in it's own time," was the line most heard by visitors to
this town on the edge of Texas.  The Montique Mansion had
become a moneymaker for the town since the Mini-Mystery
Series got such acclaim.

Tom and his wife, Jennifer, decided to visit Wondervale on
their vacation.  They had heard of the Montique Mansion
since it was the setting for many of the "Mini-Mystery
Series" stories, written by Veronica Lassiter.  Tom planned
this trip for two years and he was looking forward to
visiting the mysterious house that captured his fascination.

As Tom's car found it's way up the road his wife couldn't
help noticing that there was no vegetation anywhere on the
road leading to the mansion.  Not even a cactus.  The only
thing to be seen for miles and miles was blowing dust, "this
place looks like an old movie set, but I know we're nowhere
near MGM Studios!," Jennifer thought to herself.

