Trial net is the name of a study that tests all 1st and 2nd degree relatives (45 years old and under) of type 1 diabetics. I have my children tested annually for auto-antibodies. This is a way that moms can have their children who are siblings of a type 1 (or a parent) tested annually, for free, to see if they are at high risk for developing the disease. If a person is found to be auto-antibody positive, they can be put in studies that may forestall or delay the onset of the disease.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
News for Relatives of Type 1 Diabetics
Mo is a type 1 diabetic and a research information volunteer with JDRF. She participates in monthly research updates in the world of juvenile diabetes. She shares this:
Friday, December 2, 2011
Almondine Multitasks
Editor's note: Type 1 diabetics are at risk for a myriad of long-term health issues. That's assuming they have a "long-term" life, since 1 in 20 diabetics will die as a result of their disease. Marcia, 56, was diagnosed with diabetes at 27. She has had surgery for diabetic retinopathy in both eyes. The best preventative of long-term health issues for a diabetic is stable blood sugar levels. Toward that end, Marcia has a 7-month-old Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD), Almondine. What follows was observed and written about by Marcia's husband, Mark. These are three days in the life of a DAD.
These events occurred October 15 - 17, 2011:
Friday night we went to spend the weekend in Illinois with Marcia's sister and her family. Upon arrival, we began to unload the car. Marcia's brother and sister-in-law arrived at the same time. We went into the house and gathered in the kitchen to say "Hi" to each other. Well, during this greeting time Almondine was so excited she began to howl. She has never behaved like that before so Marcia tested her BG level. It was in a good place so we thought it was
just puppy behavior. Within 20 minutes Marcia's eye hemorrhaged. Editor's note: This is another health risk associated with diabetes and will require a surgical procedure called a Vitrectomy. Almondine's unusual behavior before the hemorrhage indicated she knew something bad was about to happen and she alerted (howled) to communicate to her Mom.
The next day, Saturday, there were a bunch of people that came over to the
house including four little girls age 4 and under. Almondine is normally very sociable and loves kids and their toys, but she was disinterested and would not even take a treat from them (she NEVER turns down food!) she just wanted to stay on the job and seemed to be especially sensitive to Marcia the whole time. We decided to head back home early on Saturday afternoon. Editor's note: Almondine was sensitive to Marcia's additional health issue and stayed close to take care of her.
This morning, Sunday, I got up w/Almondine so Marcia could sleep in a little. I
got her fed and all that stuff, she usually will then get up on the loveseat (which is now hers by the way) for a little nap which she did, but then she stood up on the loveseat and started whining and just staring at me from where I was in the kitchen. When I started to walk towards her she jumped down and went to the gate that leads to the bedroom and stood there looking down the hall. I took her back to the bedroom and let her wake up Marcia - bg was 74! Good puppy Almondine! Editor's note: Almondine on the job - alerting Mark that Marcia was going low.
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