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Sat, Dec-16-06, 07:56
Healthbeat: Think like a pancreas
By Jen Christensen
Posted: Friday, December 15, 2006 at 8:38 PM
Diabetes
Diabetes affects the body’s ability to use glucose for energy. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 20.8 million Americans have the condition.
Normally, when we eat, the body breaks down foods to extract glucose (a form of sugar), protein, vitamins, minerals and other important substances. These nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the cells.
When glucose levels rise, specialized cells in the PANCREAS (called the islet cells) release insulin. Insulin is a hormone that enables the glucose to enter cells and be used as fuel. In patients with diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to effectively use insulin. Despite high levels of glucose in the blood, the cells are starved for energy.
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 is believed to be a type of autoimmune disease, in which the body inappropriately destroys the islet cells in the pancreas. Eventually, the patient produces little or no insulin and needs regular injections of the insulin to stay alive. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed during childhood and adolescence. It is the less common form of diabetes, affecting 5 to 10 percent of those with the disease.
In type 2 diabetes, insulin production declines. In addition, the body becomes unable to effectively use the insulin released by the islet cells. It’s the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90 to 95 percent of those with the disease. Type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed in overweight and sedentary middle-aged adults. However, doctors are seeing more cases in overweight children who don’t get enough exercise. Patients can often control the disease with diet modifications, weight loss and exercise. However, some people need medication to help their bodies use insulin.
Helping Teens Deal with Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association estimates 176,500 people under 20 have diabetes. One in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes.
For adolescents and teens, a diagnosis of diabetes can be a trying experience. Most teens already are coping with peer acceptance, parental conflicts and the need to establish independence. Having a condition like diabetes can make a teen feel “different” from his/her friends. A diabetic teen may not be able to eat some of the foods shared by peers. The teens may be reluctant to check glucose levels or give themselves insulin shots in front of their friends. In addition, hormonal changes during puberty can make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
A new website has been designed specifically to help teens with diabetes deal with the issues they face as they learn to cope with the illness. The site is called “Think Like a Pancreas” and can be accessed at http://www.thinklikeapancreas.com.
Think Like a PANCREAS introduces an animated character, named “Pierre” and a singing group, called the “Keytones,” to provide some information and tips on managing diabetes. One page explains the ranges of glucose levels and the importance of maintaining near-normal blood sugars. Another page explains the severe complications that can occur with diabetes. There is a section dealing with things that can affect blood sugar levels (like illness, exercise, stress and foods). Another section explores teen “issues,” like driving, drinking, smoking and drugs. This section is also divided into categories for boys and girls.
Harold Starkman, M.D., Endocrinologist with Goryeb Children's Hospital, says the website has been up and running for about eight months. So far, he has received a lot of positive feedback from visitors. The site has received e-mail from children as far away as Scotland and has even received requests for translation into other languages.
AUDIENCE INQUIRY
The website for teens can be accessed at http://www.thinklikeapancreas.com
For general information type 1 diabetes:
American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, http://www.jdrf.org
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, http://www.niddk.nih.gov
http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=23646
By Jen Christensen
Posted: Friday, December 15, 2006 at 8:38 PM
Diabetes
Diabetes affects the body’s ability to use glucose for energy. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 20.8 million Americans have the condition.
Normally, when we eat, the body breaks down foods to extract glucose (a form of sugar), protein, vitamins, minerals and other important substances. These nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the cells.
When glucose levels rise, specialized cells in the PANCREAS (called the islet cells) release insulin. Insulin is a hormone that enables the glucose to enter cells and be used as fuel. In patients with diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to effectively use insulin. Despite high levels of glucose in the blood, the cells are starved for energy.
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 is believed to be a type of autoimmune disease, in which the body inappropriately destroys the islet cells in the pancreas. Eventually, the patient produces little or no insulin and needs regular injections of the insulin to stay alive. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but is most commonly diagnosed during childhood and adolescence. It is the less common form of diabetes, affecting 5 to 10 percent of those with the disease.
In type 2 diabetes, insulin production declines. In addition, the body becomes unable to effectively use the insulin released by the islet cells. It’s the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90 to 95 percent of those with the disease. Type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed in overweight and sedentary middle-aged adults. However, doctors are seeing more cases in overweight children who don’t get enough exercise. Patients can often control the disease with diet modifications, weight loss and exercise. However, some people need medication to help their bodies use insulin.
Helping Teens Deal with Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association estimates 176,500 people under 20 have diabetes. One in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes.
For adolescents and teens, a diagnosis of diabetes can be a trying experience. Most teens already are coping with peer acceptance, parental conflicts and the need to establish independence. Having a condition like diabetes can make a teen feel “different” from his/her friends. A diabetic teen may not be able to eat some of the foods shared by peers. The teens may be reluctant to check glucose levels or give themselves insulin shots in front of their friends. In addition, hormonal changes during puberty can make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
A new website has been designed specifically to help teens with diabetes deal with the issues they face as they learn to cope with the illness. The site is called “Think Like a Pancreas” and can be accessed at http://www.thinklikeapancreas.com.
Think Like a PANCREAS introduces an animated character, named “Pierre” and a singing group, called the “Keytones,” to provide some information and tips on managing diabetes. One page explains the ranges of glucose levels and the importance of maintaining near-normal blood sugars. Another page explains the severe complications that can occur with diabetes. There is a section dealing with things that can affect blood sugar levels (like illness, exercise, stress and foods). Another section explores teen “issues,” like driving, drinking, smoking and drugs. This section is also divided into categories for boys and girls.
Harold Starkman, M.D., Endocrinologist with Goryeb Children's Hospital, says the website has been up and running for about eight months. So far, he has received a lot of positive feedback from visitors. The site has received e-mail from children as far away as Scotland and has even received requests for translation into other languages.
AUDIENCE INQUIRY
The website for teens can be accessed at http://www.thinklikeapancreas.com
For general information type 1 diabetes:
American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, http://www.jdrf.org
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, http://www.niddk.nih.gov
http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=23646