From the moment we met her, my daughter always had to have a drink in her hand.  Wow, if you didn’t know I was writing about a now six-year-old, that could be a very worrisome statement indeed.  However, I’m speaking not of alcohol but rather about a baby who started off as fussy and desperate until we taught her some basic words in sign language and then she made the sign for water or milk…ALL THE TIME.  So I did what any self-respecting person with Type 1 diabetes would do. I asked her pediatrician to test her blood sugar.

The doctor did what any self-respecting doctor would do when a child’s mother hears hoof-beats and assumes it’s a zebra. She looked at me like I was crazy. Then I told her I had diabetes and her face softened and she said, “but it says in her chart that your daughter is adopted…?”

It’s true, she is. When my (at the time) boyfriend and I talked about our future and the idea of one day starting a family, I explained that if we chose to have children, I didn’t want to give birth. I felt strongly that there were too many kids in this world that needed a home for me to endanger my health and the baby’s health by enduring a pregnancy and subsequent childbirth. I knew I’d worry constantly about that baby developing Type 1 diabetes and would never forgive myself if it happened. I didn’t want to pass on my “defective genes.” (When to Worry About Your Kids Getting Diabetes Too)

It was a decision that was relatively easy for me. At the time I happened to know two families where the wife (in one) and the husband (in the other) had Type 1 diabetes. In the one family, both of their two children also have the disease. In the other, one of the three has diabetes and they are pretty sure their oldest, in college, was about to be diagnosed.  While I knew that these examples were very rare, I just didn’t want to even chance it.  It didn’t matter to me if my child and I shared the same DNA. And like everyone else, I had seen Steel Magnolias…

When my boyfriend turned into my fiancé and then husband, he remained very supportive of this decision. He was the one who came to me after we’d been married for two years and said, “I’m ready to adopt.”

Together we embarked upon an incredible journey – the details of which, in the interest of brevity, I’ll save for another day. We started to tell people that we were going to adopt. My endocrinologist quite literally applauded the decision. Our friends were excited and full of questions.  We took my family out to dinner to make our announcement.  When I finally told my parents what we were planning, I thought I noticed tears in my mother’s eyes. I worried that I had disappointed her. My sister told me later that my mother thought we were going to announce that we were pregnant and it was relief and not disappointment that made my mother cry.

Our daughter entered our home at 10 months old and everyone marveled at how she looked just like my husband. I learned that her laugh could make my heart soar and her tears make it plummet, and that it didn’t matter where she came from or who her birth parents were – I still worried.

Her pediatrician explained to me on that day so long ago now, that my child was putting on weight, happy and hale and probably NOT diabetic. To this day, my child still is never overly far from a glass of water and there’s probably two on her nightstand as I type. It is just the way she is. It’s still possible that she could develop diabetes, we don’t know too much about her medical history and wouldn’t THAT just be the definition of irony?  If that day does happen though, at least we know what to do. In the meantime, I will continue to worry just like any other mother, and try to keep myself from pricking her finger while she sleeps….

(Each of the Expert columns are based on the experiences and knowledge of the individual columnists. The columns are meant to provide you with helpful information, but are not meant to be considered direct advice. Before making any decisions that could affect your health, make sure to contact a physician or the appropriate medical professional.)

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Freeman, 20, was diagnosed with diabetes shortly after he was rushed to the emergency room last Monday. Doctors said it could take up to a month to determine whether Freeman has Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. The 6-foot-4 guard rejoined his team for practice on Wednesday, but it was unclear at the time when he would return to games.

People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce the insulin, the hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. They must inject insulin several times a day to regulate their blood sugar. People with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their body does not use it efficiently. Some people with Type 2 can put their diabetes in check with diet and exercise, but most need medication to help control their sugar levels. With both types, it is important to keep blood sugar levels under control to avoid some dangerous short-term and long-term complications.

In the game against Cincinnati, Freeman made 8 of his 15 shots, scoring 24 points, including four 3-pointers. Freeman, who scored the team’s first points on a layup, played 30 minutes, just four minutes shy of his average of 34 minutes.

The team and fans alike celebrated Freeman on Sunday. He was given a standing ovation when coach John Thompson III presented Freeman with a game ball in recognition of the junior’s 1,000^th career point, which he scored a few games earlier. He was also given an ovation when it was announced Freeman would be starting the game.

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Freeman, 20, received the diagnosis shortly after he was rushed to the emergency room on Monday. The 6-foot-4 guard rejoined his team for practice on Wednesday. Right now Freeman is considered “day-to-day” and it is unclear whether he will return for the teams final regular season game against Cincinnati or the start of the Big East tournament in New York on Tuesday.

Stephen Clement, head of the Diabetes Center at Georgetown University Hospital said it may take as long as a month to determine whether Freeman has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and how best to treat him. People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce the insulin, the hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. They must inject insulin several times a day to regulate their blood sugar. People with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their body does not use it efficiently. Some people with Type 2 can put their diabetes in check with diet and exercise, but most need medication to help control their sugar levels. With both types, it is important to keep blood sugar levels under control to avoid some dangerous short-term and long-term complications.

Many accomplished athletes have competed at the highest level of their sports while suffering from diabetes, according to a separate column in the Washington Post. Most recently cross-country skier Kris Freeman competed at the Olympic Games in Vancouver. Baseball Hall of Famer and all-around bad guy Ty Cobb, boxer Joe Frazier, tennis legend Arthur Ashe and hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke of the Flyers all played with diabetes.

Jay Cutler, quarterback of the Chicago Bears, Adam Morrison of the NBA’s Lakers, and Brandon Morrow, a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays all have diabetes.

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The good news is that coffee appears to help decrease the risk of stroke. In fact, those drinking regular or decaf were 29% less likely to have a stroke. The bad news for single men, or those in unhappy marriages is that they are 64% more likely to suffer from a fatal stroke. That’s because happily married men receive help from their partners when it comes to medication, eating healthier or getting immediate medical attention in the event of a stroke.

Some leading risk factors for a stroke is high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, poor diet, obesity and a lack of exercise.

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Researchers examined records from 11,140 diabetic patients in 20 countries, according to an article recently published by Reuters.  They looked at the complications, hospital stays and costs. What they found was that patients in Asia and Eastern Europe tended to have longer hospital stays, but also higher rates of some complications such as stroke.

For example, in China, the average healthcare spending per individual per year was 10 times more expensive for a diabetic that has a stroke than the average citizen.

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Currently, there are at least seven different diabetes vaccines being developed. Most of them are for Type 1 diabetes and are in Phase I testing, meaning they have a long way to go before being considered for the public, if they ever are. However, Diamyd Medical, a Swedish company is conducting a Phase III trial of 640 kids recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes to see if their vaccine can halt or slow the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. The company claims its Phase II trial results show that those given the vaccine shortly after diagnosis have a much better diabetes status compared the a group given a placebo.   

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is the hormone that regulated sugar levels in the blood. Without the insulin-producing cells, people with Type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin several times each day.

For drug companies, a diabetes vaccine could be a real boost to the bottom line, according to Kalorama. The firm predicts the markets for such a vaccine could hit $100 million by 2012 and $2.4 billion by 2020.

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While many diabetics test their blood sugar levels several times a day, an A1C test is designed to provide a big picture look at overall blood glucose control over a period of several months. It can tell patients and doctors how well a specific treatment plan is working. The American Diabetes Association says diabetics should aim to keep their A1C readings below 7%. High levels of sugar in the blood can lead to some of the disease’s more devastating complications, such as blindness, stroke, heart disease and amputations.

Bayer says the at-home device enables patients to stay better informed in between doctor visits and arm them with greater knowledge so that they can have a more meaningful discussion with their doctor during visits.

The company says the at-home test should not serve as a replacement for their healthcare provider-administered A1C test, but rather should be used to complement it. Currently, A1CNow Selfcheck comes as a 2-test-kit and sells for about $30.

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This is important because diabetic nephropathy is the number one cause of complete kidney failure. Groups of experts from 16 universities in seven countries helped to create the guidelines for the system. The hope is that now that such a system is in place, it will help researchers understand the disease better.

While researchers still have many questions about the progression of the condition, they say such a system can help improve communication between those in the healthcare field, as well as lead to better patient care and more effective research and studies. The guidelines will categorize the condition by degrees of severity, making it easier for workers in the medical field to identify the stage of diabetic nephropathy.

Without such standards, it is difficult to get a grip on the condition, which can lead to death.

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The things in life that can have affect our blood sugar and the complications that diabetes can cause sometimes amaze me, especially when they work both ways.

Studies have found that people with diabetes are at a greater risk for periodontal disease and that periodontal disease can make managing blood sugars more difficult. While periodontal disease is the most common complication that affects the mouth there are others. People with diabetes can also suffer from tooth decay, salivary gland dysfunction, fungal infections (such as thrush), and taste impairments, among others. 

Diabetes can reduce your body’s abilities to fight off infections and periodontal diseases are infections of the gums and bones in the mouth. The symptoms of periodontal disease include swollen gums, bleeding from the gums, bad breath, receding gum line and loose teeth.

We all know that infections can wreak havoc with blood sugars. Periodontal disease is an infection of an area about the size of your fist. If you had an infection that size anywhere else in your body you would more than likely seek treatment from your doctor and you would probably monitor blood sugar levels as if it were a sick day. So what can those of us with diabetes do?

Of course good blood sugar control is the first place to start to prevent complications associated with diabetes. Regular dental checkups and periodontal screenings is the second step. Your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings to help prevent complications. The road to good health with diabetes is a maze and good support from others is the best way not to get lost.

(Each of the Expert columns are based on the experiences and knowledge of the individual columnists. The columns are meant to provide you with helpful information, but are not meant to be considered direct advice. Before making any decisions that could affect your health, make sure to contact a physician or the appropriate medical professional.)

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Most people generally agree there is a genetic element to both Type 1 and type 2 diabetes and that having a parent with diabetes ups a child’s diabetes risk. Diabetes News Hound ran an article back in November entitled ‘How Likely Are You to Pass on Diabetes to Your Kids?‘ that addressed this issue.

Children of men with Type 1 diabetes have a 6% chance of developing diabetes. With women, the risks vary. A child born to a woman with Type 1 diabetes, who is younger than 25 years old, has a 4% chance of getting diabetes. After that age, the risk drops to 1%. The odds double if the parent was diagnosed prior to the age of 11 years old. Children of non-diabetic parents have less than a 1% chance of getting this form of the disease.

Family history is extremely important with Type 2, the more common form of the disease. Children with one parent suffering from Type 2 have a 30% to 50% chance of developing the disease. If both parents have it, the risk jumps to between 50% and 100%. Researchers estimate that one in three people born after the year 2000 will develop diabetes.

So, in short, knowing the symptoms and the risks can help parents know when to worry and when to take a chill pill. Symptoms include unexplained weight loss, frequent urination (in kids, excessive bedwetting might be an indicator), unquenchable thirst, dizziness and blurry vision, among others.

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