There are several of what I call "Girl's Guide Angels" out there. You know, people who support my blogging and advocacy efforts and provide cheering and encouragement. One of those people is Reyna, a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes. I read her blog because she has an uncanny ability to turn her family's unique life with diabetes into some of the most uplifting and hysterical stuff I've ever had the pleasure of reading. So when I noticed last week that marathon running Reyna and her ultra marathon running sister (ultra-yes I didn't know there was such a thing and yes, it blows the mind) started a fundraising event to raise money for diabetes, I said, "I'm SO in".
Go here for all the details. If you're like me and welcome any extra incentive out there to exercise, then say hello to this great one. It's lovely to do something like this and feel solidarity with all of the other people gearing up to do the same. Not only is this for our cause, but walking or running a 5k is also a gift to our wellbeing which is more immediate than a cure-and that is a wonderful thing. So forgive the cheesiness from yours truly and click over here to donate just $10 to the JDRF and register for the 5k.
And in the case you're on the fence and ever wanted to show your appreciation for this blog, you could participate in this Virtual 5k? Hehe.
Can some diabetes be cured?
Apparently, it depends on who you ask.
We know that there is still no cure for the type of diabetes where someone is completely insulin dependent. We don't know how to get a pancreas that no longer makes insulin to just start up production again. And many a pancreas just need to be more efficient yet, we don't have medication created to give it the boost it needs to work properly again.
Then why is there so much talk about a cure for someone with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes? Can some diabetes be cured?
A lot of people seem to think so. Yet, a lot of people don't.
I've tried understanding why people would say there is no cure for type 2 diabetes and I have come to the conclusion that the main issue is we all disagree on what a cure even means.
To some, a cure is being able to enjoy the right blood sugars again and be free of any medications. Most importantly, to these people a cure means a life full of good health.
To others, a cure means being able to eat whatever, whenever, not exercise, and still, never ever have the wrong blood sugars again. A magical cure that no matter how one chose to live would remove the risk of negative health complications from diabetes. This cure also lasts forever otherwise it isn't considered a real cure.
I find that the online diabetes community has a very strong following in the "there is no cure" category. To me, this sentiment is largely emotionally based. After all, why would we utter the words "there is a cure for diabetes" when we type 1 diabetics are desperate for a way to get off of insulin? We could say "there is a cure for some diabetes" but people still don't accept this.
Believe me I fully understand this emotional reaction. I don't want everyone in the world to believe there is a cure for diabetes because wait! I, as a type 1 diabetic, can't possibly lifestyle-change my way to freedom from high blood sugars. So I want it to be known to all that there is no cure and we all need to find me one because I'm dying over here.
Do I want people to know there is a "cure" for some cases of diabetes?
Many doctors have great case studies showing how patients who truly followed their requests to lose extra weight (all of it, not just 10 pounds), exercise daily, and dramatically change their diets all returned to people who had non-diabetic glucose numbers and who no longer needed any sort of diabetes medication. This means these folks have also halted the damage diabetes causes to their bodies.
Sadly, most people have a very difficult time changing their lifestyle habits enough to achieve this. We live in a world where people tell a healthy and trim person to eat a cake because they're too skinny when in reality they are just fine. We all seem to disagree on what healthy eating is. Some think a low fat diet is healthy while others think a low carbohydrate diet is the thing. We also disagree on how to exercise. Dr. Al Sears says we should do 12 minutes a day of his intense PACE program and your average health care provider says 30 minutes, three times per week is ideal and a steady stroll around the block will suffice. So not only are we confused about what to call a cure, we're confused about general health topics.
What if many people managed to control their diabetes and keep it dormant or in remission by eating healthy and exercising enough? The overwhelming majority of diabetics worldwide live with a strong possibility that this would work for them or at least help them out very much! The diabetes epidemic might no longer be so powerful and destructive and more focus could go into finding a cure for those who are dependent on insulin.
Maybe we can all agree to say diabetes can in many cases be controlled so effectively that a person can live without suffering the harmful consequences of medications or high blood sugars. We can all agree that we are still looking and pushing for a cure so that those who do not produce insulin or enough of it, can. And maybe we should advocate equally towards a cure and towards educating the public on proper lifestyle habits. If we did we'd save a lot of lives. Yet would we in turn be sabotaging our own efforts to gain support for a cure? Maybe we're afraid of this and maybe this is why we are so reluctant to talk about how to stop and reverse high blood sugars in non-insulin dependent diabetics.
Why can't we educate each other about how there are different types of diabetes? Why can't we support those who might be able to stop the damage by lifestyle habits and simultaneously support those who need a cure by advocating for it? I believe we can do it all and should do it all.
The best diabetes advocate leads by example. So I'm not going to stop exercising and I'm not going to live off of junk food because I want to support everyone else who may want to do the same by showing that it can be done and saying "join me!". I also know how hard diabetes is and I won't have anything but compassion for anyone who is struggling.
As always this site will be about inspiring and educating and sharing with those who live with diabetes. Together we can be healthier and support the cause to find the cure. I won't however, advocate for a cure more than a healthy lifestyle because to me, a cure along with an unhealthy lifestyle will still leave us miserable and sick.
One day, the cure for diabetes was found by a small and private group of scientists. Soon after, everyone had been injected with the healing serum.
There was no more diabetes.
There were no more diabetics.
"How about we throw a party?" someone said. "A party sounds like a great idea. After all, when was the last time we've celebrated something this HUGE?" someone else exclaimed.
So a fabulous and joyful party was planned. We all attended, of course. We even bought the most fancy outfit because we were going to have a ton of extra money now that diabetes was out of the picture.
At this enormous party we found all the carbs we'd been dreaming of. There were hot buttered breads, mountains of pasta, tables full of cookies and ice cream galore! We had all been waiting for this moment. We had long dreamed of being able to stuff ourselves full of whatever it is we wanted without having to suffer the repercussions. We had discussed this often in blogs and forums, about how we wanted to be fully cured and be able to eat our cake without any blood sugar problems. So of course we all ate! We were all very happy about eating like non-diabetics. We also no longer had to count carbs, take our diabetes medication, or worry about giving a bolus or an injection. We were free!
Everyone loaded their plates and ate and laughed, laughed and ate. Some cried because the emotions were just too much. "My child won't have to suffer ever again!" one woman said.
After a night full of drinking champagne and eating ourselves happy we all woke up to a new and wonderful day.
We went to work like usual, but with an extra skip in our step. Many of us stopped by our favorite breakfast spot and grabbed a pastry or a big muffin. Others drove by McDonald's and enjoyed something yummy and greasy. Some of us ate at home. We served ourselves our favorite sugary cereal, some orange juice, or a stack of pancakes drenched in syrup.
We continued like this for a long time because we, "deserve to be treated after this diabetes disaster we had to endure".
A few people, the minority for sure, never did eat like the others. They were just as excited don't get me wrong, but, they ate really healthy and exercised just as they might have before the cure came along. These odd few got comments from the others like, "Why don't you have some cake with us?! It won't hurt you anymore!" and "You're such a drag, what do you mean you won't come over for pizza?" This strange minority felt lucky to be free of diabetes and wanted to support their health-especially now that it was easier to do so. They did their best to not abuse their body. People called them "uptight".
One day doctors realized most everyone was feeling sick. Some had cancer, some had heart disease, others had metabolic syndromes. Everyone was baffled. They searched for ways to feel better and joined campaigns for cures for each problem.
One day a 10 year old girl in science class began thinking about how she lived in a world where most people didn't feel well. She began researching for the cause. She didn't find much. Most medical information seemed somehow tied to making money or running a business or providing symptomatic relief.
I've met many diabetics who say they constantly pray, hope, and wish for a cure for diabetes.
While this is great, I just want to warn against one thing.
Pray, hope, and wish for a cure but, don't put all of your eggs in that basket. 15 years ago doctors told me there would be a cure within the next 10 years. For 10 years I hoped for that with all of my soul, believing I'd soon be saved. Then I realized those 10 years had passed and not only had we still not found a cure-we are now dealing with a huge diabetes epidemic in this country.
So much research money is going into type 2 diabetes drugs and we now have more insulin types, we have insulin pens and better than ever glucose meters. Diabetes is a huge business. This scares the heck out of me.
Well, are we really going to find a cure when diabetes makes so many people so much money? We are talking billions here. Think about it-and I'm not the only one asking this question. Money has such a huge pull around here (in this world) and I can't help but worry that will get in the way of our cure.
Having said this, I am still hopeful of a cure and support the cause. BUT, instead of focusing my precious energy on that, I focus on NOW. I put my attention where it is most needed, today. My glucose management. I know that If I maintain near normal glucose as much as possible, I will live a much healthier life today and tomorrow.
For a type 2 diabetic, getting your sugar down with diet, exercise, and whatever else it takes can quite possibly cure your diabetes. Think of all you have to gain even if you have to work hard at it?
I refuse to sit around waiting for a cure to be found by smart people in white coats while I fall apart.
Instead, my goal and hope for all of you is to recognize the possibility of no cure being found in our lifetime (although I wish highly against this). And instead, to be your own group of smart people curing your own diabetes or dictating your own future with great diabetes management and healthy lifestyles.
To our future, with or without a cure.