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Welcome to My Step Out Web Page!
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Cheryl J Thiessen
Goal: $150.00 |
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Hannah: The reason I am joining the Walk to Fight Diabetes
As autumn is quickly approaching, I find myself thinking back to October 1st of last year when our daughter, Hannah, a junior in high school, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
With no known family history of diabetes on either side of the family, like most people, we thought diabetes was nothing we would have to consider as a possible health risk for ourselves or our children. People don't just 'get' diabetes do they? Or do they?
As more research is conducted, and as we’ve been educated in this disease, we now understand that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where a person’s immune system attacks their own pancreas cells that produce the hormone “insulin” causing the pancreas to eventually discontinue making insulin altogether. (Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar(glucose), starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.) While research is still being conducted, it is thought that a simple virus triggers this autoimmune reaction.
The rarer form of diabetes and often referred to as “Juvenile Diabetes”, Type 1 Diabetics are ‘insulin-dependent’ and require numerous daily injections of insulin to provide the body with the insulin that it is not producing on it’s own. There are many increased health risks for diabetics including heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage.
In Hannah’s case, she began demonstrating some mysterious physical symptoms which included noticeable weight loss and extreme lethargy. I took her to the doctor hoping we could get some answers. After a simple blood glucose test, and a urine test, as well as a recounting of symptoms, the doctor explained to Hannah that she most likely had Type 1 Diabetes and would need to go to the hospital immediately. During a 3 day hospital stay, a firm diagnosis was made, Hannah’s dangerously high glucose level was brought down into a ‘normal’ range through insulin injections and intense diabetes education ensued.
This past year has been filled with lots of tears and frustration, regular doctor appointments and tests, and on-going education. As Hannah begins her senior year in high school, she is anticipating going on an insulin pump in the next few months which we’re hopeful will give her more flexibility and freedom. We are so thankful for this technology available to Hannah and understand the importance of funding ongoing research for treatment and eventual cure of diabetes.
In years past, I would not have given any attention to something like this fund raiser for diabetes. Why should I? It didn’t affect me in any way. But now I know differently. There are millions of families, like ours, that live with diabetes on a daily basis. And as we’ve discovered, most of you know someone with Type 1 diabetes, or are friends with the parents of diabetic children. That is why our family is volunteering to help raise awareness and funds for this important cause and why we are inviting you to be a part of it.
I am walking and raising funds for the American Diabetes Association’s signature fundraising walk, Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. Every step I take and every dollar I raise will make a difference in the lives of 23.6 million Americans living with diabetes. By making a donation on my behalf, you will be helping the Association provide community-based education programs, protect the rights of people with diabetes and fund critical research for a cure.
No matter how small or large, your generous donation will help us stop diabetes.
Did you know that 1 in 3 children in the United States faces a future with diabetes?
The Association works everyday to change the frightening future that diabetes has in store, but we need your help. Please make a donation to my fundraising efforts. Together we can stop diabetes.
About Diabetes
There are 23.6 million Americans living with diabetes, a disease that is outpacing heart disease, cancer and AIDS. Diabetes is a disease that has deadly serious consequences, and there is no cure.
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