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New Jersey recognized on Monday its very first "Day in Life – Type 1 Diabetes Day".
DELRAN – Jake Semple was only 5 years old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
"I was about to start kindergarten and my life changed," said Semple, a 26-year-old resident of the town.
Semple is one of about 40,000 New Jersey residents with type 1 diabetes, according to JDRF, a rights organization for people with type 1 diabetes.
On Monday, New Jersey recognized for the first time "A Day in Life – Type 1 Diabetes Day" as a way to educate and educate the public about the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas is not able to produce insulin. Without insulin, the blood sugar can not enter the cells of the body, which use it to produce energy. The lack of insulin causes an accumulation of sugar in the blood, which can be harmful for the body.
When you think of diabetes, you think of type 2 diabetes, which is more common, according to Dr. Katherine Joyce, Endocrinologist at Virtua Health System.
"Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common and we want to remember that type 1 is a different disease," she said.
Type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. Type 2 diabetes typically develops over time and occurs after the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body can not use enough of it. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they must take insulin injections or insulin pumps every day to produce insulin, while maintaining a healthy diet and monitoring their diet. .
Type 2 diabetes, which people may be at risk for as they age and become overweight, can often be managed through diet, exercise and medications.
According to Lois Gerst, a Registered Nurse and Diabetes Educator at Virtua, people with type 1 may be forced to make hundreds of decisions every day – is my blood sugar too high or too low? What types of food can I eat? I check my blood sugar, etc.
"They also have to decide what they eat, where my insulin pump is, how will it affect my family, my relationships with everyone," he said. she said. "Many, many decisions are made throughout their day."
This can often be exhausting for patients, according to Joyce.
"Type 1 diabetes is so difficult for patients to manage – you never get a break," she said.
Semple said he remembers that children had questioned him at a special snack time or about why he was able to leave for the nurse at all times.
"What I learned is that this disease is manageable, but there is nothing routine about it," he said.
This is one of the reasons he decided to share his story as part of the awareness day and a reason he started working as an office assistant in a medical endocrinology practice where he can salute and talk with the arriving patients. could go through similar problems that he has faced.
"Being a diabetic so young, I know very well the doctor's offices," he said. "Diabetes is a disease that needs to be managed every day, it's a bit scary to have to see a doctor."
Semple also said he appreciated the outreach efforts, such as "A Day in the Life – Type 1 Diabetes Day", as a way to let people know some of the challenges he was facing.
Gerst said she thought social media helped raise awareness of the disease and its impact on people.
"It's important to note that social media really took control of the issue when we talk about diabetes awareness and support for diabetes," she said.
The awareness day was held after Assembly MP Eric Houghtaling and MP Joann Downey, both of J-11 in Monmouth County, were adopted earlier this year to designate Monday preceding Thanksgiving the "Type 1 Diabetes Day".
"Today we mark the first" Day in Life – Type 1 Diabetes Day ", which we created with the full support of our colleagues in the House and Senate to support our neighbors with T1D." Houghtaling said jointly and Downey said. "We are honored to work to educate the public about diabetes … and to provide these residents with the support they need."
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