Earlier this week I was told I was diabetic. When sharing it with people, some felt maybe this was not the type of news the founder of Less Cancer should broadcast.
I am sure that it is exactly the kind of thing to share. Since founding the organization in 2004, I have always been open about some of the lifestyle challenges and risks I have engaged in; from being a chain smoker as a child to having a diet so poor that as a college student at 661/2 and 168 lbs, I was diagnosed with malnutrition.
Since that time I have been far from saved. I did quit smoking twenty-one years ago when my son was born, as he had a respiratory issue that would have prevented me from ever holding him. Fortunately, the doctor that was treating him at the time used his agency to say that I would have to leave my clothes outdoors and take a shower before picking him up. With the help of the patch, I quit right away.
Pancreatic cancer and diabetes have been linked in patients who have had diabetes for less than five years, yet it is unclear if diabetes contributed to the cancer or if the pre-cancerous cells caused the diabetes. Also, research suggests that new-onset diabetes in people over 50 may be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer. (Pancan.org) My sister died of pancreatic cancer at a young age.
Type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to family history and lineage than type 1, although it too depends on environmental factors. If there is a family history of type 2 diabetes, it may be difficult to figure out whether it is due to lifestyle factors or genetic susceptibility. I only know of a few family members with type 2 diabetes, and they were all at an enviably healthy weight.(Diabetes.org)
However, for over twenty years I have been vigilant about eating and serving certified organic foods to my family. For me, sugar is the head-spinning devil. And no matter how healthily I eat around it, its just too tough to burn off a slice of cake. I walk at least a few times a week, and I have started running on the treadmill with a trainer when I am back home in Virginia.
When I heard the news of my diagnosis, I felt ashamed as to how I could not know better. Certainly, I had been warned. I was most angry with myself because, with my very non-profit salary, I understood that I would never really be able to afford the meds for a diabetic. My doctor has given me three months to turn things around.
However there is something even more insidious, and that is isolation.
In my work, without intention or awareness, I seem to have systematically built a wall around myself to the outside world and my own personal needs.
I am immensely grateful for the handful of amazing friends and my immediate family, with whom I am in touch daily. But something strange began happening as I heard from more and more people that I did not know and started connecting with on social media, and then through blogs. In the course of the day, I often speak to more strangers than people I know. I am on the road so much that I often eat alone and have little social contact.
After the United States Congressional Caucus and the Cancer Prevention Workshop this past February, on the only free day I had I met with a few of the cyclists for the bike ride to raise money for Less Cancer. The day of my birthday in Detroitmy big nightwas spent on my laptop, in my hotel. I took a moment to check Facebook and email only to notice an embarrassing amount of birthday wishesbetween social media and email it was well into the hundreds.
As I drove out of town the next day, hurrying to my next stop, I could not help but think how strange it felt to look at all these communications from so many people I did not know-despite being very appreciated. I meet kind and wonderful people each day and I am one of those people that love others more than myself.
As more people get to know me and the work of Less Cancer, I receive accolades but not always from people I know. I feel a need to protect myself by establishing boundaries, thus creating even greater distance between me and the world.
Somehow the more I connect and work with the masses my wall, unseen by the outside seemingly inches higher, insidiously moving further away from filling my metaphoric bucket or addressing some very basic needs.
With a focus outwards on the rest of the world, I move further and further away from my needs.
In trying to understand my diabetes diagnosis, I find myself asking what isolation means to human healthworking alone, traveling alone, and frequently not having any connections beyond people who want to talk to me about my work.
In a report by Soledad OBrien, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said the greatest public health crisis (according to the surgeon general) isnt cancer or heart disease. Its isolationisolation and the affects of being socially disconnected.
I may never know if my diagnosis is hereditary or lifestyle, stress or isolation. You can count on me turning my sights inward as a matter of health. Watching diet and exercise, connecting with friends and asking for help with the work for Less Cancer.
I will be exploring more about isolation as it impacts human health, including diabetes. Diabetes can, in fact, be a cancer risk. Now more than ever, we need to get a handle on these preventable diseases, and it needs to start with me.
Is this my legacy to my children? Is this what I leave thema future knowing that the idea of Less Cancer will be a missed opportunity to turn the steadily increasing incidences of cancer around. A future with a cancer economy?
I am not giving up-if you want to help, please help the work of Less Cancer not because of me but rather because we are doing life-saving work that is making change.
First published in Thrive Global
Go here to read the rest:
Is Diabetes the Disease or the Symptom - Huffington Post
- Global report on diabetes - World Health Organization (WHO) - October 22nd, 2024
- Ultra-processed food may be particularly harmful for people with diabetes, scientists warn - The Independent - October 22nd, 2024
- New drugs may be able to treat multiple problems beyond diabetes - The Straits Times - October 22nd, 2024
- Best Fruits for Diabetes (and What To Avoid) - Health Essentials - October 22nd, 2024
- Cutting Sugar May Reduce Your Diabetes, Stroke, and Depression Risk - Healthline - October 22nd, 2024
- Can Diabetes Care Teams Improve Patient Outcomes and Value? - Medscape - October 22nd, 2024
- Oral Semaglutide Reduces MACE Risk in People With Type 2 Diabetes and CVD - MD Magazine - October 22nd, 2024
- High expression of CNOT6L contributes to the negative development of type 2 diabetes - Nature.com - October 22nd, 2024
- Recent Advances and Therapeutic Benefits of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Associated Metabolic... - October 22nd, 2024
- Dental teams could detect undiagnosed diabetes in more than one million people with new care pathway - Nature.com - October 22nd, 2024
- Groundbreaking Innovations in Diabetes Care: Highlights from the 2024 Diabetes Technology Meeting - Beyond Type 1 - October 22nd, 2024
- COVID-19 linked to type 2 diabetes onset in children - Medical Xpress - October 22nd, 2024
- The effect of adding pancreatin to standard otilinium bromide and simethicone treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with irritable bowel... - October 22nd, 2024
- Does microdosing Ozempic work? What experts are saying about the diabetes drug also used for weight loss - Medical Xpress - October 22nd, 2024
- The Link between GLP-1 Drugs and Diabetic Retinopathy Is Not So Clear | AAO 2024 - Managed Healthcare Executive - October 22nd, 2024
- The overexpression of human amylin in pancreatic cells facilitate the appearance of amylin aggregates in the kidney contributing to diabetic... - October 22nd, 2024
- RNAO releases updated guidelines for diabetic foot ulcer care - Benefits and Pensions Monitor - October 22nd, 2024
- COVID-19 raises the risk of type 2 diabetes in children, study reveals - News-Medical.Net - October 22nd, 2024
- Semaglutide: What impact does it really have on heart health? - Medical News Today - October 22nd, 2024
- Glucose monitors for diabetes have finally been funded but a chronic workforce shortage will limit the benefits - The Conversation - October 22nd, 2024
- Early vs Late Fast Window: Is One More Effective? - Medscape - September 13th, 2024
- Breakthrough T1D Walk to Cure Type 1 Diabetes - KATU - September 13th, 2024
- Foods That May Increase Kids' Risk of Type 1 Diabetes Revealed - Newsweek - September 13th, 2024
- Beds and Herts patients to be re-tested in diabetes results error - BBC.com - September 13th, 2024
- This common habit increases your diabetes risk by 50%; Heres how to fix it - The Economic Times - September 13th, 2024
- Elevated risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes in people with past history of COVID-19 in northeastern Nigeria - BMC Public Health - September 13th, 2024
- Study links bananas, oats and yoghurt to greater diabetes risk in susceptible children - The Guardian - September 13th, 2024
- Could the Norton research teams studying diabetes and Alzheimer's come up with a cure? - Courier Journal - September 13th, 2024
- Weight loss, better beta-cell function tied to long-term glycemic control with tirzepatide - Healio - September 13th, 2024
- Study finds weekly insulin injections as effective for diabetes as daily shots - UPI News - September 13th, 2024
- Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus: Are we losing sight of overall health? Heres what the science says - The Conversation - September 13th, 2024
- With once-a-week dosing, insulin efsitora alfa delivers similar A1C reduction compared to daily insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes - PR Newswire - September 13th, 2024
- Dining with Diabetes workshops offered - The Courier-Express - September 13th, 2024
- Researchers uncover connection between two common diabetes drugs with implications for foot ulcer healing - News-Medical.Net - September 13th, 2024
- The menopause can increase your likelihood of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension but exercise can help lower risk - The... - September 13th, 2024
- Artificial pancreas shows promise in people with type 1 diabetes on kidney dialysis - MSN - September 13th, 2024
- How an Indian executive battled flesh-eating disease and diabetes, and won - South China Morning Post - September 13th, 2024
- India brings early Diabetic Retinopathy detection to the last mile with Artificial Intelligence - PR Newswire - September 13th, 2024
- Why this diabetes drug may be the answer to NASA search for radiation protection - Texas Public Radio - September 13th, 2024
- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the American Diabetes Association Promote Nutrition Security and its Role in Preventing and Managing... - September 13th, 2024
- He took up running rather than take diabetes medication. It worked - South China Morning Post - March 18th, 2024
- Eli Lilly cracks down on the use of weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound for cosmetic reasons instead of for diabetes and obesity - Fortune - January 9th, 2024
- Transforming Corporate Health: Fitterfly's Success in Tackling Diabetes and Weight Issues - Business Standard - January 9th, 2024
- For Those With Diabetes On Medicare Part D, Insulin Is $35...If Its Covered - Forbes - October 27th, 2023
- Biologist Douglas Melton: I was studying frogs until my son was diagnosed with diabetes then I started looking for a cure - EL PAS USA - October 27th, 2023
- Diabetes and Hearing Loss with Concept by Iowa Hearing | Paid Content - Local 5 - weareiowa.com - May 9th, 2023
- COUNTY COLUMN: Learn to Live well with diabetes at The Well - Norman Transcript - May 1st, 2023
- Want to Cut Type 2 Diabetes Risk? This High-fat Food Can Be the Answer, According to New Study - Revyuh - May 1st, 2023
- Diabetes: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Types - March 13th, 2023
- A number of healthtech startups claim they can reverse Type 2 diabetes. But caveats apply, caution doctors - Economic Times - March 13th, 2023
- Tampa doctor who lost brother to diabetes calls insulin price cut a 'game changer' - ABC Action News Tampa Bay - March 5th, 2023
- New study suggest people previously infected with COVID-19 could have increased risk for diabetes - CBS Los Angeles - February 16th, 2023
- Diabetes Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment | ADA - October 15th, 2022
- A nutritionist with type 1 diabetes shares the top 5 'food swaps' she eats to manage her blood sugar - CNBC - October 15th, 2022
- Diabetes and the gut: How a bacterial protein may impact insulin - Medical News Today - October 15th, 2022
- Milton teen involved in launch of diabetes support program - Milton Daily Standard - October 15th, 2022
- Providers Now Have Free Access to Latest Diabetes Technology in One Place - PR Newswire - October 15th, 2022
- 5 Modifiable Factors in Women with History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus That Can Reduce the Risk of T2D - Pharmacy Times - October 15th, 2022
- BCMH the stoy of Diabetes and Determination - 921News - October 15th, 2022
- Can skipping a meal lead to diabetes and fat around abdomen? - The Indian Express - October 15th, 2022
- Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Market Research Report by Drug, Application, Distribution, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 -... - October 15th, 2022
- Diabetes: Symptoms, risks, and prevention - Wilmington News Journal, OH - July 17th, 2022
- Diabetes symptoms: The sign of nerve damage that often strikes at night - severe - Express - July 17th, 2022
- Local Teen Brings Smiles and Health Kits to Kids with Diabetes - River Journal Staff - July 17th, 2022
- Type 3 diabetes: symptoms, causes and treatments - Livescience.com - July 17th, 2022
- Diabetes Travel Essentials and Tips for the Approximately 21 Million Americans that Must Manage Their Diabetes While on Vacation - PR Newswire - July 17th, 2022
- A type of 'step therapy' is an effective strategy for diabetic eye disease - National Institutes of Health (.gov) - July 17th, 2022
- Diabetes education: one in five search results for diabetes lack reliable information - Open Access Government - July 17th, 2022
- Arch City Kids Theater Troupe Fights Type 1 Diabetes With Its Annual Revue - Broadway World - July 17th, 2022
- Nutrigenomics Testing Industry Forecast to 2027 - Insights Into Obesity, Diabetes, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Disease Applications -... - July 17th, 2022
- Harvard Scientists Have Developed a Revolutionary New Treatment for Diabetes - SciTechDaily - June 16th, 2022
- Do Viruses and Coxsackievirus Cause Type 1 Diabetes? - Healthline - June 16th, 2022
- Diabetes Week: Types 1 and 2 symptoms, causes and prevention - Yahoo Entertainment - June 16th, 2022
- Diabetes And Sex: Have Safe Sex While Managing Diabetes - MadameNoire - June 16th, 2022
- Diabetes Devices Market to Expand at the CAGR of 6.4% from 2019 to 2027, Increase in Prevalence of Diabetes Expected to Drive Global Market - BioSpace - June 16th, 2022
- Anemia and Diabetes: What You Should Know - Healthline - June 16th, 2022
- Patient Knowledge of Diabetes and CKD in an Inner-City Population - DocWire News - June 16th, 2022
- ASCENSIA DIABETES CARE ANNOUNCES EUROPEAN APPROVAL OF THE NEXT-GENERATION EVERSENSE E3 CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING SYSTEM - PR Newswire - June 16th, 2022
- Understanding the Link between Diabetes Care and Sickle Cell Disease | NIDDK - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases... - June 16th, 2022
- Child type 2 diabetes referrals in England and Wales jump 50% amid obesity crisis - The Guardian - June 16th, 2022