Today’s episode is about something very close to me: diagnosing, managing, and informing others about Diabetes. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes later in life, and my son was diagnosed at the age of 16. We were lucky that I was paying attention, knew the symptoms, and took action quickly… but everyone isn’t that lucky.

Cathy Paessun, Executive Director for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association and former Executive Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is on the show to discuss how we, as a community, can learn the information necessary to recognize potential symptoms and adapt appropriately.

First we will highlight the similarities and differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes are similar in that both suppress the effectiveness of insulin in the body. Individuals experiencing either type of diabetes may also present similar symptoms:

• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination
• Excessive eating
• Lethargy
• Weight loss

However, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are very different.

Type 1 Diabetes

• Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune response is attacking healthy cells.
• There is no way (that we know of) to prevent developing Type 1 Diabetes if you are predisposed to it, and there is no way to cure it after you are diagnosed.
• Although Type 1 was previously considered “juvenile diabetes,” this is not the case. There are 30,000 diagnoses of Type 1 every year, but only half of those are children.

Type 2 Diabetes

• Type 2 diabetes is caused by an overabundance of fat cells that suppress the effectiveness of insulin. It is not an autoimmune disease.
• Due to the nature of Type 2, it is preventable and can be managed with appropriate diet and exercise changes.
• In the United States, 95% of the approximately 30 million individuals who are diagnosed with Diabetes have Type 2.

When we are aware of these symptoms, we can be more present and focused when they appear in our own lives. This may be at work, with friends, or even at home. It’s important that we truly listen – with our eyes and our ears, as we learned from Greg Lainas last week – so that we can start a conversation.

If you think any of your friends, family members, or coworkers might be helped, or better able to help, after listening to this episode, please share it with them.

Resources:

• Central Ohio Diabetes Association
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Production & Development for Improv Is No Joke by Podcast Masters

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