Type 1

Special Episode #1: Interview with Rachel Mayo

 in Diabetes / Podcasts / Special Edition  tagged Diabetes / education / Periscope / Type 1 by

Hemoglobin A1C

This test measures the percentage of your hemoglobin (the protein in your red blood cells that carry oxygen) has been coated in glucose. When there’s a lot of extra sugar floating around, it tends to stick to the other things floating around with it.  Red blood cells live for 120 days*, so that’s a lot of time to let sugar hitch a ride.  And while a blood glucose measurement gives a snapshot of what the blood sugar level is right now, the A1c measurements gives us an idea of what the blood sugar level has been during all the times you’re not pricking your finger to measure over the last 3 months*.

*I do realize that 120 days equals 4 months and not 3 months, but the really old and decrepit RBC’s that are close to their expiration are exactly that – decrepit, so they’re not in good enough shape to give us a trustworthy measurement.

Goal

For those with diabetes, the goal is to have an A1c >7%.  For the average non-diabetic, A1c is ~ 5% (though with the American lifestyle, that “normal” number is creeping up – but that has more to do with Type 2 Diabetes).

Rachel received lots of support through the people she met through the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and continues to support their cause and actively helps other T1D’s get connected.  She also participates in her local chapter of JDRF and participates in the Annual One Walk in Nashville (that’s where I got to hang out with Rachel for this interview!) You can find out what JDRF is all about by visiting JDRF.org and walk.JDRF.com.

++Time Sensitive ++ —> Follow Rachel on social media during the month of November to catch her Diabetes education Periscopes.

Meme of Rachel's "Type 1 Diabetic" tattoo, @rachelcmayo on instagram, periscope, pinterest, and twitter

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Music Credits:  “Radio Martini” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes

 in Diabetes / Podcasts  tagged Diabetes / insulin / medicine / Type 1 / Type 2 by

An image of a hand underling the word "DIABETES" in red marker

Diabetes Facts

All of the cells in your body depend on different forms of sugars to make energy (mostly glucose though).

Insulin works like a key to unlock the doors of the cells and let the sugar in to be used.

Adults get newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes too, it’s not just a childhood disease like a lot of marking will make you think.

Diabetes: Type 1 vs Type 2

Type 1 Diabetes: The pancreas (insulin factory) quits working or becomes dysfunctional.

Type 2 Diabetes: The key holes and the doors are broken or jammed and the insulin “key” won’t fit in them as well or at all.  This is known as insulin resistance.

In Type 1, you have to import insulin (aka injections), because you can’t make your own insulin anymore, ever.

Insulin pumps (outside pancreas) give a continuous flow of insulin and can sense sugar levels. It tries to operate as much like a natural pancreas would.

In Type 2, the medications are being developed to encourage your body to use your natural insulin as best and as long as possible.

There are lots of ways to get in a door if they key won’t work, thus there are lots of different medications to help in Type 2.

Holla!

Shout out to Rachel Mayo (@rachelcmayo) for her inspiration for this topic and for her strength and courage to not be scared of #T1D.

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