| welcome
It’s great to be here. Here, literally, at Diabetes Forecast, the healthy living magazine of the american Diabetes association. and to be alive and thriving after 38 years (and counting) with type 1 diabetes.
Life with diabetes in 2012 looks a lot brighter
than it did circa 1973, when my parents learned
that their preschooler had a chronic disease.
the daily shot of insulin and
those bubbling, color-changing
test tubes of urine and Clinitest
tablets have been replaced by
multiple daily injections, a wide
selection of blood glucose–
lowering medications for my
type 2 friends, and meters
smaller than a mobile phone.
Despite the improvements
in treatment and outcomes,
however, I’m tired of diabetes.
I guess that you are, too. that’s
why we’re members of the
aDa—and working diligently
to stop Diabetes®.
the association is on our
side, championing research and
providing resources that help
us deal with the daily ups and downs (the blood
glucose kind and the emotional kind, too).
Medical ID bracelet, glucose tablets, the
association on speed dial—they’re all key
tools for self-care.
these three association resources particularly
impress me (you’ll read about so many more
throughout this issue):
• Advocacy. through the efforts of the
association’s legal advocacy team, people with
diabetes are protected against discrimination at
work and at school (see page 66), at restaurants
and at rock concerts. research funding and
better together
the athletes featured in this
issue, such as sean busby
on the cover, have me
ready to bundle up and get
moving despite February’s
cold weather.
health care coverage are key initiatives, too.
Call 1-800-DIabetes (1-800-342-2383) for
more information and to volunteer to become
a Diabetes advocate.
• Information. More than 30 Center for
Information and Community support staff
members are on call from 8: 30 a.m. to 8 p.m. est
every weekday to answer your questions about
diabetes and send you free information. Call
1-800-342-2383 for pamphlets and people
who really listen.
• Friends. self-care is easier when you have
friends who truly understand what it means to
live well with diabetes. You’ll meet such friends
in the pages of this magazine, and you can find
more online in the association’s chat rooms
at
diabetes.org/messageboards.
one day you and I will be able to stop taking care
of diabetes and turn our time, talent, and treasure
to other important causes. Until then, thank you
for taking good care of yourself and your loved
ones. and thank you for your support. I’m tired
of diabetes, but with your friendship I have great
hope for the future.
Fondly,
Kelly rawlings, PWD* type 1
forecasteditor@diabetes.org
*Person with diabetes
You’re the expert! your experience
living with diabetes is invaluable—please consider
serving on the Diabetes Forecast reader panel.
members will suggest story ideas, advise on key
issues in the community, and reflect the rich
diversity of our diabetes family. turn to page 69
to see how easy it is to apply.
