SAE It Loud!!

Today is the kick off of Diabetes Awareness Month!  I read about SAE  from Wendy and Sarah started it.  I LOVE the idea!! 

 SAE (pronounced "say") stand for Support, Advocate and Educate.  Since today is the 1st day of Diabetes Awareness Month, what better way to kick it off then really push for awareness. 

Today I am going to do something in relation to each letter "SAE".  

Support.  I do this through my blog. I am here to support every one out there who knows what it is like to live with Diabetes.  For those who are newly diagnosed to those that have been down the road for a few years now.  We can always learn and lean on each other.  I know I drawn strength from the support I receive from the DOC (diabetes online community) 

Advocate.  I want to advocate through the schools for better care for our children, so we can feel safe sending our kids to school no matter where we are.  As part of this I would like to push for school nurses in the Charter and Public Schools.  With lots of cuts over the past few years Nurses were one of the first things to be cut in a lot of schools in Michigan.  No parent should have to worry that their child is getting proper care at school or have to loose their job because they have to be up at school doing all of their child's care.  

Educate.  I educate by telling our story. Please go read Our Story to see how Lovebug was diagnosed. 

 Did you know?

• Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved.
• Type 1 diabetes usually strikes children, adolescents, and young adults, but it can be diagnosed in adults as well. It comes on suddenly, causes dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications.
• To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump. They must also test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day. While trying to balance insulin doses with their food intake and daily activities, people with this form of diabetes still must always be prepared for serious hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, both of which can be life-limiting and life threatening.
• Despite paying rigorous attention to maintaining a meal plan and exercise regimen and always injecting the proper amount of insulin, people with type 1 diabetes face many other factors that can adversely affect efforts to tightly control blood sugar levels. These factors include stress, hormonal changes, periods of growth, physical activity, medications, illness/infection, and fatigue.
• Each year, more than 15,000 children - 40 per day - are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S.

KNOW the Symptoms.

Warning signs of type 1 diabetes may occur suddenly and include:

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Drowsiness or lethargy
• Increased appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Sudden vision changes
• Sugar in the urine
• Fruity odor on the breath
• Heavy or labored breathing
• Stupor or unconsciousness

Other Things YOU can do to help spread Diabetes Awareness this month. 

There is a petition asking GOOGLE to take a stand and spread diabetes awareness on November 14th.  We are asking Google for a World Diabetes Day Doodle.  

HERE is the link if you would like to sign the petition.
Last year we were denied.  Will 2010 be different?

In celebration of  World Diabetes Day my hubby and I will be wearing our own World Diabetes Day t-shirt on November 14th.  


We want YOU to help us celebrate!!!  You can show your support by purchasing your own World Diabetes Day t-shirt for just $10!  For every t-shirt sold 40% of the monies will go to JDRF to help with education and research for a cure.  Then on November 14th, wear your t-shirt in support of Lovebug and all the other kids (and adults) that suffer from Type 1 Diabetes.  

 I need your order SOON though!!  We only have until November 5th to get our order in!  Please email me at sweet2thesoul@gmail.com with the number of t-shirts you want and your sizes. I will be picking the t-shirts up on November 10th and delivering them on the 11th and 12th. 


Then, after you purchase your shirt we want pictures of you wearing them around town!  We want to see what you did to celebrate World Diabetes Day.  Then sometime in November, I will post all of them. I can't wait to see how all of you celebrate!  


To learn more about World Diabetes Day please go to www.worlddiabetesday.org