People with diabetes are at a higher risk for conditions that cause vision loss or blindness than other people, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). If you have diabetes, you can take steps to reduce your risk for vision loss or blindness. Diabetes can cause the following eye disorders.

Diabetes can lead to glaucoma. Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to vision loss. It is caused by a poorly understood group of diseases. Most, but not all, of these diseases cause an increase in intraocular pressure, or pressure inside the eye ball. According to the ADA, people with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to suffer from glaucoma than people without diabetes…..

 The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk for glaucoma. The risk for glaucoma also increases with age. Usually, the damage to the optic nerve that occurs with glaucoma does not cause symptoms. High intraocular pressure can be treated with medicine, usually eye drops, to prevent damage to the optic nerve.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. People who have diabetes are 60 percent more likely to develop this condition than people who don’t. People with diabetes are also more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age, the ADA says. Cataracts in someone with diabetes tend to progress more quickly than in someone without diabetes. Symptoms of a cataract are blurry vision and glare from oncoming headlights at night. If cataracts are severe enough to interfere with vision, they can be treated by surgery.

Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina, the light sensitive area at the back of the eye. The damage is caused by changes in the blood vessels that supply the cells of the retina with oxygen and nutrition. In the first stage of retinopathy, called background or nonproliferative retinopathy, the blood vessels develop small balloon-like swellings called microaneurysms and leak fluid and blood, or become clogged. When these changes happen to enough of the blood vessels, the cells of the retina are deprived of their blood supply. In response to the lack of blood, new blood vessels grow. These new blood vessels are abnormal, fragile and leak blood. The result is loss of vision or blindness.   This phase is called proliferative retinopathy. Usually, diabetic retinopathy progresses from nonproliferative to proliferative over a period of years. Most often, there are no symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. In some cases mild-to-severe blurring, seeing “strings,” “cobwebs” or specks floating in your visual field, or vision loss may be symptoms. Retinopathy can be treated with photocoagulation, laser treatment that stops blood leakage and shrinks blood vessels.

Your retina can be badly damaged before you notice any change in vision, and most people with nonproliferative retinopathy have no symptoms, the ADA says. Even with proliferative retinopathy, people sometimes have no symptoms until it’s too late to treat the condition. That’s why it’s crucial for people with diabetes to see an eye care professional every year for eye examinations.

Steps to take

The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to have eye disease. The following steps can help you preserve your sight:

• Keep your blood sugar levels under tight control. People who keep these levels closer to normal are less likely to have retinopathy.
• Control high blood pressure, which can make eye problems worse. Ideally your blood pressure should be 130/80 or lower.
• If you smoke, quit. Smoking is a risk factor for macular degeneration.
• Get a regular eye dilated eye exam at least once a year, even if you don’t have vision problems. The exam should be by a doctor experienced in the care of people with diabetes.

These are reasons to see your eye care professional right away:

• Your vision becomes blurry.
• You have trouble reading signs or books.
• You see double.
• One or both of your eyes hurt.
• Your eyes get red and stay that way.
• You feel pressure in your eyes.
• You see spots or floaters.
• Straight lines don’t look straight.
• Your side (peripheral) vision deteriorates.
• You have any sudden change in your vision.
• You have had type 1 diabetes for five or more years and have not had a dilated eye exam.
• You have type 2 diabetes and have not had a dilated eye exam.
• You’re going through puberty and you have diabetes.
• You’re planning to become pregnant and you have diabetes

The immediate goal of treatment is to lower high blood glucose levels. The long-term goals of treatment are to prevent diabetes-related complications. The primary treatment for type 2 diabetes is exercise and diet. You should learn basic diabetes management skills. They will help prevent complications and the need for medical care…..

• How to test and record your blood glucose (See: Blood glucose monitoring)
• What to eat and when
• How to take medications, if needed
• How to recognize and treat low and high blood sugar
• How to handle sick days
• Where to buy diabetes supplies and how to store them

It may take several months to learn the basic skills. Always continue to educate yourself about the disease and its complications. Learn how to control and live with diabetes. Over time, stay current on new research and treatment.

SELF-TESTING

Self testing refers to being able to check your blood sugar at home yourself. It is also called self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). Regular self-testing of your blood sugar tells you and your health care provider how well your diet, exercise, and diabetes medications are working.

A device called a glucometer can provide an exact blood sugar reading. There are different types of devices. Usually, you prick your finger with a small needle called a lancet. This gives you a tiny drop of blood. You place the blood on a test strip and put the strip into the device. Results are available in 30 – 45 seconds.

A health care provider or diabetes educator will help set up an at-home testing schedule for you. Your doctor will help you set your blood sugar goals.

• Most people with type 2 diabetes only need to check their blood sugar once or twice a day.
• If your blood sugar levels are under control, you may only need to check them a few times a week.
• Tests may be done when you wake up, before meals, and at bedtime.
• More frequent testing may be needed when you are sick or under stress.

The results of the test can be used to adjust meals, activity, or medications to keep your blood sugar levels in an appropriate range. Testing can identify high and low blood sugar levels before serious problems develop.

Keeping a record for yourself and your health care provider. This will be a big help if you are having trouble managing your diabetes.

DIET AND WEIGHT CONTROL

People with type 2 diabetes should eat at about the same times each day and try to be consistent with the types of food they choose. This helps to prevent blood sugar from becoming extremely high or low. Meal planning includes choosing healthy foods, eating the right amount of food, and eating meals at the right time. You should work closely with your doctor, nurse, and registered dietitian to learn how much fat, protein, and carbohydrates you need in your diet. Your meal plans should fit your daily lifestyle and habits, and should try to include foods that you like.

Managing your weight and eating a well-balanced diet are important. Some people with type 2 diabetes can stop taking medications after losing weight (although they still have diabetes). See: Diabetes diet

Bariatric (weight loss) surgery may be considered for very overweight patients who are not well managed with diet and medications. See:

• Gastric bypass surgery
• Laparoscopic gastric banding

REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Regular exercise is important for everyone, but especially if you have diabetes. Regular aerobic exercise lowers your blood sugar level without medication and helps burn excess calories and fat so you can manage your weight.

Exercise can help your overall health by improving blood flow and blood pressure. It decreases insulin resistance even without weight loss. Exercise also increases the body’s energy level, lowers tension, and improves your ability to handle stress.

Consider the following when starting an exercise routine:

• Always check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.
• Ask your health care provider whether you have the right footwear.
• Choose an enjoyable physical activity that is appropriate for your current fitness level.
• Exercise every day, and at the same time of day, if possible.
• Monitor blood glucose levels at home before and after exercise.
• Carry food that contains a fast-acting carbohydrate in case blood glucose levels get too low during or after exercise.
• Wear a diabetes identification bracelet and carry a cell phone in case of emergency.
• Drink extra fluids that do not contain sugar before, during, and after exercise.
• You may need to modify your diet or medication if you exercise longer or more intensely, to keep blood glucose levels in the correct range.

MEDICATIONS TO TREAT DIABETES

If diet and exercise do not help maintain normal or near-normal blood glucose levels, your doctor may prescribe medication. Since these drugs help lower your blood sugar levels in different ways, your doctor may have you take more than one. These drugs may also be given along with insulin, if needed.

Some of the most common types of medication are listed below. They are taken by mouth or injection.

• Biguanides (Metformin) tell the liver to produce less glucose and help muscle and fat cells and the liver absorb more glucose from the bloodstream. This lowers blood sugar levels.
• Sulfonylureas (like glimepiride, glyburide, and tolazamide) trigger the pancreas to make more insulin. They are taken by mouth.
• Thiazolidinediones (such as rosiglitazone) help muscle and fat cells and the liver absorb more blood sugar when insulin is present. Rosiglitazone may increase the risk of heart problems. Talk to your doctor.
• Injectible medications (including exenatide and pramlintide) can lower blood sugar.
• Meglitinides (including repaglinide and nateglinide) trigger the pancreas to make more insulin in response to the level of glucose in the blood.
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (such as acarbose) decrease the absorption of carbohydrates from the digestive tract to lower after-meal glucose levels.

If you continue to have poor blood glucose control despite lifestyle changes and taking medicines by mouth, your doctor will prescribe insulin. Insulin may also be prescribed if you have had a bad reaction to other medicines. Insulin must be injected under the skin using a syringe or insulin pen device. It cannot be taken by mouth.

Insulin preparations differ in how fast they start to work and how long they work. Your healthcare provider will determine the appropriate type of insulin to use and will tell you what time of day to use it.

More than one type may be mixed together in an injection to achieve the best blood glucose control. Usually injections are needed one to four times a day. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to give yourself an injection.

Some people with type 2 diabetes find they no longer need medication if they lose weight and increase activity. When they reach their ideal weight, their own insulin and a careful diet can control their blood glucose levels.

It is not known whether hypoglycemia medications taken by mouth are safe for use in pregnancy. Women who have type 2 diabetes and take these medications may be switched to insulin during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

MEDICATIONS TO PREVENT COMPLICATIONS

Since those with diabetes have a much higher chance of developing heart disease, kidney disease, and other medical problems, they may need to take certain medicines to treat these problems or prevent them from happening.

An ACE inhibitor (or ARB) is often recommended:

• As the first choice medicine for treating high blood pressure in persons with diabetes
• For those who have signs of early kidney disease

ACE inhibitors include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), quinapril (Accupril), benazepril (Lotensin), ramipril (Altace), perindopril (Aceon), and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril).

Statin drugs are usually the first choice to treat an abnormal cholesterol level. Aim for LDL cholesterol level less than 100 mg/dL.

Aspirin to prevent heart disease is most often recommended for persons with diabetes who:

• Are 40 or older
• Have a history of heart problems
• Have a family history of heart disease
• Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Smoke

FOOT CARE

People with diabetes are more likely to have foot problems. Diabetes can damage nerves, which means you may not feel an injury to the foot until a large sore or infection develops. Diabetes can also damage blood vessels.

In addition, diabetes affects the body’s immune system. This decreases the body’s ability to fight infection. Small infections can quickly get worse and cause the death of skin and other tissues. Amputation may be needed. To prevent injury to the feet, check and care for your feet every day.

Children with type 1 diabetes need daily injections of insulin to help their bodies use glucose. The amount and type of insulin required depends on the height, weight, age, food intake, and activity level of the individual diabetic patient. Some patients with type 2 diabetes may also need to use insulin injections if their diabetes cannot be controlled with diet, exercise, and oral medication. Injections are given subcutaneously, that is, just under the skin, using a small needle and syringe, an insulin pen injector, an insulin infusion pump, or a jet injector device. Injection sites can be anywhere on the body where there is a layer of fat available, including the upper arm, abdomen, or upper thigh.

Insulin may be given as an injection of a single dose of one type of insulin once a day, or different types of insulin can be mixed and given in one dose or split into two or more doses during a day. Patients who require multiple injections over the course of a day may be able to use an insulin pump that administers small doses of insulin on demand. The small battery-operated pump is worn outside the body and is connected to a cannula (a thin, flexible plastic tube) that is inserted into the abdomen called an insertion set. Pumps are programmed to infuse a small, steady infusion of insulin (called a basal dose) throughout the day, and larger doses (called boluses) before meals. Because of the basal infusion, pumps can offer many children much tighter control over their blood glucose levels and more flexibility with their diet than insulin shots afford them.

Regular insulin is fast-acting and starts to work within 15 to 30 minutes, with its peak glucose-lowering effect about two hours after it is injected. Its effects last for about four to six hours. NPH (neutral protamine Hagedorn) and Lente insulin are intermediate-acting, starting to work within one to three hours and lasting up to 18 to 26 hours. Ultra-lente is a long-acting form of insulin that starts to work within four to eight hours and lasts 28 to 36 hours. Peakless, or basal-action insulin (insulin glargine, or Lantus) starts working in 15 minutes and has a duration of between 18 and 26 hours.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Often, people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all. If you do have symptoms, they may include: Blurred vision, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, frequent or slow-healing infections, increased appetite, increased thirst, increased urination…..

Causes & Risks

Diabetes is caused by a problem in the way your body makes or uses insulin. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy.

When you have type 2 diabetes, the body does not respond correctly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that fat, liver, and muscle cells do not respond normally to insulin. As a result blood sugar does not get into cells to be stored for energy.

When sugar cannot enter cells, abnormally high levels of sugar build up in the blood. This is called hyperglycemia. High levels of blood sugar often trigger the pancreas to produce more and more insulin, but it not enough to keep up with the body’s demand.

People who are overweight are more likely to have insulin resistance, because fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin.

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually. Most people with the disease are overweight at the time of diagnosis. However, type 2 diabetes can also develop in those who are thin, especially the elderly.

Family history and genetics play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.

Other risk factors include:

• Age greater than 45 years
• HDL cholesterol of less than 35 mg/dL or triglyceride level of greater than 250 mg/dL
• High blood pressure
• History of gestational diabetes
• Previously identified impaired glucose tolerance by your doctor
• Race/ethnicity (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans all have high rates of diabetes)

Tests & Diagnostics

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with the following blood tests:

• Fasting blood glucose level — diabetes is diagnosed if higher than 126 mg/dL on two occasions.
• Oral glucose tolerance test — diabetes is diagnosed if glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dL after 2 hours.
• Random (non-fasting) blood glucose level — diabetes is suspected if higher than 200 mg/dL and accompanied by the classic symptoms of increased thirst, urination, and fatigue (this test must be confirmed with a fasting blood glucose test).

You should see your health care provider every 3 months. At these visits, you can expect your health care provider to::

• Check your blood pressure
• Check the skin and bones on your feet and legs
• Check the sensation on your feet
• Exam the back part of the eye with a special lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope

The following tests will help you and your doctor monitor your diabetes and prevent complications:

• Have your blood pressure checked at least every year (blood pressure goals should be 130/80 mm/Hg or lower).
• Have your glycosulated hemoglobin (HbA1c) checked every 6 months if your diabetes is well controlled; otherwise every 3 months.
• Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked yearly (aim for LDL levels below 100 mg/dL).
• Get yearly tests to make sure your kidneys are working well (microalbuminuria and serum creatinine).
• Visit your ophthalmologist) at least once a year, or more often if you have signs of diabetic retinopathy.
• See the dentist every 6 months for a thorough dental cleaning and exam. Make sure your dentist and hygienist know that you have diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes.

Frequent urination

Intense hunge

Weight gain

Unusual weight loss

Increased fatigue

Irritability

Blurred vision

Cuts and bruises don’t heal properly or quickly……

More skin and/or yeast infections

Itchy skin

Gums are red and/or swollen – Gums pull away from teeth

Frequent gum disease/infection

Sexual dysfunction among men

Numbness or tingling, especially in your feet and hands.

Sources of information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wikipedia, NHS Direct, University of California (San Diego).

Australian scientists looked for the reason why people with Hepatitis C often go on to develop diabetes, and they made an unexpected discovery.

The heightened risk of type 2 diabetes was thought to be linked to fat build-up in the liver caused by their Hep C, but tests on people with the blood-borne virus found something else was awry.

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research study confirmed the 29 study participants all had ‘high insulin resistance’ – a precursor to diabetes – but the problem was traced to their muscle and not their livers….

Professor Don Chisholm said this result was ‘contrary to all expectations’.

‘… not only did we find no significant insulin resistance in the liver of the patients in the study, half of them suffered from a strain of Hepatitis C that causes about three times the normal level of fat to accumulate in the liver,’ Prof Chisholm said.

‘A number of important investigators around the world have been arguing that fat in the liver is an extremely important determinant of insulin resistance, perhaps the most important.

‘At least in this context, we’ve shown that not to be the case.’

Hepatitis C is a liver disease and one of its most common strains – Genotype 3 – is known to cause significant fat deposits in the liver.

Study participants with this strain were shown to have the same level of insulin resistance as those with no liver fat accumulation.

The two most important organs that respond to insulin in the body are the liver and muscle, Prof Chisholm explained.

An insulin-resistant liver produced unwanted glucose while insulin-resistant muscle could not absorb it from the bloodstream, leading to high levels of sugar in the blood.

‘More work now needs to be done into why Hepatitis C causes insulin resistance in muscle,’ Prof Chisholm said.

‘That will give us better insight into the behaviour of the disease.’

Hepatitis C is transmitted in Australia mainly by drug users sharing needles but also by non-sterile tattooing or body piercing and, unlike Hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine.

Around 212,000 Australians suffer from chronic Hepatitis C and there are roughly 10,000 new infections each year.

Prof Chisholm conducted the research along with Dr Kerry Lee Milner also from the Garvan Institute, in collaboration with Professor Jacob George from the Storr Liver Unit at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital

via:bigpondnews.com

Kidney failure is the final stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a serious condition where the kidneys could no longer rid the body of wastes.

CKD is present when individuals have an increase in the excretion of albumin in the urine or a major decrease in kidney function.

In Malaysia more than 3,500 people develop end stage renal failure every year, giving rise to the number of patients requiring dialysis.

According to the president of Malaysian Society of Nephrology (MSN) Dr Philip N. Jeremiah, CKD affects about eight to 10 per cent of the population and currently the number of patients requiring dialysis in Malaysia is growing by 5 to 7 per cent annually….

This is partially caused by the rise of diabetes and hypertension, which increases the risk for kidney disease.

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

According to the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) the common causes of CKD include inflammatory diseases of the kidney caused by infections, obstruction in the urinary tract and inherited disorders like polycystic kidney disease.

In both developed and developing nations, diabetes and hypertension are increasingly the most common causes of CKD especially in older people.

Even when diabetes is controlled, the disease can lead to CKD and kidney failure.

In fact, 55 per cent of advanced kidney failure is due to diabetes and if not detected and treated effectively can lead to kidney failure and death.

People with kidney failure undergo either an artificial blood cleaning process (dialysis) or transplantation to receive a healthy kidney from a donor.

However, due to challenges in obtaining a new kidney for transplant, majority of kidneys patients opt for haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

EARLY DETECTION IS CRUCIAL

Early detection is crucial as this can delay the progression of kidney disease and its related complications, stressed the chairman of the NKF board of managers Datuk Dr Zaki Morad Mohd Zaher.

Currently, Malaysia has 20,000 dialysis patients and looking at the high cost of dialysis the government subsidises the cost for the needy patients.

In Malaysia, 55 per cent of all new dialysis patients are diabetic and dialysis outcome are generally poorer in patients with diabetes.

Unfortunately, diabetes, in particular Type 2 diabetes, may go undetected for many years.

During this time, uncontrolled blood sugar levels may cause damage to tissues and organs such as the blood vessels, eyes and kidneys.

Kidney disease develops slowly and the symptoms only appear at a late stage.

With early detection, the individual can be treated early and the deterioration prevented or arrested at an early date. This can prevent or delay the need for dialysis.

Hence, an important measure for the prevention of diabetes-related diseases is to encourage all Malaysians at risk of diabetes to undergo simple health screening tests such as urine and blood tests.

WORLD KIDNEY DAY

Dr Zaki said although the NKF has 23 dialysis centres nationwide, it no longer focused on dialysis alone as public education plays a major role in increasing awareness on the early detection and prevention of kidney disease.

Furthermore, patients also need to be educated on the treatment options available to them to help them make informed decisions as to their treatment plan based on their condition and lifestyle, he said.

This is why the main aim of the World Kidney Day (WKD) this year is to promote the importance of early detection and prevention of kidney disease and to prompt Malaysians to check themselves for kidney disease through simple health screening.

The WKD 2010 commemorated on 11 March will be celebrated for the fifth year in more than 100 countries around the globe.

WKD is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of kidneys and calls people to check if they are at risk of kidney disease.

In Malaysia, the NKF in partnership with the MSN and the Ministry of Health has planned a series of event and activities.

The theme for WKD 2010 is “Protect Your Kidneys – Control Diabetes”. This is a wake up call for all, as diabetes represents the leading cause of CKD worldwide.

HEALTH SCREENING

This year, the campaign hopes to raise awareness on the importance of controlling diabetes to prevent CKD.

“One of the direct causes of diabetes is unhealthy lifestyle and poor eating habits. Our aim is to educate and inform the public to take the first step in changing their lifestyle and eating habits.

“We believe health screening provides a wake up call to all Malaysians on WKD 2010 to take the first step to check on the state of their health,” said Dr Zaki when met after the press conference for the World Kidney Day 2010.

The NKF LifeCheck Mobile Health Screening Unit, a 40-seater customised bus with seven workstations, will be mobilised to embark on a campaign road show and free health screening for members of the public in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor.

To date, NKF have screened 62,000 members of the public and more than 10 per cent have shown abnormalities in their blood and urine samples taken during the screening.

The newly appointed NKF ambassador, celebrity Chef, Datuk Chef Wan will also participate in the campaign by conducting cooking demonstration to bring home the message regarding healthy eating habits.

Many major hospitals nationwide will be conducting various activities in conjunction with WKD. These include poster exhibitions, health screening and public forums.

Members of the public who are interested to obtain more information on the NKF and WKD 2010 activities can contact the NKF hotline at 1300-88-3110 or log on to www.nkf.org.my.

via:bernama.com

Diabetes interferes with the way the body processes the sugar glucose, the body’s main source of energy. When all is going well, cells absorb glucose from the blood stream after we’ve eaten and use it as fuel, or pack it away for future use. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, orchestrates the process. With diabetes, the process breaks down, and glucose start to builds up in the blood.

There are three types of diabetes:

- Type 1, usually diagnosed in children and adolescents, is caused when the body can’t produce insulin. The body’s immune system or environmental factors are believed to trigger Type 1, which accounts for 10 per cent of diabetes…..

- Type 2, which accounts for 90 per cent of diabetes, usually begins when the glucose-absorbing cells lose their ability to mop up sugar and it starts to build up in the blood. Overeating, sedentary lifestyles and an aging population are believed to be fuelling the explosion of Type 2, which affects 250 million people worldwide, up from 30 million in 1985.

- Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and increases the risk to both the mother and child of developing Type 2.

- “Pre-diabetes” means the body’s cells are not responding properly to insulin, and sugar levels in the blood begin to rise. Left unchecked, more tha half of people with pre-diabetes develop full-blown diabetes within eight to 10 years.

Via:Public Health Agency of Canada, International Diabetes Federation

Diabetes

JDRF is partnering with Johnson & Johnson’s Animas Corporation, to develop the first artificial pancreas. 

We found a mother in Sugar Land, who has been volunteering and raising money for JDRF, to go specifically toward funding the new device. Lisa Brettman’s 16-year old son, Trevor, has been dealing with Type 1 Diabetes most of his life…..

“This is life changing for us… for those of us who live with Type 1 diabetes. We live in fear all the time,” says Lisa. 

Living with Type-1 diabetes is definitely demanding.

“From playing the trumpet, to playing video games, and even sleeping – pretty much everything I do… it has changed every single thing,” says Trevor. 

The artificial pancreas will be software that stays on the outside of the body, along with an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (which measures blood sugar levels).

“This new project will allow the two to talk to each other, so that the continuous glucose monitor can say to the pump – hey, the kiddo’s blood sugar is too high so it’s time to give him insulin now, and the pump will give him insulin. Or if it’s too low, it can stop administering insulin,” says Molly Naylor, who is the the Executive Director of the Houston Chapter of J.D.R.F. 

She goes on to say, this is a huge development!

“It means kids won’t end up in hospitals with comas or seizures, it means parents don’t have to get up 5-6 times a night to check blood sugars, because they’re afraid these kids won’t wake up the next morning.” 

“It’ll be really, really, really helpful, I can’t even describe it. It will make the future that much brighter, and I could live every single day that much easier,” says Trevor. “It will help get rid of the fear, some of the fear, we live with on a daily basis”, says Trevor’s mom. 

Via:myfoxhouston.com