World Diabetes Day

Today, Nov 14 has been declared World Diabetes Day.  I spent my morning working - and updating my facebook status & twitter status every 30 minutes with facts & myths about diabetes.  I really am not sure how many actually my twitter updates or facebook updates - but even if i reached a dozen people - those people have taken in something they did not know about diabetes and are now able to share that information to others - and well - i am hoping those people share it with others and so on.    I spent my afternoon visiting the offices in the area I work, using my connections trying to spread the word about World Diabetes Day and trying to get more pledges for my Team Diabetes Fundraising.  I also spent a few minutes with Buzz Bishop of 95Crave telling him my story about why I am doing what i am doing - you can read that in an earlier blog here.  Thanks again for letting me share my story Buzz!  

On a side note - if you live in Surrey - or pass through you probably have seen the World Diabetes Day flag that is flying high and proud in Guildford - here's a few photos i took this morning

So there is exactly 3 weeks from the December deadline  and i am  $1200 short of the deadline amount - panic is starting to set in - but luckily - the panic is just brought more and more ideas - who wouldnt love to do a hot dog sale on a saturday right before Christmas! Bonus for hungry Christmas shoppers in a busy department store! Gotta love my connections!    Please everyone - if you have been thinking of donating - there really is no excuse to wait - today is World Diabetes Day!  I find it a very fitting day to place those donations - and well for everyone else - i KNOW it was payday today and its YOUR payday next week too... PLEASE click here to donate . 

Some info for you, that you may or may not already know - Please share we need to spread the word!

So you know there is Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes - BUT did you know there is a third? Yup - gestational diabetes can occur in pregnancy - and is actually temporary.

Approx. 2.4 million Canadians have diabetes.

Someone is diagnosed approx every 50 seconds.

Myth:  Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

Fact:  Regular activity helps your body lower blood glucose levels, promoste weightloss, reduces stress and enhances overall fitness.

Diabetes can also cause Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, Eye Disease, nerve damage & impotence.

Fact: YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Please help me reach my fundraising goal for Team Diabetes .

update - time flies!

Hello all!! I am so sorry for lacking in the daily blog department.  I cannot believe how fast time has gone by - its September 4!! 20 days till my birthday!  Just thought i would let you know i just tallied up my cash donations & my 3 trips to the bottle depot ($61) - mailing it off tomorrow - sending in donations for $536!!!! SWEET  Thank you to EVERYONE who has helped me out so far - and to those that are going to help out - hopefully sooner rather then later. Really - why wait to make a difference when you can make one now.

I have decided to join the running room training clinics.  I am going to the store in South Surrey this weekend to get more information - I want to start with the half marathon - then continue on with the full marathon - thats what i think will work best.  BUT best to leave it up to the pros.  I am finding it so difficult still to get up and go and run by myself - so Running Room clinics here i come! 

and a BIG THANK YOU to Rebecca (www.miss604.com)for the spotlight in her recent blog about my quest - very VERY much appreciated!  For those of you who haven't checked out her blog - you should - its great!

- people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing neuropathy or nerve damage, especially in the extremities. Signs are numbness, tingling or pain in the legs and arms.

-people with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing retinopathy, which may lead to blindness

To donate to my campaign to raise funds for the Diabetes Association click here.  

The Real Reason

Joining Team Diabetes was a big decision - a somewhat hard, yet easy decision. The hard part was knowing I would have to raise a significant amount of money & the idea of running (completing) a full marathon. It took me about 2 weeks to make up my mind - I wanted to make sure I had the support from my friends and family - a lot of them are very optimistic - a few of them - not so much. I wanted to help those people with diabetes - I have seen what it can do to people first hand. My mom is diabetic - as well are numerous family members. I used to work at the Diabetes Centre at Vancouver General Hospital for a few years as well, which allowed me to learn a lot about diabetes. Because of my mom, family and my experience at an old job, i felt more driven to do this.

My mom was diagnoses with type 2 diabetes about 6 years ago - so 2002 i think. I only recently just learned that my great-great-grandmother had lost her life to this disease. Recently a close family friend lost his father to his diabetes. I have been lucky - up until March of this year, i had never had to experience my mom having a diabetic episode. We were at my great-grandmothers' funeral the friday before Easter. Mom kinda "went into another world" she "zoned out" - those are the only ways i can explain what happened, a few minutes passed and she came too. The entire time she just sat there staring - you could've spoken to her, but she wouldn't have heard you. This was honestly the scariest thing i have seen so far - because it happened to my mom - it makes it that much worse. I remember back when she found out she was diabetic - her Hemoglobin A1C (Hgb A1C) was at 19.0 - a normal person's A1C is anywhere between 4.0-6.0 . We took a day trip to Victoria one day - and i remember her being so happy because she tested her sugar levels (which she does numerous times a day) and it came out at 12.0 - she was so excited because that was the lowest her sugar had been down to.

Mom just had her 3 month blood work down - her A1C? 6.4 - how was is that!!!! She has been controlling her sugar levels through diet and pills.

I haven't told my mom why I am doing this marathon & fundraising - she knows' that i am doing it to help people with diabetes - but she doesnt know the reason i signed up. I am doing this for her, because of her. The day at the funeral back in March was an eye opener for me - scared the crap right out of me. We don't have the closest relationship that a lot of mother/daughters do - but we have our own. So its official - mom - i am doing this for you. There i said it - i have been able to tell people why i am doing it - it has brought me to tears explaining to people the real reason - heck it brings me to tears now. Its out in the open - and even though im writing this on here - it was not an easy thing to do - cause its admitting the real reason.

So everyone please find it in your hearts to donate - http://www.teamdiabetes.ca