An aspect of the illness & dying unit that I explored was diabetes. Although diabetes is not genetic it is possible that your children may also get diabetes if they don’t change their eating habits. There are several forms of diabetes: the first type of diabetes is type 1, which is prevalent among younger children, and their parents have not had diabetes, type 2 diabetes depends on more environmental factors according to diabetic live. “If you have a family history of diabetes it will increase your chances of getting it, but only if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle with a poor diet and little or no exercise” (Diabetic live).
My family has a long history of high blood pressure which also has something to do with the food we eat. My family, on both sides, comes from the south and soul food is the main food prepared in southern households and this doesn’t keep you healthy but it does taste good. Diabetes relates to low blood sugar and high blood pressure may contribute to diabetes if the proper medications are not taken. I can avoid the possibility of having diabetes but that means I would have to change my eating habits to become healthier. My mom prepares healthy food and I do not eat as many fatty foods as I used to, I have stopped drinking so much soda and eating lots of sweets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AOvhKZUIGY&feature=more_related On NBC a special edition was done about the effects of diabetes. An 11 year old named Elena was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Elena doesn’t enjoy living with diabetes because she wants to be like the other kids who don’t have to worry about the amount of carbs they eat, in most cases. Elena has a sensor that monitors her blood sugar levels. Elena’s mother mentioned that the technology today makes it easier to address this illness. Doctor Anne L. Peters wrote a book about conquering diabetes that encourages patients with type 2 diabetes to exercise and try to lose weight; it also gives many other tips about living with diabetes. When we have other people going through the same issues that we are experiencing, who are willing to give us encouragement in our situations it makes it easier to accept that our illness requires more attention.
There are many people that live with diabetes that are able to get proper care because of the technology. I am so thankful that my grandmother is able to receive proper treatment for her diabetes because although things may have been different when she was growing up there has been some change since that time. When people are diagnosed with an illness their illness becomes them and the doctor is mainly focused on doing what they can to prevent this sickness from spreading and getting worse. Doctors do all they can to benefit the patient, and then they begin to create alternatives to benefit the patient. Sick and dying people matter in our culture because they are a “stigma”, we are more concerned with the illness and not so much the person behind it, the main goal may become to beat this illness but we never consider how much it can affect our daily lives.
Sources:
Diabetic live.http://www.diabeticlive.com/diabetes-101/is-diabetes-genetic/
Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AOvhKZUIGY&feature=more_related
ILIKE THE WAY THAT YOU SAID THAT THE KIDS WOULD GET DIETBEATIES IF THEY DID NOT CHANGE THE WAY OF THEIR EATING HABITS.
ReplyDeleteRaven,
ReplyDeleteYour opening sentence was a good grabber. I can relate alot to your post because i know a lot of people who had diabetes which made me more engaged in the post. I liked how you referred back to your own family history to what you want to do in the future to prevent yourself from getting diabetes. One thing that stood out to me was when you said "When people are diagnosed with an illness their illness becomes them", i thought that was very bold. People become their illness, i never thought of it like that. Overall your post was enjoyable and keep posting!
Raven,
ReplyDeleteI liked that your project was applicable to the lives of many, because diabetes is very common. Good job connecting this project to you as well as others, and giving background info. I think this project might have benefitted from you asking yourself a specific question about diabetes rather than what it is; you could have explored how hospitals deal with diabetes, or if hospitals encourage diabetics to diet/exercise, or interviewed some diabetics, or further researched stigma associated with diabetes. However, this post was still very informative and it encouraged me to do what I can to avoid this disease.
Raven,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog and elevator speech because having this disease affected a family member of yours so it gave you more perspective on this illness. My family fortunately has not but I have several family members who are affected by high blood pressure so felt a connection while reading your blog. The diet the people who are diagnosed with diabetes the way you describe seems exhausting and stressful. Does it make for a shorter life span? Can it leave for other complications? well good job!