Famous Type 1 Diabetics

I got this information from a site for diabetes support, both type 1 and 2, but I weeded out all the type 2's.  These are famous type 1's only from www.isletsofhope.com

Famous Type 1 Diabetics

Berry, Halle - Actress (Monster's Ball, X-Men, Die Another Day)

Cairns, Douglas - Pilot; first type 1 to fly around the world and raise money for the cause

Clarke, Bobby - NHL (Philadelphia Flyers)

Collie, Mark - Country Singer

Dudley, Chris - NBA (New York Knicks center

Freeman, Kris - US Olympic cross country skiing team

Garber, Victor - Actor (Alias, Titanic, First Wives Club, Sleepless in Seattle) 

Gregory, Dorian - Actor (Baywatch Nights, Charmed, The Other Half)

Hall, Gary, Jr. - US Olympic Gold Medalist (swimming)

Hemingway, Ernest - Author (For Whom the Bell Tolls; A Farewell to Arms; The Sun Also Rises)

Hewitt, Jay - Iron Man triathlete

Hill, Dana - Actress (Shoot the Moon, European Vacation)

Hollins, Dave - 1993 Phillies World Series Third Baseman

Hunter, James "Catfish" - MLB Baseball Hall-of-Famer (baseball)

Jarvis, Chris - World Champion Canadian rower

Johnson, Jason - MLB (Pitcher, Detroit Tigers)

Johnson, Nicole - Miss America, 1999
Jonas, Nick - Jonas Brothers  
Keuhne, Kellie - LPGA golfer

Lee, Tommy - Drummer (Motley Crue)

Leeuewenberg, Jason - Sports caster, former Indianapolis Colts)

Lucas, George - Director and producer (Star Wars, American Graffiti, Raiders of the Lost Ark)

McGann, Michelle - LPGA golfer

Michaels, Bret - Singer (Poison)

Moore, Mary Tyler - Actress (Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ordinary People); diabetes advocate

Mulligan, Richard - Actor (Soap, Empty Nest)

Overall, Park - Actress (Empty Nest)

Parker, Tim - "Gift of Gab," rapper for hip hop group Blackolicious

Pember, David - MLB (Milwaukee Brewers)

Reichert, Dan - MLB (Kansas City Royals)

Rice, Anne - Author (Interview With a Vampire)

Robinson, Jackie - Baseball player

Santo, Ron - MLB (Chicago Cubs legend)

Smart, Jean - Actress (Designing Women)

Thompson, Leonard - 1st person to receive insulin injection at the age of 12

Verplank, Scott - PGA golfer

Wells, H. G. - Author (War of the Worlds; The Time Machine; The Invisible Man)

Wow--I guess diabetics can do great things!! 

10 Things I Want My Friends To Know

Here's another good one from www.juvenation.org:

10 Things I Want My Friends To Know

1. When I'm testing my blood sugar or giving myself insulin, please don't get grossed out or make a big deal about it.
2. Please stop telling me I can't eat something because there's sugar in it!  I can eat all the same things as you can, just in smaller portions and with a dose of insulin.
3. Just because I've had diabetes for a long time doesn't mean I'll ever get used to it.  Most days I'm fine, but some days my diabetes can still get the best of me.
4. I'm not going to die every time I check my blood sugar or experience a low.
5. You don't need to announce to everyone that I have diabetes.  I'll tell them if I want to.
6. Having diabetes is like a full-time job and can be exhausting, so please be patient with me.
7. Just because I have diabetes doesn't mean that I can't play sports and do all the things that everyone else does.
8. It's OK to ask me questions about my diabetes.  I want to help you understand what it's like.
9. I didn't do anything to cause my type 1 diabetes, and there's still no cure.
10. Diabetes doesn't define who I am, it's just something I have.

The funny thing about Maddie and her friends is that a lot of her friends feel like they have to look out for her or protect her from harm.  She really thinks it's sweet.  She loves her friends!!

Funny, Yet So True

I read this article on a great website: www.juvenation.org

It is funny, but at the same time, it shows how little people know about diabetes. According to www.JDRF.org as many as 3 million Americans may have Type 1 Diabetes, and each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. That's 40 children per day. Scary....

Anyhoo, Maddie and I read this together, and we had a couple of good laughs....

STUPID THINGS PEOPLE SAY
A constant source of frustration for people with type 1 diabetes is annoying questions or comments from well-meaning but ill-informed people. Here are some of our favorites:

"Does it hurt?"
Of course poking myself with a needle hurts sometimes, and you never really get used to it no matter how long you have had diabetes.

"You can't eat that--You have diabetes!"
I know what I can and can't eat! Limiting sweets can help me keep my blood sugar under control, but as long as I adjust my insulin, I can eat them just like people without diabetes.

"Do you think you should eat something?"
I appreciate your concern, but I've been living with type 1 diabetes for some time now. Unless I've already asked you to watch me for specific symptoms and remind me to eat, I can decide when and what to eat on my own.

"Did you get diabetes because you at too much sugar?"
Eating too much sugar is not a cause of type 1 diabetes. I didn't do anything to cause my diabetes.

"I know all about diabetes, so here's what you need to do...."
Just because you're older than me or have more education doesn't mean you know more than I do about diabetes. I've been living with this disease for many years, so don't you think I know more about it than you?

"You're so skinny, how could you have diabetes?"
Obesity can be a trigger for Type 2 Diabetes, but it has NOTHING to do with type 1.

**my personal favorite**
"I have type 2 diabetes, so I know how you feel."
No, you don't. People with type 2 diabetes may be able to control their disease with diet and exercise alone, or with oral medication. Type 1 diabetics have to inject insulin constantly.

"Insulin can cure diabetes, right?"
Taking insulin keeps people with type 1 diabetes alive, but dies not cure the disease. While progress has been made, there still is no cure for diabetes.

"How come your blood sugar is always too hight or too low? Are you doing something wrong?"
Many factors can easily cause my blood sugars to swing out of control no matter how well I follow my meal plan and insulin schedule. It does not mean I've done something wrong.

Can't you get rid of your diabetes if you just exercise and eat right?"
If I could, don't you think I would have done that by now? Type 1 Diabetes is not caused by a poor diet, obesity, or lack of exercise. Those are factors associated with type 2 diabetes. Exercise and a good diet can help me to better control my type 1 diabetes, but they do not make it go away.


Being that Maddie is a child, with friends who are also children, she gets these questions and ones similar, all the time. She knows that she just needs to explain that her pancreas doesn't work, so her pump takes the place of it. God gives certain people patience for a reason. Maddie has become a very patient little girl.