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Joining The Fight Against Diabetes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 9, 2008

Updated: 12/10/2008 03:53 pm

If you don't know the raw facts, here are some: 23.6 million Americans have diabetes; diabetes is implicated, annually, in hundreds of thousands of deaths; in 2007, the economic cost of the disease was estimated at $174 billion; diabetes has three classifications - type 1, type 2 and gestational.

You should also know, with pride, that the University of South Florida is positioning itself as a major player in cutting-edge diabetes research.

Harvard-trained researcher Jeffrey Krischer has secured nearly $400 million in grants to study type 1 diabetes and has been named to an endowed chairmanship designed to propel the initiative forward.

Diabetes is a severe health risk because the body's failure to effectively process sugars leads to a whole cascade of related problems. Heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, blindness, depression, impotence and amputations headline a long list of complications.

A healthy pancreas will produce a continual supply of insulin in response to an infinite array of variables. When I eat, my body takes steps to keep my blood sugars within a tight range; when that no longer happens, diabetes is diagnosed. Too much sugar in the blood, and the damage begins; too little, and the body quickly experiences shock, disorientation and loss of consciousness.

What people mostly don't understand, however, is the distinction between type 1 and type 2. My wife, Rebekah, has type 1. Her body fails to produce insulin at all. A strict regimen of insulin shots keep sugars close to the normal range.

Type 2 diabetes indicates insulin resistance and or deficiency. Therapy can involve a modified diet, weight reduction, oral medications and possibly insulin shots. Type 2 is often labeled a lifestyle disease because - although many people inherit risk - huge numbers of Americans move from at-risk to diabetic because they simply will not take the necessary measures to remain healthy.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that 5 to 10 percent of America's 23.6 million diabetics have type 1. The work planned by Krischer's team at USF represents life-changing potential for millions of people, as well as far-reaching corollary benefits.

My wife says the fact such research is funded here in our community gives her some of the hope and strength she needs to keep up her end of the fight.

At the same time, the rest of us could reduce the burden on the system by taking just a few simple steps. Eat responsibly, exercise on a regular basis, quit smoking and drink in moderation.

To be honest, it's an insult to those who don't have the option to avoid life-threatening disease when we can't - or won't - be bothered.

Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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