The JDRF will hold its 2015 Southern Arizona One Walk to raise money for Type 1 diabetes research on Sunday, Nov. 8 at the University of Arizona.
“There are many Jewish kids and adults in our community living with type 1 diabetes,” says Rosi Vogel, who is president of the board of JDRF Southern Arizona branch. She also serves as campaign coordinator at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona.
“My younger son, Daniel, was diagnosed at age 2, 13 years ago; three years later, my other son, Jonathan, was also diagnosed,” says Vogel. She and her husband were shocked, as there was no history of diabetes on either side of the family.
Since half of all people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed during childhood or their early teens, it used to be referred to as juvenile diabetes. But people don’t grow out of it, says Vogel, and type 1, which is much rarer than type 2, can happen at any age.
In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas as if they were invading cells or viruses. “People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin, by injection or pump, in order to survive,” says Vogel.
Type 1 diabetes symptoms may include increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, blurry vision and fatigue. Other problems include infections of the skin, gums, or bladder; slow healing of scrapes or bruises; and tingling or numbness in the limbs.
Type 1 diabetes “requires care 24/7,” says Vogel. She explains that people with the disease need to take a base amount of insulin daily, plus additional shots or boluses after eating. Blood sugar levels are affected by illness, growth and other factors. Even those who test their levels frequently, count every carbohydrate and take exercise into consideration “still don’t get perfect control,” she says.
To register or donate, visit walk.jdrf.org. For more information, call 203-8084.
