Video Exclusive: ADA Chief Medical Officer Speaks On Diabetes Research

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Scientists need your help to find new treatments for diabetes
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Web Version: http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=_D070NLy3fwJzBVaoTexNA
Mobile Version: http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=PPbEMdmwPpulHbJ0h1_NGQ

Dear Friend,
Dr. David Kendall, our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, recently
spoke on camera about diabetes research and the ongoing progress in
our fight to stop diabetes.
Hear what he had to say:
http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=zvGs00Luq8uz1rL88j1EfA
(It will only take 2 minutes of your time!)
The American Diabetes Association funds cutting-edge research that has
led to key discoveries and advancements in the fight to stop diabetes.
These breakthroughs might not have happened were it not for the
generosity of supporters like you.
Help us continue our work. »
http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=kIHioIrLiTIh_sNFFHFdew
 Your financial support is so critical.
DONATE NOW. » Please.
http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=BM4mCeHKN91xWAbECqWlIA
Thank you for everything you do to help stop diabetes!
Sincerely,
Larry Hausner
Chief Executive Officer
American Diabetes Association
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To donate by phone:
1-800-DIABETES
(1-800-342-2383)
To contact us by mail:
American Diabetes Association -- Web
P.O. Box 7023
Merrifield, VA 22116-7023
Federal Tax I.D. #13-1623888
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Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

What is a TIA?

A TIA is a Transient Ischemic Attack or Mini Stroke. When my mother told me that my grandmother had about 13 strokes, if you include the 'mini' ones, I always thought she was exaggerating. But it's true, there is a phenomenon known as a mini stroke. A TIA occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short amount of time. The symptoms are the same as stroke symptoms but only last for a few minutes. Data from the American Heart Association says that TIA's precede strokes about 15% of the time. Do not ignore these, call 9-1-1 immediately if you believe you've had one.

Am I a Low Risk For a Stroke

According to Lutheran Hospital Stroke Center and the National Stroke Association (stroke.org):

Blood Pressure:  Lower or at 120/80
Cholesterol:  Lower than 200
Diabetes:  No
Smoke:  No
Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat):  No (normal)
Weight:  Healthy weight
Exercise:  Regularly
Family History of Strokes:  No

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

What Makes You a High Risk For a Stroke

According to Lutheran Hospital Stroke Center these factors make you a high risk for a stroke:

Blood Pressure:  Higher than 140/90
Cholesterol:  Higher than 240
Diabetes:  Yes
Smoke:  Yes
Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat):  Yes
Weight:  Overweight
Exercise:  Couch Potato
Family History of Strokes:  Yes

If 3 or more of the items above are you may need to see your doctor to discuss stroke prevention.

How to Recognize a Stroke

If you're diabetic, hypertensive, or both - you should probably learn to recognize a stroke. Why - you say, because time lost is brain lost and brain lost is decreased quality of life, and we don't want that. Based on information obtained from Lutheran Hospital's Stroke Center the signs that you may be having a stroke are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one eye or both.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no cause.

Please make sure your family or close friends know these signs so they can act quickly and call 9-1-1.

Kudos to Those Who've Shown Us the Way

Many of us that have battled diabetes have been down many different paths; some Type 1's and others Type 2's, some 10 years others 30 years, some with positive outcomes and others with not as positive outcomes. The common thing is that no matter what path you've been on - you've had smart, well informed, well educated, and dedicated people that have taken their time to explain, teach, inform, and coach us to success in therapy (whether we believe that or not). To them I want to say thank you. These are the dedicated professionals that try to guide us even if our navigation system is off, answer all of our questions simply because they believe we deserve answers, that are patient with us when they stated the answer in 5 different ways, that humor us when we feel we've learned all we need to know - but they know different. These are those that understand and empathize with our pain and tell us what we need to hear even when they know we'll do the complete opposite. To them I say thank you, from all of of us. Hopefully, this blog will be a resounding theme for their voices and inspire many to take more control of their therapy and be empowered to master this disease, even as I've been empowered.


With that being said - let's continue with the work of educating...