Rosemary Ekeng's Page
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- Where do you live? (Your Hometown, City, or State)
- Calabar
- Do you have Diabetes?
- Yes
- If so, what Type?
- Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes
- My relationship to diabetes is...
- I have Diabetes
- How did you find the Diabetic Angels? What were you searching for?
- diabetesmine.com
- What is the address of your Myspace Profile?
- http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&am...
- What is the address of your Facebook/YouTube Profile?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1644098276#/profile.php?id=5...
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i have had diabet whene i was 09 and now i'm 28yearhi
As for BASAL, it is a term that pertains to diabetics on the insulin pump. There are two words the doctors use when talking about anyone on an insulin pump, BOLUS and BASAL. Bolus relates to the amount of insulin a diabetic gives themselves, from the insulin pump, to cover carbohydrates (like a snack, or meal), or if they need to take insulin for a high blood sugar, they would BOLUS however much insulin they needed. BASAL Insulin is the term doctors use to describe the amount of (background insulin that is continuously delivered). The Basal rate has to do with the amount of "Background" insulin that is continuously delivered to the diabetic from the insulin pump. A diabetic on the pump works with their doctor to determine and set an insulin rate, as it is automatically delivered 24/7/365. However, like I said, if a diabetic has low blood sugar, they can stop the delivery of the Basal insulin on their pump until their blood sugar rises to normal and then start their Basal rate again. Basal insulin is similar to long term insulin that is taken in shots. Therefore, when diabetics talk about adjusting their Basal rate, or having to change their Basal (usually because their blood sugar is not in control), or having a problem with their Basal or Basal rate, they mean, they are making changes to the insulin they take that is being delivered as Background insulin.
You asked for information about the CGM, so here is one of the best sites I found that talks about the Continuous Glucose Monitor, it is from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a wonderful resource!
What is continuous glucose monitoring?
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems use a tiny sensor inserted under the skin to check glucose levels in tissue fluid. The sensor stays in place for several days to a week and then must be replaced. A transmitter sends information about glucose levels via radio waves from the sensor to a pagerlike wireless monitor. The user must check blood samples with a glucose meter to program the devices. Because currently approved CGM devices are not as accurate and reliable as standard blood glucose meters, users should confirm glucose levels with a meter before making a change in treatment.
CGM systems provide glucose measurements as often as once per minute. The measurements are transmitted to a wireless monitor.
CGM systems are more expensive than conventional glucose monitoring, but they may enable better glucose control. CGM devices produced by Abbott, DexCom, and Medtronic have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are available by prescription. These devices provide real-time measurements of glucose levels, with glucose levels displayed at 5-minute or 1-minute intervals. Users can set alarms to alert them when glucose levels are too low or too high. Special software is available to download data from the devices to a computer for tracking and analysis of patterns and trends, and the systems can display trend graphs on the monitor screen.
Additional CGM devices are being developed and tested. To learn more about such monitors and new products after approval, call the FDA at 1–888–INFO–FDA (463–6332) or check the FDA’s website section titled “Glucose Meters & Diabetes Management” at www.fda.gov/diabetes/glucose.html.
Rosemary, I hope this information is helpful, but if you have more questions let me know!
Take care of yourself,
Jackie
I haven't heard from you in a while, and all of us were wondering how you are doing, are you feeling better? Just checking in, we wanted to be sure you were okay. :)
I'm sorry It's taken me a little while to get back to you, as it turns out everyone in my house was also sick, but not with Resistant Malaria! I am truly sorry to hear you had such a rough time. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers and if there is any way we can help you let us know. Also, I want to ask you if in the future and when you have time, if you might blog about how you manage (or try to manage) your diabetes while fighting a bout of Resistant Malaria...I think there may be other people, especially in the Island Nations and Africa who could benefit from this knowledge.
Mollie, my daughter and one of the founders, will be sending you the logo to your private email address (for security reasons), it will be in the form of a PDF file. Let us know if you have any problems.
You're probably still reading my last Post, but when you get done you might find this one interesting also, it's about the CGM, I forgot to include this information. This is from Mollie's Blog, www.curemoll.com, and I thought this would be a great way for you to become familiar with the continuous glucose monitor! Follow this link:
http://curemoll.com/2007/04/02/the-minimed-continuous-glucose-sensor/
It is easy to start you own chapter of the Diabetic Angels, but let me explain the fastest way to get started, review and be familiar with the Diabetic Angels website, www.diabetiangels.com. This way people can see who we are, what we do, and become familiar with the information that is available on the website, then get started! ☺
1. KNOW the BASICS of DIABETES: Review Diabetes 101 and be sure that you are comfortable that you have a basic understanding of diabetes. This normally includes giving people a general understanding of what diabetes is (check out this link, it is very helpful: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/overview/). (WHAT IS BLOOD SUGAR (BG) and TESTING) You probably know that type 1 diabetics should test their BG a minimum of 6 to 10 times a day and type 2 diabetics test 2 to 4 times a day —explain that diabetics test frequently, because knowing their BG allows them to better manage their diabetes, as they can make any necessary corrections when their BG is low or high. You can explain to people what normal blood sugar (BG) is. In America it is either 70 to 110 or 80 to 120, both scales are good) and then explain that anything above 120 or below 70, means the person has high or low blood sugar and depending on how high or low the BG, will determine whether or not a correction is necessary (Example: a BG of 140 isn’t a problem, but if a diabetic had a BG of 72 I would suggest they had juice, or some form of carbohydrates). (MANAGING BG’s) Next, you need to help them understand how diabetics can best manage their BG’s, as well as, what causes low and high BG’s (explain the symptoms for high and low BG/s…in Diabetes 101) Factors, such as taking the proper dosage of insulin, exercising, (even a 10 to 15 minute walk after a meal is very helpful) and eating healthy and balanced meals all helps a diabetic keep their diabetes in control. On the other hand, if diabetics don’t watch their nutrition, exercise, and take the proper amount of insulin their diabetes will be difficult to control (balanced meals means eating the right proportion of carbohydrates and protein at each meal i.e., a good snack might be a piece of fruit with a piece of cheese or any protein, breakfast and dinner should also have carbohydrates and protein and as I use to tell my daughter; “eat around the plate…in other words, don’t eat all of one food first (like a favorite food) and then eat little bits of the other foods, because if you get full and stop eating, you won’t have eaten a balanced meal; better to eat one bite of everything on the plate and then start over, this way, if you get full and don’t eat everything on the plate, you still will have eaten a balanced meal. ☺” WHAT TO DO IN A DIABETIC EMERGENCY: Finally, you need to know and teach your DA’s what to do in a diabetic emergency i.e., they should know how to use, or help you use, a blood glucose monitor to test your BG and then know how to help you respond to a serious low or high blood sugar. Teach them how to help a Diabetic correct their blood sugar, i.e., get your insulin so you can take a shot for high BG, or get you juice or some food/carbohydrates for low BG’s. (IMPORTANT) Make sure everyone knows that if a diabetic has very low blood sugar they should not try to feed a diabetic, however if they are still conscience they can try slowly giving them something to drink (juice, soda, milk), glucose gel, 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey, or even cake icing, but NOT food, they may have trouble swallowing and if a diabetic is barely conscience, someone should call for medical help if available, otherwise test BG’s every 15 min and if BG’s are still below 70/80 continue administering one of the above until the diabetic is in a safe range over 100.
2. CREATE ROSEMARY’S DIABETIC ANGELS:
First, ask family, friends, co-workers, and of course other diabetics and their families and friends, to help you start the first chapter of the Diabetic Angels in Nigeria; you can have as little as one person, or as many members of your chapter, as you want. Also, make sure everyone understands that unless there is a very special event (where they want to spend their own money), that being a member of the DA’s. NAMING YOUR CHAPTER: Normally, each chapter names itself after the diabetic who starts the chapter, i.e. Rosemary’s Diabetic Angels. However, you can name it after yourself, or you can simply call it the “Diabetic Angels.” DA OFFICERS and their responsibilities: PRESIDENT: You should be President of your chapter (at least to start) and you would want to eventually have a Vice President to help you oversee all of the officers and DA activities. Other officers include a Treasurer (someone you trust to oversee the money you raise), and a VP of Fundraising (gets creative and participates in or arranges special DA fundraising events), VP of Membership, to help you coordinate your activities. Then, when you invite a few people to become the FIRST DA/S, (family & friends/co-workers etc.) to help you, I would ask one person to be your Vice President, to help you organize and oversee the officers’ duties and chapter activities. The job of the VP of Membership is to help you increase membership (try for 5 new members a month). (You and your VP can schedule appearances at school, or talk about the Diabetic Angels on the TV news or special programs, or in your local newspaper, or even a magazine article, but whenever possible I would let as many DA’s as possible participate in media events!) You need a Treasurer, because as you grow you may participate in “Walks” or create your own Fundraisers. When you raise funds, it is important that you keep very accurate records, always know how much money was raised and where it went and for what purpose i.e. (When fundraising, you can get help from businesses, who if you ask, will normally support you, as you “Walk for the Cure.”) In Las Vegas, we ask small and large business to support us in the “Walk” or in our fundraisers, and they give us however much they think they can afford, like ten business give us $10.00, $20.00, $100.00, and even $1,000.00, but if each business only gave us $10.00, we would raise $100.00! All I ask is two things. First, if you raise money for your local DA Outreach Programs, please be sure to use the money specifically for things directly related to diabetes (buying insulin, syringes, pumps, educational material for schools, printing material to advertise the your DA’s etc.,) and if you raise money for diabetes research that you donate research dollars to JDRF, because they are totally accountable and reliable…I hate to say it, but there are other people who say they are doing diabetes research and it is not reputable, you have to be very careful and if you are in doubt you can always ask me, I can track researchers and their work, any where in the world.☺ Also, I don’t know how it works in Nigeria, but in America, whenever US DA’s or other global DA’s raise money for the cure, we donate it to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, because they have so many global partners and 85% to 87% of every dollar raised goes directly to diabetes research and the development of medical technology to improve diabetics’ lives. Because JDRF works and partners with medical researchers all over the world, in my opinion their research is the best and most useful research, the kind that will lead us to the cure sooner rather than later! Anyway, if you raise funds you need to carefully monitor the money that comes in, how it is used, and who is accountable for that money…I am sure your government would have rules about fundraising. Anyway, I’ll give you more ideas on fundraising later.
3. FIRST MEETING: Whenever possible, make your meetings fun and enjoyable. Maybe it will be a gathering in your living room with snacks, or a picnic etc. any place where your members will feel relaxed and look forward to coming to meetings (We usually held meetings once or twice a month…however, in the beginning we met once a week, while we were teaching the new members about diabetes, after they were knowledgeable, we let the VP of Membership run the training for new members (remember, just use Diabetes 101) ☺). Invite them over and teach them about diabetes, make a plan and move only as fast as your members can handle i.e., the first meeting might be about a general discussion of diabetes and who it affects and how the people of Nigeria are at a disadvantage because they do not have access to much that is offered, but at least now they can stay current through the DA website. The second meeting can be about Testing and dietary needs, or exercise. Pace your members so you don’t over load them with information….you risk burnout. Finally, if you can, set a regular meeting time that accommodates most, if not all of your members, i.e. once a month, once every two weeks, etc ☺
4. WORKING IN YOUR COMMUNITY: There are many ways your members can now work to help Diabetics in Nigeria. They can become advocates and research diabetes facts in your country. How many diabetics are there in Nigeria? Are there medical and educational resources easily available? If not, why not?? It’s time to start lobbying your government. Educate them as to why managing diabetes is “Cost Effective.” We have the same argument in America, we spend way to much money to treat diabetics, who suffer from complications and are poorly managed, when it would be so much cheaper to prevent the complications with good health care and diabetes management education. I know that if they want to help they won’t be able to do everything right away, but even if they do a little, it will help and you have to start somewhere. Also, as you start to make waves and get some media coverage, this could encourage more people and businesses in your own country, to get involved. Also, we might be able to contact someone like Oprah Winfry, who supports charities in Africa. ☺ This is where you’re the media comes in handy, the more coverage you can get, about any little thing you do, the more it will help you. Keep copies of everything written about you, publicity proof that your DA’s exist and are trying to raise awareness and help diabetics in Nigeria. Anyway, get your facts first, know what you want to say, and then start looking for outlets that will listen to you.
Another area the members can help is come up with a creative fundraiser, or I can help you talk to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRFI) and they can send you information to have your first JDRF Walk for the Cure in Nigeria. This takes a little time and planning, but all of this can be done and then Rosemary and Nigeria will be on the Map!!
Ultimately, you just need to gather some people, educate them or help them to feel comfortable teaching others about diabetes and raising diabetes awareness, organize Advocacy teams and split your members, so that those who are more comfortable in the lime light, deal more with the media and/or fundraising. This should be more then enough information to get you started, but if you have any questions, be sure to ask me I’ll help however I can. ☺
Now on a separate subject, how would you feel about writing a Blog for us, maybe about what it is like to live with Diabetes in Nigeria? Or, tell the stories of the diabetics you know and their ups and downs with diabetes, what problems do you and they encounter. There must be a million things you can write about, the good and the difficult that the world would love to know! Your Blog don’t have to be long, you could write as often as you want or just a couple times a month, but I feel strongly that the world needs to know about you, your story, and how difficult it is for diabetics, especially poor diabetics in Nigeria. Another advantage to writing a Blog for the DA’s is I think it would give you more credibility when you start your chapter of the DA’s, people will come to see you as well informed and in touch with the rest of the world. However, if you are not able to write for us, we completely understand. Everything with the DA’s is voluntary and “pro-bono”, in other words everyone associated with the DA’s works for free, but that is how we are able to help so many. We also understand that you are probably very busy, so you make the choice that is best for you, we’ll always be here. Anyway, if you choose to Blog, it is easy to get started, just click on the “My Page” button on the menu bar across the top, look to the right side of the page and click on either of the arrows where it says, “Quick Add,” then click on “Blog Post,” fill in the “Post Title,” write your Blog “Entry,” and when you’re finished, write your “Blog” then, all you have to do is click on “Publish Post” and you’re done (don’t worry about length of your Blog, it can be short or long☺)!! Have a great day and I look forward to hearing from you.
Jackie
I'm sorry I am just getting back to you, it is very late in the States, but I wanted to let you know that I have been overwhelmed with a project I am finishing, so I will get back to you with the information you need tomorrow. Have a wonderful day!
I'm sorry it took me a little while to reply to your comment, but all of us have been traveling and just returned home! I have no doubt that you will make a difference in Nigeria! If ever you have questions, or need information, check out Diabetes 101, email "Dr. Dewan" or ask us and if we can help you know we will!
By the way, if you ever decide you want to start a chapter of the Diabetic Angels in Nigeria, let us know. It's very simple and I am sure you could make a huge difference in the lives of so many diabetics and their families!
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