eoe-0805-032 responses to
d-life's reader survey
(LOS ANGELES, POSTED AUGUST 2, 2005)
█
we have been looking at comparisons of aids and diabetes of late, which has been a fruitful exercise. diabetes management is based on self-care, something that the aids/hiv community should look at. is having safe sex a form of self-care?
we draw a lot of support from one another in the aids/hiv community. what is that “social” support network like in the diabetes community? how do they define themselves as a community? what hopes do they have?
these are results from an informal homepage survey that d-life conducts when its readers check in. it gives an interesting snapshot, however flawed or accurate, of a community.
diabetes life (d-life) poll
How close are we to a cure for diabetes?
It could happen tomorrow (or within five years).
███ 17%
Five to ten years away.
████ 19%
More than ten but less than twenty years from now.
████ 20%
Twenty or more years, but it will eventually happen.
████ 18%
It will never happen.
██ 11%
I do not think we will find a cure in the 21st century.
███ 14%
What was the hardest part of adjusting to your diabetes diagnosis?
Making myself exercise
████ 20%
Going on medication
████ 20%
Finding emotional support
████ 20% Dealing with guilt and/or depression
Changing my diet
████ 20%
Other
0%
Feeling like a human pincushion
0%
Do you have a sick day diabetes management plan?
No
█████████████ 63%
Yes
█████ 27%
I don't plan on being sick
██ 10%
Testing is crucial. Do you test your blood glucose in public?
Yes, all the time.
███████ 37%
Sometimes. It depends on where I am or who I'm with.
██████ 31%
Rarely. I like to keep it private.
███ 15%
Never.
███ 17%
Do celebrities with diabetes have an obligation to come out publicly about their diabetes?
Yes - they're role models.
█████ 27%
No - it's a private matter.
██████████ 47%
Who cares?
██ 12%
Sometimes - it depends on who it is.
███ 14%
Have you ever been to a diabetes education class?
No
████████ 40%
Yes
████████████ 59%
Not sure
1%
Do you attend a diabetes support group?
Yes - both!
█ 5%
Yes - a 'reality-based' group.
██ 10%
Yes - an online forum or list.
██ 10%
No - I go it alone.
██████████ 48%
No - my family and friends are supportive enough.
█████ 27%
Have you ever struggled with depression related to your diabetes?
Yes, I'm depressed right now.
████████ 41%
Yes, in the past.
██████ 29%
No, never.
████ 18%
I'm not sure.
██ 12%
How do you log your blood sugar levels?
With my meter's memory feature.
██████ 28%
With computer software.
███ 14%
Written in a logbook or journal.
█████████ 44%
With a web-based logging program.
█ 2%
On a cocktail napkin.
█ 2%
I don't.
██ 10%
Have you ever experienced neuropathy?:
Yes, I have had peripheral neuropathy.
█████ 23%
Yes, I have had autonomic neuropathy.
█ 6%
Yes, I have had both peripheral and autonomic neuropathy.
███ 14%
No, I have not.
████ 20%
What is neuropathy?
████████ 37%
contrary to the numbers in that last question, i ran into the following article d-life had published in may.
One in Two People With Diabetes Have Diabetic Neuropathy
(Newstream) May 11, 2005 -- Diabetic neuropathy is a common, serious complication of diabetes. In fact, it is estimated that one out of two people with diabetes has this condition. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently commissioned a study to determine whether people with diabetes are aware of diabetic neuropathy. The results are both surprising and disturbing.
Symptoms of this nerve damage include sensations of pain and/or numbness, tingling or "pins and needles" in the feet and hands, and can be debilitating. The nerve damage can make a person extremely sensitive to even the lightest touch. Simply wearing socks or having a foot touch a bed sheet can cause pain. The pain typically worsens at night, making it difficult to sleep. Many people with this condition have difficulty walking, working or socializing.
Yet only a small minority have been diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and an alarming number have never even heard of this condition. This also means that people at risk do not know about the things they can do to prevent or delay associated symptoms. This is important for the 18.2 Americans living with diabetes.
Some of the ADA study's key findings include:
Almost two-thirds of survey respondents who experience symptoms of diabetic neuropathy (62 percent) believe that their symptoms are associated with their diabetes. However, less than half (42 percent) have been told by their doctor that diabetes is the cause.
Approximately one in seven people (15 percent) who said they talked to their doctor about their symptoms and pain reported that no cause was mentioned by their doctor.
Only one in four (25 percent) survey respondents who experience symptoms of diabetic neuropathy have been diagnosed with the condition.
The majority of respondents who experience symptoms (56 percent) remain unaware of the term diabetic neuropathy.
ADA is launching a major campaign to raise awareness of diabetic neuropathy. To learn more about diabetic neuropathy, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org/neuropathy. If you are experiencing symptoms, ADA recommends talking to your doctor.
SHORT LIST
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responses to d-life's reader survey
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