Elizabeth Caswell, JDRF Diabetes

Elizabeth is from Ann Arbor, although she has also lived in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Illinois, and California.  Elizabeth is a full time volunteer and mother of three boys, two of whom have type 1 diabetes.  Her husband also has type 1 diabetes.  She serves on the board of JDRF Southeast Michigan and of Emerson School and volunteers for several other organizations.

Heidi Fisher is a Development Manager with JDRF.  She oversees all corporate sponsorships and teams for the two largest walks in the state, Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit.  Heidi has been with JDRF since April, 2014 and prior to that she worked for six years in intercollegiate athletics as a fundraiser.

Topic At RCAAN Luncheon on September 25 2014

Many people know what diabetes is, but don’t understand the difference between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes.  Elizabeth and Heidi will explain type 1 diabetes and what it’s like to live with this chronic autoimmune disease.  JDRF is the leading global funder of research to prevent, treat, and cure T1D.  They will describe the JDRF mission, some of the cutting edge research to treat T1D, and how the JDRF One Walk supports the mission.  You will be inspired to get involved with JDRF.
 

MORE on Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a frustrating disease!
 

• Why, why, why?  The people I love with T1D did nothing to cause their disease.  It's not genetic.  And, science doesn't know its cause.  Lots of questions--not a lot of definitive answers.
• T1D is invisible.  You cannot look at someone and tell they have T1D. The amount of hours that go into daily care are not obvious.  This is a chronic disease that requires 24-7 management.
• There are so many myths about T1D.  Yes, it's ok for people with T1D to eat sugar--as long as they take insulin.  
• With T1D, even following instructions about carb counting and insulin dosing precisely can produce different outcomes on different days.
• Exercise can cause low blood sugar in people with T1D for up to 24 hours afterwards.  This is challenging for the athletes with T1D who live in my house!
• I won't even begin to talk about how hormones in growing bodies impact T1D.  Roller coaster!
• You never get a day off from T1D.  People with T1D are checking their blood sugar five to ten times a day, counting carbs every time they eat, dosing with insulin at every meal or snack.  It's a full time job with no days off.  Some of my family members have experienced burn out with all of the demands of caring for themselves--talk about frustrating!
• I cannot tell you the number of times that I've gotten up overnight to check someone's blood sugar.  Can you say sleep deprived?
• Insulin is a great treatment and technology is lessening the impact of T1D and reducing long term complications.  But, T1D is frustrating because there is no cure!

JDRF is the leading funder of research to prevent, treat, and cure T1D.  Their research into prevention, artificial pancreas, encapsulation, restoration, and complications IS lessening the impact of T1D until Type One is Type None.