Newsletter: Tackling Diabetes

Statement

This last week, I met with a nine-year-old girl from Black Hawk. Her name was Lauren. She is an incredible young lady and I had a great time getting to meet her. But Lauren and I were there to visit about a very serious issue. Lauren, like more than 200,000 young people in America, has diabetes.

Each year, tens of thousands of Americans -- including many children -- learn they have diabetes. While nearly 10 percent of Americans have the disease, there are still a number of misperceptions surrounding diabetes and what it means for everyday life. That's why I wanted to take a moment this week to write about some things each of us should be aware of regarding diabetes.

First, there are two kinds. Type 1 diabetes, which is what Lauren and my nephew Hunter have, occurs when a person's immune system destroys cells that release insulin. Without insulin, we can't absorb sugar, which is needed to produce energy. With Type 2 diabetes, people aren't able to use the insulin that is produced right away and over time, the pancreas may begin making less and less insulin. The majority of people with diabetes have Type 2.

Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented and children with a family history of Type 1 diabetes or certain genetic factors can be at increased risk. Type 2 diabetes can be delayed, if not prevented altogether, by maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, and exercising.

There are different ways to treat diabetes. Both Lauren and Hunter, for instance, wear an insulin pump. This essentially gives them short-acting insulin 24 hours a day so their sugar levels are kept in check. Other people may take shots, oral medication or adjust their eating habits to help control blood-sugar levels.

Some with Type 2 diabetes may be able to make lifestyle adjustments that allow them to reverse the diagnoses. But for those with Type 1 diabetes, there is currently no cure. Scientists are working very hard, however, to identify one for kids like Lauren and Hunter and advancements have been made.

During our visit, I asked Lauren if there was anything else she wanted people to know about diabetes. She said, "Diabetes is not contagious, so don't be scared to be around someone with it." To me, that comment was another reminder that we can all do more to debunk myths and increase awareness about diabetes. In South Dakota, Governor Daugaard has declared October as "Diabetes Awareness Month" after learning about Lauren's brave efforts to take on diabetes.

I can't begin to tell you how much it means to have folks focusing on diabetes -- especially childhood diabetes -- this month. I still remember when our family found out Hunter had diabetes. We all had so many questions and those first few months after he was diagnosed were a crash course for all of us. To be honest, it's something our family continues to learn about as he grows and as new technologies and treatments become available to him. But he's been such a great kid through it all and he's turning out to be an incredible young man.

Hunter has been an inspiration to our family and I'm thankful we have young people like him and Lauren out there, encouraging other kids who have been diagnosed, moving researchers and lawmakers to tackle this disease, and inspiring each of us.

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