According to the diabetes research organization JDRF, as many as 3 million people in the United States have Type 1 diabetes, with roughly 80 more receiving the diagnosis every day. And according to Tom Karlya and Kim May, parents of children with Type 1, the number of people being diagnosed with the condition at death is rising, even though a simple blood test can detect the condition.
In order to reverse this trend of Type 1 being mistaken for a simple flu or virus, they have started a grassroots initiative called “Get Diabetes Right.” The project aims to save lives by increasing awareness of the symptoms of Type 1, as well as focusing on issues that affect people with the condition, through a series of posters. The fliers include “Type 1 warning signs,” “10 tips for teachers,” “Type 1 etiquette,” and more.
“Get Diabetes Right is a grass roots movement and is not associated with any particular organization. It is also an ongoing work in progress. The posters and collateral we have provided are just a starting point — Tom and I welcome all suggestions and ideas that will help spread the word,” says May.
The founders encourage people to distribute the educational fliers in their area in places such as libraries, stores, and doctors’ offices.
For more information, and to download posters and fliers for printing and distribution, visit the Get Diabetes Right Facebook page. And be sure to return to the page and let the group know where you’ve spread the word so they can add your city or town to a worldwide map that follows the movement as it grows.
This blog entry was written by Web Editor Diane Fennell.
