UC Merced Magazine | Volume XVIII, Issue IV

“We’re carving out a novel area with the project; rather than looking at gathering survey data from these families, we're looking at what are they actually doing when they talk to each other about con icts that come up related to diabetes management,” she said. “With these observations, you … could promote more positive communication among adolescents and their parents, which we know from the developmental literature is crucial for long-term adjustment.” e researchers also realized little research is available to help physicians better communicate with families who don’t speak English or be more culturally competent with those who come from di erent backgrounds. Know the difference: • Diabetes type 1 and type 2 come from different causes: In diabetes type 1, the pancreas does not make insulin because the body's immune system attacks the islet cells in the pancreas that make insulin, a hormone that enables the body to get energy from food. • The cause of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is unknown, though family history is a factor. • While insulin injections or infusion allow a person with T1D to stay alive, they do not cure the disease. • In diabetes type 2, the pancreas makes less insulin than it used to, and the body becomes resistant to insulin. • If caught early enough, type 2 diabetes can be reversed through lifestyle changes — diet and exercise — and medication. T1D is an autoimmune disease that is not curable. Diabetes complications include: • Kidney failure • Blindness • Nerve damage • Heart attack • Stroke By the numbers: • Approximately 3,026,764 people in California, or 10% of the adult population, have diabetes. • Every year an estimated 230,273 people in California are diagnosed with diabetes. • Nearly 1.9 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, including about 244,000 children and adolescents. • New cases: 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. • People with diabetes have medical expenses approximately 2.3 times higher than those who do not have diabetes.

“We are planning a grant proposal with the pediatric endocrinology clinic at CHLA that builds on our study,” Main said. “How do physicians communicate empathy and understanding and interface with the adolescent child and their parents to better support the relationship, and ultimately to better support the child's diabetes management?” Wiebe and Main continue to collaborate on research. ey have also developed and maintained collaborations with medical professionals at several area health care institutions. “In order for us to continue this important work, it's so crucial for us to continue to make Valley connections,” Main said. Symptoms of diabetes in children include: • Increased thirst • Frequent urination • Extreme hunger • Weight loss • Fatigue • Irritability or changes in behavior Health and well-being: • Racial/ethnic minority youth from low-income backgrounds with T1D consistently display poorer physical health and psychological functioning than non-Hispanic white youth (Borschuk & Everhart, 2015). Your child's rights: • Read about your child’s rights under Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal laws. Diabetes and food insecurity: • If you’re struggling to eat properly on a limited budget or for other reasons, there are resources that can help. Your community likely has a food bank program or food pantry. Or you may qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a USDA program that provides food aid to those in need. Get help: • If you need help with diabetes resources, talk to your doctor or diabetes educator about your situation. They may be able to prescribe lower-cost medications or refer you to programs designed to help with prescription costs. If you need help affording your prescriptions, visit InsulinHelp.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). • For other resources, including nutrition, healthy eating tips, diabetes management best practices add more, visit the American Diabetes Association at https://diabetes.org.

Information from the American Diabetes Association.

17

UC MERCED MAGAZINE // UCMerced.edu