What You Might Not Know About Jay Cutler

I have never been a Chicago Bears fan, largely because one of my best friends practically worships the Bears. I root for the Washington Redskins, and my friend constantly reminds me of that NFL championship game in 1940 that the Bears won -- 73-0. Never mind that the game was played 10 years before I was born, or that the Redskins defeated the Bears two yers later, or that the Redskins have won their share of Super Bowls in recent history. My friend makes sure that the 73-0 score is all I remember from that football rivalry.

So on some levels, it pains me to say this. I hope the Bears win the Super Bowl this season. Why? I like their quarterback, Jay Cutler, and respect what he has accomplished on the field despite having type 1 diabetes. Don't think the disease has held him back. Cutler is one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League and is a big reason why the Bears are 8-4.

Most football fans probably don't know that Cutler has diabetes. But if the Bears win the Super Bowl, expect the issue to come front and center.

Here's what he had to say in an interview with Diabetes Forecast: "I want to play as well as IU can on the field, but I really want to use my story to reach as many people as I possibly can with this disease -- especially kids. Before diabetes, I wanted to win a Super Bowl, have a long career.I still will want to win. But I also want to help make people more aware of the issues faced by people with diabetes. I don't want to just be a face. I want to be hands-on and make a difference. I think I got this for a reason. I know I have the opportunity to help to change lives. I definitely want to continue to have an impact and inspire kids with the message that diabetes doesn't have to stand in the way of achieving their own goals in life."

See why I want the Bears to win the Super Bowl?

Cutler has never made excuses, or asked for sympathy. But he faces far different challenges than other quarterbacks. While quarterbacks, such as Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, are going through last-minute preparations before a game, Cutler is checking his blood sugar level a half a dozen times -- and taking an insulin shot if his reading is too high. He continues to check his blood sugar readings during the game.

On the field, he's one of the toughest competitors in the game -- and that's what the fans see. Off the field, there's another side to Cutler that most fans don't know. Eli Lilly & Co. donates $1,000 to the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Camp for chilren for every touchdown pass he comples and $100 for every pass he completes. Cutler regularly appears at the camps to tell what it's like to be a star athlete with diabetes.

He reaches hundreds, if not thousands of people, through his efforts. If he wins a Super Bowl, Cutler will reach millions with his promotion for diabetes awareness.

Go Bears!

Overcoming Diabetes

It's hard to believe it, but the holidays are just around the corner. For people with diabetes, or those who are battling weight issues, it's not always a pleasant time of the year -- when turkey and all the trimmings are piled high on the plate and favorite pies are readily available, before and after dinner.

Of course, we didn't even get to the warm-up to this food/sugar/carb extravaganza, which is Halloween. To those with diabetes, especially, the season provides more tricks than treats.

So how can people better cope with the mountain of holiday temptations shoved in front of our faces? Dr. SeAnne Safaii a registered dietitian and assistant professor of dietics at the University of Idaho, will provide some answers during a seminar sponsored by Lions District 39W on Saturday, Nov. 10. The free seminar, titled "Overcoming Diabetes -- Information That Can Save Your Life" -- will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Plantation Country Club. Seating is limited, so please send me an RSVP by calling 830-7832, or by email (lionchuckm@gmail.com).

Dr. Safaii's presentation will be a highlight of the event. And you don't need to have diabetes, or be overweight, to appreciate the importance of healthy eating during the holiday season. She has written hundreds of newspaper articles and delivered many keynote presentations on matters such as cancer prevention, medical nutrition therapy, feeding children, intuitive eating and overall wellness. As the UI describes, "She brings a unique blend of practicality and freshness to everyday nutrition advice, which has made her a highly sought-after speaker and workshop leader for professional and consumer groups across the country."

As the mother of three teens/young adults, Dr. Safaii understands the challenges of getting families to eat healthy foods and be physically active. She has served as chair for Idaho's Action for Healthy Kids, past president and media representative for the Idaho Dietetics Association, the Governor's Task Force on Nursing and state adviser for the Idaho Health Occupations Students of America.

The seminar will have more. On the "Overcoming Diabetes" side, I will be joining Erin Matson, a registered nurse, in telling our stories about living with diabetes and some complications we have experienced. The bottom-line message is that diabetes is not a death sentence. It can be controlled and managed, and the effects can be reversed.

On the "information" side, Lisa Gonser, the marketing and communications manager for St. Luke's Humphreys Diabetes Center, will discuss services and programs available there. Humphreys, a world-class diabetes education center, has been a lifeline to thousands of people with diabetes. Also on the program are representatives with Active Health Chiropractic, who will discuss overall wellness. The seminar will conclude with presentations from Take Shape for Life and My Fit Foods, which offer products aimed at helping people lose weight, lower blood sugar levels and reduce or eliminate insulin consumption.

It's an ambitious program, and the best part is that it is free. Donations will be accepted, with proceeds going to the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation -- an organization that also is dedicated to increasing diabetes awareness.

Saturdays are always tough days to conduct health seminars. But if you have diabetes, or weight issues, this seminar will be well worth your time. Indeed, there will be information that can save your life.

Chuck Malloy is the Lions District 39W chair for Diabetes Awareness. The district covers southwestern Idaho and Eastern Oregon.

Diabetes and Discrimination

I frequently receive material from the American Diabetes Association, which offers a multitude of useful information about coping with type 2 diabetes. Here's one of the recent postings from the American Diabetes Association.

Neal is 54 years old and was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He works as a teller at a very busy bank. Neal needs to take several breaks during the day to check his blood glucose level and have a snack if necessary. Neal talks to his manager about needing regular breeaks. His manager says that Neal can only take breaks when the bank is not too busy. Withy the constant flow of customers, some days it's hard for Neal to take breaks when he needs them, or any breaks at all.

What should Neal do?

• Nothing and take really quick breaks when the bank is less busy.
• Nothing for fear of being fired for taken too many breaks.
• Quit because he feels he'll be fired anyway if he takes the breaks when he needs.
• Realize he has rights as a person with diabetees and must be allowed to take breaks even when the bank is very busy.

The answer is D!

A person with diabetes has rights under the American with Disabilities Act. Your employer must make reasonable accommodations so you can care for your diabetes. Neal should politiely explain to his employer that regular breaks are necessary for his medical condition and protested under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He may need to follow up with his request in writing.

If you have any questions about discrimination, please call 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383) to get help from a legal advocate, or visit diabetes.org/discrimination to learn more.

So you think we're fat now?

Just when you think it couldn't get worse in terms of obesity in America ... Check out the report released this month by Trust for American Health and the Robert Wood Foundation. The report title says it all: "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future."

Here's what we're looking at by 2030, less than 20 years from now. If America continues at its current pace, all states will have an obesity rate of more than 44 percent by then. Mississippi and Oklahoma are projected to have obesity rates of more than 66 percent, and 39 states will be above 50 percent. At the moment, Mississippi leads the nation with an obesity rate of 34.9 percent, so the rates will just about double. Idaho's obesity rate, which is 27 percent, will jump to more than 53 percent.

In laymen's terms, obesity is defined as 30 pounds overweight according to height-weight charts. So we're talking about doubling the number of people at least 30 pounds overweight.

The bottom line is, we're killing our kids. If projections end up being true, we'll see dramatic increases in type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Health care costs will go through the roof.

The report has several policy recommendations, including:

• Fully implement the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act by implementing the new school meal standards and updating nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages in schools;
• Make physical education and physical activity a priority for education;
• Fully support healthy nutrition in federal food programs; and
• Encourage full use of prevention health care services and provide support beyond a doctor's office.

These steps would help, but realize that we cannot count on government to solve the problem. It starts with parents promoting good nutrition at home, and setting an example. A child isn't likely to pay much attention if the parents are 50 pounds overweight.

Silent Killer hits home

My late brother, Mike, was always big on taking great family vacations -- taking his kids to places such as San Francisco and the San Diego Zoo. A lot of special memories came from that trip and my nephew, Ryan, has carried on that tradition with his wife and six boys.

In the past couple of years, Ryan and his family has gone to Disneyland, and he's planning another trip there in January. Good for him. He puts in a lot of long hours and saves up money to make the trip. But the vacation, and the memories about those good times, are well worth the 72-hour work weeks. I'm convinced that Ryan is just about the best father in the world; in my book, nobody can ask for a better nephew.

My hope is that Jack will be taking trips to Disneyland, or wherever, for a very long time. My fear is that his excessive weight at some point will prevent him from taking those wonderful vacations -- let alone working 72 hours a week.

Those fears would be immediately erased if Ryan were to get his weight to about 190. He weighed almost 270 pounds earlier this year, and a hernia operation took him down to just over 250 pounds.

To fully appreciate Ryan's situation, put 60-70 pounds of bowling balls in bags and carry them around on your shoulders. Do that for 20 years, and your body breaks down -- knees, hips and feet to mentioin a few. Obese people can live into their 40s, 50s and beyond, but not without severe health problems.

I have told my nephew that the train wreck that lies ahead if he continues with his weight pattern. He's opening the door for a heart attack, diabetes, knee and hip replacements. If he has a heart attack, or diabetes, he'll have to slow down at work. When that happens (not if, but when), he'll lose his job -- as I did years ago with the combination of diabetes and near blindness.

Ryan tells me that one reason he has not lost weight is because he feels a lot of pressure, which comes from raising six boys and long hours at work. He feels overwhelmed at times, which is understandable. So one of his outlets is eating big meals. About all he needs to do is cut his portions in half, which to a lot of people is easier said than done. In Ryan's case, it's going to take a lot of determination -- the same level of determination he has used in raising six boys.

If he doesn't do those things, his kids will lose a father and I will lose the greatest nephew ever.

America is getting fatter

When I lived in Arkansas many years ago, Arkansans had a saying: “Thank God for Mississippi.” For as long as I remember, Arkansas has been near the bottom in terms of education, poverty rates and just about every other economic measure. But Mississippi has always been just a little bit lower on the economic totem pole, which gave at least a little comfort to the folks in Arkansas.

Now, there are reasons for everybody to say “Thank God for Mississippi.” But it’s not a laughing matter. According to a recent story by Reuters, Mississippi has the highest adult obesity rate in America at 34.9 percent. Think about that. More than one in three people in Mississippi are classified as obese. It’s a good bet that diabetes rates are on the rise as well.

According to the story, Mississippi heads 12 states with adult obesity rates of more than 30 percent, trailed by Louisiana and West Virginia, according to the report by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Twenty-six of the 30 states with the highest obesity rates are in the Midwest and South, it said. Colorado had the lowest obesity rate at 20.7 percent, ahead of Hawaii and Massachusetts.

For Idaho, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that the Gem State does not crack the top 10 of states with the highest adult obesity rates. The bad news is that Idaho is not in the bottom 10, either – which puts Idaho’s rate somewhere between 20 and 30 percent.

The takeaway message here is that America is getting fatter, and there are some long term implications from that trend. Reuters quoted Jeffrey Levy, executive director of Trust for America Health. But the quotation could come from just about any doctor, or health expert.

"Obesity has contributed to a stunning rise in chronic disease rates and health care costs. It is one of the biggest health crises the country has ever faced," Levy said.

According to Reuters, the analysis was based on state obesity figures provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Obesity is measured using the body mass index (BMI), a number calculated from a person's weight and height. Obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

The top 10 states for obesity and their BMI percentages:

1. Mississippi 34.9
2. Louisiana 33.4
3. West Virginia 32.4
4. Alabama 32.0
5. Michigan 31.3
6. Oklahoma 31.1
7. Arkansas 30.9
8. Indiana (tie) 30.8
8. South Carolina 30.8
10. Kentucky (tie) 30.4
10. Texas 30.4

The bottom 10 states for obesity and their BMI percentages:

1. Colorado 20.7
2. Hawaii 21.8
3. Massachusetts 22.7
4. New Jersey (tie) 23.7
4. District of Columbia 23.7
5. California 23.8
6. Utah 24.4
7. New York (tie) 24.5
7. Connecticut 24.5
7. Nevada 24.5

Killing Themselves with Knives and Forks

People aren’t stupid. They are very well aware that being overweight is a sure ticket to diabetes, heart attacks or death. Doing something about it is another thing, as I found out in recent contact with three friends.

One of my friends (I’ll call him Tom) weighs more than 300 pounds, and has diabetes. He loves to play golf, but lately golf has not loved him. He’s in constant pain, especially in his knees and shoulders – which are important areas in golf.

There’s a solution to Tom’s misery: Lose 100 pounds. It might not cure all of problems, but it would help. If you don’t believe it, put nine bowling balls in a bag and carry it over your shoulders. Then you’d know what Tom is going through in everyday life. Another benefit to losing weight is better control of diabetes.

Tom realizes he needs to lose weight, but he just can’t push himself away from the table. And he has no interest in weight-reduction plans. It’s sad, because Tom’s a great guy.

Another friend of mine, I’ll call him Robert, carries about 260 pounds on his 5-7 frame. He looks like a bowling ball.

Robert, who over the years has had various problems with his knees, will be the first to acknowledge that he needs to take off some pounds. The problem is that his 20-something daughter recently moved back home and is now in charge of cooking family dinners. Robert tells me she does a wonderful job.

“I have no control over it,” he said. “She’s in charge of the dinners, and that’s it.”

I wonder what it would take for Robert to gain control over what he eats. Maybe it will take a heart attack, or a week of intensive care. Robert either is running away from the problem, or denying it exists. But his body is a ticking time bomb.

Another friend, Sherman, is a big, muscular guy in his 30s – too young to be thinking about death, heart attacks, diabetes and those sorts of things. Or so he thinks. I’m guessing that he weighs 270 pounds, which is way too much.

Sherman has gone through some rough times after his wife left him and his two kids a few years ago. A couple of years ago, he married a wonderful stay-at-home mom who loves to cook big delicious meals and Sherman loves to eat them.

“I’m comfortable with my weight and how I look,” he said. “I like my life as it is.”

I can’t blame him. But if he stays at this pace, the kids will be without a daddy and his wife won’t have a husband to cook for.

I pass along these stories, not to make fun of my friends. I was in the same boat about 25 years ago when I weighed 235 pounds, and I didn’t feel the urgency to take action.

Then I contracted diabetes, and my world changed forever. I only hope that my friends make changes before something awful like that happens.

Is diabetes the new "normal"?

You've heard the expression, "Sixty is the new 40".  I used that line a lot-when I was 60.  It doesn't work so well at age 62, and my wife told me to come up with something new.

We can laugh about those sorts of things, but I have a couple of alternative lines that are not so funny.  Ho about this?

• Food is rapidly becoming the new cigarettes of this generation.
• Diabetes is well on its way to becoming the new normal.

There are signs we are heading that direction.  Just  15 years ago, not a single state had an obesity rate of more than 15 per cent.  Now all states are are above 15%, and Idaho is sitting at 25 %.  Obesity rates over the last 15 years have doubled or nearly doubled in 17 states.

If this ugly trend continues-and there is no reason to believe that it won't-kids today won't live to be 60.  Forty will be considered "old".  In today's "Man vs. Food" world, food is replacing cigarettes as a leading threat to America's health.  Let's be honest-if you are overweight, you are a train wreck waiting to happen.  If you are overweight and have diabetes or high blood pressure, the train wreck has already happened and you need a lifeline.

Well, it's one thing for an old geezer like me to be ranting about diabetes and high blood pressure.  What I worry about are the increasing number of 10-year-old couch potatoes.  I worry about the explosion of restaurants that offer delicious foods and encourage people to gorge themselves until their stomachs are about to explode.

When I was growing up in North Idaho's Silver Valley in the 1960s, we didn't have a McDonald's or even a pizza restaurant.  We had a '50s style drive-in just a few houses up the road, but that was mostly off limits.  I remember once-and only once-when circumstances forced me to have a burger and fries at that place.  Today, that's lunch and dinner in some households.

In my day, kids fought boredom by playing baseball throwing around a football, or riding their bikes from one end of town to the next.  Today, too many kids spend their time texting, toying with "smart" phones, or playing video games.  What compounds the problem is they eat like lineman for the Green Bay Packers.

We cannot let this trend continue, and we cannot count on a government program to keep America healthy.  Change must start at home, and parents need to take the lead.

Ron Santo-A True Inspiration

Five gold gloves, nine All-star appearances and 342 home runs (more than all but two third basemen in the Hall of Fame) says it all about Ron Santo's credentials for the Hall of Fame.  What's more amazing is that he did all that while battling Type 1 diabetes. 

Imagine what those numbers might be if he didn't have diabetes, and didn't go through bouts when blood-sugar levels were not going up and down like a yo-yo.  Think what those numbers would be if the management tools in the 1960s and '70s were what they are today.  He played before blood-sugar monitors, insulin pumps or even much knowledge about the disease.  He kept Snickers bars in his locker when he felt blood sugars running low.

During  most of his career, he asked his teammates to keep his disease a secret.  He didn't make it public until 1971.  "I feared that if the Cubs found out and I slumped badly, they would attribute it to the diabetes and send me back to the minors-or worse, release me," Santo wrote in a 2003 article for Guideposts.

Judging by his Hall of Fame numbers, Santo didn't have many slumps and with the possible exception of Brooks Robinson, I doubt if anyone ever fielded the position better than Santo.

The only shame is that Santo's induction into the Hall of Fame came almost two years after his death.  Santo, who was a Cubs broadcaster after hi playing career and one of the most colorful figures in baseball's history, would have given a heck of an induction speech.  He very much wanted his family to be there and enjoy it.  Well...I suppose it's better being late than never.  Although he's no longer with us, Santo's accomplishments will live forever.

But as much as he did as a baseball player, Santo did even more to promote diabetes awareness and raise funds for juvenile diabetes research.  He continued to broadcast Cubs'games, even after heart attacks, a quadruple bypass surgery, two leg amputations and diminished vision-just to show he was not going to let the disease beat him.  According to the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, Santo helped raise more then $60 million toward efforts to cure, better treat, and prevent Type 1 diabetes. 

"It's funny.  I always thought I'd make my biggest mark as a ballplayer but it was after I started speaking up about diabetes that I really made a difference," he wrote in the Guideposts article.

With his induction into the Hall of Fame, Santo still is making a difference more than a year and a half after his death.  Complications from diabetes ultimately took his life.  But he stands as proof that there are no limits to what a person with Type 1 diabetes can accomplish, even with that horrible disease.

My Birthday

Today is my 62nd birthday, which really isn’t noteworthy except that complications from diabetes almost killed me seven years ago. Considering all that, I’m thankful for every birthday that comes up.

At this ripe old age, I feel better than I have in decades — certainly, better than any time in my 50s when I was writing editorials for the Idaho Statesman. Viewing old pictures from my mid-30s and early 40s — when I weighted around 235 pounds — I look much better than I did then (it’s amazing what losing 50 pounds can do for appearance). I play quite a bit of golf (almost always walking the course) and I have started to play slew-pitch softball — which I haven’t done since I was 46.

The moral of the story is that diabetes is not a death sentence. The disease can be managed and the effects can be reversed. But it certainly wasn’t easy, and I know enough about this “silent killer” to realize that I can’t take good health for granted.

The mortality rate for diabetes is astounding. Worldwide, 4.6 million people die from this horrible disease every year — which equates to one person dying every seven seconds. Considering the complications — heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations – death becomes a welcome relief for many, if not most, of those 4.6 million people.

I can speak with some authority about complications, because I have experienced my share. They include: 

• A toe amputation — a procedure that often leads to more serious amputations for people with diabetes.
• Substantial loss of eyesight, which cost me my career nine years ago. The human resources manager at the Statesman told me to “go home and get well,” and that was one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received.
• Five-way heart-bypass surgery in November of 2004, less than a year after I left the Statesman. During a routine visit to my doctor, I mentioned in passing that I had experienced shortness of breath during workouts on the exercise bike. A few days later, a cardiologist told me I was a prime candidate for keeling over with a heart attack. He estimated I was within six months of dying.

There’s a happy ending to this story. My heart is as healthy and strong. My vision has fully recovered and I don’t need glasses, except for reading (I’ve had procedures and surgeries along the way, but there’s no logical explanation for this full recovery). My missing toe does not interfere with my golf game. And … here’s the kicker … the Statesman hired me back on a part-time basis, which fits perfectly with this “semi-retired” stage of my life. The limited schedule allows me to spend more time with Lions Clubs International in promoting diabetes awareness.

Folks have their opinions about the Statesman, both good and bad, but I’d like to say this: People at the Statesman have been on my side every step of the way, and it’s a pleasure for me to work alongside some of my best friends. A special thanks goes to Opinion Page Editor Kevin Richert, a class person who has been a friend and colleague for more than 25 years.

So what caused this dramatic turnaround with my health? I’ve paid more attention to diet and exercise, which is something that anybody diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes should do. Beyond that, I can’t explain why I feel better at 62 than 32. I thank God for the new me, or maybe I’m just lucky.

Either way, it’s sure nice to be celebrating another birthday.

Diabetes and Me

I have been in the newspaper business for more than 40 years and have some accomplishments to show for it in the form of writing awards. But I’d say my greatest accomplishment was writing editorials for the Statesman and Herald-Bulletin (Anderson, Ind.), with complete thoughts and complete sentences.

That’s what diabetes was doing to me – even before I knew I had diabetes.

At both places in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, I remember going to work with the feeling that my head was full of cobwebs. On most days, I felt my mind was in a fog and I wondered how I would make it through the day.

My co-workers, of course, didn’t have a clue what was happening to me. I looked the same as always, my demeanor was about the same and I was continuing to crank out the editorials as usual. But the “silent killer” was doing its damage. I had the symptoms of prediabetes – losing a lot of weight without trying, an insatiable thirst for Gatorade and numbness in the feet. I ignored those symptoms, and dismissed the chronic “mind in a fog” condition to work-related stress. The condition probably had more to do with blood-sugar readings that were going through the roof.

My world changed during a cold, windy March day in 2000. My wife and I were participating in a golf event and during the course of play I developed blurred vision. By the end of the round, I couldn’t see the fairways, the greens or even the cup once I reached the green.

Ironically, I hit some of my best shots of the day during my state of blindness – with the help of my scramble partners. I felt fine, aside from the fact I could hardly see beyond my nose. The next day, I went to an eye doctor, who suspected that I had diabetes. A physician confirmed it. Life has been a roller coaster ever since.

I will discuss my complications in a later entry. But I’d like to leave this post with this message: If you should experience some of the symptoms I described, don’t ignore them. If you are overweight, or have a family history of diabetes, then you are a prime candidate for the disease.

Regular checkups are a matter of life and death. 

Sweet Kids Go to Camp

Almost anything can happen when you get about 60 children (ages 3-7) together for a three-day event. One thing for sure, I’d hate to be the babysitter.

St. Luke’s Humphreys Diabetes Center is taking on this brave task, with help from about 30 nurses, dietitians and volunteers, by hosting the Sweet Kids Day Camp on July 24, 25 and 26 at Julia Davis Park Pavilion 1 (across from the playground). The deadline for registration is July 13. The camp, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. all three days, will have the appearance, and much of the feel, of any event for children.

But this is no ordinary summer camp. It’s for children with Type 1 diabetes (and siblings) – and it’s free of charge. If you have children, or know anyone who has children of that age range with Type 1 diabetes, then for goodness sake GO. Humphreys Diabetes Center has a number of outstanding community-service events, and the Sweet Kids Day Camp is one of the best.

According to information provided by Humphreys, “Sweet Kids Day Camp provides an opportunity for children to make friends with others who are ‘just like them.’ The activities are designed to teach the children about diabetes and help them develop the skills they need to maintain good health. Many of the campers learn how to inject their own insulin at camp by first practicing on brave Humphreys’ nurses.”

It’s one thing for a 60-year-old guy, such as myself to talk about Type 2 diabetes, which often is self-inflicted. But as great as my challenges are in managing the disease, it is much more difficult for children with Type 1 diabetes. They have to manage diabetes for the rest of their lives, and parents have to be especially attentive to their children’s dietary needs.

The wonderful thing about the Sweet Kids Day Camp is that the children know they are not alone. Lots of life-long friendships can occur from an event such as this.

The good news is that diabetes – whether it’s Type 1 or Type 2 – does not equate to a death sentence. A child with Type 1 diabetes can lead a perfectly normal and healthy life, and can do just about anything he/she wants – including becoming a star athlete. Jay Cutler, a star quarterback for the Chicago Bears, is one of a long list of athletes – past and present – with Type 1 diabetes. I’ll write more about him as the NFL season approaches.

For more information about the Sweet Kids Day Camp, call 331-1155, or visit www.hdiabetescenter.org

War on Diabetes

I am declaring war on diabetes.

I can’t think of a better army to fight this war than the Lions Club. There are no doubts in my mind about the urgency of this war. Aside from declaring World War III, I see no greater threat to America’s health and safety than diabetes.

I have had my personal battles with this “silent killer.” It almost ended my life seven years ago. So there’s no shortage of motivation as I take on the assignment as the District 39 W diabetes chair. I look forward to working with District Governor Ashley Seymour to raise awareness about diabetes. For the last year, I have been speaking to Lions Clubs, talking about my complications and the disease on a broader scope. My hope is to speak to all Lions Clubs in the district and encourage fellow Lions to join me on the front lines of this “war.” I also will use this space to explore the issue in greater depth and promote organizations such as St. Luke’s Humphreys Diabetes Center and dedicated individuals who are making tremendous efforts to make the Treasure Valley a healthier community. 

Diabetes awareness is one of the centerpieces of the Lions Club’s overall mission, given the connection between the disease and eyesight. That’s why I joined the Lions Club a little more than a year ago, and that’s why I want to take diabetes awareness to a higher level.

I am a native Idahoan and spent more than 40 years as a newspaper editor writer – including work with what is now the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, the Post Register in Idaho Falls and the Idaho Statesman, where I am doing part-time work. My wife, Vicki, and I have been married for almost 22 years and have lived in Boise for 13 years.

So why is diabetes such a threat to America’s health and safety? The proof is in the numbers, both at home and worldwide. One person dies from diabetes every seven seconds, accounting to 4.6 million deaths a year worldwide. In America, almost 26 million people have this horrible disease and another 79 million people have this ticking time-bomb called “pre-diabetes.” The annual cost for treating diabetes is $174 billion. It is swallowing up our Medicare and Medicare budgets.

We cannot count on the president, Congress or state legislatures to solve the problem. But we can count on organizations, such as the Lions Club, to put in the time and effort it takes to move these alarming numbers in a more positive direction.