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In January 2008, my 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes.
 

Thanks to her wonderful medical team, supportive school personnel, fabulous places like the Robert K. Sweeney Summer Fun Days camp, and the information and hope provided by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Gianna is doing fantastic. She is a happy young lady who loves to dance and sing. She’s learning to swim “in the deep end,” and she’s excited to be going to 1st Grade.

Still, every day is a journey for her and for our entire family. We look to what the future might bring to ease the burden of this disease. for her and for the many children who have the disease. That is why I am supporting JDRF in the Walk to Cure Diabetes. There will be three walks on Long Island this year, and I’d like to invite you to participate.
 

What is Diabetes?

Juvenile Diabetes, also called Type 1, is the result of a failure of the pancreas to produce insulin, which regulates blood sugars as we eat. As a result, children (and adults) with this type of Diabetes are insulin dependent, whether through injections or by means of an external insulin pump. Diabetes is not contagious. You cannot catch diabetes from someone who has it. Researchers continue to study how and why diabetes occurs in certain children and families. Although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be controlled.

Serious Health risks.

It is tricky business trying to regulate the bodies chemistry like and internal organ would. In reality there is no way to know how much insulin to inject with 100% accuracy.  Many factors influence how much insulin people need to get to the desired "perfect balance" of glucose and insulin. These factors include foods with different absorp­tion rates as well as the effects of stress, illness, and exercise.  Also, as children grow, their insulin needs change. Since determining how much insulin the body needs to "balance" the amount of glucose is really a best guess, sometimes the guess is inaccurate and high or low blood sugar results.

High blood sugar levels over a number of years can cause serious damage to the body's organ systems.  This damage may cause complications affecting the heart, nerves, kidneys, eyes, and other parts of the body.  A number of studies, however, have proven that careful monitoring and control of blood sugar levels greatly reduces the threat of these complications.  Researchers are also making progress at developing new treatments and technologies to help people with diabetes stay healthy.  It's important to remember that people with diabetes can lead active and productive lives, just like anyone else.

How YOU can help in finding a cure!
 

By joining the smiles & grins photography team, you can support JDRF and earn bonus awards toward creating your own family portraits. Join us on the walk and get our specially designed team t-shirt. Make your own tax-deductible donation to JDRF or raise money through pledges and receive special gift cards for portrait services and products.

For more information, go to  www.walk.jdrf.org and register for the Walk to Cure Diabetes. Be sure to register as a member of the smiles & grins team to be eligible to earn our exclusive rewards for your fundraising efforts. We will walk as a team at the November 1 Walk to Cure Diabetes in Riverhead. This is a Halloween Walk - costumes are encouraged - and definitely promises to be a grand time for all. There will even be (non-sweet) treats for the kids.

And don’t forget to go to subscribe to the smiles & grins photography Newsletter. It will keep you up-to-date on incentives available exclusively to our team members.

Celebrate your family  +  support JDRF  + s hare a wonderful family experience  =  What Matters Most.

All the best to you and your family,

Dana

**Make a tax-deductible donation to JDRF of $250 or more and get a free portrait session. **

***Make a $600 or more donation to JDRF and receive (2) personal portrait sessions***
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