Dog Tags Raise Awareness for Diabetes

Dog tags raise awareness for diabetes care and research, fashionably
Nick Jonas of the popular boy band the Jonas Brothers has recently joined the fight against Type1 (Juvenile Diabetes). To help raise awareness during this year’s Diabetes Awareness Month, the youngest Jonas Brother has personally designed a special diabetic medical alert dog tag  — available only at nickssimplewins.com — he hopes will encourage kids and their families and friends to show their support while raising money for diabetes care and research. As a Type 1 diabetic, Nick and his family know firsthand the hardships of living with this disease and are actively seeing ways to make it easier for people young and old.

According to recent studies by the Center for Disease Control, the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Express Scripts and the Kansas Health Institute, juvenile diabetes has more than doubled in the last five years, while the total number of people diagnosed in the U.S. with diabetes has risen by more than 90 percent in the past decade. Today, more than 15 million Americans suffer from the disease. It’s nothing to be taken lightly. In fact, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.

Until there is a cure for diabetes, it’s important we do everything we can to prevent and treat the symptoms of the disease. While genetics play a role in your diabetic risk, the truth is, lifestyle is a significant factor for many diabetics. In fact, excess weight, inactivity, high blood pressure and poor diet are major risk factors for the development of diabetes.

If you already have diabetes, a 10-year study by the multi-center Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) has shown that intensifying diabetes management with stricter control of blood sugar levels can reduce long-term complications and dramatically slow the onset and progression of diabetic complications in both Type I and Type II diabetes. There are hundreds of glucose monitors to choose from. Experts say the biggest factor in finding the right device for you is simple: look for features that will make it easy for you to use every day. 

Throughout the month of November, we encourage you to support the fight against diabetes. Whether it’s a donation to organizations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the American Diabetes Association, a lifestyle change to reduce your risk, or simply a few minutes of your time on the internet learning more abut those who struggle with diabetes everyday, it’s important that we work together to beat this growing disease. Every little bit counts.