Vim & Vigor - Spring 2017 - Parrish Medical Center - 31

BEYOND
THE BODY

an organization that funds
type 1 diabetes research.
About 1.25 million Americans
have type 1 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes
Association. Symptoms include
extreme thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, sudden weight
loss, increased appetite and
sudden vision changes.
The treatment is daily insulin
injections or an insulin pump to
ensure the body gets the right
amount of insulin to manage
blood sugar levels.
It's not a cure, she says. But
with daily insulin and good
blood sugar control, a person
with type 1 diabetes can live a
long and healthy life.

PHOTO BY OJO IMAGES/GLOW IMAGES

Celiac Disease

Some might see "gluten-free"
and think fad diet. But for
1 percent of the population,
it's a potentially lifesaving way
to eat. Talia Hassid, the communications manager for the
Celiac Disease Foundation,
was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2011. She was 22 and

had experienced symptoms for
seven years.
When people with celiac
disease eat gluten (a protein
found in wheat and other
grains), the body's immune
response damages the lining
of the small intestine, which
prevents the body from properly absorbing nutrients.
Symptoms can include
abdominal pain, diarrhea,
vomiting, anemia, fatigue
and joint pain. Left undiagnosed and untreated, celiac
disease can lead to other
autoimmune disorders and
long-term health problems.
It's also possible to have
celiac and not experience
symptoms-but still experience intestinal damage.
The treatment is a glutenfree diet, which works for most
people with celiac disease.
And although a lot of people
switch to a gluten-free diet,
believing it offers health benefits, Hassid notes, "Celiac disease is not a fad. A gluten-free
diet is our only treatment." n

For people with autoimmune diseases, managing
the physical impact of their conditions is critical.
But chronic illness may have a serious effect on a
person's mental health, too.
"We know that depression is higher in adolescence for people with type 1 diabetes," explains
Jessica Dunne, PhD, director of prevention for
JDRF, a group that funds type 1 diabetes research.
Constantly checking blood sugar levels, counting
carbohydrates and maintaining glucose control
during physical activity can be stressful.
"They have the normal pressures of being a
teenager and all of this on top of it," Dunne says.
For kids and adults alike, any chronic illness
can lead to anxiety and stress and eventually
depression, says Gary Gilkeson, MD, chair of the
medical advisory board for the Lupus Foundation
of America. It's critical to have support and
understanding from loved ones. If you've been
diagnosed with an autoimmune disease-or any
chronic condition-talk to your doctor about a
referral to a support group or a mental health
expert who can help you navigate and cope with
your thoughts and feelings.
And, Gilkeson says, focus on all the things you
still can do.
"We highly encourage patients to not change
their life goals or dreams just because they have
lupus," he says.

EVENT

Living Healthy
Parrish Health & Fitness Center
offers a free workshop on making
better nutrition and exercise choices
and communicating with physicians
and family about your health. Call
321-268-6200, ext. 8607.

SPRING 2017

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