Book of Secrets

     It is crucial for people with chronic diseases to learn as much as they can about their respective conditions so that they can effectively and manage their health issues.

     My brother, Allen Perry, understands this just as much as I do. It was because of his interest in my health that he acquired a copy of "50 Secrets of the Longest Living People With Diabetes" by Sheri R. Coldberg, Ph.D., and Steven V. Edelman, M.D. .

      I discovered that the book was tremendously useful for understanding the dangers of potential diabetic complications, and yet reassuring through its dozens of tips for managing my blood sugar. These tips were organized into sections that included dietary, medicinal, and exercise.

     In an email conversation with co-author Dr. Sheri Colberg, I was given the following advice on managing my Type 1 diabetes as a college student:

     "The trick always is to live life first and be diabetic second, but if you don't manage your diabetes well, that will not be possible. So, you have to find a way to keep your blood sugars in control so that you can focus on other (more important) things!"

     I recommend this book for anyone living with diabetes, as well as other books by Dr. Sheri Colberg. For more on these books and the author herself, check the following link to her website.   

http://www.shericolberg.com/

Your Office for Disability Services

 

     College students face a number of challenges during their university studies, and those challenges are even more arduous for people with disabilities. In response to this issue, almost every university in the United States has made an effort to reasonably accomodate students with disabilities. At George Mason University, that is the Office of Disability Services

      

     According to their official website, The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is an on-campus department that is trained to assist students that qualify for aid. This qualification is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation  Act.

      

     “A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment," according to the Eligibility for Services page on the website.  

      

     Students that qualify can receive a wide range of benefits from the department, such as housing and academic accommodations as well as priority registration for classes.

     Sarah Vasilakos is a sophomore at George Mason University who has had a gastrointentinal disorder her whole life. She was granted both priority registration and housing accommodations for her condition, and since then she says her student life has greatly improved.

     “I have a single room in Northern Neck, and I have later classes so that if I am having a bad health-spell I don’t have to wake up early, therefore comprising my health even more,” she said in an interview.

     Like Sarah, I also received priority registration for my Type 1 diabetes, and my student life has greatly improved as well. For others that have similarly chronic conditions, I would highly recommend visiting your disability services on-campus.

     For students at George Mason University, the following is a link to the ODS website.   
     http://ods.gmu.edu/

Counting on Campus

     Counting the amount of carbohydrates in every meal is one of the most important goals in managing control of blood sugar levels.The situation is even more drastic for Type 1 diabetics like myself that are dependent on insulin dosages based on those carbohydrate counts.

    This routine is difficult in stressful environments that foster unhealthy eating habits, such as college campuses. 

     Lois Durant, the resident dietitian with George Mason University dining services, understands this and does her best to keep the students informed on what they are eating, such as the advertisement of nutrition facts in major dining areas.

    "It is the best point of contact to have the information," she said in an interview. "Labels on the front of packaging are also coming soon, but that is only part of the puzzle. The other part is customer participation."

    Lois Durant has been the resident dietitian with GMU dining for the past eight years. Before that, she was a food service director at the Laudon County Hospital of Virginia.

    Having this information available is a huge asset for the many students on campus that endure dietary restrictions.

    As for tips on between meal snacks and such, here is a link to a helpful list of diabetic-friendly, low-carb snacks.

http://diabetes.ufl.edu/files/2009/08/Low_Carb_Snack_Menu_12.081.pdf