I would have started this 30 Days to the Race on Monday but I have been down with a terrible cold and I have not had a chance to do anything!
I have mustered energy and will start my diary today. My name is ChiChi – Executive Director/Founder of MNIA, Inc. - producers of the Miss Nigeria in America Beauty Pageant. One of our numerous goals include promoting education and to seek global advancement for the Nigerian Woman. We have a very strong mission of “Service and Commitment to our Community and our vision is to “Empower Women through Globalization and Education.”
Having said all that, June 14, 2008, MNIA will ride alongside the Miss Nigeria in America 2007 – Peace Amadi at the 2008 Tour De Cure that will be held at the El Dorado Park in Long Beach, CA and we are preparing for this race.
For the next 30 days, I invite you to join me on my journey as I work out to prepare for this race. I will also share some important information on Diabetes and I hope you all can learn from it. There are questions at the end that I want you to answer to yourself. Ask yourself those questions and get acclimated with Diabetes and other surrounding things. I have provided the website where I got the information from. Please feel free to surf and provide me with feedback. All this information you can read on the Directors Desk at http://www.missnigeriainamerica.org/v2/cont_about_directors.php and also at http://www.nigerianwoman.blogspot.com
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body uses food for energy. Normally, the sugar you take in is digested and broken down to a simple sugar, known as glucose. The glucose then circulates in your blood where it waits to enter cells to be used as fuel. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move the glucose into cells. A healthy pancreas adjusts the amount of insulin based on the level of glucose. But, if you have diabetes, this process breaks down, and blood sugar levels become too high.
There are two main types of full-blown diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes are completely unable to produce insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cells don't respond to it. In either case, the glucose can't move into the cells and blood glucose levels can become high. Over time, these high glucose levels can cause serious complications.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a completely different disease than Type 2. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists believe that it may be a virus that triggers the immune system to attack the cells and permanently destroy them. The pancreas can no longer make the insulin necessary to transport sugar from the blood into the other cells of the body for energy. Sugar builds up in the blood and over time can damage internal organs and blood vessels.
Type 2 Diabetes
A person with Type 2 diabetes has adequate insulin, but the cells have become resistant to it. Type 2 usually occurs in adults over 35 years old, but can affect anyone, including children. The National Institutes of Health state that 95 percent of all diabetes cases are Type 2. Why? It's a lifestyle disease, triggered by obesity, a lack of exercise, increased age and to some degree, genetic predisposition.
All information culled from http://diabetes.about.com
Questions
1. Does Diabetes run in my family?
2. If so, what kind of Diabetes does my family member have?
3. Am I fully aware and informed about Diabetes and the type of Diabetes that my family member has?
These questions are intended to help you become more aware about Diabetes and educate about it.
ChiChi
MNIA, Inc.
Miss Nigeria in America 2008
Live from Los Angeles, CA
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