Summer Memories

I enjoyed your article about diabetes camps ["Camp Rocks!" May '09, p. 53]. I have had type 1 diabetes for 62 years. When I was 7 years old, I attended Camp Kno-Koma in West Virginia for the first time, and it made all the difference to me to learn that there were other kids who had diabetes, too. At camp, I learned to give myself my own insulin shots. My family was so proud! 
Jeanne Harris, Cincinnati

How to Get Carbs Fast

My eyes were drawn to "Carbs: Fast!" in the April issue [p. 37]. I'd like to pass on two surefire remedies that I use when I sense that my blood sugar might be getting low. 

First, I keep Mentos with me at all times: a roll in every purse, backpack, and gym bag, as well as one in each car. Five Mentos have 15 grams of carbohydrate, and they’re easy to chew and tasty. With Mentos, I don't need to rummage for loose candies, nor do I need a spoon or measuring cup.
Second, I buy the small, 4.23-fluid-ounce (125 ml) cartons of juice. The brands that I use, including Juicy Juice and Junior Juice, contain exactly 15 grams of carbohydrate at that size. They're geared to small children, but who cares? Each fits easily in my pocket or purse, in the glove compartment of my car, and on the nightstand. I have had type 1 for 50 years, and these two products have proved themselves over and over again.
Claire Noonan, Los Altos, Calif.

Help for the Unemployed

I have been unemployed for almost a year and have been without health insurance since December 2008. I have done the best I can conserving my insulin pump supplies, test strips, and medications. I have been able to stay in touch with my endocrinologist because of her commitment to her patients and their health.

Thankfully, my doctor started working at a clinic connected to the University of Texas School of Nursing. The UT Wellness Center provides care to people who find themselves unable to pay. The staff helped me obtain prescription drugs at no cost and receive much-needed pump supplies. I had been one month away from not qualifying for the pump supplies. It was very scary to think that I might have had to start taking multiple injections a day, and might have lost the great control I have had for 12 years.

I have had type 1 diabetes for 20 years and have worked hard every day to be in control. Why should a downturn in the economy lead to a downturn in control and health? Please let everyone know of these programs.
Janice Jenkins Acevedo, Austin

The Editors respond: For more about assistance programs, free diabetes education, and information offered through your local American Diabetes Association office, check out "Reaching Out for Assistance" on page 60.

Colitis and Diabetes

I read your Ask the Experts article [March '09, p. 17] about ulcerative colitis and diabetes. I have had both for nine years now. I went through a trial-and-error period finding foods that I could digest. Being lactose intolerant, I had to find an alternative to the milk I had grown up enjoying at least three times a week. I changed from cow's milk to goat's milk. It's creamier, has less lactose, and digests more easily.

As for fruit and veggies, which I also love, I can now eat very few: apples, peaches, grapes, plums, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and cabbage. But I have learned what I can stomach and what I cannot. You have to try many different things to see what works for you.
Billie Jeanne Scott, Lebanon, Ohio

What's in a Glass?

A "fast fact" in the December 2008 issue [p. 31] said: "One glass of orange juice contains 110 calories, 22 grams of sugar, and 26 grams of carbohydrates." This is not helpful! We all have glasses in our cupboards that hold anywhere from 4 to 16 ounces of liquid, maybe more. How is anyone to know what a "glass" means?
Virginia Gaines, Santa Fe, N.M.

The Editors respond: In Diabetes Forecast, when you read "a glass," we are referring to 8 ounces of liquid, unless we specify otherwise. You'll find in research studies and nutrition information that this is accepted as the standard, though it's often not explained. Thanks for pointing this out.

Training for Tour de Cure

Your editorial director's letter "A Pledge and a Challenge" [Forethought, May '09, p. 9] made me reflect on my own history of bike riding.

I too grew up in a city and never learned to ride a bike. When I was in my late 30s, we bought a house where the former owners had left an old bike behind. My husband asked if I would like to learn to ride, and I decided to give it a try. He taught me, which was no easy task, and we did a lot of bike riding on the weekends.

Then, 30 years ago, we moved to a small town where there were no bike trails, bike lanes, or roads with berms.  So I never rode my bike. Finally, about five years ago, my husband, who loves to ride and even rode his bike to work, said: "Why don't you try to ride again?" I did, and on my first try I was spooked by a car. I pressed harder on the left hand brake than the right, and I flew right over the handlebars. That was the end of bike riding for a few more years. Several years later, my husband found a new bike for himself and saw some beginner bikes that were more appropriate for me. A patient salesman helped me regain some of my confidence. We now have lots of bike paths and beautiful landscapes to enjoy, and we enjoy them together on our bikes. I have fallen several times, but I get right back on my bike. I always wear a helmet, padded bike shorts or pants, gloves, and a bright yellow shirt. My bike is set so that when I'm seated, my feet touch the ground.

Thanks for sharing your story—it's nice to know that I am not alone. I love the name of your Tour de Cure team [Training Wheels] and will see if there is something like it in my area.
Estelle Dobrow, Via the Internet

The Editors respond: For more information about Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association's cycling fund-raiser, go to diabetes.org/tour.