With a glucose meter tucked in his pocket, Jerry Nairn, 49, of Chandler,Arizona, completed his first marathon in 1998. Since then he has run atotal of 44 marathons and two ultra-marathons despite having type 1diabetes. A runner since junior high school, Nairn's passion for longdistances has grown so much so that he runs between 30 and 50 miles perweek and travels across the country to participate in marathons. "I'm moreor less always training for a race," he says. "I think in general it helpskeep me healthy."

Morris Older, 60, of Orinda, California, noticed his legs were numb andtingly a few years before he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes andneuropathy. He enrolled in a four-week diabetes education course and wasamazed by the things he learned both about diabetes and himself. "We wentover my diet and I was shocked," he tells Diabetes Forecast. "I wassomebody who thought I was eating really well. I was into natural foods."In six months, with the help of a diabetes-focused meal plan, exercise, andoral medications, Older's A1C dropped from 12.4% to 4.8%. For him, beingsuccessful is being able to live a normal, physically active, life -- likegoing out for a 23-mile hike. "If I wasn't successful in managing mydiabetes, I couldn't do that."

Naomi Kingery of Simi Valley, California, was diagnosed with diabetes justas she was entering her teenage years. Today, at 19 years old, she haswritten and published a book about growing up with diabetes and itsemotional ups and downs. Her book was inspired by a hospital stay whereshe met another person with diabetes. "He was negative, and hehated his life," says Kingery. "I said, 'I'm not going to be like that. Ineed to stay positive.'" Her positive attitude towardcoping with diabetes has become an inspiration to others -- the rolediabetes has played in her life was her topic when speaking at her college."You need to say, 'I love my body not despite diabetes, but withdiabetes.'"

Also in the December 2008 issue:

Blindness, amputations, and heart attack. These are only a few of thegrave complications that can result from diabetes, but how does diabetesincrease the risk of these complications and how can they be avoided?Covering both microvascular (small vessel) and macrovascular (large vessel)complications, this article explains the connection between diabetes anddiabetes-related complications, examines symptoms, and provides advice forprevention. There is also information on other complications such asdepression, skin disease, and gum problems.

In addition, this issue of DiabetesForecast brings you information about:

• Staying healthy during cold & flu season: 5 ways to boost yourimmunity





• Surviving the Holidays: how your emotions can trigger your appetite andways to avoid this emotional eating





• Learning to relax: what stress can do to you emotionally andphysically, the effects it can have, and what you can do to minimizestress

The American Diabetes Association isleading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fightingfor those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent,cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities;provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to thosedenied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, its mission isto prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all peopleaffected by diabetes. For more information, please call the AmericanDiabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visitwww.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available inEnglish and Spanish.

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