- Target:
- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
- Region:
- GLOBAL
To whom it may concern,
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
I want to make a positive difference in this world, as many of you already know, my children are my "why".
April 9, 2019 - we almost lost our amazing ten year old boy, he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder which attacks the b-cells in his pancreas, they call this Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is different from type 2 diabetes, according to research, type 1 is not curable, and people affected by it, are insulin dependent for the rest of their lives.
Glucose levels must be monitored and checked 4 - 6 times a day, this is done by pricking the finger in order to draw enough blood for the test strip, which is then read by a glucose monitor. Health, emotional wellbeing, stressors, greatly impact the number outcome, (if the person has a cold, or flu, multiply that by 2), and if numbers are high, adjustments are made with insulin shots this is necessary, as the patient could be hospitalized if levels continue rising. If numbers a low, the patient risks are also high, they could lose consciousness, if not treated promptly, the situation is life threatening.
Additionally, type 1 diabetes patients have to test their glucose levels prior to eating, they must carb count, and adjust accordingly prior to food intake. But how can one correct and adjust levels accordingly without knowing how many carbs are in a dish ahead of time?
As a family, we're adjusting to the new "normal" including going out to eat, like any other family. Sure, we worry about birthday parties, going to friends homes, and what he could eat, but what we encounter time after time, is the lack of awareness from diners, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. Sure, there are apps, but they're not always functional, and on multiple occasions, we've gone to restaurants where cell service was poor, and couldn't connect to any server, so a normal dinner turned out to be not so normal.
There's a federal law in place for healthier living, which makes restaurants display calories, but why not carbohydrates?
Type 1 diabetes doesn't discriminate, let's help bring awareness to this autoimmune disorder and help our community understand.
Type 1 diabetes can greatly benefit and increase their quality off life, by having restaurants, diners, and coffee shops, etc. display carbohydrate count.
Let's help Type 1 Diabetes Patients Manage Their Carbohydrate Intake.
The Food and Drug Administration has estimated that the new menu labeling regulations would affect 298,600 retail food establishments, organized under 2,130 chains, in the United States, let's expand beyond calories., and to include carbohydrate counts as well.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Carbohydrate count on restaurant menu for Type 1 Diabetes petition to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE was written by Anna Lanuza and is in the category Health at GoPetition.