Thanks for the friend request, I appreciate your posts bringing up the possibility of environmental factors being involved in diabetes it's an issue that needs more research.

I went to the website you linked and reread the arsenic page. It would seem that right now the evidence is that low levels of arsenic do not cause diabetes. I would tend to think my levels of exposure would be classified as low level. I did not work with treated wood everyday and would often go months with no contact with it, so I feel it would be dishonest of me to claim that my exposure to treated wood caused my diabetes. In the end who knows.

Keep up the good work.

Sometimes I think I do have type 1.5 - I've been misdiagnosed on the Graves issue as well as several others. I have always been a very allergic person - everything from dish soap to most tree and grass pollen, and dust...I seem to become more reactive to environmental things like pollutants, etc, as I get older. Thanks for the dialogue. Take care. DD

Yes, I've been tested for autoantibodies - I first was diagnosed with Graves Disease (autoimmune hyperthyroiditis) at the Cleveland Clinic - I lost over 30 lbs in just under 2 weeks - they tested me and found that I had antibodies against my thyroid - In 2006 I had my thyroid gland treated with radioactive iodine to destroy it and have been on thyroid supplements ever since...I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and a mild case of scleroderma (a cousin to lupus...) then...with type 2, insulin-dependent diabetes and arthritis...I am challenged every day. Right now I am very tired from sitting up most of the day (even though I had a little nap). I received my social security disability in 2004. I do the best I can. But, I do believe that most of the autoimmune disorders have to have some sort of environmental trigger - there are so many hormone disrupting agents in our environemnts...!!!

I decide to contact to to one of the many international and national organisations for diabetes or to IDF for not to ask them for help but to ask them where I might be able to find help or I have to say that here is no national diabetes association in Georgia.- I am kindly asking you that: Is there a role for me there, with my language? Is anyone trying to get such an organisation started?

I whant to say that you can looked into the situation in Georgia, and it does indeed seem that the origin of my problems is structural, with large numbers of people in a similar predicament. The WHO has a long report on the Georgian health care system at http://www.euro.who.int/document/E92960.pdf. Low insurance coverage and increasing out-of-pocket payments for health are leading to financial access barriers to basic health services, as indicated by the fact that one out of four Georgian citizens cannot afford prescribed laboratory diagnostic tests and one out of ten cannot purchase prescribed medicine or go to the hospital due to financial hardship.

So, Please let me know if there is any chance forme, if not I kindly ask you to send information where I can email my letter for ask them where I might be able to find help, or Is there a role for me there, with my experience of knowledge (on diabetes).

Thank you for attention.

Yours sincerely,
Natalia Devrisashvili

Dear Sarhow,

Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Natali Devrisashvili. I was born in Tbilisi,Georgia, on September 20, In 1984. I have a husband and a 3 years old boy. I have diabetes type 1 since 1988. In 2005 due to diabetic retinopathies I have several problems with my vision and had 9 surgeries on my eyes. Right now I have silicones in my eyes. besides I am not insured because insurance companies do not insure chronic diseases.

The first I whant to say that there is not exict the Georgian Diabetic Association in Georgia. Here exists only the Diabetian Children Association, wich provides the tests-trips for gloucouse, the penfil insulins and endocrinology and eye doctor appointment free of charge till the age of 18.

I sent my enquiry to International and Non-Govarmental Organizations for help, but they reply me that: they are unable to help me because of various causes.

Hi,

My two-year-old daughter was diagnosed in February, but is not yet on the pump. We tried using the I-Port, but she had a really hard time with it and it has scared me away from the pump for the time being. You certainly make a good case for the pump in your comment in the toddler discussion. Thanks for your perspective.

Paige

Hi, sarhow!! Welcome aboard.

Here are a few tips on how to make the most of the site:
http://tudiabetes.com/forum/topic/show?id=583967%3ATopic%3A10871

If you find the community useful, I'd be honored if you could share news about it with family, friends, colleagues, readers and anyone whom you feel may benefit from it.