Inspired by Diabetes U.S. National Contest Winners Share Stories of Perseverance and Success in Managing Diabetes
05 June 2008 - 11:39PM
PR Newswire (US)
SAN FRANCISCO, June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Drawing cartoons to
help people manage the psychological challenges of diabetes was not
where Theresa Garnero -- a San Francisco-based nurse -- thought her
career path would lead her. Then a good friend convinced her to
combine a love of drawing with her passion for helping people,
particularly young children. Ten years later, Garnero -- a National
2004-2005 Diabetes Educator of the Year recipient and aspiring
author -- has been recognized not only for her professional work,
but her artistic talents as well, infusing humor into a clever
approach to diabetes management. Garnero, 43, was one of four U.S.
national grand prize winners of the inaugural Inspired by Diabetes
contest, announced today by Eli Lilly and Company and the American
Diabetes Association (ADA). The winners will be honored at a
celebration hosted by the program's Global Ambassador -- Elliott
Yamin, who has type 1 diabetes -- during the ADA's 68th Annual
Scientific Sessions this weekend in San Francisco. The Inspired by
Diabetes Creative Expression competition (inspiredbydiabetes.com)
encourages all people touched by diabetes to share their stories
through visual and written creative expressions -- such as essays,
poems, art and photography. Inspired by Diabetes is a global
collaboration between Lilly and the International Diabetes
Federation's Unite for Diabetes initiative. In the United States,
ADA is serving as the Inspired by Diabetes U.S. national advocate.
The second year of the U.S. national competition will officially
launch this summer. Garnero does not have diabetes but entered the
contest in the health care professional category. Her art entry, a
pin-the-tale-on-the-donkey-style game, asks children to pin a
pancreas on a cartoon drawing of a pig. (The pancreas is the body's
organ that produces insulin to regulate blood sugar levels; in
people with diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin,
often requiring insulin replacement therapy. Garnero says the idea
for the pig came from the fact that they were an early source of
insulin for people with diabetes.) "As a certified diabetes
educator, I continue to witness the impact diabetes has on the
people living with it, their families and global health," Garnero
said in her accompanying narrative. "I am continually inspired to
provide humorous, educational resources that unite the individual,
the family and our international professional community using
positive and visually fun ideas." Inspired by Diabetes builds on
the theme of IDF's World Diabetes Day 2007-08, dedicated to
children and adolescents living with or at risk of diabetes
worldwide. The spirit of the competition is to bring families and
people with diabetes together to raise awareness of the global
burden of diabetes -- and draw particular attention to people who
do not have the resources they need to fight the disease. By
entering the competition, participants have had a direct impact on
the lives of children with diabetes around the world. In honor of
the participants from the United States, Lilly made a $50,000
donation to ADA for scholarships for low-income children to attend
ADA diabetes camps. For each entry into the global contest, Lilly
is donating money to IDF's Life for a Child Program, which provides
life-saving diabetes supplies to more than 1,000 children in 17
developing countries. "We're humbled by the response to the
campaign and the depth of personal experiences communicated in the
stories and expressions received," said Stewart Perry, Chair of the
Board, American Diabetes Association. "We hope these creative
expressions will illuminate the many commonalities of a complicated
disease, reinforce a community of support and inspire people to
realize that they have a lot to contribute in the fight against
diabetes." U.S. Grand Prize winners will have their submissions
entered into the global competition. Winners of the global contest
will be announced this fall. The U.S. Grand Prize winners of the
Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression Competition represent four
categories: Adult with Diabetes, Child with Diabetes, Family Member
or Friend of someone with diabetes and Health Care Professional. --
Adult with Diabetes - Betsy Ray, Colorado After managing diabetes
for 43 years, Ray is working on a master's degree in psychology to
serve as a resource to newly-diagnosed children with diabetes. Her
motivation was born out of her desire to help others see diabetes
in a new light, beyond the often negative constructs of the
disease. Ray entered an essay called "The Journey." "As I reflect
upon challenges I have faced as a result of diabetes ... I must
also acknowledge the rewards," she wrote. "Diabetes has grown my
spirit in a way that no normal life ever could ... It is so far
beyond what I was told my life would be that I can only respond to
the people I meet by telling them 'Anything is possible. You are on
a journey. How you define it is up to you.'" -- Child with Diabetes
- Erin Tetreault, Idaho Tetreault, 17, was diagnosed with diabetes
at age 9. Inspired by her experiences at diabetes summer camp --
where she first learned about the Inspired by Diabetes campaign --
Tetreault hopes that more young people with diabetes can benefit
from the emotional and educational support that these specialty
camps provide. Her painting, "Self-Acceptance," depicts a young
woman wearing an insulin pump. "Four years ago I would have been
too self-conscious to paint my bare stomach with my pump proudly
displayed," she wrote in her accompanying narrative. But because of
diabetes camp, "I've learned to be myself and not worry if I'm
different or not accepted." -- Family Member or Friend - Teresa
Ollila, Colorado Ollila is a mother of two and an avid
photographer. Inspired by her son's diabetes diagnosis at age 3,
she took an interest in capturing the complexity of living with
diabetes by photographing others with the condition in her
community. Ollila's collection of photographs, titled "Living with
Diabetes," reveals the emotional impact of diabetes on people's
lives. "I'm photographing how diabetes affects relationships and
the feelings it provokes to care for others," Ollila wrote in her
narrative. -- Health Care Professional - Theresa Garnero,
California Despite not having diabetes herself, Garnero is no
stranger to this condition. Garnero draws diabetes-focused cartoons
for various medical publications and also serves as a clinical
nurse manager at a major medical center in California. She believes
humor is a necessary component when talking about diabetes, saying,
"If you laugh, you learn." In addition, Garnero will publish a book
in 2008 in conjunction with the ADA that portrays the daily
challenges and achievements possible following a diagnosis. "The
journeys traveled by people with diabetes and their families --
both the ups and downs -- have been inspiring us at Lilly for more
than 85 years," said Matt Beebe, Diabetes Brand Leader, Lilly USA.
"We hope these creative expressions of the diabetes journey, each
representing a unique story, will not only serve as inspiration to
those affected by this condition, but will also help increase
global awareness of diabetes and the unmet needs of those around
the world." The Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression
Competition will begin accepting entries again this summer. To
learn more about Inspired by Diabetes and how to enter the
competition, please visit: inspiredbydiabetes.com. About Inspired
by Diabetes Inspired by Diabetes is a global campaign asking people
moved by the triumphs and challenges of those with diabetes and
those who care for them to express their inspiration and share it
with others around the world. The program is a collaboration
between global champions Eli Lilly and Company and the
International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) Unite for Diabetes
initiative. In the U.S., the American Diabetes Association is the
program's national advocate. For more information, visit
http://www.inspiredbydiabetes.com/ About Lilly Diabetes For more
than 85 years, Lilly has been a worldwide leader in pioneering
industry-leading solutions to support people living with and
treating diabetes. Lilly introduced the world's first commercial
insulin in 1923, and remains at the forefront of medical and
delivery device innovation to manage diabetes. Lilly is also
committed to providing solutions beyond therapy -- practical tools,
education and support programs to help overcome barriers to success
along the diabetes journey. At Lilly, the journeys of each person
living with or treating diabetes inspire ours. For more
information, visit http://www.lillydiabetes.com/. About Eli Lilly
and Company Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is
developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class
pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its
own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent
scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.,
Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for
some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional
information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/.
About Unite for Diabetes and the International Diabetes Federation
Unite for Diabetes is a global campaign committed to raising
awareness of diabetes and celebrating the United Nations' World
Diabetes Day Resolution, which establishes the global agenda for
the coming fight against the diabetes pandemic and designates 14
November as an official UN-observed World Diabetes Day beginning in
2007. The Unite for Diabetes and World Diabetes Day campaigns are
led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Founded in
1950, the International Diabetes Federation is the global advocate
for the 250 million people with diabetes worldwide. It represents
over 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 countries. Its
mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure
worldwide. The main aims of IDF are to: raise awareness of diabetes
and its complications worldwide; promote diabetes education;
influence and bring about change; act as global advocate for people
with diabetes; promote and improve diabetes care; improve clinical
care and access to medication. The International Diabetes
Federation is an NGO in official relations with the World Health
Organization and an associated NGO with the United Nations
Department of Public Information. The International Diabetes
Federation leads the World Diabetes Day campaign. Additional
information is available at http://www.idf.org/. About the American
Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association is the
nation's premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes
research, information and advocacy. The Association's mission is to
prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people
affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides
services to hundreds of communities across the United States. For
more information, call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit
diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in
English and Spanish. P-LLY (Logo:
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http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company
CONTACT: J. Scott MacGregor of Eli Lilly and Company,
+1-317-651-1494 (office). or +1-317-440-4699 (mobile); or Diane
Tuncer of ADA, +1-415-978-3508 (ADA Press Room), or +1-703-299-5510
(office)
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