A white elephant is a supposedly valuable possession whose upkeep exceeds its usefulness, and it is therefore a liability. Every type 2 diabetic is a valuable possession to someone: a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a daughter, a son...you get the picture. But when it comes to the complications of the disease - it costs the U.S. health system an extra $22.9 billion a year to treat these complications.

"It is a pretty significant wake-up call for people, or should be. It really points out the importance of managing the disease," said Willard Manning, a health economist at the University of Chicago who worked on the report.

Dr. Daniel Einhorn says "the fact that people are still getting complications means we are not using our tools effectively enough," When people fail to follow their diet, exercise and drug treatment plans, the disease leads to complications that boost the total health bill to $57.1 billion. "Either the patient doesn't recognize they have it and complications develop, or they are not good about adhering to their doctor's orders," he said, adding, "We've got to do a better job of managing the disease." Dr. Einhorn serves on the board of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Of course, it's the patient -- NOT the drugs they are using. It couldn't possibly be the drugs.

I love the Geico commercial with the Caveman-- the one where he's in the therapist's office and his phone rings . He says, "My mother's calling. I'll put it on speaker." According to a recent study published in the medical journal Diabetes Care, researchers have found that family communication and problem-solving skills are important for helping young people with type 1 diabetes to manage the condition. Specially tailored family therapy can help teens with type 1 diabetes keep their blood sugar levels under control.

A family-based behavioral therapy program was specifically tailored to address diabetes-related family issues. The program consisted of 12 sessions offered over six months, and included training in "behavioral contracting" techniques for family members and a 1-week parental simulation of living with type 1 diabetes. For their study, the researchers randomly assigned 104 families of teens with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes to the behavioral family therapy program, standard care, or a multifamily support group that included educational elements. While levels of A1C, a measurement of long-term blood glucose control, fell in all three groups over the first six months, A1C levels climbed again in the standard-care and support-group kids, but remained low for the behavioral family therapy group up to 18 months after the program began.

Researchers concluded that the efficacy of a family-based behavioral therapy approach is more effective in improving diabetes control. There is power in numbers especially when it comes to any family affair. See mom and dad - told you so!

I want to share this with those who love someone with diabetes. A mother wrote about her experiences raising a diabetic child, the things she was taught to do versus the emotional struggle of reality. It will touch those of you who love someone with diabetes, whether a child, a sibling, a spouse, a grandparent, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or just a friend. This captures the essence of how deeply this disease can drill into your life.

Today I share this mother's story. Please, read as much as you can. She speaks from her heart and her words exude from her soul. I never knew it could feel like this. I promise you, it's emotionally heavy - it's powerful. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

Please meet Marie. She is a nurturer, an extraordinary mother and a person who loves a diabetic. Marie, thank you again for sharing.

Remember that Saturday Night Live skit Coffee Talk? Well, I happen to frequent a site with the same name and I thought it was a worthwhile share for the public service of stress management. CoffeyTalk offers inspirational wisdom and affirmations to help keep the overwhelming stresses of life in check, and every diabetic knows the importance of managing stress. This site is courtesy of Lissa Coffey, a best-selling author and a Ph.D. who shares ancient wisdom in her refreshing style.

An interesting fact about the way we treat each other and how it affects our stress levels compelled me to share this site. I felt it apropos to share with the diabetic crowd because anything that is scientifically proven to make our world less stressful is an emotional jackpot in my book.

Lissa shares a study from the University of Virginia that has determined scientifically the human touch helps the body respond to stress. And when it is the touch of someone we love, the affect is even more profound. When our partner holds our hand, the effect is that he or she is actually reaching a part of our brain that activates the immune system! Love helps us to live longer, healthier lives. Regular human contact with a loving partner can be like medicine for us.

How about that! Love, something each and every one of us has the ability to manufacture and dispense can affect us like a drug. Mental note: find myself a twitterpated turtledove so I might live to see 100. Thanks for the info, Lissa!