Health Topics in Steel Magnolias

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In Steel Magnolias, several health topics are highlighted. Shelby’s Type 1 diabetes as well as the importance of live organ donation are issues that are central to the story. While many people are vaguely familiar with both of these health topics, they are often misunderstood until one’s life is touched by them directly.

30.3 million people in the U.S. have some form of diabetes (9.4% of the U.S. population). Another 84 million people have prediabetes.

TYPE 1 VERSUS TYPE 2 DIABETES WAYS TO HELP PREVENT DIABETES

Type 1 is an unpreventable autoimmune disorder. Most people with Type 1 have a genetic predisposition to the disease and it is often, but not always, diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults.

Type 2 diabetes is a more preventable disease, although genetic predisposition does factor into the equation. Some ways to reduce your risk of Type 2:

Type 1: In Type 1 diabetes, one’s pancreas completely stops making insulin. It is considered an autoimmune disorder because the body starts attacking the beta cells that create insulin until it destroys them almost completely. Those with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day for the rest of their lives in order to keep their blood sugar in safe ranges. There is currently no cure or reversal of Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes can lead to many other health problems if blood sugar is not controlled. Type 2: In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin, but one’s body doesn’t process it correctly (insulin resistance). In this case, the pancreas should make more insulin to compensate, but it does not. The combination of these two factors means that glucose does not effectively get moved from the blood into the cells. Type 2 often develops in people over the age of 40 or with other risk factors. Depending on the severity of deficiency, Type 2 can sometimes be managed with diet, exercise, and medication. If necessary, people with Type 2 may also need to take insulin if other treatment plans do not work.

• Exercise

• Healthy Diet • Keep a healthy body weight • Increase whole grains and fiber • Regular check-ups with your doctor

ORGAN DONATION

As of this writing, 107,869 people in the United States need an organ transplant with over 65,000 on active waiting lists. Almost 6,000 live donor transplants occurred in 2020, with over 39,000 transplants occurring across the country from both live and deceased donors.

• Every 10 minutes someone else is added to a transplant list.

• 7,000 deaths occur in the U.S. each year because an organ donation is not made in time.

• 85% of patients waiting are in need of a kidney.

Indicating that you wish to be an organ donor on your driver’s license and letting loved ones know your wishes in the case of your death is a vital piece in the organ donation puzzle. You can also register on the National Organ Donor Registry at donatelife.net.

• If you were to donate your organs - you could save up to 8 lives. • If you were to donate your corneas - you could restore sight to up to 2

people.

• If you were to donate your tissue - you could heal the lives of 75 people.