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ach week without fail, for at
least 12 hours, Morris T. (Toby)
Breuer mails out free informa-
tion about diabetes.
Volunteering at the American
Diabetes Association (ADA) of-
fices in Bingham Farms, he fills
the requests made through a
toll-free line — (800) DIA-
BETES, which also is the start-
ing point for finding out about
medical referrals, support
groups and speakers.
Sometimes callers want ma-
terials that list symptoms. Oth-
ers request nutritional booklets.
Often parents are looking for
pamphlets about the camp that
serves diabetic youngsters.
Close to 200 packets are sent
out each week to individuals and
health organizations concerned

with the disease that affects the help with administrative re-
way the body uses food, causing sponsibilities. When I saw the
sugar levels in the blood to be dedication of the volunteers and
too high.
the pleasure they were getting
Mr. Breuer has volunteered out of it, I thought that there
his time because of personal ex- would be something more I
periences. Diagnosed with dia- could do.
"I was getting ready to retire
betes 15 years ago, he remains
enthusiastic about helping oth- and looking for a productive way
ers understand the illness and to use my time. The ADA
participates in activities that seemed right because of my con-
raise research funds to combat dition and because I have rela-
tives and friends, old and young,
it.
`Tye been doing this for about who are affected by this prob-
a year and a half," said Mr. lem."
Breuer, one of 16 million Amer-
Dr. Scott Jacober, also diag-
icans with diabetes, although nosed with diabetes and active
only half that number have been with the ADA, is an endocrinol-
ogist who treats diabetic pa-
identified.
"I picked up a brochure on the tients. The immediate past
Walktoberfest and Toby Breuer has a wall President of the ADA
Michigan Affiliate, he
immediately decided to
of information.

stays close to the group's activ-
ities.
"It's important to know how
much diabetes control matters,"
said Dr. Jacober, who takes
great care in watching his own
diet and exercise regimen. "I
think my patients appreciate
that what I ask them to do is
what I do myself, and I believe
it's also important for families
to give their support."
Diabetes control is a very de-
tailed routine. A number of new
medications being tested to
manage the disease or prevent
it.
"I tell my patients if they
work hard, they have a good
chance of not suffering any com-

INFO page 110

PHOTOS BY DANI EL LIPPITT

kArc'j

e

A volunteer
with diabetes
helps the ADA
get the word out.

SUZANNE CHESSLER

THE D ETRO

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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