As a Type 1, insulin dependant diabetic, I read your article "Increasing health awareness crucial part of Diabetes Day" (Nov. 14) with interest and excitement, but was astounded at what I read. Your explanation of Type 1 diabetes horrified me. Diabetes is a general name given to several different pathologies, and the media has once again explained it incorrectly, causing misinformation to be perpetuated in your readers' minds.

The article said, "Type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin and must be supplemented with pumps or injections to manage blood sugar." This is incorrect. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces NO insulin, making it necessary to take insulin subcutaneously to manage blood glucose level. The idea of supplementing insulin implies that there is some naturally occurring. Type 2 diabetes is described more accurately in your article, because the body doesn't produce enough insulin to support the size of the patients' body. As a Type 1 diabetic since the age of 8, the misinformed public constantly tells me how I should manage my "sugars," because they don't understand the difference, and it's infuriating. Health awareness is important, especially on campus, but fact checking is more so.

Eric Nicholas Beachy

Bellefonte, Pa.