Jimenez 1 April Jimenez Professor Overman Eng 155 CMP April 12, 2007 National Diabetes Monument To society a monument is a structure, such as a building or sculpture that is valued and preserved for its historic significance. As for a memorial it is something done to commemorate a person, place or event. I consider a memorial a monument and vice-versa. A monument may have a different meaning to certain individuals. To some it may hold special importance, but to others the monument may not be of any importance at all. I believe this is so because everyone does not have to necessarily relate to the monument. For example, I could consider a picture of my grandparents that passed away a monument, but to someone else it may be meaningless. I believe that a monument does not necessarily have to be stones or buildings, but it sure has to bring remembrance of something significant in someone’s personal life. In addition, a memorial should be conveyed by people for its symbolism and not be critiqued by whether it does or not fit the category of a monument. My monument can also be considered a memorial. My memorial is dedicated to those who have struggled with battles of overcoming diabetes, both survivors and individuals that have passed away due to diabetes. Diabetes is a disorder that attacks the cells of a multitude of people. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Also, according to the American Diabetes Association insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, glucose and other foods to produceJimenez 2 energy for every day life activities. There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes develops when “the body's immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells, the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose. This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age” (“Diabetes”). On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes “usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas gradually loses its ability to produce insulin” (“Diabetes”). Type 2 diabetes is mostly associated with older people, obesity, people who have a family history of diabetes, physical immobility, and race/ethnicity. The American Diabetes Association assures that approximately forty to sixty million people are diagnosed with diabetes, which means that 7% of the population in the U.S. has diabetes. Out of those forty to sixty million individuals with diabetes about 180,000 are young teenagers ages twenty and under. Diabetes is a disease that could affect anyone young and old and so far it is still a mystery on what causes diabetes, but lack of exercise and obesity do play a vital role in possibly causing diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that affects me on a personal level. My family has a history of having diabetes. Especially because we are of Latino heritage the percentage of being diagnosed with diabetes is much greater. In the United States “diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious health challenges facing the estimated 27 millions Hispanics/Latinos” (“Latinos and Diabetes”). According to the National Institute of Diabetes it is the sixth leading cause of death within the Latino community and the fourth leading cause of death within Latino women and elderly people. This automatically makes me a possible victim because I am Latina. My grandmother struggled with diabetes for several years and laterJimenez 3 died from it. Her passing was a very emotional and dreadful moment in time for my family due to the fact that she is not the only family member that has passed away because of this disease. I have a couple of aunts and uncles who are dealing with diabetes now. Some of them are overweight and others are not. But the truth of the matter is that it is a high possibility that any one of my family members including me can develop diabetes because it is also hereditary. The beneficial aspect of all of this is that doctors are working around the clock to come up with an explanation of how diabetes develops and functions. Nowadays, doctors are working non-stop to see what really causes diabetes, and how to treat it. Walkathons are being held to fundraise money that benefits Diabetes Foundations. But I would really want to create a monument that pays tribute to the people who are living and struggling with diabetes, the individuals that have passed away because of it, and of course, those who overcame this terrible disease. I feel that a monument like this will bring people together to pay their respects and be supportive and let those who have dealt with or are dealing with diabetes know that they are not alone. I feel that this monument should also be a national memorial, but should also be in many different cities, especially the ones that show a high rate of citizens with diabetes. There are many different ideas and aspects into building a monument. My monument will be titled the National Diabetes Monument. I would build an eight-foot ribbon made out of purple marble, sort of like the Breast Cancer Ribbon, but purple. Also, on the monument I want to have inscribed: To Those Who Live And Struggle With, Passed Away From, and Overcame DIABETES. Furthermore, in the center of the monument I want to place a plaque with a famous quote from Laura theJimenez 4 Glucose Goddess who struggles with Diabetes, “DON’T DIABETES, LIVabetes.” I feel that this quote has a lot of significance behind it. Because when individuals visit the monument it will help them realize that it is better to think that they are living with diabetes rather than suffering from it and be depressed. In addition, when individuals visit the monument I encourage every single person to reflect on their life and be grateful for what they have, whether they are healthy or not. My ultimate goal for this monument is that I want people who visit the monument to put issues aside like war, politics and hatred, and somehow relate to it whether or not they have diabetes. My intention for them is to think of all those who have a disease or have passed away from it, or even survived it, such as a family member a friend or a loved one. I would be forever happy if and when the