Switching Back to the Tslim From the OmniPod and Back Again

After my daughter’s OmniPod insulin pump pod emitted a high pitched continuous alarm during a midterm, she decided to switch back to the Tslim insulin pump. The alarm interrupted everyone taking the exam, and she had to get up and leave the room while the pod still alarmed. She went to the nurse’s office and . . . → Continue reading: Switching Back to the Tslim From the OmniPod and Back Again

Error Messages When Testing Blood Sugar Levels

Error message

Nothing frustrates me more than getting an error message after applying blood to the test strip in the glucometer. These error messages seem way too frequent. Sometimes the blood stops half way. Sometimes there isn’t enough blood. Sometimes the meter has timed out, or the meter is still on the code screen. Sometimes my younger . . . → Continue reading: Error Messages When Testing Blood Sugar Levels

The OmniPod Insulin Pump: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

decoratedpods28

A few months ago, my 8-year-old and 11-year-old daughters switched to the OmniPod from the Tslim and the Animas insulin pumps. After a summer of disconnecting from their insulin pumps for swim team, a pump with no tubing was a welcome relief. The major negative aspect of the OmniPod, however, is that it alarms when . . . → Continue reading: The OmniPod Insulin Pump: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Special Diabetes Program is Renewed for One Year

Good news! The House and Senate approved a 1-year renewal of the Special Diabetes Program at the current level of 300 million dollars: 150 million dollars goes towards Type 1 diabetes medical research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 150 million dollars goes towards Type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment programs for American . . . → Continue reading: The Special Diabetes Program is Renewed for One Year

JDRF Government Days

On March 11th, 2014, 190 JDRF advocates from across the country traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to meet with their legislators to request a 5-year renewal of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP).

The SDP funds medical research to find better treatments and ultimately a cure for Type 1 diabetes. The SDP is set . . . → Continue reading: JDRF Government Days

New to the t:slim insulin pump

My ten-year-old daughter has been on the t:slim pump for 5 months now. Though my six-year-old daughter has continued with her pump with a remote device that I use to bolus her insulin, for my older daughter this was a good time to switch to a pump where she could take more control of bolusing . . . → Continue reading: New to the t:slim insulin pump

The 2013 Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Conference in Orlando, Florida

Disney Coronado Resort

The combination of Florida sunshine and palm trees, Mickey Mouse ice cream bars and princesses, and so many smiles and hugs from friends for life makes diabetes feel a lot less bumpy and grumpy.

Because of attending the 2013 Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Conference in Orlando, Florida, plans are underway for us . . . → Continue reading: The 2013 Children With Diabetes Friends For Life Conference in Orlando, Florida

The Diabetes Disconnect

Recently I saw a friend whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. When I pulled out my daughters’ meters and lancets to check blood sugars, she said “I didn’t think you still had to do that.”

This is not the first time I’ve heard someone say this. People seem to interpret the advent of . . . → Continue reading: The Diabetes Disconnect

We Found Your “IPOD”

Those were happy words when the hotel called to let me know the Dexcom G4 receiver had been found. A call to the hotel the day before turned up nothing. When the hotel room was cleaned that night, the “ipod” was found and turned into the lost & found. Since the “ipod” was labeled with . . . → Continue reading: We Found Your “IPOD”

Taking the Steps to a Cure for Type 1: The Special Diabetes Program

steps

The Special Diabetes Program (SDP) legislates 150 million dollars for Type 1 Diabetes research annually. The SPD was renewed in 2012 for one year (previously renewed for 3 years), so it will be up for renewal again this year. Multi-year funding is needed to plan for and continue large-scale trials.

Research studies that the . . . → Continue reading: Taking the Steps to a Cure for Type 1: The Special Diabetes Program