Author Archives: StephenS

Hello… I’m Stephen. I live in Baltimore, Maryland, USA with The Great Spousal Unit, Maureen. I’ve been living with Type 1 Diabetes since January 1991. I’ve been a pump user since April 2010, and I’m currently wearing the Animas Vibe pump. Also wearing the Dexcom G5 continuous glucose monitor.

I found the Diabetes Online Community in the summer/fall of 2011, and that discovery has changed my life. I started this blog in April 2012, and since then, my diabetes advocacy has continued to grow. Among other achievements, I’ve attended and spoken up at FDA workshops and participated in clinical trials.

I’ve been thrilled to serve as a facilitator for the Diabetes UnConference. And I’ve been honored to volunteer for Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. You should Google both of those.

I’m currently serving as a member of the State of Maryland’s Advisory Council on Health and Wellness, where I am co-chair of the Diabetes committee. In addition, I’m part of the 2018 Reader Panel at Diabetes Forecast magazine.

I’m always searching for the perfect balance between the highs and lows of my blood glucose level and my life… always searching for the Happy Medium.

Anything you’d like to share? Please let me know… I’d love to hear from you.

Look at this list!

August 12, 2015 – 8:44 am

Today is a glass half full day. Why? Because I want it to be a glass half full day today. It’s my blog… do I need another reason?

I was thinking last night of how far diabetes tools have come since my diagnosis over 24 years ago. See what I mean? Glass half full. I came up with twelve (okay, really, eleven). Check out this list:
 
 
1. When I was diagnosed in 1991, the number of glucose meters available to People With Diabetes was very limited. Today, even though they’re not always the best choices, there are many more glucose meters for PWDs to choose from.

2. And let me state the obvious: My first glucose meter took 45 seconds to give me a reading. Today, I get a reading in just five seconds. Very few things have actually saved us time over the years, so I think this is a lot bigger than many people realize.

3. Unfortunately, the cost of test strips has been, and continues to be, ridiculously high. But it’s a glass half full day today, so… moving on…

4. Continuous Glucose Monitors! Gotta love CGM technology. Real-time readings of how your BGs are trending? Who doesn’t love that? Glass half full, baby!

5. Insulin pumps. Hey, I know that insulin pumps were developed earlier than my diagnosis, but the prevalence of insulin pumps, and the technology in insulin pumps, has definitely improved over time. And…

6. I didn’t start on an insulin pump until just over five years ago. For the first 19 years after diagnosis, I injected insulin first with a needle that was, I don’t know, maybe an inch and a half long? Then I went to smaller gauge needles, then I went to shorter lengths, and now, of course, we have insulin pens that are easier to carry and actually contain our insulin too. There’s something to be said for reducing the burden of diabetes, and better insulin delivery devices via injection are another step in the right direction.

7. And how about that insulin? It’s come a long way since 1991. We have long acting insulin like Lantus and Levemir. We have more reactive shorter acting insulin (is that the term?) like Apidra, Novolog, and Humalog. And we even have Afrezza now, inhalable insulin, and I guarantee hardly anyone was thinking about that back in 1991. We’ve seen incredible improvements in our most necessary synthetic hormone over the last 24 years. Now if they can just find a way to make it affordable.

8. No list like this can exist without mention of the wonderful Diabetes Online Community. How many of us would be forced to live our diabetes lives alone, out of touch with the latest news, unable to communicate with even one other soul who understands what we go through on a daily basis? It is not in any way an understatement to say that the DOC has been a lifesaver for many, literally and figuratively.

9. Uploading, sharing, and analyzing your data. By the time I was diagnosed, I hadn’t even purchased my first computer. Today, I’m sharing information with my endocrinologist, and she’s uploading my pump information every 90 days. Many, many more are using Nightscout or Dexcom Share to provide real-time CGM data to their loved ones for peace of mind and added safety. Such a simple idea, such a huge advancement.

10. Apps! Apps! Apps! From bolus calculator apps to fitness apps to apps designed to help us tame the diabetes monster, there are more ways than ever to help us crunch all the numbers and do better than we might have done all on our own.

11. The number of gatherings and conferences about diabetes and for People With Diabetes has really increased, even since I found the Diabetes Online Community, let alone since I was diagnosed. Here’s to more chances to learn, meet, and grow at gatherings around the world.

12. We’re giving more, and in more diverse ways than ever before. We may not be any closer to a cure (or we may be closer), but Spare A Rose/Save a Child, Big Blue Test, JDRF and ADA bike rides, and much more have all helped to provide additional revenue and additional ways for all of us to invest in improvements in the lives of PWDs, and certainly, hopefully, a cure.
 
 
That’s a heck of a list, and I’ll bet I haven’t thought of everything yet. Care to add something? Turn on the glass half full side of your brain and think about it. What improvements have you seen since your diagnosis?
 

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Saturday Night.

August 10, 2015 – 9:04 am

It was Saturday, about 6:00 p.m.

My BGs had been running high all day. It was time for dinner, and since I try to pre-bolus whenever possible, I washed my hands (like I almost always do), did my pre-dinner check, and saw that I was 138 mg/dL.

I was just making a sandwich and eating a tomato for dinner… no big deal, except that bread seems to spike my post-prandial numbers a bit. So I bolused based on that 138 number and continued watching the L.A. Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates game on TV.

Pre-bolusing being what it is, I had expected to wait 15-20 minutes before eating. About ten minutes after my bolus, I felt what I thought was a sign that I was low: A feeling of shakiness, sort of like I was sinking, and a suddenly overwhelming hunger.

But I had been high all day. I was 138 mg/dL just ten minutes before, right? In the next five minutes, the following occurred:

– I went back into the kitchen to test again. The result: 48 mg/dL.

– I grabbed the juice bottle from the refrigerator and, carefully, a glass from the cabinet. Somehow, I got the glass and the juice on the counter just before I slunked down on the kitchen floor.

– Now I’m trying to (again, carefully) get the glass and juice off of the counter and onto the floor next to me so I could drink it. I didn’t know if I could get back up again until I could get my BG back up again.

– After trying for what seemed like a long time, but really wasn’t, I was no closer to getting the glass or the juice off the counter, but I had managed to lay flat on my back, feeling very sleepy, if that makes sense.

– Somehow, something inside me made me realize that I needed to get up to the counter to get my juice. I had no other choice. Again, it seemed to take a long time to stand up, but it wasn’t a long time after all.

I finally got my juice, and within 15 more minutes, I had eaten my sandwich and was feeling almost normal again. Except for the post-low hangover that comes with an episode like this. And it was significant.

Immediately after, I called The Great Spousal Unit, who was away, and let her know what happened and that I was okay.

Then I took to Facebook and recounted what happened. I also replied to some of the replies I received, and posted a little more too. I was so grateful to have people who understand help me feel better after an awful experience like that. Still, I generally don’t spend my Saturday night hanging out on Facebook, and that made me ask a few questions.

Was I really trying hard to connect after almost being permanently disconnected? Was I trying to keep a lifeline (so to speak) open in case of another low? Was I just trying to show how strong I am and that I was okay and no one should worry about me because I’m tough as nails?

Maybe it was a combination of some of those things. Plus this:

When you nearly lose your life (because, for worse or for worse, hypoglycemia is a near-death experience), you want to connect with the special people in your life and forget about anything else that doesn’t really matter.

Hypoglycemia sucks. Diabetes sucks.

As a person with diabetes, I am in a unique position to let the rest of the world know that we need the best accuracy possible from our glucose meters. We need Medicare coverage for seniors who simply must keep their continuous glucose monitor technology. We need artificial pancreas technology that will help read our glucose levels and adjust pump settings automatically based on reliable algorithms designed with patient safety as its first priority.

And we all need to have people to reach out to, to make us feel less alone when we’re at our most vulnerable. God bless those who don’t have anyone to turn to.

If you have no one to turn to when diabetes wrecks your evening, I encourage you to find the Diabetes Online Community. Search the #DOC hashtag on Twitter. Do a Google search for diabetes blogs. Or send me an e-mail. Don’t be alone.
 

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Diabetes By The Numbers: Type Zero Technologies.

August 6, 2015 – 9:34 am

Molly McElwee Malloy was my first interview here. She’s also my latest interview here.

A little over two months after the birth of Happy Medium, I saw Molly give a speech at a local JDRF meeting in Baltimore. At the time, she was clinical research coordinator at the Center for Diabetes Technology at the University of Virginia. She is also an RN and a Certified Diabetes Educator, and has been living with Type 1 Diabetes since 1998.

That was the first time I had seen anyone speak live about artificial pancreas development, how everything worked, and actually show me photos of the device they were testing. I was jazzed up about it, and the next day (and the day after that), I really bothered Molly for an interview. She said no, but said she would answer any questions I might have, so I could get all my facts straight.

In that instance as a new diabetes blogger with two months experience, and in the three years since, she has been kind, patient, and gracious when bombarded by my enthusiasm and my never-ending list of questions.

This month, Molly stepped into her latest role as Head of Patient Engagement at Type Zero Technologies, which is the commercial arm of AP research that was born many years ago at UVA’s Center for Diabetes Technology.

I am proud to say that she has finally gone on the record with me, for about 13 minutes, to talk about Type Zero and their InControl platform, including InControl Advice and InControl Cloud. She talks about those three products, the timing of upcoming clinical trials, and the plan for submitting these for approval to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In reality, I wish we had more time, because this discussion could have easily gone two or three episodes. Instead, you’ll have to be satisfied with this little teaser, and then go to the Type Zero website to learn more.

Also, and this is important: Clinical trial participants are a very important piece of cutting-edge development like this. Please see below to find out more about volunteering to participate.
DBTN

Reference Material – Click below for more information on this topic

Find out more by going to the Type Zero Technologies website:
http://typezero.com

Follow Molly McElwee Malloy on Twitter:
@MollyMacT1D

Clinical trial participants are necessary and appreciated! Interested? Send an e-mail to:
artificialpancreas@virginia.edu
 

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8 Things: Summer Edition.

August 4, 2015 – 8:58 am

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted an 8 things list. Today, here is a list of things that are part of my world this summer:
8
1. Insulin worries. Every summer, it seems that every high number comes with a “Did my insulin get skunked in the heat?” question. Remember that insulin is best when stored and used at under 80 degrees. Anything above that and you’re playing with fire. Or potentially compromised insulin, which no one wants, especially in the heat.

2. Low BG/sweating worries. This is the flip side of the high number questioning. Since it can be so warm where I live (Maryland– nearly at sea level)… how can I say this? If I’m sweating, which can be often, the questions are: Am I low? Or am I just sweating? These questions are of particular concern when I’m operating potentially dangerous machinery, like when I’m driving or mowing the lawn.

3. Eating… better. How about something a little nicer? As in, fresh fruits and vegetables. So good, and so good for us. If I’m ever in danger of overdoing it on veggies, it’s at this time of year. Nothing wrong with that.

4. More exercise(?) It’s been a good summer in Baltimore weather-wise. Oh sure, we’ve had our share of stifling heat, muggy days with lots of humidity. But we’ve also had an occasional cool spell, where the high dips into the low 80s with less humidity. Those days are golden in the summer, and though (because of my knee) I haven’t been able to do bike rides or go for runs outside, I have been able to do a few extra walks here and there. Right now, those are golden too.

5. More controversy. Thanks to the CrossFit issue, People With Diabetes had more to feel stigma over, more to respond to, and yes, more ways to examine how we react to controversial statements about diabetes by ignorant individuals. I’m very glad that the Diabetes Online Community was quick to react to the shameful postings of CrossFit and their CEO. I just wish that some of those reactions were more inclusive of all People With Diabetes, instead of just saying “Sugar didn’t cause my type of diabetes”. Also…

6. Second hand news, second hand blues. Friends for Life… MasterLab… ADA Scientific Sessions…. and now the AADE convention this week. I haven’t been able to get to any of them this year. So all the news I’m getting from these events is second hand. Good thing the people that are giving me the updates from these gatherings are pretty good at reporting in the first place, or I might be totally in the dark.

7. Travel….? Travel? Really? See #4 above. Are you kidding? Travel? Good thing I was going places early in the year, because I’m not going anywhere right now. Mostly, it has to do with work. I’m needed right now, this year more than most years, so that’s put a crimp in the travel plans for a while. We did get away to Charlottesville a couple of weeks ago, but really, a day and a half extra doesn’t exactly a vacation make. I’m headed back to New Jersey next week, for training for my job. This year is a lot about what is needed, and not a lot about what is wanted.

8. One visit with the endocrinologist. My next appointment with the endo is in another couple of weeks, and I’ll be interested to find out how surgery and my lack of movement has affected my hemoglobin A1c. My last number was at an even 7.0, and I had been significantly under that for a while. Our goal was to bring it up from where it was, so 7.0 is not so bad. But I certainly don’t want to be any higher. To me, that would feel like a huge fail.
 
 
So there you have it. Eight ways that diabetes has factored into my life this summer. I hope your summer has been grand. How has diabetes fit into your life this year?
 

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Diabetes By The Numbers: Dr. Nicole Johnson.

July 31, 2015 – 9:32 am

It seems nearly everyone knows Nicole Johnson. They remember her as Miss America 1999, they’ve seen her at conferences, on social media. All that, plus the fact that she always seems to have a smile on her face, makes people forget that she is actually Doctor Nicole Johnson, who is the first person to earn a Doctor of Public Health degree at the University of South Florida. Moreover, she is actually doing something important and meaningful with that distinction. That’s why you’ll hear me refer to her as Dr. Johnson, rather than Nicole, throughout our talk. She’s earned that right.

In this episode of Diabetes By The Numbers, Dr. Johnson lets us in on the groundbreaking Postdoctoral Diabetes Fellowship Program that she’s running out of the University of South Florida.

Part patient-facing, part research, five women from around the country will be taking part over the next year in a program that will develop and enhance their understanding of the psychosocial aspects of living with diabetes 24/7/365. Definitely a subject worth further scrutiny. The fellows will be mentored by doctors at the head of the class in this subject, including Dr. Johnson herself, Dr. Lori Laffel at Joslin Diabetes Center, Dr. Korey Hood at Stanford, and Dr. Jill Weissberg-Benchel at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

I would tell you more, but I prefer to defer to Dr. Johnson for the rest.
DBTN

 
 
Reference Material – Click below for more information on this topic

Dr. Nicole Johnson is Executive Director of Bringing Science Home:
http://bringingsciencehome.com

Bringing Science Home is involved in a number of initiatives, including, but not limited to:

Students With Diabetes
http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/studentswithdiabetes/

Diabetes Partners
http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/bringingsciencehome/diabetes-partners/
 
 
Interested in applying for a 2016-2017 Fellowship?
Send an e-mail to: diabetespsychology@gmail.com and
nicolej@health.usf.edu

Deadline to apply is December 10.
 
 
 

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