Category Archives: Like these links

Like these links… Vacation edition.

October 3, 2014 – 9:46 am

I’ll be honest with you… I have vacation on the brain right now. Soon I’ll be off for an entire week for the first time all year. So you may not hear much from me for a while. That’s not a bad thing, right?

Especially because there are so many other great places to go to for interesting stories, and things that expand your knowledge. Consider these reading options this week:
 
 
– Kelley at Below Seven talks about how she’s often put up a happy front to help her cope with her diabetes, and how sometimes that sends a message to people that things are always rosy, when maybe they aren’t:

“I guess my main point or word of advice to others is that if someone seems really happy or bubbly, don’t necessarily think that their life is easy.”

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One of my favorite new blogs is written by Ally at Very Light No Sugar (Catchy!). Ally describes how she made a decision at age three to never cry at the doctor’s office. Ever. Now as an adult, she’s examining that decision and how it’s affected her life ever since:

”I see today that my mentality of always being strong was a survival tactic yet a detriment all at once. Some days I have a quick temper because it is easier to be angry than to acknowledge being scared or defeated.”

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– If you’re new to the Diabetes Online Community, or to diabetes in general, I hope someone has turned you on to Diatribe. Kelly Close and her amazing team do an amazing job of providing useful diabetes information (for all types) in an easy-to-read style. Find out about new drugs and devices going through clinical trials, new products hitting the market, research into things like cell encapsulation and what’s really behind your A1c, and much more. I’ve taken to printing the .pdf version and reading it on the train to and from work.

In the latest edition, find out about Abbot’s Freestyle Libre system, the approval of Eli Lilly’s new drug Trulicity for Type 2 patients, information from the Centers for Disease Control on obesity data on a state-by-state basis, and the always-interesting SUM musings from Kerri Sparling, who talks about the CGM in the Cloud phenomenon.
You don’t want to miss this or any issue of Diatribe.

No, I don’t get anything from Diatribe for saying all this. I just think you’ll find it a useful and necessary part of your life. That’s all.

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– Finally… here’s something to scratch your head over. Is a lack of insulin to the brain responsible for alzheimer’s? When I first read this, I remember thinking “How dare they steal my disease!”. Then I started wondering how deep the research really went, and if there really is a connection:

Is Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Diabetes?

Something for me to think about as I pack.

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So… What have you been reading lately?

I hope your weekend is great, and next week is even greater. Talk to you again soon!
 
 
 

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Friday Odds and Ends.

August 15, 2014 – 9:53 am

Happy Friday… I hope the weather where you are is as nice as it is here. I really should be at the beach, or out on the bay fishing. I don’t fish a lot, but if I did, today would be the day to be out there. Anyway, I thought this might be a good time to wrap up the week with a few short bites (or bytes—your choice):
 
 
I’m starting the process to get my four week trial of the Snap pump from Asante. I’ll let you know how it goes. This will be the fourth pump option I’ve looked at. Favorites? I’m keeping that to myself for now.
 
 
The Live-In Niece will soon be the Moving-Out Niece. Rachel and her boyfriend have found a place, and should be moving within the next few weeks. I’m happy that she has a new place to live, and someone to share it with. I’m also coming to grips with the fact that the house will seem… emptier. Is this how empty nesters feel once all their kids move out?
 
 
Don’t forget to wish Karen Graffeo a great run tomorrow. She’ll be taking on the MADD Dash 5K up in Connecticut bright and early. This is her first 5K in four years, and I couldn’t be happier for her. She’s really gunning for that Champion Athlete With Diabetes medal, and by this time tomorrow, she should be basking in the glow of a race well run. So today, send her a Tweet or a note of encouragement and support.
 
 
The latest visit with my endocrinologist went okay last week. My A1c is in a very good range, and… there’s not much else to report. Except that she suggested I dial back my basals over the weekend since I’m more active then. Which is brilliant, and something I should have thought about long ago.
 
 
I am still working on putting together a D-meetup here in Baltimore. This would be a semi-regular get together, and if I weren’t so busy already, this would probably already be a thing. Plus, I have a real worry about letting my hopes get too far ahead of reality. More to come if when this happens.
 
 
What’s your good news today? I’d love to hear what’s happening in your world.
 
 
 

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Like these links, and keep the D-mojo going.

August 6, 2014 – 8:48 am

Welcome to Wednesday…

I’m going to throw a few links at you today to help you keep your diabetes mojo going strong. I promise: If you click on any of the links below, your requirements in terms of time and effort will be a scant two or three minutes apiece. Quicker if you read fast. Check them out:

You may remember me writing about a U.S. House of Representatives resolution (HR 3710—Medicare CGM Coverage Act) introduced last year. Well, now a bill to get continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) covered by Medicare is making its way through committee in the United States Senate. This one is Senate Bill 2689—Medicare CGM Access Act of 2014. Introduced by Senate Diabetes Caucus co-chairs Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), this bill aims to do the same thing: Protect the right of citizens on Medicare to keep their CGM. Make sure you get your senator to get behind this legislation, like, NOW. JDRF makes it easy by providing this link:
https://secure3.convio.net/jdrf3/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=412

Just fill out the form, include your own personal sentiments (like, “I’m going to be Medicare eligible in 13 years… Don’t take away my CGM when I need it most!”). Click Send Now and you’ll have committed an act of Diabetes Advocacy before Starbucks can serve up your latte.

Got an extra minute? There’s also a petition to sign:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/776/978/446/

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Also: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed new guidance for Medical Device Data Systems (MDDS). Borrowing from the Strip Safely website:

“These are systems that, in the FDA’s words, facilitate “the electronic transfer or exchange of medical device data from a medical device, without altering the function or parameters of any connected devices.” Translation: technology that lets data show up on a device other than the medical device itself. FDA believes that these types of MDDS introduce little additional risk, and the agency is therefore proposing to lessen the regulatory process for MDDS.”

Face it: We would all like to have access, and provide access for our loved ones, to the data from our devices. This is possible, it’s helpful, it’s an idea whose time has come. Agree? Now’s your opportunity to have your voice heard. How do I know they’ll listen? I was contacted by the FDA about comments I posted earlier last year on glucose meter accuracy and post-market inspection.

You only have until August 25 to submit your thoughts. Get the skinny right here:
http://www.stripsafely.com/sample-page/comment-on-mdds/

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Finally… Just in case you forgot about it, don’t forget about the first Diabetes UnConference, taking place out in Las Vegas next March. Brainchild of Christel Marchand Aprigliano of ThePerfectD, it will be a conference of diabetes peers from all over, setting the agenda together in the first hour, and asking and answering questions throughout the weekend. I already have four ideas, at least one of which may have some merit. If you’d really like to attend a diabetes conference by People With Diabetes, for People With Diabetes, this might be for you. I understand rooms are filling up fast. This is really turning into a thing. Find out more about the Diabetes UnConference and register too by going to:
diabetesunconference.com

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So… what about you? Have you read or written anything lately that is awesome? Oh… I just remembered: Kelley at Below Seven just published this month’s list of Best of the ‘Betes blog posts yesterday. Now… Where was I? Oh yes… If there’s something that moved you recently, please be sure to leave a link to it below. I’d love to read it!
 
 
 

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Like these links: Discover, Share, and Donate.

July 18, 2014 – 10:03 am

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done one of these posts, so let’s check back in and see what’s happening in the Diabetes Community:
 
 
First of all… If you haven’t looked in on the series of Type 1/Type 2 Conversations (or, depending on your perspective, Type 2/Type 1 Conversations) between Laddie Lindahl and Kate Cornell, you’re missing out. There are a lot of things that all People With Diabetes have in common, and we can certainly learn a LOT from each other. So why don’t we? This is a great place to start:

Talking About Weight

Diabetes in the Great Outdoors
 
 
You might have noticed that the International Diabetes Foundation has a new app available that will let you put the universal Blue Circle (I can say it’s universal now, yes?) right on your photo. Sarah Kaye at Sugabetic has a great write-up on it here.
 
 
There is currently some awesome fundraising for JDRF going on, and even though this may seem like overkill, I want to share everything I know about right now. Here are places for you to help support each of your favorite riders, walkers, climbers, and businesses, all raising money for Type 1 research:
 
 
First of all… Did you know that Walgreens is JDRF’s largest corporate partner? Part of the reason for that is the fundraising they’re doing during their annual pin pad campaign this month. Now through the end of the month, shoppers are encouraged to make a donation to JDRF. And they’ll also donate $1 for every registration to their Balance Rewards for healthy choices program through the end of the month. So tell everyone you know, Type One or not. Walgreens has more details here.
 
 
You’ve probably already read about Haley Maurice and her brother (Diabetes Mine wrote about them), who took off down the John Muir trail on July 16th, on a three week hike with an eventual goal to climb the tallest peak in the continental U.S., Mt. Whitney. All to raise money for JDRF. Haley is a 15 year old Type 1 with, you guessed it, an inspiring story to tell. You can read about it all and donate too by starting at summitdiabetes.com.
 
 
Alecia’s Stem Cells are at it again. Alecia writes over at Surface Fine, and she leads a huge walk team in the New York City JDRF walk every year. This year will be no different. She’s always looking for more walkers, and donations never hurt either. Support Alecia’s Stem Cells right here.
 
 
And how about those bikers? I am both jealous of and humbled by people who can train hard enough to cover 100 miles in a day and raise the $2,000 or more that it takes to participate in the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes. I think they deserve all the support they can get. Click on the links for more, and support these super riders:

Moira McCarthy Stanford is riding in the Death Valley and LaCrosse rides

Victoria Cumbow is riding in the Lake Tahoe and Nashville rides

Jeff Mather is riding in the Lake Tahoe ride
 
 
Okay, that’s a fairly exhaustive list for a Friday. But there’s always room for more! Have you read something recently that moves you? Inspires you? Makes you laugh out loud? Please leave a link to it below. Have a great weekend!
 
 
 

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Like these links: Spreading the DOC Love.

June 18, 2014 – 12:30 pm

Is it just me, or are you cray-cray busy too?

We’ve got visitors this week (Maureen’s friend and fellow Type 1 Mary Beth and her family), and a few other commitments too. As a result, I haven’t had time to really write this week. It’s been even longer since I’ve felt like I’ve caught up on my D-blog reading.

I still haven’t fully caught up on that, and I’ve also realized that it’s been quite a while since I turned you on to some terrific insights from the fabulous Diabetes Online Community.

Also, I’d like to ask you for something new on these posts: Have you read something that moves you lately? How ‘bout you share that in a comment below so we can all get a look at it? Now… without further ado, here are some things for you to chew on this Wednesday:
 
 
The writer over at Running Without Sugar has a wonderful take on something she read in a T1D forum, what it says about us, and how important it is for us to keep trying and never give up:
http://runningwithoutsugar.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/cracked-image-of-ourselves/
 
 
Rhonda at FifteenWaitFifteen is getting closer to undergoing gastric sleeve surgery. This is a very brave thing she’s doing, and it’s something I’ve rarely read about, and I’m glad she’s documenting what she’s going through. Here are a few posts to help you get up to speed on her experiences:
http://fifteenwaitfifteen.com/2014/01/06/lots-and-lots-and-lots-of-stuff/
http://fifteenwaitfifteen.com/2014/06/11/liquid-its-whats-for-lunch/
http://fifteenwaitfifteen.com/2014/06/13/3-days-in/
 
 
Scott Strange has an interesting take on the idea of being cared for, then being the caregiver yourself, then being cared for again as we go through the stages of life with diabetes:
http://strangelydiabetic.com/2014/05/27/future_is_now/
 
 
Have you been an insulin pumper for a while? If so, I think you’ll find some familiar themes in Vicki’s first-hand account of her first week with an insulin pump:
http://vickisnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/pumping-insulin-first-week.html
 
 
Finally, a feel-good story that involves biking, nature, and a memorable quote. Enjoy this from Moira McCarthy at Despite Diabetes:
http://www.despitediabetes.com/what-i-learned-on-my-ride-training-year-three-the-one-with-the-fisherman-and-the-feathers/
 
 
Enjoy your hump day… hope the rest of your week is as pleasant as it gets. And don’t forget to leave a comment linking your latest favorites!
 
 
 

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