Tag Archives: diabetes

May DSMA Blog Carnival.

May 24, 2012 – 9:44 pm

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while now, and judging from the lack of posts on this topic, I’m not alone. You’ve got just about a week to get your entry in for the May Blog Carnival at Diabetes Social Media Advocacy:

Diabetes can sure be expensive. Insurance can help take away some of the financial burden, but sometimes the things we want, or even need, are not covered by insurance. With that in mind, we turn back to our April 18th chat to Fill in the Blanks on the following sentence . . .

I wish my insurance company paid for _________because ______________.

I wish my insurance would pay for more education, more products, and more care for those who cannot afford to pay for their own care.

Let me explain what I mean: First, we know there are many PWDs who either have no access to insurance, or access to high-cost care that is still more than they can afford. We must do what we can for them. It’s not fair that I have access to care that I can still afford (though it’s getting costlier for the same care every year), but others do not. Meanwhile, a quick check of the Carefirst home page (Carefirst is the local Blue Cross carrier in our area) shows that they were involved in providing over $11 million in grants in the last four months for various causes. One of those is an $8.5 million grant over three years to help fund 12 health care centers that provide care to those who don’t have access elsewhere. A check of Aetna’s website (Aetna is my carrier) shows that the company had $1.97 billion in operating earnings last year. Don’t you think that these two companies, plus a few others, can provide a lot for those without care? Just a fraction of that money can make all the difference for someone… or many someones.

How about education about eating right and carb counting? The importance of testing your glucose level? Learning the mathematics of BG and carb counting in relation to insulin bolus? Simple things that you or I know by heart. But those are things that someone without access to care is only guessing about.

Maybe the answer is providing low-cost or no-cost insulin to those who can’t afford it. And among those who can’t afford it, I count those who hoard their insulin, taking less than what is optimal, so they can conserve their precious life-saving resources. And speaking of hoarding… while we’re at it insurance companies, can we stop quibbling over how many test strips are appropriate per day? None of us are using them just for the fun of it.

I don’t have all of the answers… maybe you have some of your own. Feel free to leave them in the comments section. I just know that insurance companies can still make a lot of profit, while helping those less fortunate. That’s the very definition of a win-win proposition. Can we make this happen? What do you think?

This post is my May entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/may-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Disclaimer
I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.

By StephenS | Posted in DSMA Blog Carnival | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Like these links.

May 23, 2012 – 9:56 am

Happy Hump Day! three more ’till the weekend. Or two, depending on when you’re reading this. Anyway, I know a lot of DOC folks have been riffing (is that spelled correctly?) about their experiences during Diabetes Blog Week, and the super posts that everyone wrote.

I was particularly inspired by many who wrote on day 5 about “What They Should Know”. From Karen at Bitter~Sweet:
“What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”. Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes. Have more than one thing you wish people knew? Go ahead and tell us everything.

Every one of the posts I read were great… they made me think, laugh, and choke up. Here are some of my favorites:

First, from a couple of Mikes:
Everyday Ups and Downs
And Mike Hoskins at Diabetes Mine

This was the first time I had a chance to read a post at
DeeJay’s ‘Betes
And
Liz at Welcome to My Diabetic Life

Finally… I have to admit that I don’t read much from Moms of CWD who post, for a number of reasons. But these two are well worth reading more than once.
Our Diabetic Life
An American in Dublin

These are just a few of 137 great posts on this topic! I left myself off of the list. I’ve got some work to do to express myself as well as the links here. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Disclaimer
I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.

By StephenS | Posted in Like these links | Also tagged | Comments (1)

Hangers-On.

May 22, 2012 – 6:33 am

So… just how long do you hang onto your supplies? You didn’t think that I actually had an entourage or anything, did you? No, really… Do you have outdated supplies? Old, old stuff? I’m talking about anything related to your D-care: Insulin, syringes, infusion sets, reservoirs, alcohol swabs (if you use them); and glucose meters, lancets, or test strips. Okay, almost no one ever has extra test strips, so maybe you can cross that one off of the list.

But chances are, if you have any kind of chronic illness, and you have access to drugs or paraphernalia that helps you manage your condition (read: helps you live your life), you’ve probably got a stash of something that you just can’t part with. Until you realize you’ve had that extra pill, or extra pill box, or something else, for a looooong time. An outdated glucose monitor that you just can’t trash (or the test strips that went with the one you did trash). Syringes from 12 years ago. A special case that you carry all of your must-have supplies in. I’m looking at you, Mr. and Ms. Glucose Tabs.

I’m guilty of hanging onto two things over the years.

One is outdated insulin. I’ve been a pumper for two years now, and I’ve only needed injections twice in that time. Both were needed as a result of bent cannulas. But I was cleaning out the fridge over the weekend and I found a six year old bottle of Lantus in there. That was my backup when I did the injection thing. I had a small incident a few years back (actually, eight years now that I think of it) when the mail order pharmacy held back my insulin delivery for some long-forgotten reason, and I just got it resolved the day before leaving for Ireland on vacation. After that, I developed a habit of ordering refills early from the pharmacy and saving one extra vial, just in case. But I never rotated my stock, so to speak. I just saved that one vial, the same vial, all those years. Looking back, it’s easy to see that it wasn’t a backup as much as it was an emotional crutch.

Also, I have this funny but amazing thing that I carry my insulin in when I travel:

I’ve had this for all of the 21 years that I’ve had this disease. My grandmother found it in a drugstore shortly after my diagnosis and bought it for me. The plastic thing goes into the freezer until I need it. Then I microwave it for a minute or so. Then the insulin goes in and it gets slipped inside of the other blue thing with the foam padding (these are technical terms here). Keeps it cold for a long, long time. It’s been with me on trips to the ocean, to the mountains, Ireland, California, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Florida, everywhere. And you know what? I ain’t giving this one up either. It’s indestructible.

Now, I have a point. Do you have anything that’s extra, but not outdated? Maybe you’d like to share with those less fortunate? Here are a couple of websites where you can get information on donating extra D-related supplies:

http://www.act1diabetes.org/campaigns/supply-exchange-program/

http://www.learningdiabetes.com/donate-supplies.html

I’m due for a new glucose meter… maybe I’ll see if I can get that before I use up all of my strips…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Disclaimer
I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.

By StephenS | Posted in Additional Inspiration | Also tagged | Comments (1)

Diabetes Blog Week: Day 7– Super Dia-Heros.

May 20, 2012 – 8:17 am


 
Today is the final installment of Diabetes Blog Week. Special thanks AGAIN to Karen Graffeo at Bitter~Sweet for hosting this inspiring event. Why is it inspiring? Well, for me, I have read many (read: hundreds) of posts that were waaaaaay better than anything I’ve written this week. They were all posts that inspired me. Inspired me to live a better life. To care more about those less fortunate. To advocate, to speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves. To write a better blog.

Thank you to all of the d-bloggers out there who make made my posts look like a grocery list this week.

That said, I’m going to punt on today’s post. I’m going to re-post something I wrote on this subject a few weeks ago.

But before I do, I want to add to the super dia-heros list you see below. In the original post, I forgot to mention the Maryland Transit Authority Police, who helped me through an extremely dangerous low I experienced about a year ago on the subway home. They were fantastic, and they even met me later, off-duty, to deliver my meter and my pump, which I lost in the incident. In short, they saved my life. How can you thank someone enough for that? Can’t believe I forgot them in the original post.

Now, to the previous post:

Super Dia-Heros.

The world needs more Superheros!

I suppose so. But I can think of a few Superheros that I would like to retire… as soon as possible.

The Great Spousal Unit is a Superhero (Supershero?). She’s always got my back. In the middle of a road trip, or in the middle of the night, she’s always there when I have an issue. For all 21 years of this disease, she’s been a rock. I would like to give her a break. She’s earned it after all these years. I don’t want her to worry about me anymore. Without me asking.

The Live-In Niece has been terrific. I’m the first, the only, diabetic she’s ever known. Or known about. She knows nothing of hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis. But she asks a lot of questions. And she never makes me feel bad for being a pain in the ass because I had a low or I’m mad at the diabetes today. Without me asking.

Prior to the Live-In Niece was the Live-In Nephew. My Godson. Probably the relative I’m closest to. And diabetes freaks him out. But when he was confronted by something that freaked him out, he was able to help me. Without me asking.

I’ve had a couple of crappy doctors over the years. But I’ve had a couple of super ones too. That’s you, Dr. Mowry in Cincinnati, who originally diagnosed me after two doctors couldn’t be bothered to take the time; and you, Dr. Pao in Baltimore, who speaks my language and gets me thinking about adjustments to make things better, instead of always staying the same with lesser results. Thank you, thank you.

Thank you Diabetes Online Community. For the first time in I don’t know how long, I feel validated. Can’t tell you how much it meant to find out that others have the same experiences, the same hurdles, the same highs and lows. I not only feel validated… I feel more confident that I can live in this world. That I belong in this world.

Where would I be without JDRF and ADA? Your advocacy has brought us countless advances in care, support, and on, and on, and on. It’s easy to take you for granted. But these two groups are full of thousands of Superheros.

And what about the companies that have developed technology or drugs to help us continue to live a life that means something? Medtronic, Animas, Dexcom, Novo Nordisk, Aventis. That’s right… I’m givin’ props to you, big Pharma. I’ve made it as far as I have in part thanks to you.

There are many Superheros in my diabetic life (Diaheros?). But I would like to retire all of you. I hope that soon, very soon, you can find the time to focus on someone else. Another cause. Or maybe a vacation. In the meantime, thank you sooooo much for being my Superheros.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Disclaimer
I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Also tagged , | Comments (0)

Diabetes Blog Week: Day 6– Saturday Snapshots.

May 19, 2012 – 6:38 am


 
Saturday… what a day. Here in Baltimore it is! Preakness Day! Here’s hoping your horse is a winner today. Now, over the incessant drone of the freakin’ blimp outside, here are my Saturday Snapshots for Day 6 of Diabetes Blog Week.

My photos fall into three categories.

First, a couple of diabetes-related photos:

Every PWD who works at a desk has a drawer like this. This should provide enough carb content when those afternoon lows strike. There’s also a candy jar on my desk.

Thanks to the DOC, I found that you can put an infusion set in your leg. And it can work. And work well.

Exercise is a big part of staying healthy for me. This was my first triathlon last year:

Swim…

Bike…

…and Run. Now you can tell that the other photos weren’t staged.

Finally… everyone should be lucky enough to have a great family like mine. Maureen and my darling great niece (yes, I’m crazy over her), born on my 50th birthday:

One more day of DBW left… have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Disclaimer
I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes Blog Week | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)