Dear Senator Al Franken: Medicare and CGMS

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Laddie

I have had diabetes since 1976 and will transition to Medicare in early 2017. As most of you know, Medicare does not currently cover continuous glucose monitors for seniors with Type 1 diabetes.

There are companion bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate that would require Medicare to change that policy. My Representative Erik Paulsen is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1427: Medicare CGM Access Act of 2015 and one of my Senators, Amy Klobuchar, is a co-sponsor of S. 804: Medicare CGM Access Act of 2015. Unfortunately my other Senator, Al Franken, is not on board with supporting this bill.

Recently I was given the opportunity to work with a consulting firm, HCM Strategists, to share my story with Senator Franken with the hope of influencing him to support S. 804. This is my letter:

Franken Letter

I learned about the opportunity to work with HCM Strategists through a TuDiabetes forum post started by Emily Coles, the Community Director for Diabetes Hands Foundation. She writes:

“Diabetes Hands Foundation (parent organization to TuDiabetes) has connected with a group called HCM Strategists, which does public policy advocacy around health and education. They’re organizing advocacy for Medicare coverage of CGMs, and have asked me to identify some community members who are interested in, and passionate about, this issue. We’re particularly looking for folks who are willing to share their personal stories about how Medicare coverage of CGM affects them.

If you’re interested in sharing your story, or taking a more active role on this issue in some other way, please let me know in the thread below and I’ll connect you with the fine folks at HCM! They are seeking people of ALL ages for this effort.”

There are two ways to become involved. 1) Go to the TuDiabetes forum post and leave a message for Emily. You must be a member of the TuDiabetes community, but it is easy to join and a great place to hang out. 2) Or you can email me and I will share your contact information with the HCM Associate who worked with me.

You will then receive an email from HCM with a series of questions (name, age, diabetes story, CGM use, etc.). Your answers will provide an HCM Associate with the information to draft a letter to your elected representatives. With your approval they will also use your letter as part of their outreach to members of Congress.

This is a unique opportunity to have your voice heard in Washington, D.C. Working with HCM Strategists is straightforward and professional and I urge you to advocate for Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitors by sharing your story.

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Letter to Al Franken

Corrections – Updates – News

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Laddie

After the deaths of two children from Type 1 diabetes in July, I published a letter To My Daughters-in-Law. I shared the stories of Kycie and David and provided information about an advocacy group – Test One Drop. I was recently notified that I got part of the story wrong and that some of the information I provided is now out-of-date. I have revised the blogpost with the following information.

Correction: From various postings on Facebook, I made the erroneous assumption that 4-year old David Brown lost his life as a result of a missed Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. That was not correct. When David was taken to the emergency room, he was immediately and correctly diagnosed with Type 1. Despite a proper diagnosis and intensive medical care, David died of multiple organ failure a few days later. David’s and Kycie’s stories are powerful reminders that despite improved treatments and technology in the 21st century, Type 1 diabetes continues to be a life-threatening condition.

Update: Test One Drop has updated both its mission and educational poster. The updated mission is:

“to bring awareness to the general public and the medical community of the similarities between the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and common illnesses such as influenza, strep, and viral infections with the purpose of stopping delayed and misdiagnosed T1D which can lead to life-threatening DKA, permanent handicap, or death. Additionally, we are seeking a change in the Standard of Care Practices to require medical personnel to screen blood or urine samples for glucose levels before diagnosing sick patients with a common illness that might be masking or mimicking Type 1 Diabetes.”

Please check out the organization’s website and Facebook page. We in the diabetes community mourn the loss of children like Kycie and David. One purpose of Test One Drop is to keep the conversation going when the heartbreaking stories stop making headlines. Download the updated poster and share it with your friends, family, medical team, schools, and community.

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Update on my G5 Upgrade: In September I wrote about some of the pros and cons of upgrading from my current Dexcom G4 CGM to the recently released G5. Shortly after I signed up for the upgrade, Dexcom ran low on G5 transmitters. Instead of receiving mine in early October, I am still waiting. According to my Dexcom account, the expected ship date is December 1. So the update is “Still waiting. No news.”

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Update on Medicare Coverage of CGMS: Although not much has yet changed for CGM coverage by Medicare, some progress is being seen in the court system. Here is a link to a recent article at Medscape about Jill Whitcomb’s victory in Federal Court (Level 5 of the Medicare appeal process). I know of one person who won his Level 3 appeal based on the precedent of the Whitcomb case. Unfortunately Whitcomb is still at risk for further appeals by the insurance company.

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Update from the Unconference: At the Diabetes UnConference in March, I met Daniele Hargenrader. Daniele has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 25 years and is a diabetes and health coach as well as a personal trainer and nutritionist. If you are seeking a way to dig your way out of the diabetes dumps or need a stocking stuffer for yourself or a loved one, you won’t go wrong with Daniele’s new book: Unleash Your Inner Diabetes Dominator. Check out the book as well as the Diabetes Dominator™ website with Daniele’s blog and links to her YouTube interview series. I will be reviewing this book in a future blogpost.

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Last but Not Least News: I have recently been invited to share some of my blogposts at Diabetes Daily – a well-known diabetes community with 2+ million visitors a year, almost 300K Facebook fans, and 70,000 newsletter subscribers. The posts will be published first on my blog and those with interest to the larger diabetes community will be syndicated at Diabetes Daily. This is a huge compliment for me and I thank all of you who have encouraged me on my blogging journey.

November!

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Laddie

November is a month of change in Minnesota. We move from the somewhat warm days of late October to cold wintry weather by the end of the month.

It is also a busy month for me when it comes to diabetes. 1) It is Diabetes Awareness Month with special events and increased advocacy. 2) JDRF sponsors a TypeOneNation Summit in the Minneapolis area. 3) My diaversary is in November. 4) The Big Blue Test is in full swing and World Diabetes Day is coming soon.

Below you’ll find some outdoor photos that scream “November!”

I have been raking for a few weeks now, but one maple tree refuses to shed its leaves. Our last leaf pick-up is Friday and I am hoping that these leaves will drop before then. If that doesn’t happen, my fingers are crossed that strong winds next week will blow the delinquent leaves into my neighbor’s yard….

The signage at Hyland Lake Park Reserve where Abby the Black Lab and I walk several times a week has changed in anticipation of winter. The trail labeled for dog walkers, bikers, and rollerbladers in the summer is now marked for dog walkers and snowshoers.

Although I shudder at the idea of snow, we have already seen flurries this fall. Once it gets colder, the snowmaking machines in Hyland Park will start blowing snow for the nearby cross-country ski trail. Although I live in the suburbs, I can see downhill and cross-country ski trails from my house. Just barely out of sight is a 70-meter ski jump. And you wonder why I spend my winters in Arizona!

An apple on the ground and you question why I am showing you my garbage. My neighbors have apple and crabapple trees and fruit litters my backyard. The fruit-eating animals I have seen in the last week include coyotes, birds, deer, squirrels, and Abby the Black Lab. Who left the half-eaten apple? Probably Abby who really prefers deer poop. Yeah, we’ve got piles of that in the yard also.

Below you’ll find some November photos that scream “Diabetes!”

Diabetes social media has been saturated this month with blue photos as part of the JDRF T1D Looks Like Me campaign. I have a long history of hiding my diabetes, but thanks to my years in the DOC, I proudly share my photo.

TypeOneNationLogo Saturday was the JDRF TypeOneNation Summit for the Minneapolis area. Author and CDE Gary Scheiner (Think Like a Pancreas) shared his wealth of knowledge in both the keynote talk and a session about interpreting CGM data. I also attended a talk by the incredible Jay Hewitt. Jay is an Ironman triathlete who was a member of the U.S. National Triathlon Team and raced with Type 1 diabetes.

Don’t forget the Big Blue Test.

Remember to follow the hashtag #WDDchat15 on Saturday, Nov. 14 to participate in the World Diabetes Day #DSMA TweetChat. The schedule can be found here, but stay tuned to @DiabetesSocMed on Twitter for updates.

WDDCHAT2015

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And finally, today marks 39 years since I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1976.

Diaversary39

Balance

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Laddie

I wrote today’s post a year ago as part of D-Quote, an initiative created by Cynthia Zuber of Diabetes Light | My holistic journey to health. The purpose of her project was to give voice to members of the diabetes community and to increase advocacy and outreach during November Diabetes Awareness Month.

My diabetes quote is:

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. William Arthur Ward

Type 1 Diabetes is the result of an autoimmune attack on our beta cells. We can talk about the many manifestations of that attack with mention of missing hormones (insulin and amylin) and malfunctioning GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Or we can simplify the discussion and say that our bodies lack equilibrium. Our bodies lack balance.

Those of us with Type 1 try to manipulate insulin, food, exercise, stress, etc. in an attempt to balance our blood glucose. Too much insulin, we go low. Too many carbs, we go high. What is too much today might be too little tomorrow. Unable to quantify many of the things that affect our BG, we walk on a tightrope and do our best not to fall off despite our many wobbles. At the same time we try to find a balance for how diabetes fits into our lives. We search for the happy medium between managing our diabetes so that we can live our lives and living our lives just to manage our diabetes.

Tightrope Walker

We can never be perfect with diabetes and sometimes the only thing we can do is laugh at our imperfect attempts at perfection. Sometimes a sense of humor is the best way to get through the day. The best way to put diabetes into perspective. The best way to make sense of our lives.

TuDiabetes: Type 2 Series

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Laddie

Laddie_Head Square Today (Thursday, October 1) TuDiabetes is launching a series of live interviews that are centered around Type 2 diabetes. Does that mean that those of us with Type 1 diabetes won’t learn anything? Absolutely not! All of these interviews will have relevance for anyone affected by any kind of diabetes—whether you have diabetes or love someone who does. This series will address topics such as diet, the basics of Type 2 diabetes, diabetes myths, emotional support, shame and blame, and family dynamics.

Today’s event is an interview with journalist and author Gary Taubes. Two of his well-known books are Good Calories, Bad Calories and Why We Get Fat. I have mentioned Taubes more than once on my blog and I highly recommend that you check out his books and/or articles. His writing is clear, concise, and highly persuasive as he argues that our current obesity crisis is caused by certain types of carbohydrates rather than fats and excess calories. When you read his stuff, it really makes sense.

Today’s interview of Taubes is at 1pm PT, 4pm ET, 9pm GMT. To get more details about the event, click here. This event page provides information about Taubes and links to some of his books and articles. In addition there is a teal-colored box to click at the time of the event.

Please note that you must be logged into the TuDiabetes site to view the interview live. At the top of both the event page and the TuDiabetes home page are boxes to click to Log In or Register if you are new to TuDiabetes.

If you are unable to attend the event live today, the video will be posted in the TuDiabetes video archives in about a week.

Mark Your Calendars!

The schedule and details for the other interviews in the Type 2 Series can be found here. The speakers and dates are listed below. All of the event times are 1pm PT, 4pm ET, 9pm GMT unless noted otherwise.

Today, October 1 Live Interview with Journalist and Author Gary Taubes Details here.

October 7 Addressing Shame and Blame with Susan Guzman Details here.

October 13 Ansley Dalbo presents “Diabetes What to Know” Details here.

October 22 D-blogger Mike Durbin, in Conversation with Rick Phillips Details here.

November 11 Susan Guzman, “Rebranding Diabetes” Details here.

November 18 Corinna Cornejo on Type 2 Diabetes Myths and Misconceptions Details here. This event is at 12pm PT, 3pm ET, 8pm GMT.

More about TuDiabetes

TuDiabetes.org labels itself as “a community of people touched by diabetes, a program of the Diabetes Hands Foundation.” On this website you will find information about all types of diabetes, forums where you can touch base with other people affected by diabetes, a live chat feature, an extensive library of video interviews, and a blog feature which is under construction but currently lists links to member blogs.

If you have never checked out TuDiabetes, come visit. You can browse the site without logging in, but it is hoped that you will register and share your voice. If you used to participate and are flummoxed by the new platform, it’s getting busier, more organized, and you are missed. If you live with diabetes, TuDiabetes will make sure that you are never alone.

Introducing Elle and Coach

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Laddie

Elle & Coach by Stefany Shaheen is the story of Shaheen’s oldest daughter Elle (pronounced “Ellie”) who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 8. This book was recently published in August and I am pleased to have been given a complimentary copy along with the opportunity to share my views of the book. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Both the front and back covers of Elle & Coach show a lovely young women along with a handsome yellow labrador retriever. The title of the book mentions “Coach” and the subtitle is “Diabetes, the Fight for My Daughter’s Life, and the Dog Who Changed Everything.” So why doesn’t THE DOG make an appearance until halfway through the book?!?!

The answer to that question is why Elle & Coach is an educational, and inspiring book. For those of us in the diabetes community, the story of Elle’s Type 1 diagnosis is a familiar one with injections, fingersticks, hospital/doctor visits, and wild swings in blood sugar. We have lived with the unrelenting fear, stress, and blame. Through the early chapters of the book Shaheen does a good job of describing the physical and emotional impact of a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis on a child, the parents, and the entire family. We know the story.

If you have difficulty explaining to your relatives and friends the impact of diabetes on your life and that of your family, hand them this book. The story (and of course the beautiful dog!) is compelling enough to keep outsiders reading. They will learn the basics of Type 1 diabetes, the unending daily tasks required, the longterm impact of the disease, the role of technology, the eternal hope for a cure, and the importance of advocacy at both a local and national level. Admittedly a Type-A mother, Shaheen is not a whiner and she has spent the last eight years working to help people and families impacted by diabetes and other chronic conditions. Similarly, Elle has been a diabetes advocate from a young age and has shared her story with people from community leaders to the President of the United States.

Now enter THE DOG! Elle and Shaheen learned about Diabetic Alert Dogs (DAD’s) at the 2011 JDRF Children’s Congress where they were witnesses to a young girl and her DAD in action. Initially Elle was not interested in a companion dog, but her mother was inspired to begin researching the use of medic-alert dogs with diabetes. The rest is history as Coach and Elle became a team in the spring of 2013.

The second half of the book describes the magical ability of certain dogs to sense blood sugar changes in humans and the journey of the Shaheen family to obtain a diabetic alert dog for Elle. The beginning of Elle and Coach’s partnership is fascinating and heart-warming. Right away Coach alerted properly to Elle’s out-of-range blood sugars and very quickly began easing the burden of diabetes on the entire family. There were a few bumps in the road and these occurred because although the dog was superbly trained, his humans had a lot of learn!

If you are interested in a diabetic alert dog, Elle & Coach is a good starting point to learn about how to obtain a DAD and some of the adjustments required to fit such a dog into your world. Shaheen wisely emphasizes the need to do your homework to determine if an alert dog is appropriate for you and the responsibilities of living with such a dog. Expense, public access issues, the need for ongoing training, and the 24/7/365 nature of the handler/dog relationship are some of the topics addressed.

I wore many hats as I read this book. I have Type 1 diabetes and know the intimate details of living with this challenging condition. I am a mother and grandmother who gives daily thanks that none of my children and grandchildren have been diagnosed with diabetes. Elle & Coach reinforces my belief that most of the time it is easier being the person with diabetes as opposed to the parents and people who love us:-) I am a dog-lover and the owner of Abby the Black Lab who at age 9 does not react to my blood sugars but might have been trainable at a younger age. In summary, all of my D-roles enjoyed this book and think that you should find a spot in your diabetes library for this story.

*****

Elle & Coach is available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook and is available at major booksellers. Click here for more details.

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If you’d like to follow Elle and Coach online:

www.elleandcoach.com | @elleandcoach | www.facebook.com/ElleandCoach

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If you’d like to read more blogposts about diabetes alert dogs, check out:

https://testguessandgo.com/2014/07/10/ann-wallen/

http://blackdogsrule.com

http://tarraandduchess.blogspot.com

Can Advocacy Take a Vacation?

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Laddie

Laddie_Head Square I haven’t been writing much these days. I was definitely burned out after Diabetes Blog Week but was on the exit ramp before that. I began blogging 2+ years ago and although I am proud of what I have shared about my life with Type 1 and my opinions about diabetes issues, I am starting to feel that I have just about said it all. I am definitely tired of the work of writing and creating graphics for my posts. At the same time I don’t think that I am ready to quit. In my first post for Test Guess and Go, I wrote:

The medical system in the United States is changing and I really wonder what the next years will bring for those of us with diabetes…. And before I know it, I will be on Medicare with a new set of rules that will save me lots of money in some areas, but will try to dictate that I live with 3 test strips a day and throw away my CGM because it is not proven technology.

Nothing in that statement has changed since 2013. My Medicare worries used to be about lack of CGM coverage. In mid-2015 I know people with diabetes on Medicare who are no longer able to obtain test strips for name-brand BG meters. I know several women with Type 1 who have had difficulty getting pump supplies on a timely basis. Finding a provider for Part B insulin for pumps continues to be a common difficulty.

Today I am about 20 months away from the transition to Medicare. It is too soon to evaluate my choices about Supplemental and Advantage plans. It is too soon to start hoarding Dexcom sensors and Freestyle test strips because of limited expiration dates. I am trying to purchase pump supplies on a timely basis, but it seems unwise to stock too many supplies because I will be buying a new pump in the fall of 2016.

My hope is to hang on as an active blogger in order to chronicle the journey of moving from a lifetime of excellent private insurance to the scary unknowns of Medicare. I am proud of what has been accomplished at Test Guess and Go by my writing and that of Sue from Pennsylvania and Sue from New York. I don’t want to see Test Guess and Go fade into oblivion.

Lately I have felt guilty that by not writing and actively engaging in diabetes social media that I am not doing “my job.” I am failing in my public persona as a diabetes advocate. I know that I am being too hard on myself and that starting a blog is not a life contract to do it forever.

Advocacy things that I have done in 2015:

I have followed through with every email from JDRF urging me to contact my elected representatives on diabetes-centric legislation. I participated in the campaign for the Special Diabetes Program which was successfully renewed for two years in April with $150 million allocated for diabetes research.

I have contacted my Senators and House Representative to support S. 804: Medicare CGM Access Act of 2015 and H.R. 1427: Medicare CGM Access Act of 2015. Like many people I have been frustrated that this is the 3rd generation of these bills and they are still rated by GovTrack as having 0-1% chance of being enacted. Even if you contacted your elected representatives for the 2013 and 2014 bills, please do it again for the bills of the current legislative session. Remember that Medicare policy trickles down to all insurance and even if you are not age 65, this coverage is crucial for people of all ages with diabetes. It is super easy to do if you go to the JDRF CGM Coverage by Medicare page.

I have joined DPAC (Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition). DPAC was co-founded by Bennet Dunlap and Christel Marchand Aprigliano. The purpose of the organization is to unify and streamline diabetes advocacy and make it easy for each one of us to have our voice heard by U.S. decision makers. If you are not yet a member of this group, please read this blogpost by Christel at theperfectD and this post by Sue at Diabetes Ramblings. Then follow the links to join DPAC.

I was fairly active through the first half of 2015 and advocated for DOC programs such as Spare a Rose, Save a Child. I attended the Unconference and generally immersed myself in diabetes stuff.

After writing but not publishing this post, I wrote a blogpost to my daughters-in-law urging them to learn the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes and share the stories of Kycie and David, two young children who recently lost their lives as a result of Type 1 diabetes.

Advocacy things that I have not done in 2015:

I have rarely used my blog to educate and encourage others to advocate for important diabetes issues.

I have continued to read every blog in my blogroll, but in recent months I have left few comments and feel bad about that. Many times I have started a comment and then deleted it after becoming lazy and paralyzed in my thoughts halfway through.

I have been mostly absent from Twitter and #DSMA and #DCDE TweetChats. Obviously it’s not a requirement to participate in things like this, but it is a sign of support to others in the DOC. In general I am not a huge Twitter person and I may start using my age as an excuse to maintain a minimal Twitter presence.

I stayed on the sidelines for the CrossFit issue. On one hand that is good because I didn’t say something stupid and insensitive. On the other hand, I didn’t rush to support the heartfelt posts of my Type 2 friends including Kate Cornell, Sue Rericha and Bea Sparks. A “Like” on Facebook isn’t a sufficient response to seeing wounds of blame, shame, and anger re-opened in the diabetes community.

Moving forward?

For now I am on summer vacation. I’m not mad or sad. You don’t need to comment and tell me how wonderful I am or give me permission to be a bum. I’m just tired of writing and being overly immersed in diabetes social media and I don’t want to feel guilty about that. Vacation Beach I’m still reading blogs and keeping up with Facebook. I’m supporting my friends doing runs and bike rides to raise money for diabetes. I’m still here and for better or worse, I still have diabetes.

Fortunately my blogging malaise has not been accompanied by personal burn-out. My diabetes is difficult these days, but I get up every morning with the optimism that I’ll do better today than yesterday with blood sugars. I’ve ordered a mysugr T-shirt and will wear it proudly while battling my D-monster “Glukomutant.” I’ve been walking a ton (#Fitbit) and working with a personal trainer. I’ve cleaned closets, played golf, read a lot of books, and done some much-needed yard work. I’ve been super-Grandma and spent a lot of time with my four grandchildren.

I have many things to write about, but I don’t want to write. Maybe by giving myself permission to not write, I’ll feel free to start writing again. Maybe. Maybe not. This is not a good-bye, au revoir, adios, or sayonara post. I kind of think of it as:

See you later, alligator. In a while, crocodile.

To My Daughters-in-law

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Laddie

Dear Becky and Danielle,

You have never known me without Type 1 diabetes because I was diagnosed before you were born and certainly before you married my sons. You may have seen me test my blood sugar and push buttons on my pump to take an insulin dose. You have never seen me incapacitated or ill as a result of diabetes and it is possible that you come away from my story without understanding how serious and deadly Type 1 diabetes can be. Very naively I never worried that your husbands/my sons would get Type 1 and so far they haven’t. I pray that your children/my grandchildren never get diabetes, but if they do, you will manage and they will be fine.

Today I have information that I want you to share with you. Last weekend, two young children died because of Type 1 Diabetes. These were not children without access to medical care. They could have been your child or your neighbor’s child. One of these children was incorrectly diagnosed by her doctor. A simple blood test with a $1 test strip or a urine dipstick test could have diagnosed Type 1 diabetes in 5 seconds and saved her life. The second child was diagnosed correctly in the emergency room. Despite state-of-the-art medical care, he died a few days later.

Five-year old Kycie became ill one Sunday in late January, 2015. Initially her parents thought she had the flu and a Wednesday visit to the child’s doctor resulted in antibiotics for strep throat. She went to the doctor again on Friday and to the ER that afternoon. A series of seizures resulted in extensive brain damage. Tens of thousands of people followed Kycie’s story on Facebook as she and her family battled for 6 months to save her life. On Saturday, July 11, Kycie passed away at home in the arms of her parents.

A shorter story, but just as heartbreaking, is that of David Michael Brown who died in a pediatric ICU at age four last Sunday, July 12. David became ill midweek with what appeared to be the flu. When his symptoms became more severe, his parents took him to the ER where he was correctly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Intensive medical care could not save his life and within a few days, David lost his battle with diabetic ketoacidosis as a result of multiple organ failure.

I urge you to learn the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes as shown in the poster below and explore the Test One Drop website. I also suggest that you like the Test One Drop Facebook page. The mission of this organization is to

“bring awareness to the general public and the medical community of the similarities between the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and common illnesses such as influenza, strep, and viral infections with the purpose of stopping delayed and misdiagnosed T1D which can lead to life-threatening DKA, permanent handicap, or death. Additionally, we are seeking a change in the Standard of Care Practices to require medical personnel to screen blood or urine samples for glucose levels before diagnosing sick patients with a common illness that might be masking or mimicking Type 1 Diabetes.”

My wonderful daughters-in-law — although your children are at a somewhat higher risk of getting Type 1 diabetes because of my diabetes, most diagnoses are of children and adults with no family history. The causes of the autoimmune beta cell destruction resulting in Type 1 diabetes are not known. For unknown reasons the incidence of Type 1 is increasing worldwide. Although this post highlights the stories of two children, please remember that Type 1 diabetes can strike at any age from infants to senior citizens and these symptoms should not be ignored in adults.

Share this message with your friends, family, and acquaintances. Educate your schools and daycare. Print out the free poster from the Test One Drop website and ask your pediatrician whether they test the blood sugar of children at well-child visits and whenever they have flu-like symptoms.

Although there is nothing easy about living with Type 1 diabetes, I am one of many people who illustrates that you can have a wonderful life with and despite diabetes. You, my sons, and your children are proof of that.

Throughout my 38 years of Type 1, I have seen incredible improvements in insulin and technology that make living with this condition more manageable. Two things have not changed. Type 1 diabetes is a death sentence if it is not diagnosed. And even with proper medical care, Type 1 diabetes is a serious and life-threatening illness.

With love as always,

Laddie, your Mother-in-law

Please note that this blogpost was edited in November 2015 to reflect a correction in David Michael Brown’s story. My understanding from Facebook stories in July was that an incorrect diagnosis had led to a delay in care for David. That was not the case and he was diagnosed correctly. But even with appropriate and intensive medical care, David lost his life as a result of Type 1 diabetes.

I have also updated the Test One Drop mission statement and displayed the current version of the free downloadable poster.

Postcards from the Diabetes UnConference

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Laddie

Last Friday I drove from Arizona to Las Vegas to participate in the Diabetes UnConference. It is trite to say that words can’t describe the experience, but Words Can Not Describe My Experience. Three days later I am still exhausted. But three days later I am invigorated with images of new friends, old friends, smiles, tears, hand claps, Diet Pepsi, red wine served by charming bartenders, hugs, lows, highs, and flamingos. I don’t want to start listing names because I know that I will mess up and forget my most cherished friends. But I do want to thank Christel Marchand Aprigliano of The Perfect D for following her vision of “The only peer-to-peer support conference for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.”

As I struggled to find a way to express my impressions of a magical weekend, I stumbled upon a pile of postcards ready to tell their story:

Postcards_All_2

Abby the Black Lab Discusses Community

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Laddie

Laddie: Abby the Black Lab has been slacking off recently and hasn’t written a blogpost since May 2014. In response to my threat to withhold dinner tonight, she graciously offered to step in and share her views on community and #dblogcheck day.

Abby: It is #dblogcheck day. Laddie informed me that she is too busy to write a blogpost today because she is visiting other blogs in the Diabetes Online Community (#DOC) and leaving comments. Although I am overworked protecting my home from coyotes, rattlesnakes, and FedEx drivers, I suppose I can take a minute to discuss dog biscuits, mailboxes, and people with diabetes.

In my Arizona neighborhood there is a magic mailbox which dispenses dog biscuits instead of outgoing mail. I learned about it a few years ago from my Golden Retriever friend Stella. When Laddie and I walk down this street a few blocks from home, I tug on the leash to prompt her to open the mailbox door and see what delicacies await me. (Mind you, I eat tree pods, table scraps, and rabbit poop so I’m not very particular….) Along with dogs of all breeds, shapes, and sizes, I wag my tail and explode with excitement. I am a 78-pound dog who goes berserk over snacks the size of a quarter.

Abby_Mailbox

Do you know what else the magic mailbox does? It beams happiness to My Human and zaps a smile on her face every walk. Some days there are twenty treats in the mailbox and they are devoured by late afternoon. That means that lots of dogs got yummy treats while their owners were reminded that small things can bring joy to others. The random act of dog-biscuit-kindness is contagious as the humans become more apt to smile at and engage their neighbors. By dispensing magical treasures every day, this mailbox helps build a bond of community in the neighborhood. Community. That’s important.

So what does this have to do with diabetes? The purpose of #dblogcheck day is to celebrate the #DOC and connect with people on blogs, Twitter, Facebook and wherever you hang out. You are prompted to leave a comment on every blog you read even if it is as short as writing “Check.” I like to think that blog comments, tweets, and Facebook remarks are dog treats where you touch base with people and remind them that they are appreciated and that the diabetes community is important.

Laddie: Sometimes I ask myself whether my blog is my most important contribution to the #DOC. My answer is “Not at all.” I think that when I read and respond to the blogs, tweets and Facebook postings of my FFABD’s (Fellow Folks Affected By Diabetes) that I validate their experiences and remind them that their voice is important. That’s a good thing.

Abby the Black Lab has no idea about the carb count of dog biscuits and neither do I. We both know that comments are carb-free and we encourage you to explore the #DOC today and everyday. Write comments and take time to welcome/support new and established members of the diabetes community. No one has ever complained about too much love, respect, and validation.

Abby: Check!

Laddie: Check!

Other posts by Abby the Black Lab:

Abby the Black Lab Discusses DSMA Live

Abby the Black Lab Discusses Nutrition

A Diabetes Poem

The Great Divide in the DOC