In My Diabetes World

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Laddie

I have some “meatier” blogposts that I need to finish, but I’ve been busy living life and not so busy writing about diabetes. From a “Life” point-of-view, that is good. From a “Blogger” point-of-view, that’s a definite faceplant.

Just so February doesn’t fly by with zero blog entries, here are some diabetes things going on in my life.

Number One! I lit up Facebook and made many D-friends jealous with the news that I had lunch with Kate Cornell last Thursday in Prescott, Arizona. The skies were blue, the temps were warm, and the company was great.

As I summarized our visit: “It was a wonderful day, Kate! Your friendship is one of the good things that has come from diabetes in my life…”

Number Two! I spent quite a while yesterday morning trying to figure out why I couldn’t fill my prescription for insulin. Obviously a #firstworldproblem because I knew that it was just a pharmacy and/or an insurance glitch.

That’s a reminder that if you haven’t yet contributed to the Spare a Rose campaign, please click here to donate. It is more than an insurance/pharmacy glitch when children with Type 1 diabetes in developing nations die because they have no access to insulin. Although Valentine’s Day has passed, it is not too late to Spare a Rose to Save a Child.

To Donate, Click Here

After several phone calls to my endocrinology office and pharmacies in both Minnesota and Arizona, I will be able to pick up my 90-day supply of Novolog tomorrow. Should I mention that the insurance-contracted price is $1103.89 or $275 per vial? In June 2014 I wrote a blogpost titled “Then and Now” and shared a 1977 bill of $3.91 for one vial (a 2-month supply) of Lente insulin. Not much else to say…. Scan_Insulin2_1977_Blog

Number Three! My sister is flying across the country this week to visit me in Arizona. She Dex G5 Phone also has Type 1 diabetes and my interview of her is one of my most-viewed blogposts ever. We couldn’t be more different in our diabetes care. She uses Lantus now only because Lily quit making Ultralente in 2005 and her refrigerator stockpile ran out. She uses Regular insulin as her bolus insulin and has chosen not to use Humalog, Novolog, or Apidra. All of this is with vials and syringes. I of course have used a pump and CGM for years. Fortunately we are both doing well after almost 4 decades of diabetes.

Because of my free upgrade to the Dexcom G5, I have several unused Dexcom transmitters. (My current G4 transmitter has been in use for 11 months with no signs of failing.) I am going to ask my sister whether she would like to use one of my G5 transmitters along with her iPhone to try out a Dexcom CGM. I suspect that she will say no, but maybe not. Unfortunately she is older than I am and already on Medicare. Maybe it is cruel to let her experience life with a CGM when she would have to self-pay to continue on the system.

Number Four! I have been hiking a ton this winter and playing golf at least once a week. Abby the Black Lab has been enjoying two walks a day. My Fitbit is exploding with steps and I have averaged 18,850 steps (8.5 miles) per day for the last 4 weeks. If only the other parts of diabetes care were as easy for me as exercise. I’d be willing to trade 5,000 steps (or even 8,000 steps!) a day to anyone who would cook me delicious, healthy, low-carb dinners.

That’s it for today. Be strong. Be well. Be happy. Keep fighting the good fight and see you around the DOC.

Spare a Rose, Save a Child 2015

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Laddie

All of my 2015 blogposts have been about #firstworldproblems such as the Animas Vibe, my Dexcom G4, an iPhone trick, and a recent experiment of using long-acting insulin along with my pump.

But children in developing nations are dying because they have no access to insulin of any type.

I can be a grouch when diabetes technology does not live up to my expectations. My biggest problem these days is whether I should keep my current insulin pump or upgrade to the newest model. I joke about the excitement of switching from a hot pink continuous glucose monitor to a blue one.

But children in developing nations are dying because they have no access to insulin of any type.

I am 62 years old and have lived with Type 1 diabetes since I was 24 years old. Last week my Fitbit says that I walked 105,292 steps or almost seven miles a day. I went out to lunch three days in a row. I have very few complications of diabetes. I am indeed blessed.

But children in developing nations are dying because they have no access to insulin of any type.

I am writing this blogpost on my laptop computer at my kitchen table with an iPhone and iPad sitting next to me. My refrigerator is full of food and most importantly, there is a 3-month supply of insulin in the deli drawer.

But children in developing nations are dying because they have no access to insulin of any type.

What if there was something that you could do to make a difference for these children? There is and you can by supporting the Spare a Rose, Save a Child campaign sponsored by the Diabetes Online Community.

The message is simple, but powerful. Buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day and donate that $5 to the Life for a Child program sponsored by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Your gift of $5 will provide a month of insulin and diabetes supplies for a child in parts of the world where these life-saving medications and supplies are desperately needed. Consider donating $60, the equivalent of a dozen roses, and giving a year of life to a child with diabetes. Even more generously, make a pledge for a continuing monthly gift.

If you need motivation to donate, please watch this short vlog by my online friend Kelly Kunik at her blog Diabetesaliciousness©. (To my contemporaries who might not be as hip as I am, a vlog is a video blogpost. I am trendy enough to know what a vlog is, but not so cool that I have ever done one….)

As we approach Valentine’s Day 2015, let us be generous in sharing our bounty with children all over the world. To us, a rose is small. To a child with diabetes, that rose represents another day, another month, another year of life.

I made a donation today and hope that you will too. To donate using PayPal, click here.

To Donate, Click on the Image

Spare a Rose: Part 2

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Laddie

Today I sent a letter to most of my friends and family members. It was easy for me to write a blogpost that was read by most of the DOC. It was harder to send an appeal to my “real life” friends and family.

I know that the goal this year for the Spare a Rose, Save a Child campaign is $10,000 and we have almost reached it. I think that we can do better than that. Don’t be comfortable in your DOC niche. Be brave and send your appeal out to your co-workers, your neighbors, your family, and your friends.

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This is the letter that I emailed to most of my friends and family.

Dear Friends and Family,

Most of you know that I have had Type 1 Diabetes for 37 years. As the beneficiary of good insurance and financial security, I have consistently had access to expert medical care along with the latest and greatest technologies. Most importantly, I have never had to worry about the availability of insulin without which I would quickly die. I have lived a good life with and despite of diabetes and hope to continue to do so for many years.

The Diabetes Online Community (DOC) is sponsoring a huge campaign this Valentine’s Day: Spare a Rose, Save A Child. This campaign supports Life for a Child, a program of the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF). Life for a Child addresses the needs of children in developing countries, many of whom die within a year of a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis because of lack of insulin and medical care. To understand the scope of the problem, please watch the short video at this site: http://www.idf.org/lifeforachild/the-programme

Spare a Rose, Save a Child is simple: buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day and donate the value of that flower to children with diabetes. Your loved one at home still gets flowers and you both show some love to children around the world who need it.

One rose, one month of life. A dozen roses, a year of life for a child with diabetes. http://www.p4dc.com/spare-a-rose/

I write a blog about diabetes and I encourage you to read my blogpost about Spare a Rose, Save a Child: https://testguessandgo.com/2014/02/03/spare-a-rose/

It is a rare occurrence for me to approach my friends and family about supporting programs that I am involved in. I embrace this cause wholeheartedly and encourage you to donate this week as we get ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

To donate, go to: http://www.p4dc.com/spare-a-rose/give/ You will use PayPal to send your gift directly to the IDF.

Please note the down arrow that gives you choices of how much to donate. Spare 1 Rose = $5 = 1 month of Life for a Child. 2 Roses = 2 Months and other options up to 2 dozen roses for 2 years of life for a child.

As we approach Valentine’s Day 2014, let us all be generous in sharing our bounty with children all over the world. To us, a rose is small. To a child with diabetes, that rose represents another day, another month, another year of life.

With thanks to all of you-

Laddie