World Diabetes Day

It is very very hard to imagine, knowing that your child (relative or friend, adult or child) has Type 1 diabetes and that there is nothing you can do to help save their life because you cannot afford insulin, test strips, a glucometer, let alone the advances of modern technology which we see in the insulin pump, and the soon to arrive, artificial pancreas. They would most certainly die. The cost, even with insurance is costly. Just recently, Edward was presented (yet again) with the idea of the CGM, or the Continuous Glucose Monitor, which sends information to the insulin pump, all in the quest for tighter control of blood sugars. The cost for the new equipment with insurance ( I drive this point home), ran in the thousands of dollars. Would we have signed on? Yes, absolutely, but Edward maintains that he does not want to stick yet another device into his body. The pump requires an infusion site which needs to be changed every 3-4 days, and sometimes it really hurts when he puts it in the side of his body. It is his choice to wear the pump rather than taking multiple shots during the day. The point is, he has a choice. I remember so clearly seeing footage after Katrina hit New Orleans, of a young girl passing out as she slipped away, not having any insulin, and a nurse hollering frantically for some 'Regular Insulin'. They were able to save her life. It can happen quickly. So, all this to say, we acknowledge World Diabetes Day, for all the people, young and old who simply cannot afford or have access to life saving medical supplies. I think now of the Philippines and the many people who are not only suffering because of a natural disaster, but those who may perish because they have no insulin.

We continue to pray for a cure, in whatever shape that takes. Be it the artificial pancreas (another high tech device), one shot of insulin every 6 months or a year, a vaccine, a pill...we'll take it.

I am a diabetes Mom.

Spare a Rose, Save A Child...

Over these past, 10 1/2, almost 11 years I have learned alot about Type 1 Diabetes. I have met 'regular' Mom's and Dad's, just like Jimmy and I, advocating their hearts out for their children who live w/ Type 1. Can you even imagine living in a developing country where supplies, insulin, test strips, lancets, syringes, dare I say, pumps and pump supplies, even batteries are almost impossible to get. This also includes educators, nurse practitioners, clinics w/ funding and the list goes on and on. I know, that as a Mom, I would be out of my mind if I could not help supply Edward w/ these life saving supplies. He would have died w/out these supplies. The Diabetes On-line Community, otherwise know as the DOC is always looking for new ways to help anyone living w/ Diabetes. A small group of these wonderful folks, along w/ Johnson and Johnson, came up w/ the idea to help people around the globe living w/ Diabetes.

'For this Valentine's Day, using Social Media, our blogs, Facebook and  Twitter, we want to help the Life for a Child program, sponsored by the International Diabetes Federation, which aims to take “contributions from donors [to] go to established diabetes centers enabling them to provide the ongoing clinical care and diabetes education these children need to stay alive.”  Our idea was to take the typical “dozen roses,” so popular on Valentine’s Day, and save just one rose to spare the life of a child. “Spare a Rose, Save a Child” is simple:  buy one less rose this Valentine’s Day and share the value of that flower with a child with diabetes in the developing world.  Your loved one at home still gets flowers, and you both show some love to someone who needs it.

We also want to raise more awareness for the Life for a Child program, and we hope that our friends in the DOC will help with this effort.'

Just $1 a day provides a child with:

• regular insulin
• quality blood glucose monitoring equipment (meter, strips, lancets)
• essential clinical care
• up-to-date diabetes education materials
• specialized diabetes training for medical staff

 “The scope of what needs to be done is vast.  Diabetes management is complex. While the first step is getting access to insulin, it needs to be followed up with education on managing diabetes, extending sustained care and also improving the quality of care. This takes both time and ongoing resources, so donations such as yours are crucial to the success and longevity of the Life for a Child Program. Thank you for your contribution.”

 Make a donation today.  Click here. Even a $1.00 will help—-imagine!!

I am a Diabetes Mom.