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.
