Bionic contact lenses?
Here's an interesting article about emerging technology. It mentions how the tech could be used to monitor glucose levels. So much fun to wonder what tomorrow will bring... check it out.
A link to the source article is just below... Click 'References' for more.
Thanks to Arden's Day reader (and Arden's mom) Kelly for the article!
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
I am going to write about one small moment from each day in November as an attempt to shed some light on what living with diabetes is like for a family whose child has the disease. Each entry will be made to this post - they'll be longer then a tweet but short then a blog post.
Tuesday, November 1
I miss counted Arden's dinner carbohydrates sending her blood glucose soaring over 300. Kelly had to spend the evening trying to get it back in range. She was careful and caring, tired from a day of work and helping Arden with a school project. I was unable to help her because I was with our son at his sports practices. High BGs are stressful.
Wednesday, November 2 (1:00am)
Arden's blood glucose has fallen too far. The last bolus see received at 8pm ended up being too much. Her BG was now 57 and two hours of temp basal rates couldn't stop her slow decline. Kelly went to the kitchen for a juice box and then laid in bed next to Arden, I knelt on the floor at the opposite side of the bed holding the juice. We both tried to get the other to go to bed. I said, "Kel you have to get up early for work... you should go to bed, I can take care of Arden". Kelly replied, "I'm the one that gave her too much insulin, I'll wait with her". - We both waited until Arden was stable.
Thursday, November 3
Today I ramped up my diabetes advocacy x 1,000... I hope you all come along for the ride! All the details.
Friday, November 4
Wore something Blue for Blue Friday.
Saturday - Sunday
I seem to have taken the weekend off...
Monday, November 7
Watched Jay Cutler play for the Bears with Arden - Tweeted him after to say thank you for his transparency with his type I.
Tuesday, November 8
Spoke to a fellow blogger about ways to make her really great idea for awareness a reality!
Wednesday, November 9
We made a $75 donation to Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS - Karma
Thursday, November 10
I entered into an agreement today that will significantly help one family that struggles with the cost associated with their child's insulin pumping. I will make the announcement on Monday November 14th, with all of the details.
Friday, November 11
Arden's DexCom is wearing blue for Blue Friday!
Saturday, November 12
Took the Big Blue Test - http://www.bigbluetest.org
Sunday, November 13
Spoke to a wonderful attorney about the Untitled Giving Project
World Diabetes Day
Announced that we will be giving a 3 year supply of infusion sets away to a child in need.
Tuesday, November 14
Vacuuming, cleaning, doing the laundry. If I don't get this stuff done Kelly will kill me and then I won't be able to be an advocate for diabetes any longer. So really... this is for the cause more then you know! :)
Ways to be involved with Diabetes Awareness Month
The internet is teaming with ways to spread awareness for Diabetes Awareness Month. Take a moment to check them out and if you know of something that I missed please leave a comment with the information/link.
The JDRF had it's first annual T1Day on 11.1.11 and they are asking for your help in spreading awareness.
Did you know that 14 minutes of exercise can decrease blood glucose levels by 15 to 20 percent? Check out the Big Blue Test for more information on how you can spread awareness and lower your BGs.
November 14th is World Diabetes Day.
Show your support for diabetes by adding a Blue Twibbon to your avatar on social media sites.
Wear something blue on Blue Fridays in November to help bring awareness.
If you are a diabetes blogger why not change your site colors to blue like we did here on Arden's Day. I used the World Diabetes Day twibbon color, color code 608EC5.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Urged in Type 1 Diabetes
By Kristina Fiore, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: October 14, 2011
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner
Both pediatric and adult patients with type 1 diabetes should use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to measure blood glucose levels, according to new guidelines.
There's high-quality evidence from studies showing that CGM can reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and help maintain good glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) control in both populations, David Klonoff, MD, of Mills-Peninsula Health Services in San Mateo, Calif., and colleagues reported in a clinical practice guideline from the Endocrine Society. The guideline was published in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
"There are still concerns about the high costs of CGM and the accuracy of the various systems available," Klonoff said in a statement. "However, the new guideline shows that CGM can be a beneficial tool to help maintain target levels of glycemia and limit the risk of hypoglycemia."
Standard blood glucose monitoring with finger sticks can provide only intermittent snapshots of glucose levels, the researchers said, and often miss sustained hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic excursions.
On the other hand, CGM allows for more complete blood glucose profiles, though there have been concerns over the accuracy of interstitial tissue sampling compared with actual blood levels. However, newer devices have shown improved accuracy, Klonoff and colleagues reported.
In their review of the literature for creating the guidelines, they found sufficient high-quality evidence to recommend the use of real-time CGM in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes who are at least 8 years old.
There was also high-quality evidence to recommend CGM in adult type 1 diabetes patients, they wrote.
The guidelines also suggested intermittent use of CGM in both children and adults who can't use real-time CGM, in order to analyze nocturnal hypoglycemia, the "dawn phenomenon," and postprandial hyperglycemia. Intermittent use also can help manage hypoglycemic unawareness, as well as assist patients when significant changes are made to their diabetes regimens.
They noted, however, that this suggestion was made on the basis of low-quality evidence.
The guidelines also recommend against the use of CGM in the intensive care unit or in the operating room "until further studies provide sufficient evidence for its accuracy and safety in those settings."
Free* Apidra from now until 4/30/12
I just got my card. It only took a few minutes...
All you have to do is go to this link and answer a few simple check box questions. The system will then generate a printable card for you to take into your Pharmacy and just like that your Apidra is free! Visit the link to get your card now and for more details. There is a bit of fine print... I've included some of it below.
If you want to know about more offers in the future please follow me on Twitter, FaceBook and Subscribe to Arden's Day - links are in the sidebar to the right.
Please use the "share article" link just below to spread the word.
From now until April 30, 2012, Apidra® vials are free for patients with commercial insurance*. ACCESS also provides Certified Diabetes Educators for on-demand support and counseling.
*Offer is not valid for patients participating in Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal- or state-funded benefit programs. Offer not valid in MA (except for cash-paying patients). Void where prohibited by law. Cards are the property of sanofi-aventis, and must be returned upon request. Both parties reserve the right to rescind, revoke, or amend this program without notice. Maximum offer value $250 per prescription. Cards valid through April 30, 2012.
I have not been compensated in any way for this post. Just good information for our fellow insulin users.