My latest video shows how I used the Diabetech HomeCheck A1c test kit to test my A1c at home.
This is the second time I've used this kit to check my A1c levels. Total cost for the kit is $35.34 including shipping to my home and shipping the test sample back to the Diabetech labs.
In the video I show how to use this simple kit. In the video I mention a form that needs the test date not your birth date. My mistake.
I mailed the test to Diabetech on Tuesday and last night, 3 days later, I got the results back my e-mail (I can also ask for them by postal mail) and they showed my A1c had improved from 7.6% in November to 6.8% in May.
It's a great improvement and I really like that I can do this so easily at home. Total time from ordering the kit to getting the results was 10 days. Pretty good and I really liked the results I got.
Full disclosure: Kevin McMahon, the CEO of Diabetech, is a blogging acquaintance of mine. I've paid in full for both these tests and did this review without being asked to by Kevin. I like the product and admire the work that Diabetech has done to make diabetes management easier.
Would you be willing to give up some of your life to avoid treatments?
According to a short article in yesterday's Washington Post that's how some folks with Type 2 diabetes feel about their illness.
Those of us with Type 1 don't have that luxury. Giving up insulin for even a short amount of time could literally be deadly. And maybe that's something else to be thankful about. Reading this article reinforces my belief that Type 2 is a much harder disease to live with than Type 1. And I know just how difficult Type 1 is to deal with.
I completely agree with this quote from the article:
The study findings show "that we need to find better, more convenient ways to treat chronic illness," Huang said. "It is hard to convince some patients to invest their time and effort now in rigorous adherence to a complex regimen with no immediate reward, just the promise of better health years from now."
Type 1 diabetes treatment is 'easier' than in the good old days. But then the 'experts' go and change the rules on us, so I feel like I have to work harder at better control. No wonder taking care of diabetes is so tiring!
When I read David Mendosa's post, L is for Lazy, I just had to blog on it.
I was really struck by his comment
Even when it may appear to others that we “aren’t doing anything,” we may well be taking care of our bodies. Nothing is as inactive as sleeping, yet many people with diabetes suffer from getting too little of it, as I have written here.
My wife and I were talking about diabetes over the weekend. We realized that our three children have really no idea about the amount of work I do to try and keep my blood sugars in a reasonable range. If they don't know, what chance do others have.
So kick back and relax a little every so often. It's not being lazy, you're just taking better care of yourself.
The Diabetes Technology Blog is focused on using technology to life better with diabetes. I review: blood glucose monitors; continuous glucose monitor; blood sugar meters; diabetes software and living with diabetes.
About Me
Name: Bernard Farrell
Location: Massachusetts, United States
I was born in Ireland and now live in the US.
I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 35 years. I struggle with my blood sugar, the same as most people with diabetes.
I wear a Cozmo 1800 insulin pump and a Dexcom SEVEN CGM to track my blood glucose levels. I also take Symlin to help control my post-meal blood sugars.
I'm blessed by God, and every day brings the possibility of a cure.
I mailed the test to Diabetech on Tuesday and last night, 3 days later, I got the results back my e-mail (I can also ask for them by postal mail) and they showed my A1c had improved from 7.6% in November to 6.8% in May. 
