I know, I know. It's been a long time since I last posted. I'm busy looking for a job and I seem to let anything else slide in the meantime.
I came across the blog my new islets. The author Kathy had a pancreas transplant on August 23rd 2008 and is writing about the experience.
That made me realize that the Diabetes search engine wasn't looking at any sites that had information on pancreas transplants. So I spent some time this evening fixing that, and I've added over 20 sites with information about pancreas, or kidney/pancreas, transplants. Many of these are hospitals that have transplant programs.
Since we're going into summer planning. I also added a large number of diabetes camp sites. I was fortunate to get to most of these by using the Children with Diabetes Camps page.
The diabetes search engine now looks for diabetes information on over 1400 sites or pages, including over 450 diabetes related blogs. I have looked at each one before adding it, to make sure they're valid. It's been used over 10,000 times, which means that it now ranks in the Google directories. And it's raised over $150 to support Dr. Faustman's research into a type 1 cure.
Let me know of any ways I can improve this tool for you.
The diabetes search engine now has about 900 sites and pages that it searches for information all about diabetes. So far the advertising revenue is about $55 and that's all going to Dr. Faustman's research at MGH.
Here's some of the sites that I just added recently.
The misadventures of peabody is a new blog from emily who was diagnosed with type one in March 2008. That's about seven weeks ago. Drop by and welcome her to the diabetes OC.
The ultimate hike for a cure! Ty Hover is either crazy or wildly ambitious. He's planning to hike from Detroit to Alaska and raise $290,000 towards diabetes research along the way.
The lucky druggie is a blog by Jessica who was diagnosed in January 2007. Today is her 19th birthday, drop by and say hi to her.
Diabetes365
There are now over 4,500 pictures in the Diabetes365 project with more being added every day. Several have been used by the media.
If you'd like to learn how diabetes affects us or makes us feel drop by and have a look. If you do decide to use a picture for any reason, do pleaseask the photographer and give attribution.
Here are some of the stranger searches that folks used to get to my blog [and my responses to some of them]. In no particular order.
medical benifits(sic) of beer and the name of it [Catch me after I've had a few]
she's my bride [Great, coz I've already got one of my own]
guinness diabetes [Tastes way better than insulin]
most outrageous pictures of diabetes [You'd need to see BAD George for those]
too much tv is not good for you [Agreed]
what day was october 8 2007 [The day after Sunday, October 7th]
diabetic "for breakfast" [OK. But remember to bolus properly]
show me the cool pictures related to diabetes month [At the diabetes365 site]
what is lazy?
type 1 diabetes new name [CRAP, I can't remember it]
what bongs better carb or no carb [Carbs man]
is there a cure for diabetes coming anytime soon [Unfortunately not.]
on september 28,2007 what did the moon look like in china [About the same as here, only earlier in the day]
Details, details
Anne wonders how I did this. I use Google Analytics to track visitors to my blog and web site.
One of the feature in Analytics allows you to see the Keywords that brought people to the site. Most of these are the usual suspects, but then there are the gems above.
Analytics is also useful to see traffic flow. For example I have few readers on the weekend, but a spike every Monday morning.
Today's New York Times has an article about Google and Microsoft and their planned move into the health care arena.
And no, they're not going to do this by paying for our doctor visits. Their approach is really all about empowering us to take more control over our own health. They'll do this with a combination of better search tools (like my own Diabetes Search Engine that's built with Google technology) and enabling us to maintain personal health records (PHR).
Now Electronic Health Records (EHR) or Medical records (EMR) are nothing new. There are several versions of these around provided by different companies. I believe the question will be whether Microsoft and Google can work together to develop a standard for PHRs. That would be a trick worth watching.
Right now the Google version has only been shown to a small number of people. The Google Blogoscoped site has shots of some of the screens from the Google system.
From the NYT article is sounds like Google is trying to do the 'right thing'
At Google, we feel patients should be in charge of their health information, and they should be able to grant their health care providers, family members, or whomever they choose, access to this information. Google Health was developed to meet this need.
I'm just wondering when they actually start working with real patients as they evolve this system.
The Diabetes Technology Blog is focused on using technology to live life to the full with diabetes. I review new diabetes technology including: blood glucose monitors; continuous glucose monitors; 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 36 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 Plus CGM to track my blood glucose levels.
I'm blessed by God, and every day brings the possibility of a cure.
One of the feature in Analytics allows you to see the Keywords that brought people to the site. Most of these are the usual suspects, but then there are the gems above.
