Today is the presidential primary day for many states in the US. And my good friend Manny has issued a challenge to the presidential candidates. Are they prepared to make funding for research and treatment of diabetes a National Priority.
This may not seem too important if you don't have diabetes. But remember that a recent study(PDF) showed that in 2007 the US spent over $174 billion dealing with diabets.
How much is that? More than was spent in Iraq supporting the military and dealing with situation there. Or about $580 for every person in the US, that's $2,320 for a family of four. For one year's treatment.
If you'd like to make your opinion heard on this, please complete the Diatribe survey about diabetes and its importance.
Oh, and do please vote in the primaries. It's important to make your opinion count.
Richard Kahn of the ADA recently gave a speech where he seemed to be against the technology that I depend on every day to keep me alive and well. Amy Tenderich and others have blogged about his comments.
I'm not saying much on the topic because his speech(PDF) makes me so mad. It strikes me that he has a lot of nerve for someone who doesn't seem to have diabetes and therefore doesn't need these devices to maintain his health or quality of life.
Here's where I stand on this.
I wear and use several diabetes devices that have really given me my life back.
The first of these was my blood glucose meter. Before I had one of these I used urine testing. I called this the "closing the stable after the horse had bolted" test. Because all it told me was a value after my blood glucose was high enough to spill into my urine. So the test might say I was 'negative', but my blood glucose could have been 190 mg/dl. And the thing was stinky and a pain to use.
About nine years ago I started using an insulin pump. Before that I was on multiple daily injections. On a good day I only had about 6 injections. On a bad day, 9 shots or more. My blood sugar control was pretty lousy. And before the pump I really couldn't exercise because it's impossible to undo an insulin injection.
In the last year I got a continuous glucose monitor. This has freed me from a lot of worry. No nighttime lows without a warning. Long distance driving? No problem.
Life is a lot easier with all of these. But they do have challenges.
It's extra stuff to carry, to program, and to download information from. The cables alone are a pain. And when the pump and CGMS alarm multiple times in the middle of the night, I want to throw them away.
But you'd have to pry them from my cold dead hands before I'd give them up.
You've probably noticed that there quite a few conferences about diabetes. But most of those are aimed at anyone with diabetes (mostly Type 2) or for children or parents of children with Type 1 diabetes.
Well those children grow up to be adults. I'm one of them. And there aren't any conference choices for those who left childhood far behind and who still have Type 1 diabetes. We're the minority within a minority.
Until now.
A small number of us are working to organize a conference for adults with Type 1. And we'd like your help. Head over to Allison's blog and learn some of the details. Then go and complete the survey for us. And thanks
A while ago, some of us on the Yahoo! diabetescgms group were asked to participate in a survey about our continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) and what we thought about them.
This short and readable document includes the following sections:
Key Findings about CGM Users
How Patients Use CGM Systems
Comparison between Minimed and Dexcom
Why Patients Stop Using CGM systems
Some thoughts on Reimbursement
I think you'll find this a useful document and well worth the read.
On a personal note, I'm about to start the reimbursement process for my Dexcom 7 STS with my insurer this week. Can I tell you how much I'm not looking forward to this? Why is this so hard?
Given that my A1C went from 8.2% to 7.% while I was using my Dexcom STS without hardly any significant lows it should be clear this system is beneficial and reduces costs in the long term. I just hate having to argue this all with many levels of insurance bureaucracy. I'll let you know how that goes also.
Do you use the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, or the Minimed system? Or maybe you even used the FreeStyle Navigator while it was in trials? Then here's a survey for you.
Directly from Caroline Corner's posting on TuDiabetes:
Hello,
I am doing some CGMS market research and I thought that perhaps some of you would like to participate. I am a health care financial analyst and I think that patient input on the devices is a key metric for smart investing. So, I would really like to get your input. There is a $5 Starbucks card for the first 50 responses. Thank you in advance for your time and feedback. I will be glad to share the results of the survey with the group.
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.
