A few things caught my eye this week:
Check out this video about a model explaining the Hemoglobin A1C test. It's a 3-D educational tool which shows how glucose molecules stick to hemoglobin. Being very much a visual learner, I'd love to see one of these on the endocrinologist's desk, so that he could use it to explain the somewhat mysterious number we discuss at each visit. If you like it, vote and you may see it at your doctor's office soon!
It was great to see Charlie Kimball appear on the Today show talking about indy car racing but also about howType 1 Diabetes shouldn't stop anyone from pursuing their dreams.
I have found kindred spirits in parents of children with food allergies. We've huddled together at many a birthday party or school event obsessively reading labels or unwrapping the substitute treats we've provided for the occasion. This New York Times Magazine Article describes the results of an ongoing study treating children with multiple food allergies. One of the intriguing aspects of the article comes towards the end, and involves a ten year old girl who began the study with such severe allergies to so many familiar food items including dairy, wheat, peanuts, nuts and eggs that she had a full-time aide at school. By the end of her time in the study she was able to eat almost everything she was once allergic to. Yet she often chose not to. Partly, there was still a lingering fear. She also wonders if the people around her would think she had been dishonest about how severe her condition origionally was. It brings up questions about how diabetes defines those who have it. How would a potential cure or less hands-on treatment affect how people with diabetes are viewed? How would it affect the way they view themselves?
It's always encouraging to be reminded there are people out there researching, advocating and serving as role models for kids (and maybe adults too) with diabetes.
Showing posts with label role model. Show all posts
Showing posts with label role model. Show all posts
Bits And Pieces
I've run across a few bits and pieces on the internet which will, perhaps, be of interest:
Lee Ann Thrill has started the VIAL Project, a website designed for people with type 1 diabetes and mild to severe food and body issues. If disordered eating and/or body image issues are part of your or your loved one's experience with diabetes, please check this project out.
Tandem Diabetes and JDRF are working together on a new 'dual-chambered' insulin pump, explained nicely here on DiabetesMine. As I understand it with my limited grasp of things technological, one chamber is for insulin, the other for another pancreas-related hormone such as symlin or glucagon. I just picked up the glucagon refill and considered again how complicated the mixing of it is, and how terrifying the needle is. Boy wouldn't a little resevoir of it right in the pump be awesome? And of course, this is another step towards the closed loop artificial pancreas we're all waiting for.
Lastly, from the 'diabetes role models' department, this was a nice piece about Jay Cutler on Yahoo Sports. He is the quarterback for the Chicago Bears and a sports hero to many, including Ruby, our stuffed bear with diabetes.
It's encouraging, I think, to learn what people are doing when it comes to diabetes. These three bits represent but a tiny sample of those out there doing their part to help.
Lee Ann Thrill has started the VIAL Project, a website designed for people with type 1 diabetes and mild to severe food and body issues. If disordered eating and/or body image issues are part of your or your loved one's experience with diabetes, please check this project out.
Tandem Diabetes and JDRF are working together on a new 'dual-chambered' insulin pump, explained nicely here on DiabetesMine. As I understand it with my limited grasp of things technological, one chamber is for insulin, the other for another pancreas-related hormone such as symlin or glucagon. I just picked up the glucagon refill and considered again how complicated the mixing of it is, and how terrifying the needle is. Boy wouldn't a little resevoir of it right in the pump be awesome? And of course, this is another step towards the closed loop artificial pancreas we're all waiting for.
Lastly, from the 'diabetes role models' department, this was a nice piece about Jay Cutler on Yahoo Sports. He is the quarterback for the Chicago Bears and a sports hero to many, including Ruby, our stuffed bear with diabetes.
It's encouraging, I think, to learn what people are doing when it comes to diabetes. These three bits represent but a tiny sample of those out there doing their part to help.
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