Tag Archives: artificial pancreas

Artificial Pancreas With Some Heart

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Recently I was contacted by a reporter from my local FOX affiliate about a story she wanted to cover on the Artificial Pancreas for a segment called The BIG Idea.

Tonight, the piece aired on our local 10pm FOX 5 NY news.  My endocrinologist and the Chief Mission Office for JDRF were also interviewed.  It’s amazing to witness how so much footage is made into such a short but thorough news segment.  I was happily surprised by the accuracy of the story and pleased with how they explained the technology involved.  I owe a huge thanks to Kerry Drew and especially the editing team who made this come to fruition.  I have also decided I look exceptionally tired and should start going to sleep earlier.  Seriously though, I’m honored to have had a voice in spreading this story.  This AP technology is getting closer!  The UVA algorithm I tested in my first AP trial is now slated for 3 month AT-HOME trials which has happened in the time since they filmed this news segment.  Keep pushing forward (and get some sleep).

Here’s the video:  FOX 5 The BIG Idea.

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Thanks to my friend Deb who is my steadfast T1D supporter and puts together pics with amazing speed!

Today was full of surprises, many, but the one that sticks out the most is a moment right outside my office.  I saw it upside down as I walked down the street and it took my breath away.  It was not this shape a few hours later (just a wet blob).  I stopped a man who was about to walk across it and showed him how the snow melting on top of the scaffolding had dripped into the shape of a heart.  He smiled and told me how the cord for his computer sometimes makes the shape of a heart.  I told him how I tend to see a lot of hearts and I its a great thing.  Powerful heart moments… or possibly stranger danger (me, not the guy). xo

Snow drip love

Snow drip love

Southfork Ranch (bonding with Dallas)

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My bond with Dallas:

Sue ellen AW

1.  The TV show Dallas premiered in 1978.  A few months later, I was diagnosed with T1D.  Yay the 70s!

2.  Who shot JR? Was a cliffhanger which became a pop culture phenomenon.  The episode where the shooter was revealed was the second highest rated prime telecast ever (it was Sue Ellen’s sister who revealed she was pregnant with JR’s child and used that to keep herself out of prison).  During the time this episode aired, I too was taking shots (well of insulin… no bullets were involved).  Shots!

3.  Season 9 of Dallas was revealed to be a dream sequence of Pamela Ewing’s (she thought Bobby died.  It was awful.  When she “woke-up” the next season, she freaked when she found him taking a shower).  Bobby’s “return” (he left for a season but was persuaded to come back due to declining ratings) effectively eliminated everything from the previous season.  I wish T1D was a just a dream, but alas, my dream is to be part of The CURE, and eliminate T1D.  On a side note, I’m a huge fan of long showers too!

4.  Dallas won 4 Emmy awards.  I’ve won 4 Best of the Betes Blogs (so close to an Emmy… if only the blog were a TV show).

5.  Sue Ellen was a former Miss Texas.  Sierra Sandison is a fellow T1D and a current Miss Idaho (this part will make sense in a minute).

6.  Dallas was know for ending every season with a cliff hanger.  Diabetes is a series of ups and downs too (especially with blood glucose levels)

7 . I was once lost in South Fork… well the south fork of Long Island.

8.  Dallas originally aired on Saturday nights, was switched to Sunday nights and then switched to Friday nights where it stayed, until the series ended in 1991.  I will be in Dallas this Friday night to attend and speak at The JDRF DALLAS Type ONE Nation Summit on Saturday 6/6.

Incredible right?  So are you anywhere near Dallas/ Ft Worth?  Do you have T1D?  Do you love someone with T1D?  Do you care about someone with T1D?  Are you enemies with someone with T1D (ok that part’s a joke.  Cheeky.)?  Here’s the Registration Info (yes, FREE).

JDRF Type One Nation Summits are happening throughout the country.  If you would like to find one near you, click HERE.

These Type One Nation Summits create some really amazing opportunities and I have met such amazing people and lots of new friends.  I’ve been to 2 so far (3’s the magic number right?  Yay Dallas… or should I say Yee Ha?).  The presentations and speakers are different for each Summit.  In Dallas, there will be an outstanding group presenting and also hosting a series of break-out sessions.  The list is available HERE and includes Miss Idaho, Sierra Sandison who brought so much awareness to diabetes with her #ShowMeYourPump campaign and also professional snowboarder and founder of Riding on Insulin, Sean Busby.  You can also hear me attempt to say, “Mission Message” which is absolutely impossible to say 3 times fast.

This post was a bit more of a stretch than the Britney Spears/Vegas post but hey, the “shots” part was pretty solid.  Just remember, EVERYTHING’S bigger in Texas y’all.

 

 

 

 

Oops!… I Did It Again

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What a Dopey mistake.  Downright Goofy.  In my previous post describing my bond with Britney Spears, I forgot one of the more important parts…

Britney was in The Mickey Mouse Club….

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Found somewhere on the interwebs (I think).

AND I was a LAB MOUSE in an Artificial Pancreas trial (and yes, I have pair of sequined Minnie Mouse ears with my name monogrammed on them)!

AW mini

Again, I will be speaking about my time in the AP Trial, some insights and fun stuff at JDRF Nevada’s TypeOneNation Summit THIS Saturday.  Like I said in the previous post (me + Britney), the schedule on Saturday is incredible AND there are MORE TypeOneNation Summits happening throughout the country which you can find right HERE .   My buddy Brian and I will also be sharing our experience on March 21st at JDRF Long Island’s TypeOneNation Summit .  For my Long Island post I’m considering another comparison post with either Billy Joel, Dee Snider or Lindsay Lohan.  This is a tough decision… I may combine all three and toss in Busta Rhymes too.

 

 

I Wanna Go (My Bond With Britney Spears)

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My bond with Britney Spears:

1.  Britney has had her fair share of ups and downs.  My blood sugar also has had (and continues to have) its ups & downs.

2.  Britney is currently performing on “The Strip”.  I happen to find test strips EVERYWHERE.

teststrips

3.  Britney and I were both child brides.

Brit bride

4.  We have both rocked bunny ears (my grandmother made mine.  Not so sure about hers).

Brit bunny

5.  I have a Yorkie.  Brit Brit also has a Yorkie (I think I look a bit happier with my little guy though).

Brit york

6.  Brit knows Michael Strahan.  I explained Continuous Glucose Monitors to Michael Strahan (and we participated in an incredible JDRF’s Fund-A-Cure together…. “Gimme, Gimme More”).

Brit strahan

7.  Britney was married to a prick.  I have to “prick” my finger multiple times a day (please note: I did not come up with this one myself.  My friend M did and I laughed myself silly, said I could never use it in this post, and yet here it is, lucky #7).

8.  Biker Babes (Britney looks cute, I will be THE sweaty mess of all messes after my 100 mile JDRF ride… Oh My God what have I gotten myself into???  Anything to cure T1D right?).

Brit bike

9.  Britney and I both like our bedazzling (I tend to limit mine to arm Dexcom sites… most of the time).

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10.  Britney Spears wears pumps.  I wear a pump too (slightly different version).

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11.  Britney shaved her hair extensions off her head.  I briefly had extensions, they were a nightmare (hurt and would pop off).  I get the head shaving Brit, believe me, we all need a break sometimes.

12.  This is the most important one.  Ready?  Britney will be on stage in Las Vegas on February 28th… I will ALSO be in Vegas on February 28th but instead of singing, I will be speaking on a stage (although if need be, I’m willing to sing/maybe rap.  I’m not opposed to dancing but really my moves are pretty much weak break dancing).  I am THRILLED to be the opening speaker at JDRF Nevada’s Type One Nation Summit In Vegas!  I am so honored to be able to share what it’s like to participate in a diabetes clinical trial, my Artificial Pancreas experience and some other insights, but wait until you see all the incredible presentations (and presenters) involved!  Check this out!  TypeOneNation Nevada Summit agenda

Incredible right?  So are you anywhere near Las Vegas?  Do you have T1D?  Do you love someone with T1D?  Do you care about someone with T1D?  Are you enemies with someone with T1D (ok that part’s a joke.  Cheeky, I know)?  Here’s the Registration Info (yep, free).

JDRF Type One Nation Summits are happening throughout the country.  If you would like to find one near you, click HERE.

If this post leaves you singing Britney Spears on automatic repeat, please know I’ve had Oops I Did It Again, Toxic and my fave, My Prerogative in my head for 3 weeks now (and have had many a morning shower dance-off to my girl Brit Brit).  I know, You Drive Me Crazy, right?  Also this post has been a project for my friends for weeks and one funny friend who put all these ridiculous photos together and came with all sorts of connections (Thank you!).  Diabetes may suck sometimes, but I appreciate that this blog post brought me (and a few others) a lot of silly laughter.

See ya in Vegas!

2 Items of Importance – I Don’t Mess Around

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I, along with 4 other people affected by T1D from the JDRF NYC chapter, met with representatives from Senator Chuck Schumer’s office 2 weeks ago (yes I did almost autocorrect his name to “Chick Schumer” recently, caught it in time, and then laughed so had alone in an elevator that i partially slid down the wall).  We were there to discuss S. 2689 (Medicare coverage of Continuous Glucose Monitors).  I left hopeful and with finger’s crossed.

On Thursday night while in route to Artificial Pancreas stuff (Wow, yes, wow), I received an email that Senator Schumer will co-sponsor the bill.  We need this to happen folks.  Many people (and I’m sorry to say fellow T1Ds) don’t see how important this is.  Let me reiterate why this is important to support this and help fight, even if you are nowhere near 65 years old and think this doesn’t affect you.

1. If you support the Artificial Pancreas Program, a CGM is an integral part of this program.  Let me spell it out:  to Close he Loop, you need a CGM.  If Medicare does not support and cover CGMs, whatever the device is that becomes the Artificial Pancreas will have THAT much tougher of a time to get in OUR hands.  CGM coverage by Medicare is a hurdle we can knock out of the way to get us closer to the availability of the Artificial Pancreas.

2. Health insurance companies look to Medicare.  If Medicare does NOT cover CGMs, it makes CGMs “appear” unnecessary.  My CGM is a savior to me.  If yours a savior to you? A savior to someone you love?  A savior to someone you mildly like?  Then go HERE and support THIS.

Now here is the BIG part… TALK this up!  Post it on Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram and whatever other social Media things people use these days.  Reach out to people BEYOND the diabetes community!   REACH OUT.

Did you go to High School?  Reach out to your High school alumni.  Do you have siblings?  Get them to sign.  Friend of friends?  Yeah, grab them too.  This doesn’t cost money.  it just takes a few minutes.

GO!

Next up… Artificial Pancreas stuff.  The photo is pretty ridiculous (why are we in a magnifying glass?  Well it’s appropriate that I’m laughing, no?) but here’s the skinny from Brian and me over at JDRF’s Type One Nation.

Thanks for reading.  Spread the word.

 

 

 

 

FREE – NYC JDRF ONE Expo

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There is quite a roster for the JDRF NYC ONE Expo on 9/16.

ONE event to get Educated, Engaged, and Empowered!

I will be speaking during the Research Update along with Marlon Pragnell,  JDRF’s Senior Scientific Program Manager, who will be discussing the advances in JDRF’s priority T1D therapies, including encapsulation, prevention and a detailed look on the Artificial Pancreas Project and Dr Carol Levy, Director of Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetes in Pregnancy at Mt Sinai Hospital who will be presenting about Artificial Pancreas research being conducted at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.

I know space is limited for the presentations, so here’s the registration link AND it’s FREE (more info if you follow link than the image below): ONE EXPO

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Curiosity?

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Foot is healing and Dexcom site is switched.

Left thigh doesn’t hurt at all but I am curious as to why the blood pooled around the edge of the sensor (yep, that’s a skort in the pic…  I like to rock a skort regardless of the teasing I seembikeshorts to keep catch about it) .  Anyone?  I don’t know why I’m so curious about this, but after all the blood upon insertion, I expected a big bloody bruise under the sensor, not around it…. Anyone?

 

So what’s next?  In a dramatic moment (read: insane), my sister and I signed up for  JDRF Ride.  No, not one of the BIG Rides, but a local one…. well Jamaica….ummmmm Jamaica, Queens… which seems far away (right now) since I still haven’t figured out how we are getting there.  You know what else I haven’t figured out?  Bikes!  We don’t have bikes!  We *may* have a connection to borrowing bikes thanks to JDRF.  Great!  There is a 10 mile version to which I said, “pish-posh”.  I regret my pish-posh attitude now.   I will be riding 20 miles.  I had no idea how far that was.  My training so far has been 2 Citibike rides.

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That is the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, which is part of the route of NYC’s JDRF One Walk.  This is also the view over my Citibike handlebars and my big huge purse strapped to the front.  My training looks wimpy.  My training IS wimpy.

After eating way too much unhealthy food over the 4th, yesterday I went to the gym.  Granted I have some sort of upper respiratory thing I’m fighting through, BUT I did a 1/2 hour on the elliptical and then switched to a stationary bike.  I was good and sweaty and coughing and figured maybe I rode 10 miles.  I looked down.  Nope.  2.16 miles.  Holy Smokes this going to be ugly.  How many spin classes can I go to in 3 weeks?  Eek.  Remember when I did that CYC (spinning madness) class for JDRF?  My sister and friend loved it so much that they still take the classes!  I hope my sister doesn’t mind me riding on the handlebars of her bike.

Here’s the route (terrifying YET exhilarating and then a little “OMG” and then “those stops look fantastic”):

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Next up: I leave Wednesday for Washington DC for the JDRF One Walk Conference: Road to Success.  I’m excited and super curious.

And finally, in the next few weeks I hope to have some updates on the AP trials which are to begin HERE in NYC.  Not holding my breath for my own guinea pig involvement and not getting over enthusiastic (so I keep telling myself).

Keep advocating folks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday – PROGRESS!!!

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I can’t even describe how inspired I feel today (I’ve been up since 4:30am so it may partially be exhaustion, but I do feel excited).  While my brain and my heart settle a bit… here’s a pic of me last night (microphone not working and video without sound).  I definitely think I was a bit stiff and far away, my chit-chat was the most boring part of the evening, but who cares…. BECAUSE…..

Not a bad pic. Pretty sure this is when I realized there was no video playing!

Not a bad pic. Pretty sure this is when I realized there was no video playing!

 

THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!

Dr Aaron Kowalski

Dr Aaron Kowalski

Dr. Aaron Kowalski.

MIND.

BLOWN.  

I got to sit next to him and afterward, bombard him with questions.  If my pancreas could smile, believe me, it would have.

Pancreas from I Heart Guts

Pancreas from I Heart Guts

 

 

 

 

More information on all of this later!  And here’s some additional info about Dr. Kowalski:

Dr. Kowalski, JDRF’s Vice President, Artificial Pancreas Project.  He is an internationally recognized expert in the area of diabetes technologies, and oversees JDRF-funded research aimed at accelerating the delivery and development of the artificial pancreas systems. He has authored numerous articles in the field, including co-authoring the landmark study in The New England Journal of Medicine that revealed the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors in T1D.

Dr. Kowalski’s brother Stephen was diagnosed with type 1 in 1977 diabetes and in 1984, Dr. Kowalski was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.