Who are my diabetes heroes?

I’m going to go with two for this one that come to mind first.  This one is very simple and I will explain each.  If you have followed me for even a short time these two should be pretty easy to guess.

Caleb Sisto, blogger at This is Caleb and T1 Diabetic

In a recent podcast with Lorraine I told Caleb that he was a role model for me and that wasn’t a joke.  At 8 years old he manages his blood sugars with his parents help with great precision and is doing a great job with diabetes management. As you probably know I have a huge soft spot for children with diabetes and my heart breaks when I hear about a newly diagnosed 18 month year old.  Caleb is truly and inspiration for others with diabetes and especially other children with diabetes.

Phil Southerland, Co-Founder of Team Type 1 and T1 Diabetic

If you’ve read “Not Dead Yet” by Phil this is a no-brainer.  Just the fact that Phil has competitively raced in cycling with type 1 diabetes that he’s had all his life is amazing. Add on the fact that he and his team have raced across America, some 3,000 miles with diabetes is another reason.  Phil is in an elite class of people with diabetes who breaks boundaries and show that those with diabetes can be the best of the best in athletics.

Who is your hero?

A special Thank You goes to Karen for running the Diabetes Blog Week and bringing the community together!

• Day 5 Post – What they should know
  
• Day 4 Post – Fantasy Device
• Day 3 Post – One Improvement I could make
• Day 2 Post – One thing I get right
• Day 1 Post – A friend
• Bonus Post – My favorite recipe

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

My Diabetes Hero(s) is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?

Plain and simple, diabetes sucks. Insulin is not a cure and even with the technology, sensors, pumps and different medications, it’s still very difficult to manage.  Also, I would explain that it’s a 24/7/365 disease that never goes away, never quits and is always there.  These things are hard to fully grasp unless you have lived with diabetes or have a loved one that lives it every day.  Sometimes you just want a break, but it never lets you.

• Day 4 Post – Fantasy Device
• Day 3 Post – One Improvement I could make
• Day 2 Post – One thing I get right
• Day 1 Post – A friend
• Bonus Post – My favorite recipe

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

What They Should Know is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Since I’m not too imaginable, my fantasy device would be just combining a few different devices I already have. I would prefer to have less devices because pocket space is important to me for carrying things around. Why can’t I use my iPhone to view my Dexcom data and graphs instead of my receiver.  Also, it’s a no-brainer that I would only have one infusion site that both delivers insulin and checks blood sugars.

The more I learn about how these devices work and their limitations I understand how difficult some of these things are to solve.  The closed loop system that would integrate insulin and medication delivery with real-time blood sugar testing is on the way and will be better for those already on a CGM and pump.

So just an easy solution for now is to use my phone to replace my monitor to make things easier with d-supplies.

Another cool thing, not really a device, would be to electronically send my doctor all of my CGM data and meet with him over the web. Like a conference call or video chat to talk through the data, renew prescriptions, get advice, etc. without having to go to his office, wait in the waiting room for an hour and do the same things. Let’s get this done to save everyone’s time!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

My Fantasy Device to Manage Diabetes is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Phew, just one thing? There is quite the list when I think through the opportunities for doing better…

This one is actually pretty easy when I think through it. I’ve mentioned it before and will combine it with something I learned from Gary Scheiner who talks about Critical Analysis with diabetes data.  So my quote and answer to this question is without a doubt, the one thing I could improve is by using “Aggressive Diabetes Management with Critical Analysis“.

Aggressive diabetes management is simply the opposite of testing my blood sugar, correcting, bolusing, repeat every 4 hours or so.  My aggressive approach is asking the question WHY all the time. Why is that 350 there and what can I do next time to avoid it. Why am I low and did the exercise I did have an impact on it.  You get the point.  No longer approaching diabetes with a carefree or lighthearted mindset just to do OK.  In order to do better and get my A1c consistently under 7% it has to be an acute focus to improve my health.

Critical Analysis comes into play by reviewing and studying my data charts and graphs from my Dexcom CGM. There are certain patterns and things that will jump out when a series of days are plotting on a graph. Maybe it’s a basal rate adjustment or insulin:carb ratio that needs to be adjusted. The point here is to use the data and do it often, probably once a week.

Gary Scheiner shared his formula for estimating an A1c based on CGM data and average blood sugar.  In order to get my A1c to where I want it to be, I need to have an average blood sugar between 140-147 mg/dl.  But we also know that standard deviation is also key to having a good A1c that doesn’t contain too many lows/highs to offset each other.

So my approach is going to be much different than in the past to get OK results. I want excellent and awesome results.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

One Thing I Can Improve is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

This is one of my favorite recipes ever and I usually make multiple batches to freeze for later.  Also, this meal is carb friendly and usually doesn’t spike my blood sugars. This recipe was in Clean Eating magazine about a year ago and has never failed me.  Total prep and cooking time is roughly 45-50 minutes, depending on how good a chopper you are.  I have improved greatly over the past few years so I can pull this off in about 40 minutes.  I opted for bringing the heat this weekend and used a habanero and pablano, and I must say they did not disappoint.  If you feel like making some chili this is a great recipe that is clean and off the beaten path of chili!  If you have some great chili ideas please send them along.  Happy cooking!!!

Thai Chili  Ingredients

• 1 ½ tsp red curry paste
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth (low sodium to me is under 150mg per serving)
• ½ sweet potato peeled and cubed (should be about 2 cups) I microwave cubed potatoes for 1-2 minutes to soften up a bit
• 1 large green bell pepper chopped (2 cups)
• 3 cups cooked kidney beans rinsed and drained
• ½ cup uncooked bulgar wheat (add more to make less soupy, I usually use 1-1 ½ cups)
• ½ cup light coconut milk
• 2 cups tomato puree
• 2 scallions, chopped

To add a little heat… use ONE habanero or two pablano peppers OR BOTH!

How to make

In a 4 quart pot add curry paste, cumin, and a bit of broth. Mash up mixture and stir until not lumpy.

Add remaining broth, bulgar, potato, and bell pepper (hot peppers if using them), turn up to high heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium/low and cook for 10-12 minutes

Add beans, coconut milk, and tomato puree to pot and stir in. cook uncovered for 7-10 minutes or until bulgar is tender and chili is thick enough to your liking.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Diabetes Blog Week – Bonus Thai Chili Recipe is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

I do many things wrong and sometimes, usually by accident, I get something right. One of the things that I got right was giving back. If you’ve listened to my weekly diabetes show you’ve probably heard me talk about giving newly diagnosed people today what I didn’t have back in 1998.  I didn’t know anything about diabetes, nor did I ever know anyone with diabetes when diagnosed. Nobody was there to help me or hand hold me through it all – I was left to do my best.

Managing diabetes alone can be isolating and depressing. Knowing there are others out there with the same disease that experience the same things and challenges is very helpful. One of the things and decisions I made four years ago was to setup this site and community to help others learn about real-living with diabetes.

By the emails, tweets and messages I get I’m reminded why I put a lot of effort, time and energy into Blogging Diabetes to help others.

If I were to talk personally about MY diabetes management, one thing that I’ve gotten very good at is corrections. I can get a 350 BG to 100 with great precision. But, honestly, it’s not something to really celebrate or stick my chest out about.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Celebrating Something I Got Right is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Through my weekly diabetes show I was able to find a new friend who I wanted to share with you. He doesn’t own a blog, but has been a bit active on twitter lately. His name is Jim Martin and has the twitter handle: @TheInsulinJunky.  Jim and I share a few things in common like, non working pancreas and passion for cycling/biking.  Jim actually just challenged me to a little speed challenge on our bikes to see who can go fastest from a dead stop on a flat straight away. We should be comparing our results and the loser will be posting their demise on twitter very soon.

He and I have been chatting lately about biking and the Tour de Cure that I just finished and was training for over the last month or so. I see more of this in the future as I train for next year’s Tour de Cure when I’m going to complete at least 60 miles and maybe, just maybe I’ll go after the Century, 100 mile ride.

Check out Jim on twitter and just say hello.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Find A Friend is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

The other two aspects that I’ve been struggling with are: hydration or lack of/energy drink addiction and trying to shave off a few pounds.

In an effort to better control my weight, continue branching out in my advocacy and gain excellent control, I’ve decided committed to riding the Tour de Cure with only 1 month to train.  To take it up a notch I decided to go straight to the 32 mile course foregoing on the 10 and 22 mile ones to push myself, hard.  After not being on a bike for YEARS, my first 6 mile ride yesterday got me thinking I took on TOO much.  But, stretching and pushing myself to the limit is what keeps me focused and motivated.

Starting a CGM and riding the Tour de Cure are two major moves I’ve made in the first half of 2012 that I feel is going to make this my best year ever with managing diabetes and doing the best I can.

If it is at all possible that you could donate, even the smallest amount, I would TRULY appreciate it.

I set a realistic goal for my first ride as I don’t have any idea what to expect or who will support me.  I know I can do this and if all goes how I envision it, I’ll be doing the 60 mile course next year.

Check out my page on the Tour de Cure site

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

My First Tour is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

A1C

The most commonly used method to measure blood sugar control is the A1c. This blood test measures the average (mean) blood sugar over the previous 3 months and is always checked by my doctor every time I go in for a visit. There’s one big flaw with this method of checking control, which is that it doesn’t check the span or variability of the blood sugars over the 3 months.

My doctor has always warned me of trying to get my A1c too low because in order to have the average lower there may be too many dangerously low numbers. This just means that to offset a high blood sugar you need a low blood sugar.   Too many high numbers require many low numbers to drive the average down. So hypothetically, someone with an A1c of 7.0 could have a blood sugar range between 30 and 300 mg/dl on both extremes with not much in the middle that averages out to 170 mg/dl. Another person with the same 7.0 A1C could have all of their blood sugars tighly around 170 mg/dl. By looking at only the A1c, in this case 7.0, one wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. At a quick glance one might just say 7.0 is good and keep up the great work.  But if getting to that 7.0 is dangerous, how could someone tell? Enter the scary complicated sounding statistical measure: Standard Deviation

Standard Deviation

This statistical term measures the variability or spread from the average (mean) to each number. With just a few numbers and some knowledge of statistics, the standard deviation can be manually calculated. However, add 6 blood sugars per day x 90 days and it gets a bit more complicated.  It’s a very good thing that most software like Medtonic’s CareLink, Telcare’s reports or Dexcom’s DM3 calculates this measure automatically.  If you are manually logging and have access to Microsoft Excel or Numbers (Mac) or Google Docs you can load your numbers and calculate the average and then standard deviation with a few quick formulas.

Once the standard deviation is calculated and combined with other key reporting like A1c, count of tests, max/min blood sugar and graphical views of data a complete view of control can be assessed by you and your medical professional.  In general, you want the standard deviation to be as low as possible, which means all of the blood sugar tests are tightly around the average. The key to great control is a low standard deviation around the average YOU really want. Gary Scheiner in the book, “Think Like a Pancreas“, suggests that a consistent standard deviation is around one-third of the average. So a 150 mg/dl average blood sugar with standard deviation of 50 is fairly consistent, but the lower the better for standard deviation.

Report Examples

CareLink

Here is a snip-it from Carelink that shows on the summary page the standard deviation by day. It’s also included on many of the reports that Carelink offers. These two days appear to have pretty good consistency around a fairly good blood sugar average.

Dexcom (Click to enlarge)

Dexcom’s DM3 also has the metric standard deviation in the reporting. This example shows excellent consistency with my average of 164, max of 190, min of 119 and standard deviation of 17. Money!

Telcare Report (Click to enlarge)

Here is an example of the standard deviation in Telcare’s report.  The best feature with Telcare’s BGM is that you don’t have to sync with a computer. Each blood sugar is wirelessly sent to the cloud for storage and available through a browser or smartphone app.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Blood Sugar Standard Deviation Explained with Examples [Video] is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Let me start by saying that this was my very first diabetes “event” or conference ever. So I’ve basically gone 14 years with T1 diabetes and have never been involved in a conference. The past few years that I’ve had this site and the podcast I’ve seen and heard more and more about events. The people that go always rave about them and how good they are to participate in. I must say a special thank you to Candace, my wife and 5 months prego, for giving me a pass two Saturdays in a row. I will say that I’m SO glad I went and here’s why…

Presentations

By clicking here, you can view the presentations from the day provided by JDRF Capitol chapter. There was so much that was covered and to be honest, some of it was very scientific and over my head. Much of the discussion was around trends with technology, Artificial Pancreas/Closed Loop and trying to prevent or reverse Type 1 Diabetes. The closing presentation was by Gary Scheiner, CDE and author of “Think Like a Pancreas” a book I’ve wanted to read for some time. Turns out that an updated version was just released (old one was 2004) so I grabbed it quick for my Kindle. He was selling signed copies, but I wanted it electronic for my reader. I’m reading some each night and it’s REALLY good. Great content and excellent point of view from someone who has lived with T1 for 25 years. More to come on this in the near future.

Diabetes Vendors

It was nice to see some of the vendors there with the new products like: MySentry monitor and T:Slim pump. There were many stations setup and most were crowded with people getting information and talking to the Reps. I really only talked to Gary, Medtronic and Tandem for just a few minutes. The most time was spent at the Tandem booth checking out the T:Slim pump and it’s features. I was pretty impressed and would definitely consider it in a future pump upgrade.

Diabetes Friends (DOC)

JDRF Research Summit 2-18-12

Source: Stacey

The folks pictured above and listed below were tweeting, blogging, facebooking, live streaming and capturing moments from the full day of awesomeness.  From left to right:

• Stacey Divone
• Laura Walker
• Colleen Gray
• Miriam Tucker
• Tina Shaye
• Allison Nimlos (Blass)
• Me
• Scott Strumello
• Bennett Dunlap
• Mike Anderson (not pictured)

Final Thoughts

I found equal value in the interaction with others at the event like the folks pictured above and the actual content and presentations. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a big soft spot for kids with diabetes. This event had a TON of families, kids and adults with diabetes and I just felt comfortable. I didn’t feel awkward testing my blood sugar throughout the day and didn’t hide my diabetes at all. Having diabetes for 14 years and really not “wearing it on my sleeve” at all, it was really a change of pace for me that I’m not use to. I was lucky to meet great people that I’ve never talked with live, but who I’ve interacted with for a few years.

The content was great and really puts diabetes into perspective for me after seeing how far we’ve come in the past 25 years and how quickly things are moving today. It may not seem like diabetes advances quickly enough, but it really has in the past 10 years. I really don’t want the FDA to rush things and miss something that can harm people with diabetes – so there needs to be balance.

I’m very optimistic about the advances in technology and progress towards me being able to live a life without much concern with diabetes. Notice I didn’t mention a cure. Like I’ve said before, I’ll continue to hope for a cure, but plan for there never to be one. I’m so excited to improve my diabetes control and utilize as much technology I can to do better. I will definitely be back next year. Thank you to the JDRF Capitol Chapter (twitter: @JDRFCapitol) and friends I met for an amazing event!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

2012 JDRF Research Summit is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

I am really looking forward to the notion of “Better” as Chuck Eichten would say in his book.  There are a few different areas that I’m going to be focusing on in the coming months and year.  For the last 14 years I’ve been doing “good” at my diabetes management.  This year I want to take it to the next level and do better!  Here is how I plan to take things up a notch:

1. Diabetes Technology – I plan to utilize more technology to help with my diabetes management.  What I’ve been talking about for almost a year now is a CGM to help gather more data to tweak my basal, bolus and carb:insulin ratio.  I’ve been fighting this for some time now because I feel like there will be a new shiny CGM as soon as I get the current one.  It’s the whole buy today’s technology or wait just a little long for the next best thing.  Frankly, I’m tired of waiting and ready to pull the trigger.  I’m going to be working on a project to help with my decision in the coming month or so.
2. Health – In the last 30 days (started the day after Xmas) I’ve lost 11 pounds with ZERO exercise.  It’s all been done through the Dukan diet as recommended by my doctor.  This is just the start.  I’m just now starting to get back into my exercising, cardio and more of the diet.  This should help me lose more pounds to get to my goal of 190 pounds.  From there I can work on building back some lean muscle.  My biggest concern is to take it easy as to not re-injure my shoulders.
3. Blogging Diabetes – Over the last 6 months I have been dedicating a significant amount of time to the Podcast, which has been a HUGE success.  The response I’ve gotten is awesome.  In the coming months and year I’m planning on continuing the weekly diabetes podcast and adding more interviews, projects and video.  I’ll probably be investing a bit in equipment for doing more videos.  I am as focused as ever on the blog in all aspects and that’s not going to change.  More content, information, podcasts, videos, interviews, etc.
4. Family (non diabetes)- Welcoming baby #3 in June! YAY WOO HOO!  We find out on Monday if it’s a boy or girl.

As a huge supporter of DSMA (Diabetes Social Media Advocacy) this is my entry in January’s Blog Carnival found here.  As you can see, I plan to make every effort to be involved in DSMA this year.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

DSMA – January Carnival: Blogging Diabetes in 2012 is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Here are some of the topics we covered as Brendon points out on A1c53:`

• On top of his full family and work life responsibilities, his exercise, and his new dukan diet, he blogs / podcasts / and tweets about his and others’ diabetes so that we can all learn to manage our diabetes better.
• Tony’s house near the woods and his zoo (so to speak)
• Working from home and what Tony does for a job
• How he finds time to be a type 1 diabetic on top of his busy life
• Tony’s home exercise routine
• How he treats low blood sugars
• How much carbohydrate Tony has with meals, and his new Dukan diet
• Carbohydrate counting with meals
• Tony’s eggs (aka ‘the dairy section in the grocery store’)

You can also find Brendon on twitter with the handle @A1C53.

Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Brendon’s Interview of me on A1c53 – Little Known Facts is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

So the folks at the publishing house for Robyn’s book provided my a copy of this cookbook to try out probably because of my mad skills in the kitchen.  Yeah, that’s it.  It probably has more to do with my history of diabetes and love for cooking meals for me and my family.  To be completely transparent, this cookbook was provided to me free of charge with no strings or promises attached.  Clearly, I’m going to blog about it though, right?  Right!

I did mention it in my podcast #18 with a few initial comments.  I’m a little biased because I am very much into health, fitness and clean eating.  When I think of comfort foods, the things that come to mind first are not healthy.   The book is well written by Robyn who seems to be very qualified to write this book.  The problem I have is the link of diabetes to a certain diet or type of cooking, but that’s because I am a Type 1 diabetic.  Those with type 2 diabetes need to be more careful especially if they do not supplement with medication.  So right off the bat I’m thinking these will not be healthy, which turns me off a bit.

I was a little wrong and the recipes tend to use the lean and healthy options that I would to minimize excessive simple carbs.  Each recipe also lists the exchange amounts and nutritional facts, which is a must for a great cookbook.  Another great aspect to this book is the helpful tips throughout the book, like “how to saute the right way”.  As I flip through the cookbook it’s easy to notice the variety of recipe options that will fit into anyone’s style or preference for types of meals.

The biggest drawback to this cookbook is that each recipe does NOT have a picture.  There are only pictures on every 5 or 6 recipes or pages, which is a big turnoff.  I am a very visual person and love the meal pictures.  This is kind of a make or break deal for my staple cookbooks.  I understand that it’s probably expensive and time consuming to have an image for each recipe.  To me this is the difference between 4 stars and maybe 5 stars.  I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes. If you’re looking for some guideance towards foods to cook that may be carb friendly, this is a good buy at $13.  If you have it let me know what you think!

New Comfort Food Cookbook brings American & International Classics to People with Diabetes

Many people assume a diagnosis of diabetes means the days of celebrating the foods they love are officially over.  But sensing the need for a cookbook that brings back the pleasure of a satisfying and familiar meal – Publications is introducing its latest cookbook: The American Diabetes Association Diabetes Comfort Food Cookbook. It’s authored by a familiar person to the association, Robyn Webb. Robyn is the food editor of Diabetes Forecast® Magazine and each month Robyn writes her own column, “Healthy Eating” and is the recipe developer and tester for the magazine.

Sprinkled with helpful tips and time-saving advice, The American Diabetes Association Diabetes Comfort Food Cookbook redefines classic American and International comfort food.  It is a “go-to” collection of recipes for families that need to cook nutritionally sound and diabetes-friendly meals that will satisfy everyone at the table. The days of cooking two meals to please everyone in the household are over.

“For us, this was one of those ‘why haven’t done this already?’ type projects,” said Abe Ogden, Director, Book Publishing. “It’s a beautiful cookbook filled with amazing recipes. And to have Robyn—who we’ve worked with for a number of years and who is so involved with the Association—develop and write the book made it a no-brainer. She gave us a very nice opportunity to strengthen our cooperation with Diabetes Forecast, who put together a fantastic feature on the book for the September issue. We’re really excited.” The American Diabetes Association Diabetes Comfort Food Cookbook can be purchased at Amazon or shopdiabetes.org for around $13.

Robyn Webb, MS, LN, is an award-winning cookbook author, nutritionist, and the Food Editor of Diabetes Forecast® Magazine. She has written 14 cookbooks, including the American Diabetes Association bestseller Diabetic Meals in 30 Minutes—Or Less! She has numerous media credits, including Food Network, Martha Stewart Radio, Lifetime Television, Discovery Channel, CNN, CBS, ABC, ESPN, and many more. Her work has been highlighted in the Washington Post, Woman’s Day, USA Today, Fine Cooking, and many online health, fitness, and food websites and magazines.   Robyn can be found on Twitter at and on Facebook.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Cookbook Geared Towards Those With Diabetes is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

My wife was flipping through the latest Take Charge publication for November and pointed out an article listing 10 (really 9) Superfoods.  Here is a list of what is in the magazine:

1. Dark Green Leafy Veggies
2. Citrus Fruit
3. Sweet Potatoes
4. Berries
5. Tomatoes
6. Fish with OMEGA-3s
7. Whole Grains
8. Nuts
9. Fat-Free Milk and Yogurt

Take Charge is published in cooperation with the medical experts of American Diabetes Association.

You know what this list reminds me of?  The foods and categories that anyone trying to be healthy should be eating on a daily basis.  There are a few overlaps between what they listed and the 7 that I included in my newsletter.  I got a little more specific than just: nuts or dark green leafy veggies, which you can see by signing up for the newsletter.  It’s absolutely free and will NOT inundate you with emails.  Best part is that you can unsubscribe with 1 click, no questions asked and will not hurt my feelings.

For those with diabetes, this is a great list to start from.  I’m not totally sold on the citrus fruits and tend to not eat as much fruit as I do other healthy categories.  There just seems to be too much natural sugar that tends to spike my blood sugar and not fill me up as much as other things.

What would you add to this list?

Oh, and in case you didn’t already know, November is Diabetes Awareness month!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Ten “Superfoods” You Can’t Afford to Live Without is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Disclaimer: I’ve personally spoken to Anita/Molly at Glooko, discussed their mission/vision and about what these products mean to them.  They supplied me with the MeterSync Cable free of charge to try and provide feedback on.  As always I will continue to provide true feedback to both the company and community here regardless of what was given to me for free.  This is never negotiable and is always stated before anything is exchanged.

Glooko

Glooko’s mission: to help people with diabetes live life while effortlessly managing their diabetes.

Glooko has two products that will be available to the public on November 15th that consist of the Glooko iPhone App (iTunes) and Glooko MeterSync cable (Amazon).

So what does Glooko do that solves a current problem?  Glooko removes the need to manually log blood sugar tests for those with a meter that is compatible with Glooko and who have an iPhone/iPod Touch.  Per my discussion with Anita, Glooko is looking to possibly expand their offering to Android based phones and add addition blood sugar meters.  To see if your meter is supported, here is a list of ones that currently work with Glooko.

How Does Glooko Work?

So how does Glooko work?  You simply connect the cable from your compatible meter to your iPhone/Ipod Touch and go to the App. The home screen has two simple options: Sync or Add Note (food, exercise, insulin or comment).  It took about 25 seconds for me to sync 500 blood sugar readings from my OneTouch UltraLink meter.  It’s really that simple.  No more logging each individual blood sugar.  Now you have all of your data where ever you have your phone.  The App was designed to be simple and very easy to use.  You can:

• Sync data
• Add Note
• View history in either list format or by time intervals of the day
• Email a PDF or send eFax of the last 14 Days worth of readings
• Check “Opinions” on the Internet, which is like a news feature
• Adjust settings (Meter type, send feedback to Glooko right on the phone, clear data, export data to .csv and email or by a cable via Amazon)

There isn’t a whole lot of other fluff in the App to get caught up in, which makes the experience very pleasant and easy.

How To Get It

The MeterSync Cable will go on sale via Amazon on November 15th for $39.95 and the App will be free via the iTunes store.  I thought the cost was a little high at first, but after talking through it with Anita and hear about all the R&D and Royalties that are paid to Apple, it makes sense.  Similar to a lot of accessories for an iPhone, the cost over the life of the item is usually worth it and this is no exception.

***UPDATE*** MeterSync cable is NOW available.

The Good

• Simple to use
• reasonable price point for the cable and free app
• No more manually logging
• Calendar view makes it very easy to spot trends at certain times of the day
• Ability to email data in .csv or 14 Day summary in PDF format – these are awesome features
• Feedback or questions go directly to Glooko and they responded to my unannounced test within 5 minutes (though this is pre launch)
• I was able to upload data from 2 meters (work UltraLink and home UltraLink) and it integrated the data seamlessly
• Fast sync – 25 seconds to sync to my iPhone 4s 500 blood sugars
• No computer needed
• No subscription needed that incurs additional cost

The Opportunities

• Add more compatible meters
• Add Android operating system version of the App
• Provide some type of added value using the data like: average blood sugar or simple chart features
• Integrate social media that makes it fun like: Tweet or Facebook status update when a person syncs or take it one step farther and add a community feature on the website
• Person must have a smartphone (iPhone today)
• Cost reduction even if it’s to $29.95 because we all know how expensive diabetes management can be
• Possibly do something different with the Opinions page as I don’t think I would use it much – it could be replaced with more analytics features like a simple chart

My Opinion

I think there is a very large target audience where Glooko will fill a big need.  Specifically, this is perfect for those not on an insulin pump like me and use CareLink.  Since all of my blood sugar data is sent to my pump via wireless, I upload it all from my pump to CareLink where I can do a lot of in-depth analysis.  Now, for those that don’t have this option or may be T2, this is a great product because of it’s simplicity and lack of much manual work.  Being able to transfer 1000 blood sugars from my two meters to my iPhone in less than a minute is A LOT quicker than manually logging them, which would never happen.  Also, being able to send the data in PDF format to my doctor via email on my phone within a min is another big benefit.  See, Glooko not only solves a long-standing problem, it removes a lot of the excuses about a patient not having data.  Glooko will help people manage their diabetes better and easier, which could literally be a lifesaver.  I will be sharing more in this week’s upcoming podcast, so tune in on Thursday!

What Others Are Saying

• Amy’s review at Diabetesmine
• Michael’s review at Hello Cupcake It’s Me

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Glooko | Diabetes Logging Without Manual Entry is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

3 years ago today I posted the first blog post on Blogging Diabetes.  A few hundred posts, many comments and now hours worth of podcasts later – I’m having a blast!  I love helping others.  I love learning more about diabetes and enjoy sharing all my successes and failures with you along the way.

Here’s to much, much more!

Thank you for visiting my site and helping make this all possible!

Tony

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

3-Year Milestone Achieved is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

This is super cool and I’m excited to participate in Lee Ann’s postcard exchange for this year’s World Diabetes Day.   Below is the rules for the exchange and a little bit about why Lee Ann wanted to start this for WDD.  I find it really nastalgic to think back to grade school (WAY BACK) before there was e-mail and writing to pen pals.  I wonder what kids do these days, e-mail pals???  Anyway, this exchange will be a fun way to share a little bit of your diabetes with someone who gets it.  The greatest thing I have related to diabetes is the on/offline community that shares, doesn’t judge and just understands.  As of writing this, a TON of people have signed up so let’s all join together.  I signed up!

Please take a moment to let Lee Ann know you want to be involved.

Lee Ann’s Postcard Exchange

Here are the rules (as displayed on The Butter Compartment):
1) Email your postal address to Lee Ann: leeann@thebuttercompartment.com. If you would like to be matched with an adult, child or family, another type 1 or type 2, or if you are a type 3, spouse, sibling or parent, please indicate that. I will do my absolute best to match you with someone who is similar. Otherwise, your assigned recipient will be random in that regard, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! We’re sending old-school post office-delivered postcards, so I need your snail mail address.
2) Expect to receive an email with the name and address of your postcard recipient. I’m trying to collect a nice list of participants from many different places, and as soon as the list fills out, I’ll be sending those emails.
3) Use the WDD Blue Circle and all the creativity you can fit on a 3.5”x5” piece of cardstock.
4) On the back of the postcard, complete this mini D meme, in addition to anything else you’d like to share with your recipient:

Your name:
Where you live:
Your connection to diabetes:
Type of diabetes:
Year of diagnosis:
One thing you do to Act On Diabetes:
One Word:

5) Mail it, ideally in time for the recipient to receive it by November 14th. If you’re unable to do that, please at least have it postmarked by then.
6) Check your mailbox for a postcard from the person who was assigned your name and address.
7) If you like, post a photo of the postcard you receive on the World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange Facebook page.

Before I proceed, let me respond to anyone who is skeptical about sharing their address. I’m very conscientious about people’s confidentiality in all realms of my life as a result of my professional responsibilities. Other than the one person who will be assigned your name and address as their postcard recipient, your address will not be distributed or abused in any way. It’s reasonable to be wary, but I want to reassure all that I have no nefarious intentions. The worst that will happen is you might get a Christmas card from me IF I get off my butt and start making some.

Lee Ann’s Vision

Creativity: Needless to say, there is some creativity required on your part. I’m predictable like that. I will have some follow-up posts here with ideas, inspiration, and just some basic practical suggestions for the making of the postcard. I know that the easier this is, the more people will participate, so I want to make it easy. If you want to get fancy-pants with your postcard, that’s up to you.

Connection: As a kid, I lived for diabetes camp. Camp Sweeney was the only place where the shame I had for having diabetes evaporated, and being able to shirk that burden for a few weeks in the summer was a gift and a life-saver. During the rest of the year, I lived to check the mail in hopes of finding a letter from my camp friends. We elaborately decorated envelopes and letters, postmarked works of love and art. Just writing about it is making me teary-eyed because long before the internet, that was my reminder that I wasn’t alone. Looking in my mailbox and finding a reminder that someone else with diabetes was thinking about me still makes my heart burst with joy. We all deserve that, and I hope you feel it too when you get your postcard.

Participation & Activism: Because of where some people are geographically, the options for connecting with others on World Diabetes Day are limited or don’t exist at all. My belief is that no matter where you live, you should be able to participate in World Diabetes Day by connecting to someone else with diabetes. It’s not the same as hanging out with people in person, but I feel like a postcard exchange will allow us all to celebrate together. Imagine postcards with bright blue circles spinning around the globe, connecting us to each other!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

World Diabetes Postcard Exchange is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

You may recall that back in March 2011, there was a huge recall on IV Prep pads that many people with diabetes used to prep an infusion site location.  Since that recall there was a substitute that my supplier recommend that was just OK.  The Skin Prep pads were just too thin on the liquid that would make it drip when taking it out of the package.  I think the Skin Prep was somewhat effective, but I didn’t notice much difference than simply not using anything.

Fast forward to today when I called my supplier to get a re-up (“The Wire” reference) on insulin pump supplies and just happen to ask if they had IV Prep back.  Here’s how it went:

Me: “Do you have IV Prep again?”

Her: “Yes, we have it back and it’s safe to distribute.”

Me [thinking]: Uhh yeah, I don’t need to know if you have unsafe supplies just to taunt customers.

Me: “Oh great!”  “How many can I get?”

Her: “You are allowed to order 100?”

Me: “SWEET JESUS 100 BOXES????”

Her [laughing]: “Uh no, 100 or two boxes of 50.”

Me: “Yeah, that probably makes more sense huh.  Sign me up for 100.”

So there you have it.  IV Prep is back and I’m stocking up STAT.  I’m totally out of Skin Prep and IV Prep, so it comes at a great time.  I actually called my supplier simply to get more Skin Prep and came out with IV Prep.  Sweet!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

IV Prep Is Back! is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Diabetic Skillet

I have been happily using the Diabetic Skillet website for some time now, not solely because the recipes are geared towards diabetics, but because they are healthy and good.  It’s just a plus that many of the dishes maximize vegetables instead of simple carbs.  The founder, Chris Louie, also started Simple Skillet, a recipe site geared towards easy and family oriented meals.

The website is free to use and Chris also has a newsletter that delivers recipes to your inbox if you prefer.  The paid app is ad free and makes shopping for recipes extremely easy and keeps you from going end-to-end of the grocery store five times like I usually do.  Check out the video and see for yourself.

Cost

$5.99 in App Store on iTunes for ipad or iphone

My take on paid apps is that I will gladly pay for them, which are usually less than a cup of Starbucks coffee for the ability to have no ads and use them forever.  It’s not cheap to have a developer create them and to get an ad free version that makes part of your life easier is definitely worth the few dollars.

***I have 2 FREE Promo codes to the first 2 people who write a comment below asking for them – you just need an iphone or ipad***

Disclaimer: I was given a free version of this app to try out, but that doesn’t change or sway my opinion.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Diabetic Skillet App for Delicious Recipes is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

9/11/2001 is a day I will never forget. I was sitting in my dentist chair when the new flash came on the TV with the first tower on fire.  The rest is history…

Where were you on 9/11/2001 when the world changed?  Is your diabetes where you expected it would be thinking ahead 10 years ago?

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Ten Years Later – How’s Your Diabetes Changed? is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Vitamin D

For about 4 years now my doctor has been checking my vitamin D level and has me on supplementation to keep my level as close to optimal as possible.  For those that spend the majority of our day indoors, there is typically a vitamin D deficiency.  My doctor wants my level between his preferred range of 40-70 ng/ml.  I find my levels are best during the summer months when I tend to get more sun – obviously.  I’m not a doctor, but would recommend you discuss this area with your regular physician because it could help you too.

Here are some recent articles that support optimal vitamin D levels:

[Men's Health] According to the July/Aug issue of Men’s Health, a study suggested that people with low blood levels of vitamin D are 47% more likely to develop prediabetes.

[Reuters] “Lower levels of vitamin D circulating in the bloodstream are tied to a higher risk of developing diabetes…[type 2]”

[Yahoo News] “For every 5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) increase in vitamin D levels, the risk of developing diabetes [type 2] dropped by 8%.”

Some Possible Benefits of Vitamin D

• Improved balance
• Stronger & healthy bones
• Improved muscle strength
• May lower risk of some cancers
• Decreased risk of osteoporosis
• Less tooth loss
• Better thinking
• Boosts immunity
• Improved Insulin sensitivity

Some of these claims may be stronger than others, but there is evidence of each to some extent.  Do a simple Google search and you will see for yourself.  With all of these possible benefits and almost no downside, why not take vitamin D supplements?  I simply take 1 pill twice a week and it brought my level from the 20s to 50.  With an Rx from my doctor I get a strong dose that is a generic and very low cost.  Seriously, I can’t afford to NOT take more vitamin D.

Tip: Vitamin D supplements are much better than ultraviolet rays (sunshine/tanning booth)

Blood Test: You can suggest to your doctor to test your vitamin D, by checking your 25-hydroxy D

What have you heard about vitamin D?

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Playing Defense Against Diabetes is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

My Medtronic Pump

I have been using a Medtronic Minimed 715 insulin pump for the last 5.5 years.  I believe the warranty is only for 3 or 4 years, which means if mine breaks now I need to pay for a new one (insurance copay).  If it was under warranty I would probably be able to get a new one from Medtronic at zero cost.  The Rep for Medtronic told me that it’s beneficial to have the pump under warranty in the event it breaks I can get a new one a little quicker due to paperwork that will be needed.  I get that and haven’t wanted to spend the money on a new pump since mine works perfectly fine and it’s over a grand for a new one.

Decision

I am starting to plan for 2012 and potentially using my Flexible Spending account to get a new pump.  I’ve really been thinking through what pump I want to get and it hasn’t been easy.  For the record, I’m still undecided and don’t know which way I will go at this point.  Here are the features that I like/dislike about each that are factoring into my decision.

Animas Ping

I’ve really been looking hard at the Ping.  The big features I like about the Ping is that A) It’s waterproof – like really waterproof to the point where I could jump in a pool fully submerged without issue. B) It’s pretty cool looking with a color screen (lower on my priority list) and finally C) They are working on integration with DexCom a leader in the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) market.  I might take the plunge down the road on a CGM and I think I would prefer a Dexcom over the Medtronic CGM.

I know it sounds weird, but the waterproof feature is almost a game-changer for me.  I don’t go on vacation or to the pool often, but it would be SO NICE to not have to disconnect my infusion set each time I went in the pool.  That also means more checking, tweaking of bolus/basal for time disconnected.  The waterproof feature is big to me.  Note, the Medtronic Rep made a good point to combat the fact that their pump is NOT waterproof.  He said, do you really want to take the chance with a $6,000 medical device?  They focus on features that will help patients manage their diabetes versus making it waterproof.

Medtronic Revel

Now with Medtronic, I get a company that is focused and built a strong reputation with it’s insulin pump.  My pump has worked very well for 5+ years and when I did have an issue, Medtronic responded quickly and resolved the situation perfectly.  I also have CareLink, my web-based program that has tracked my diabetes data for a long time now and works well.  My doctor likes the reports it produces and I like studying them for potential changes.

I have all the infusion sets and reservoirs that are for Medtronic, which isn’t a huge issue but a pain for timing a change.  The downside is that the Revel and CGM from Medtronic is not as good as the Dexcom from what I’ve heard.  They are working on changes and making the sensor more comfortable for insertion, but not there yet.  With a somewhat lean body type and goal of getting leaner, the size of the needle can be an issue.

Summary

As I previously wrote, it’s difficult to get an unbiased comparison from a pump manufacturer.  This is a pretty tough decision because it’s one I will have to live with for probably at least 5 more years.  Which company do I think will be better over those 5 years, what product will have better support and what will I be happier with?  Basically I am weighing the waterproof and change aspect of the Animas Ping against the proven support and product quality of Medtronic.  It’s a tough decision that I will continue to think through over the coming months.

Ping

+ Waterproof, CGM Integration coming and looks

- Untested/unknown customer support, change from what I’m use to, 2 devices if I want a CGM now

Revel

+ Proven performance, customer support, Carelink reporting, CGM integrated with pump

- Not waterproof, CGM inferior

Any suggestions, info or thoughts would be greatly appreciated – please leave your thoughts below.

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Medtronic or Animas Insulin Pump is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

• Blogging Diabetes
• Me totally losing my thought
• My diagnosis
• Sponsorship on the blog
• Life as a husband and father with diabetes
• My podcast
• My error in saying that I’ve had this website since ’98 instead of ’08
• Shoutouts to: Kerri, Pat and Cliff

Just Talking Podcast <—– Click on the link to listen to Chris’ interview of me on his podcast/site.

I’ve been listening to Chris’ podcasts for some time now and enjoyed being his guest.  It’s also great to catch up live with Chris who I’ve talked to on Twitter for a long time now.

Check out his podcast and leave him a comment if you enjoyed the “episode” as much as I did recording it with Chris!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Interviewed by Chris from Just Talking Podcast is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

I was thinking about puncturing my skin like another 10 times to get a nose and mouth for a smiley face or frown face based on my blood sugar at the time.  The things I do or at least think about for the blog…

Check me out on the new Google+

Hope you have a great weekend!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Diabetes Ghost is a post from: Blogging Diabetes

Last week I went to Philly to see the U2 show that was postponed from last July due to Bono’s back surgery.  This was my first time at Lincoln Financial field and all I could think about was the Patriots beating Philly in the Super Bowl 39.  I sure was glad I wasn’t rolling in any Boston gear.  It was about 6+ years since I saw U2 at the Wachovia Center for the Elevation tour.

The drive wasn’t bad at all and I met my friends easily for a beer before the show.  I checked my sugar just before leaving to go into the concert and it was good at 150.  I didn’t want to take any chances with it being too low because it was a hike to get from my truck to the seats inside. I threw down a quick Larabar just for safe measure so I wouldn’t be hungry inside and also to give me some energy.  I did not take my meter with me as I knew I wasn’t going to be drinking much (had to drive home) and probably not eating (got dinner in route to Philly).

Inside the stadium I had one more beer that lasted the whole show and no other food.  After the show was over I trekked back to my truck, checked my blood sugar and it was 118 around midnight.  Knowing it was about 2 hours to get home, I ate a Raw Bar, took a few units of insulin from my pump and headed home.  The traffic wasn’t bad at all and I got back around 2:30 AM.  Totally worth it, had a great time and my diabetes wasn’t a factor.  Here are some photos from the concert.

Bono

Edge

Question – So what do you do if you’re having a low blood sugar and are close to the stage among thousands of other fans that are packed in like sardines?

Stage Pre Show

For those taking score, the Philly fans/crowd blew away the fans at Fedex Field in D.C. over a year ago when I went.  This crowd was up the whole time and having a blast.  D.C. was full of people just sitting and watching the show like a movie…

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I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support. This blog is better because of you.

Diabetes with U2 is a post from: Blogging Diabetes