dLife - In the News

Keeping Track of... Us?

Brenda Bell — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:42:23 +0000

One of the legacies of my time working in technical indexing is the occasional piece of e-mail from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE). Amongst other things, the IEEE is responsible for a number of international standards for electronic, electrical, and wireless communications. While most of these standards were not useful additions to our abstracts database, there are many which formed (and still form) an important part of our everyday lives — for example, the 802.3 Ethernet protocol which connects our high-speed Internet modems to our home routers, and the 802.11 Wireless Ethernet protocols which we use every time we go online at a Starbucks, Panera Bread, or other Wi-Fi hotspot.

Casting Call: Real Type 2's On Lantus

Brenda Bell — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:39:48 +0000

I don't normally go from an e-mail straight to a blog post, but I've received a message from a casting director with a very short deadline, so I'm passing on the info.

You may remember a couple of years ago when one of the big complaints from the (mostly type 1) community was how glucometer ads never showed "real" numbers: everyone was always at 98 or 102 mg/dl. While those numbers may not have been "real PWD numbers", a number of major-company diabetes ads have been using real PWD for a long time. Among them are OneTouch (including the "Word in My Hand"promotion licensed from the Diabetes Hands Foundation) and Sanofi -- particularly Lantus^®.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Brenda Bell — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:02:09 +0000

A Holy Week of post-Thanksgiving sales.

Think about it for a moment: we already have Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. What's next? Cash Wednesday? Barter Thursday? Alternate-payment-method following Friday?

For those of us living with diabetes, there are more methods of purchase and payment than we care to think about, just to stay alive. And for many of us, our Christmas Wish List is as likely to include items such as

55 CGM sensors (one for each week, plus a couple of spares)

150 sets of infusion sets and tubing (one every three days, plus spares)

5000 glucose test strips (approximately 15 per day, allowing for sufficient tests, calibrations, and errors)

read more

Over the River (to Get Some Meds)

Brenda Bell — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 23:29:46 +0000

Out through the traffic and storm-down'd trees
To the pharmacy off we go
The e-script was faxed
To an overly taxed
Technician, whose work is slow

'Twixt fallen branches and power lines
In search of fresh insulin
We hope we're not late
And that there's no wait
'Cos the storms did the whole town in.

During the first few days following Hurricane Sandy (and in many places, again following the next week's nor'easter), getting to and from any place, getting needed supplies (kilometer-long gas lines, anyone?), and getting those supplies to retailers was tricky (to say the least).

Fifty, Delayed

Brenda Bell — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:56:42 +0000

On October 29, my sister turned 50.

Most of the day was spent inside, waiting for hurricane Sandy to come. For the second year in a row, the actual date of my sister's birth was marred by unexpected, severe storms. (Last year, the rain, wind, and loss of power was even accompanied by snow.)

dBlog Day: My Letter to the Media

Lindsey Guerin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:10:25 +0000

In true dBlog day form, this is my letter to all media outlets. Newspapers and print media, tv and commercial marketing, news outlets, and everyone in between. I'm also sending a flashback to this post from 2010 after Oprah's diabetes tribute featuring Dr. Oz. Let's start getting this right, people!

Dear Media,

First, let me describe a little about me and the type of diabetes I live with: I'm a type 1 diabetic who has managed this disease for 19 years and 8 months. My A1c has fluctuated over the last 19 years as has my weight, my insulin levels, and my overall management. I was four years old when I was diagnosed. I was not overweight, eating too much sugar, and at that time, I was the only diabetic in my family (my dad was later diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 60).

D-Blog Day: Just Don't - An Open Letter to Sitcom Executives

Carey Potash — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:49:38 +0000

Thank you Gina (and Tom) for making D-Blog Day possible and for encouraging diabetes bloggers far and wide to unite today on a topic that makes most of us mother-effing turtle crackers crazy!!!! This year's topic is to write an open letter to the media to voice our frustrations with the habitual ignorance and irresponsible misinformation they have been known to spread on the subject of diabetes. And Gina, congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy!

Dear Network Television Executives,

The diabetes jokes. They have to stop. It's enough! You HAVE to cut this shit out already. The old (and I mean old!), recycled, predictable diabetes jokes that accompany sitcom characters who find themselves in scenes with large quantities of candy or desserts, Must. Stop. Now!!

A Heated Debate

Lindsey Guerin — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:50:42 +0000

It's Election Day 2012. Everyone is out voting and representing their party or candidate. Hopefully, everyone understands the issues at hand and what those parties and candidates represent. For me, those issues often hit close to home. There isn't enough space on the world wide web to post about all the issues that I care about, but I did want to share a few of the relevant ones today.

Disclaimer: This is in no way a representation or support of any particular party or candidate. I am a moderate in politics and do not weigh heavily with one side or the other.

"We Take Allergies Seriously"

Brenda Bell — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:53:42 +0000

After work Saturday — my first time back in the building in almost a week — my sister, The Other Half, and I went to the local Cheeburger Cheeburger to encourage their post-Sandy business (and have a tasty dinner with more calories than an average person should eat in an average week). It's a rare pleasure, and gave us the chance to venture a little beyond where we've been since Monday's BadWolf stormpocalypse (except for The Other Half's getting to and from work).

In addition to the now-common "Internet is down — Cash Only" signs, there was a letter sized piece of paper in black block letters that said

"GLUTEN FREE ROLLS NOW AVAILABLE."

Kicking Off November: NDAM

Lindsey Guerin — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:57:50 +0000

Yesterday kicked off National Diabetes Awareness Month for November. There are so many things happening within the major diabetes organizations, in the diabetes Facebook and Twitter worlds, and with personal diabetics that I know who are engaging in this month. From World Diabetes Day on the 14th to JDRF's Type 1 for a Day project, November is a diabetes crazed month.