#kelly kunik

[mangohealth]

5 Healthy Kitchen Shortcuts You Need to Know

Perhaps you had a long day, or the supermarket was extra crowded. Whatever your reason: even though you might have the healthiest of intentions, it’s often easy to crash and burn. Diabetes advocate Kelly Kunik shares a few kitchen shortcuts to help ensure that healthy eating is always your easiest option.

If healthy food is always ready to go in my fridge, I have no excuses. So I wash lettuce and spin it so I’m “salad ready” at all times.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook. But there are days when I come home, and it’s the last thing I feel like doing. So I end up eating a grilled cheese or cheese and crackers -- maybe with some raw veggies, on a good day. To prevent the “I’m too tired to cook” excuse from rearing it’s ugly head, I rely on the following healthy kitchen shortcuts.

 1. Dedicate weekly time to prep veggies Whatever night I shop, I put my groceries away when I get home and start dinner -- usually something easy, like scrambled eggs. While said super easy dinner is cooking, I wash and prep veggies for the week.

Why veggie prep? If healthy food is always ready to go in my fridge, I have no excuses. So I wash lettuce and spin it so I’m “salad ready” at all times. I also wash and chop staples like sweet peppers, carrots, and broccoli, then store them in the fridge to cook on future nights or to grab as on-the-go snacks. (If you’re a fan of eggs, try boiling a few during this prep time too -- they’re great as salad additions or standalone snacks.)

 2. Your freezer is your friend In case you’re unable to prep fresh produce for any reason, frozen veggies make for excellent stir-fry and soup options. One of my favorite frozen veggie options is shelled edamame: it’s good both chilled or hot. For easy, at-home (and usually healthier) treats, consider frozen pizza dough and pie shells, either for quiche or dessert.

Doubling up on recipes is easy, and it saves time -- in terms of cooking as well as cleaning up, after the fact.

I also store fruit in my freezer when it looks like it’s on the edge of going south, especially peaches and overripe bananas. Some fruit doesn’t need to be overripe to warrant a trip into the freezer, like berries and green apples. Regardless of your reason for freezing fruit, they’re great to use in smoothies.

 3. Buy the right prepared foods Sometimes my time -- and my fingers -- are worth the extra money to splurge on prepared foods. Chopped butternut squash is a biggie for me. (Seriously, I feel like you need a saw to chop and dice most squash.) Most grocery stores carry pre-chopped squash, and I love it for soup and stir-fry, instead of rice.

Rotisserie chicken is another prepared food that’s worth the extra cash, in my opinion. Buy one and use as your main entree for one or two nights, then use the rest for sandwiches and soups. Baked tofu -- stop rolling your eyes! -- is also delicious and comes in flavors like teriyaki and sesame ginger. Add it to salads or sandwiches for a quick and tasty protein boost: all you need to do is open the package.

 4. Double up I like to double side dishes like sautéed broccoli and sweet potatoes -- both super tasty and blood sugar friendly. One reason for doubling up? It ensures I always have healthy choices available in my fridge and ready to reheat.

I store fruit in my freezer when it looks like it’s on the edge of going south, especially peaches and overripe bananas.

Another is a matter of convenience. Doubling up on recipes is easy, and it saves time -- in terms of cooking as well as cleaning up, after the fact. Think about it: it’s just as easy to sauté three cups of broccoli instead of a single serving. The same can be said for baking two sweet potatoes instead of one.

Beyond side dishes, I also double most soup recipes; most actually taste better after the second and third days. After a few days of delicious soup, I freeze what’s left over, labelling and dating the container to save it for later. If you’re not into soup, the same can be done with chili; chicken breasts, meat, meatloaf, burgers -- whatever strikes your fancy.

 5. Make the most of herbs I love fresh herbs, but mincing them can be a pain. Use a pizza slicer or kitchen scissors to get the job done: both options save time and add flavor. As for dried herbs, do you ever find they sit on a shelf, unused?

To prevent this, I like to place generous helpings of dried (and/or fresh) herbs in an empty ice cube tray, fill them with extra virgin olive oil, then cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight. These flavor cubes last for about two weeks, so I usually freeze a few -- just four or five, not the whole tray. Your herbs won’t go to waste, and next time you need to stir-fry or sauté, you’re good to go, flavor-wise.

 About the Author Kelly Kunik has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was eight years old. Her greatest perceived weakness (a busted pancreas) has become her greatest strength and biggest passion. Kelly is a diabetes advocate that authors the blog, Diabetesaliciousness. She’s also a writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of the #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes initiative. You can find Kelly on Twitter @diabetesalish.

 If you liked this post, you may also like: - How To Eat Healthy on a Budget - 8 Ways to Stick With Your Weight-Loss Goals - How to Go Gluten-Free Without Giving In

 The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own healthcare providers.

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Lilly Diabetes Hosts Insulin Pricing and Access Workshop

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-mellitus/lilly-diabetes-hosts-insulin-pricing-and-access-workshop/

Lilly Diabetes Hosts Insulin Pricing and Access Workshop

In the front lobby of Lilly’s corporate headquarters in Indianapolis stands a 12-foot tall statue of a mother holding her child in her arms, sick and starving due to lack of insulin.

It’s an artistic rendering of a real-life mother who took her son to insulin's birthplace in Toronto once upon a time, before the medication's discovery in 1921, when a diabetes diagnosis was a death sentence. As the Lilly folks describe it today, the statute is a visible reminder of what they are all about – changing the field of science and getting people the medication they need to stay healthy, even stay alive.

Unfortunately, the reality in 2017 is an incredible crisis in insulin affordability and access for many with diabetes, to the extent that people in our D-Community are losing everything because of lack of insulin, and facing life-and-death situations in some cases.

All of this was the big, sobering, anger-inducing backdrop of a recent Lilly-hosted “insulin access workshop” on April 20, where the Pharma giant brought in a dozen diabetes advocates to discuss action plans to start addressing this growing crisis.

This gathering came just before Lilly’s first quarter earnings call on April 24, when the company reported that just for its 20-year-old Humalog insulin alone, sales revenue in the U.S. went up 24% in the first months of this year, which generated all kinds of “positive momentum” on the company's revenue. Just seeing those figures made many clinch our fists in rage, and it's tough to stomach -- particularly as this issue is hitting some so hard, as shown in a NBC Nightly News segment aired earlier this week and the sad story of Shane Patrick Boyle's death recently.

No one is happy with the current state of affairs, even those in the top brass at Lilly Diabetes. It was clear that the people present at this meeting care, deeply. Just like many of us, they have personal D-connections -- one on the marketing team who just marked her 20th dia-versary with T1D, another on the advocacy and payer side with a husband with type 1, and several others who shared stories recognizing need and hardship in the D-community.

“It is a crime, I agree with you on this, and we are not OK with the status quo,” said Lilly’s Jordyn Wells, who works on the payer and corporate marketing team. “There are going to be a number of solutions that exist in this space – some may come from Pharma, or from others in the industry, some will be organizations, and from the Diabetes Community. Only by partnering are we going to get to the other side.”

There were roughly two dozen people in the room – 12 patients from the Diabetes Online Community, and the rest representing Lilly Diabetes (@LillyDiabetes). The DOC advocates present, including myself, were:

Cherise Shockley (@DiabetesSocMed)

Meri Schuhmacher-Jackson (@Our3DLife)

Rick Phillips (@lawrPhil)

Kelly Kunik (@diabetesalish)

Tom Karlya (@diabetesdad)

Scott Johnson (@scottkjohnson)

Mike Hoskins (@DiabetesMine)

Ally Ferlito (@Verylightnosuga)

Mila Ferrer (@dulce_guerrero)

Bennet Dunlap (@Badshoe)

Amelia Dmowska (@DiatribeNews)

Christel Marchand Aprigliano (@DPAC)

Attending on behalf of the 'Mine, my role was simple: Observe and report, to help inform those who couldn’t be there in person, and to assure that everything I might contribute to the conversation came from my personal POV as a longtime type 1. The group was mainly using Twitter hashtags #InsulinPrices and #InsulinAccess.

(Disclosure: I declined Lilly’s offer to fly me from Detroit to Indy, instead choosing to drive my own car and pay for my own gas, meals and parking. Lilly did pay for two nights at the Le Meridien Hotel in downtown Indy, as well as some hors d’oevres, snacks, and beverages. As always, Lilly was clear there was no pressure or expectation for us to write anything in their interest; everything reported here is my own observation and thought based on my personal experience.)

In a nutshell, what I saw gave me hope that we have the ability to influence this insulin access and drug pricing crisis instead of waiting on Congress or other leaders to weigh in. The blame game can take us round and round, but while that’s happening the advocacy plans being put into motion are potential game-changers, IMHO – even if they aren’t perfect or end-all-be-all fixes on their own.

It was a full daylong agenda. Here’s a recap of my takeaways from the Lilly workshop, for whatever it’s worth:

Building Momentum and Connecting Dots

To be clear, this Lilly workshop was a follow-up to efforts that have been underway over the past year, in particular a larger insulin pricing round-table in November 2016 coordinated by the National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council (NDVLC). Read our recap of that round-table here.

Certainly, not every player involved in this issue could or would be present at these meetings, including the much-decried Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who have so much influence but remain aloof. And by no means did anyone present believe that this single meeting would solve the world’s problems or fix this issue once and for all. There are no silver bullets here, Folks.

Over the past several months, both Lilly and NDVLC have been among those in the D-advocacy community talking with payers and working to better understand the market dynamics of how the pricing scheme all fits together. Specifically, what can be done from an economic and business model standpoint to influence tangible change?

George Huntley, a longtime type 1 himself who serves as treasurer of the non-profit NDVLC, spoke at the Lilly workshop about what the group has learned so far. As many of these discussions go, the theme was “it’s complicated” -- as demonstrated by the maze of players who all have a hand in setting drug prices.

“This hasn’t happened overnight, it’s been a slow evolution of plan design over the course of the past 15 years,” he said. “Now, it’s reached a tipping point where it’s outrageous – no, we are passed that tipping point. But now, it’s incumbent upon us to express that outrage. Yelling about it is a great start, but there is a difference between being an educated consumer and just a consumer on fire.”

So, what can we do?

'Need to Do Better'

On Lilly's behalf, Jordyn Wells explained that most of what Lilly has been able to introduce into the marketplace recently are basically "band-aids" that clearly are “not ideal,” but are a starting point. Those include better promoting the Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) that can help certain eligible people in need, to the BlinkHealth partnership offering limited discounts of up to 40% at CVS Health pharmacies to those eligible uninsured or under-insured PWDs.

Very true, and while some in the room were vocal about how inadequate these programs are for many in the D-Community, there was a recognition that they're just pieces of a much larger puzzle. Wells said these programs are short-term solutions that fit into larger systematic efforts to help those in need.

Taking it to Employers

There were a lot of stats and slides presented at this workshop, but the bottom line was: insurance isn’t helping patients the way that it should. One slide showed that in 2016, 57% of people with diabetes who use insulin were exposed to unexpected, high or full costs at the pharmacy at some point during the year. Another set of market research stats showed 51% of people in the U.S. are on commercial, employer-provided plans (including those that are self-funded by employers).

Then consider the telling figure that PBMs are responsible for 75%-80% of insured lives in this country – as PBMs create many of the employer health plans offered to employees each year. As non-medical switching becomes more common (go on Lantus instead of Levemir, because they’re "essentially the same"), this need to change the conversation at the PBM level is ever more important.

And who has the most sway over PBMs? Yep, employers do – because they are the clients who have a choice in which PBM they ultimately hire for the job. If employees aren’t happy and communicate that, and employers listen and take that message to the PBMs, the hope is that we can start effectuating change.

Lilly’s Ideas

Here are the ideas Lilly presented for employer-focused reform:

Manufacturers must take more responsibility in pushing for point-of-sale benefits from rebates. More work needs to be done to pass along these insider "rebates" to consumers/patients.

First dollar obligations before deductibles. Employers can contribute to health savings or reimbursement accounts on Jan. 1, rather than gradually paying into those accounts throughout the year. This could help employees pay for insulin from the first day of the year. Again, not addressing the true pricing problem, but it’s something that could help.

Exempt insulin from deductibles: This is something Lilly’s already been doing as a large employer, but it wants to encourage more employers to adopt: insulin could/should be categorized as one of the essential, life-or-death meds that isn’t subject to a high-deductible, but rather just a flat co-pay. Wells said the high-deductible plan system was setup to drive people to cheaper generics, and to go to primary care doctors instead of higher-cost ERs. “But with insulin, it doesn’t make sense. Insulin should be treated differently.”

“(This is) something we can do tomorrow -- go to employers to start playing the puppet-strings and advocating PBMs for this change," Wells said.

NDVLC Campaign

The NDVLC also presented its related campaign that will be rolling out over the course of the next month or so.

Based on the NDVLC research, the cost for an employer to tweak benefit plan designs via PBMs equates to an average 22 cents per person per plan.

“If they were smart politically, they’d do this immediately,” Huntley said. "This would help quiet the firestorm over PBMs.”

Asked about unintended downstream consequences, he said there are hardly any relating to financial impacts on PBMs. They make $12 Billion (!) a year, whereas a PWD who pays $1,400 a month for insulin is facing serious, life-changing health consequences.

“Our system has evolved to a point where now, employers are hurting their people,” Huntley said. “They are the ones in the free market who can do this, and they don’t know they can do this. Employers are assuming they are helping their people and that the system’s built correctly, but it’s not. So as consumers and employees, we must raise our voices to make them stand up to PBMs about benefit plan design. Because the human cost is not acceptable.”

DPAC’s Advocacy Tools

Affordable Insulin Project: Another exciting development was hearing DPAC founder Christel Aprigliano describe one of the many projects they've been working on since November – creating an online portal for our D-Community to get more involved in advocacy on this, appropriately named the Affordable Insulin Project. This is being rolled out in the next weeks, we're told, and is aimed at providing resources/tools/awareness on how the system all works, ways PWDs can easily approach and take this message to their employers, and what other policy advocacy tools might exist for insurance reform on the state and Congressional levels.

Advocacy App: While it wasn’t specifically connected to this workshop, just days before the Lilly forum DPAC launched a new mobile app designed to help people reach out via social media, phone or snail mail to their Congressional leaders in DC.

All of these tools feed into the fight for better healthcare reform and affordable insulin on a national level, legislative calls for pricing transparency and lower drug prices, suing Big Insulin and PBMs in court to put more pressure on them for disclosure and transparency, and creating a needed media blitz to keep this whole issue on the general public’s radar.

Health Literacy, Consumerism and Stigma

Of course, there's the reality that employer-focused advocacy isn’t foolproof, as this recent Bloomberg story shows. There are legitimate questions about stigma and workplace discrimination, and whether PWDs are comfortable with even sharing with coworkers or HR folk that they have diabetes, let alone advocating for company-wide insurance changes for their own benefit. And there's the issue of simply not being informed enough about the insurance coverage system, benefits design and legal rights.

On these challenges, the diaTribe Foundation presented a new six-part series that it’s about to launch at the end of May and run through year’s end to help tackle stigma and health literacy issues. The topics they have in mind at this point are:

One idea born from the brainstorm discussion was the possibility of Lilly helping to pay for materials that could be printed and displayed in free clinics/ churches/ community centers, or even kiosks that could be set up to view and print materials for people who might not have Internet access at home.

Everyone in the D-Community is invited to be a part of what diaTribe is developing here and submit their ideas. Those interested can contact: amelia.dmowska@diatribe.org.

Overall, the day’s agenda was packaged as a “top-down, bottom-up approach” that encouraged tactics we can start implementing immediately -- even with the understanding that the affordability and access crisis is huge, so we have to be patient with incremental change.

Balancing the Blame and PR

Clearly, Lilly is funding some of this – from a grant to DPAC to help develop the mobile community advocacy app to supporting the diaTribe series described above.

Sure, they do share some of the blame in creating the problem, but it's become increasingly clear to us over the past two years just how complex the system is, and that pointing the finger solely at the Big Insulin makers is neither accurate nor productive.

No one is wearing white gloves, and Big Insulin certainly should not be portrayed as innocent victims.

Yet the truth is that Lilly and other companies do good in this world, alongside some bad. They trains nurses in schools to manage diabetes and treat dangerous hypos; they donate lots of insulin globally to developing counties; and they help send kids to D-camps, college, and conferences while also raising national awareness about diabetes through marketing, PR and celebrity spokes-folks campaigns. Not to mention, they support non-profits and various D-advocacy resources and even startups such as Beta Bionics creating the iLET closed loop system.

For all of those activities, we say Thank You. And it behooves us as patients to work alongside them to try to find positive solutions. They should be providing funds for all this! They make plenty of profit here, so let's let them foot the bill for much of the work that needs to be done.

It’s easy to be mad. And we all are.

But it’s not always easy to think critically and have a rational, intelligent conversation about upsetting topics, and then find some constructive action to take. I'm personally proud of our Diabetes Community for keeping our wits about us and pushing ahead, even in the most heart-breaking moments, like when we lose some of our kin because they don't have access to affordable insulin.

We must all work together to change this, to reach a day when none of us are forced to carry the weight of tragedy due to the inaccessibility of life-sustaining insulin.

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[mangohealth]

Making Friends as an Adult: 8 Ideas

It's human nature to need and want meaningful relationships. But as you age and your time feels stretched thin, it can feel like a challenge to make new friends. Reflecting on her own experience, health advocate Kelly Kunik gives her best advice on how to meet people, even as you grow older.

Making the "first move" -- even starting a conversation -- can be hard, but remember the potential reward of a meaningful relationship.

When you're little, the opportunity to make new friends is almost everywhere: in the sandbox, at school, or even next door. But once you're officially "grown up", life can get in the way. Family and putting food on the table comes first, followed by established friendships -- who you barely have time for, let alone new ones.

So how can we, as bona fide grown-ups, make new friends? Here are a few strategies that have worked for me:

 Join a club. Love history? Join your local historical society. Dig museums? Most museums have “friends groups,” which encourage and host “members only” events at a discount. Joining is well worth the membership fee, and it’s tax deductible.

If sports are more your speed, know that recreational leagues aren't just for kids. Many cities and towns also have adult leagues where you can sign up to play sports like soccer, tennis, and my personal favorite, kickball.

 Be consistent. Whether you take a daily walk through the neighborhood or work out at the gym, try to follow a schedule. As you’re seen at the same places or times each week, you'll become a familiar face to others so remember to say “hi!"

As you’re seen at the same places or times each week, you'll become a familiar face to others so remember to say “hi!"

Volunteer. The benefits of volunteering have a multiplier effect. As you help a person, place, or organization, you're also increasing your own endorphin levels to create a natural high. Last but not least, you get to meet new people who share your same passions and values.

 Spread the word. Let your friends, coworkers, and acquaintances know that you’re looking to meet new people. Who knows, maybe they can introduce you to someone you might hit it off with. If you're extra shy, getting to know someone through a mutual friend may also be easier than speaking to a stranger.

 Take a class. There's probably something you've always secretly wanted to do. Perhaps you love pizza and have always wanted to learn to throw a pie? Or maybe you've always wanted to try stand up paddle boarding but were afraid to go solo?

Try taking a class. Groupon is one site that offers discounts on classes in your zip code, and there are many more. At the very least, you'll learn the basics of a new skill -- and learning throughout your life is good for your health. Best case scenario: you develop a new passion and some new friends in the process!

As adults, we become quick to say what we won’t put up with, and that way of thinking unintentionally closes us off. But opposites attract and often complement each other.

Give people a chance. As adults, we become quick to say what we won’t put up with, and that way of thinking unintentionally closes us off. But opposites attract and often complement each other. Sometimes a person you initially thought wouldn’t be a good fit can become one of your closest friends.

 Look online. Most of us have a ridiculous amount of Facebook friends, but how many do we see in real life? It doesn't have to be this way. The internet can actually help you reignite old friendships and cultivate new ones. Most towns have official and unofficial Facebook pages -- join them!

Sites like Meetup are also free to join and make it easy to get to know others in your local area through hikes, wine tasting, reading groups, supper clubs, etc. And like everything else today, there are apps to find friends -- so find one that works for you.

It may be tempting to stay home and hide behind a screen, but remember to put yourself out there. As an active member of the diabetes online community, I’ve been able to meet many fellow health advocates in real life -- and I’ve developed cherished friendships all over the country and a few in my own backyard.

 Have courage. Even those of us who are considered outgoing can find making new friends intimidating. Making the "first move" -- even starting a conversation -- can be hard, but remember the potential reward of a meaningful relationship. While being brave isn’t always easy, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 About the Author Kelly Kunik has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was eight years old. Her greatest perceived weakness (a busted pancreas) has become her greatest strength and biggest passion. Kelly is a diabetes advocate that authors the blog, Diabetesaliciousness. She’s also a writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of the #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes initiative. You can find Kelly on Twitter @diabetesalish.

 If you liked this post, you may also like: - Meeting Online: When Strangers Become Friends - 3 Important Reasons To Nurture Friendships As You Age - With a Little Help From My Friends

 The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own healthcare providers.

[mangohealth]

Important, In-Case-of-Emergency Prep Steps You Need to Take

We all need at least one in-case-of-emergency (ICE) contact, preferably two. Patient advocate Kelly Kunik discusses why preparing for an emergency with someone is important, and what information you should cover in your conversations.

Being someone’s emergency contact is a big deal, not a responsibility to be taken lightly.

Choosing your emergency contacts The majority of people pick family members (parents or siblings), spouses, or significant others to be their emergency contacts. Others go with close friends. I’ve personally tried them all: like most people, I identified my parents to be my emergency contacts in college.

But when my parents reached their mid 70s, I didn’t want them to worry. I removed them as my ICE contacts, swapping them out for my older sister and my boyfriend at the time. When we broke up, I wanted another emergency contact -- and I decided to officially ask my good friend Cath.

Cath has been one of my best friends since college, and she knows my medical history inside and out. She’s taken me to urgent care for non-diabetes emergencies, and she took care of me when I had my wrist and finger surgeries. Bottom line, I trust her as much as I trust my own sister. Before she “officially” became an emergency contact, however, we went out for coffee and had “the talk.”

As we sat drinking our lattes, I asked if she wanted to be my ICE contact. Of course I let her know that it was okay to say no -- I didn’t want her to feel pressured to agree just because I was asking. Being someone’s emergency contact is a big deal, not a responsibility to be taken lightly. For both our sakes, I knew it was important that I provide her with all the information she needed to have if she said yes (which she did).

Make sure you’re diligent about updating your contacts whenever changes are made to your medications, health insurance, etc.

Information you need to share Below is a list of information that I sent (or am working on for) both of my ICE contacts. Hopefully you will find helpful to reference as you prep your own emergency info sheets:

1. A complete list of medications (including dosages and times) 2. All doctors’ names and phone numbers 3. A picture of the inside of my medical ID bracelet 4. Copies of the front and back of my insurance card 5. Date of birth, including year 6. Social security number 7. Health history notes, such as my type 1 diabetes diagnosis date, allergies, etc. 8. Pertinent info that would need to be brought up immediately, if I were ever in a position where I couldn’t inform healthcare professionals on my own (e.g. I can’t take any antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone family, ever.) 9. Instructions on my personal preferences in the event of certain decisions, for instance:  a. The hospitals that I would both prefer and refuse to be admitted to, all within an hour’s drive  b. What to do if my insulin pump was forcibly removed (I wouldn’t want this to happen. But if it did, the pump would need to be brought home. It’s too expensive to be thrown in a plastic bag and most companies won’t replace stolen insulin pumps.)  c. My wishes via advance directive forms, including a living will and heathcare power of attorney.

Knowing that you have identified and informed your emergency contacts can help take the pressure off everyone, especially yourself.

A few information-sharing pointers In addition to hard copies, create a Google document with the information above. (You can omit sensitive information like your social security number, if you don’t feel comfortable with it being online.)

Make sure you’re diligent about updating your contacts whenever changes are made to your medications, health insurance, etc. (The advantage of a Google doc is that it updates instantly, without having to re-print everything.) I made sure my ICE contacts exchanged cell numbers and email addresses as well.

Finally, after doing all the leg work, don’t forget to actually identify your ICE contact(s) in your phone! How you do so may depend on what type of phone it is. I have an iPhone, for instance, and in the Health app, Apple allows you to make your emergency contact info available even if the screen is locked.

Hopefully, you and I will never need to have our ICE contacts summoned. But knowing that you have identified and informed your emergency contacts can help take the pressure off everyone, especially yourself.

 About the Author Kelly Kunik has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was eight years old. Her greatest perceived weakness (a busted pancreas) has become her greatest strength and biggest passion. Kelly is a diabetes advocate that authors the blog, Diabetesaliciousness. She’s also a writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of the #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes initiative. You can find Kelly on Twitter @diabetesalish.

 If you liked this post, you may also like: - 8 Essential Steps to Prep for an Emergency - Making Friends as an Adult: 8 Ideas - Taking Your Diabetes To Work

 The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own healthcare providers.

[mangohealth]

Becoming a Caregiver: 5 Ways to Make it Easier

If you’re a caregiver for a family member or friend, you know that it can be both deeply rewarding and incredibly stressful. No matter who you’re caring for — a parent, spouse, or other loved one — stepping into the caregiver role can be fraught with both expected and unexpected challenges. Based on her experiences caring for her mother, Kelly Kunik shares five steps you can take to make the transition as easy as possible.

When you look back, you will likely see your caregiving time as a precious gift you received as well as gave.

Taking on the role of primary caregiver for a loved one feels like it should be second nature. But transitioning to the role of caregiver — whether it’s for an aging parent, sick child, spouse, or other loved one — usually isn’t an easy adjustment for the person giving, or the person receiving, the care. It’s likely to be an emotional, overwhelming, and stressful time for all parties involved since both sides are altering their lives and their relationship to each other.

The following steps help make for a smoother transition.

Schedule a Meeting of the Minds An in-person meeting with the patient, family members, and the healthcare team is important to make sure you’re all on the same page about the patient’s health needs., Establish who will be the primary caregiver or caregiving team. Take notes about medications and treatment plans, limitations, and what will be expected from you as the primary caregiver, and make sure you know how to follow up with the healthcare team if questions arise later.

Educate Yourself Take advantage of all the free online resources available to prepare you for the role of caregiver. Download the AARP’s toolkit Dare to Care: A Resource Guide for Families and share it with other family members. Educate yourself on the person your loved one's illness, condition or disability.Create a Personal Support System

The role of Primary Caregiver is emotionally taxing and can make you feel frustrated and isolated. The only people who know what it’s like to be caregiver are those who have been there, and connecting with them will prevent you from feeling alone. The Family Care Navigator tool on Caregiver.org can help you locate public, private, and nonprofit programs and services in your area. The National Alliance for Caregiving can also connect you with online and offline resources designed to make your role easier.

Participate in the AARP’s caregiving forums, join one of the Facebook groups (there are hundreds) devoted to caregiving, or follow the #caregiving hashtag on Twitter and you will find other supportive individuals, groups, and organizations.

Make the time to talk with a therapist who can help you develop coping mechanisms, and make the time to connect with friends by regularly grabbing coffee, taking walks or just talking on the phone. Staying connected to others and talking about your caregiving experience is essential to maintaining good mental health.

You can’t take care of the people you love if you don’t take care of yourself, physically and mentally.

Embrace Technology as a Caregiving Tool Technology allows you to more easily communicate and with family members and friends who are like family. Create a Google Document that includes caregiver schedules, key cell phone numbers, medication lists, and any other information that everybody should have access to.

You might choose to send out regular group texts and emails to family and friends, or start a blog on a website like CaringBridge — this allows family and friends to keep up on what’s happening whenever they have the time.

Technology also allows your family member to be an active participant in their care. By reminding them to take medications, drink water and more, an app like Mango Health helps your loved one feel independent and maintain some control.

Seek Help from Public and Nonprofit Sources Research what services are available for little or no cost in your state and county. For instance, many counties offer door-to-door transportation to and from medical centers and doctor's appointments for seniors, those with disabilities, vets, and anyone requiring transportation for “life essential services” including chemo, dialysis, physical therapy and other appointments. The state of New Jersey even offers Personal Assistance Services Programs, and it’s worth the time to see if your state offers a similar program. Look into meal delivery from Meals on Wheels or Jewish Family Services, which can cost little or no money and help lighten the load.

Take Care of You You can’t take care of the people you love if you don’t take care of yourself, physically and mentally. Don’t neglect your own doctor's appointments, your exercise regimen, or anything else you need to feel your best. When someone you trust offers to cover a shift or two of your caregiving time, say yes.

Lastly, appreciate the time that you are spending with your loved one. When you look back, you will likely see your caregiving time as a precious gift you received as well as gave.

About the Author Kelly Kunik has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was eight years old. Her greatest perceived weakness (a busted pancreas) has become her greatest strength and biggest passion. Kelly is a diabetes advocate that authors the blog, Diabetesaliciousness. She’s also a writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of the #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes initiative. You can find Kelly on Twitter @diabetesalish.

If you liked this post, you might also like:

• Keeping the Love Alive in a Caregiving Relationship

• 6 Ways to Support a Partner With Chronic Illness

• 4 Ways to Recover from Chronic Illness Burnout

The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own health care providers.

[mangohealth]

5 Healthy Habits that Help the Planet

A healthy planet makes for healthier inhabitants of said planet. Likewise, lots of behaviors that are good for you are also good for the environment. “Going green” isn’t always easy, but it’s not as hard as you might think. Little changes turn into big, healthy ones — for the planet and for you! If you don’t always stick with healthy habits, maybe helping the planet can provide motivation? Writer Kelly Kunik shares five smart habits that are healthy for you and for the planet we call home.

If you want to create lasting positive change for yourself and the earth, the key is to start small.

Leave The Car At Home

It’s not always easy, but start small and see what happens. Consider carpooling with a coworker once or twice a week. Not only does this cut down on gas costs and reduce carbon emissions, but the extra social interaction is good for your mental health. If you take public transportation you’ll reap the health benefits of walking to and from the train station or bus stop, and every step counts. On the weekends, embrace walking and biking to get from point A to point B — good for the planet, good for your glutes!

Things Taste Better in Glass

Make the switch from plastic food storage containers to glass. Plastic food containers can transfer potentially harmful chemicals into your food, especially in the microwave, but glass does not. Plus, glass holds heat better than plastic, so foods prepared or reheated in a pyrex dish stay hotter longer. Glass is 100% recyclable and, according to The Glass Packaging Institute, it can be recycled over and over again indefinitely.

You don’t need to give up your car and live off the grid to be kind to the environment — just as you don’t need to run marathons and cut all junk food from your diet to be healthy.

Skip Meat More Often

According the American Heart Association, Meatless Mondays are an excellent way to cut red meat and salt consumption — both of which are linked to heart disease and strokes. Vegetarian meals are usually lower in fat and higher in fiber, which can have positive effects on cholesterol and weight loss — as long as you’re not deep frying everything on your plate. And according to a Harvard study, limiting red and processed meats also reduces the risk of certain cancers. Environmentally, a 2014 study by PANAS ( Proceedings of The Natural Academy of Sciences,) found that beef production negatively impacts our planet. Cattle release five times the amount of greenhouse emissions compared with other livestock, require 28 times the land space, and 11 times the amount of water. Large-scale poultry and pork production can also pollute the air, water, and soil according to research from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Meatless Mondays can help reduce that impact! Some other ideas for cutting back include only eating meat you cook at home or, conversely, only eating meat when you go out to restaurants.

Embrace Your Local Farmer’s Market

Cut down on your carbon footprint, stock up on healthy produce, and engage with members of your community by visiting local farmer’s markets. Since the food at farmers markets hasn’t traveled far, it’s fresher and often more affordable than what you’d find at the supermarket. Chances are, it was also grown using environmentally sustainable practices with minimal pesticides. (For ideas on eating well affordably, read my post on How to Eat Healthy on a Budget).

“Going green” isn’t always easy, but it’s not as hard as you might think. Little changes turn into big, healthy ones — for the planet and for you!

BYO Water Bottle

Purchase BPA-free, reusable water bottles in varying sizes, and keep one filled and with you at all times. Having a reusable water bottle by your side will help you stay hydrated and prevent you from turning to sugary drinks or disposable bottled water to quench your thirst. While bottled water is marketed as superior to tap water, there’s no guarantee that it is — in fact, tap water is just as strictly regulated as bottled water. And there’s no doubt that plastic bottles are unhealthy for the planet. They are difficult to recycle, and the majority of plastic bottles end up in landfills or in our oceans, where they can live for hundreds of years.

You don’t need to give up your car and live off the grid to be kind to the environment — just as you don’t need to run marathons and cut all junk food from your diet to be healthy. If you want to create lasting positive change for yourself and the earth, the key is to start small. Encourage your friends to do the same, and little by little we’ll all be on our way to better health and a healthier planet.

About the Author Kelly Kunik has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was eight years old. Her greatest perceived weakness (a busted pancreas) has become her greatest strength and biggest passion. Kelly is a diabetes advocate that authors the blog, Diabetesaliciousness. She’s also a writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of the #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes initiative. You can find Kelly on Twitter @diabetesalish.

If you liked this post, you may also like:  • How to Clean Up Your Personal Care Routine  • How to Eat Healthy on a Budget  • 5 Ways to Embrace the Outdoors

The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own health care providers.

[mangohealth]

Taking Your Diabetes To Work

If you have diabetes and a job, it’s your responsibility to deal with your health at work — as in the rest of your life. Diabetes advocate Kelly Kunik finds that the best way to deal with diabetes on the job is to be prepared. Check out her to-do list to make sure you take your diabetes to work successfully.

Let your manager or supervisor know that diabetes won’t prevent you from doing a great job — because it won’t.

Do pre-departure checks Check your blood sugar before you leave for the office, and before you head home for the day. This allows you to adjust accordingly before hitting the road — whether you’re driving, riding public transportation, biking, or walking to work (even if you're just heading up the stairs to your home office).

Some days, my commute consists of driving, so I check my blood sugar before I get in my car. I also keep glucose tabs in my driver side door and a spare infusion site in my console. FYI: I once yanked out my pump’s tubing with my car’s emergency break on my way to work. Surprises like this happen and usually when you least expect it — watch out!

 Your work bag isn’t just for work It’s for diabetes supplies, too. Make sure your diabetes kit makes it into your work bag — before you leave your house. My kit contains insulin, test strips, glucose tabs, a meter, and spare insulin-pump supplies.

 Talk to your boss Let your manager or supervisor know that diabetes won’t prevent you from doing a great job — because it won’t. But there will be times when diabetes interrupts you, and you’re going to need to deal with it. (Say, for instance, if your blood sugar starts to drop.)

Set your insulin pump or continuous glucose monitoring system to vibrate so it doesn’t beep during the critical portion of your boss’s 30-minute slide deck.

It’s incredibly important that your boss or human resources manager knows that you have diabetes. Why? Because if something were to happen and you are unable speak for yourself, someone needs to be able advocate on your behalf and make sure you’re attended to as soon as possible.

 Don’t keep your diabetes to yourself Make sure someone else at work knows that you have diabetes, too. Many don’t like to broadcast that they have diabetes at work — and I get it. Personally, I think that having one or two work buddies is a good thing. Friends look out for one another, diabetes or not.

Look, you don’t have to tell everyone. But it can be helpful to explain how you treat your high and low blood sugars. Talking is teaching, and everyone will learn in the process. Your co-workers will gain a better understanding of what diabetes is and what living with it really looks like, and you’ll feel better because you’re not hiding your diabetes.

 Have a designated diabetes drawer Make said “d drawer” the home of snacks and low blood sugar go-tos — whatever floats your boat. A few of my own favorites include: juice boxes, glucose tabs, protein and granola bars.

It’s important to know your rights -- if you feel your rights are being violated at work because of your diabetes, do something about it.

It’s a great idea to add some back-up pump supplies, a vial of test strips, and a spare glucose meter, because there inevitably will be a day when you forget or lose yours. A friend suggested buying an inexpensive store brand meter (which usually comes with a vial of 10 strips) and keeping it in your desk... just in case.

 Prep for meetings and presentations Bring a juice, granola bar, or some glucose tabs with you for unexpected lows — and your meter, in case you start to feel high. Be sure to set your insulin pump or continuous glucose monitoring system to vibrate so it doesn’t beep during the critical portion of your boss’s 30-minute slide deck.

 Know your rights When it comes to diabetes in the workplace, diabetes is considered a disability and is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act. It’s important to know your rights -- if you feel your rights are being violated at work because of your diabetes, do something about it.

The American Diabetes Association is a great resource for more information on diabetes and employment discrimination. Now that you’re prepared, don’t let diabetes dominate your career — focus on your work, and be excellent!

 About the Author Kelly Kunik has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was eight years old. Her greatest perceived weakness (a busted pancreas) has become her greatest strength and biggest passion. Kelly is a diabetes advocate that authors the blog, Diabetesaliciousness. She’s also a writer, speaker, consultant, and creator of the #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes initiative. You can find Kelly on Twitter @diabetesalish.

 If you liked this post, you may also like: - How and When to Discuss Chronic Illness at Work - 4 Ways to Recover from Chronic Illness Burnout - A Warrior Mom Battles Type 2 Diabetes

 The posts on this blog are for information only. They are neither intended to substitute for a relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider, nor do they constitute medical or healthcare advice of any kind. Any information in these posts should not be acted upon without consideration of primary source material and professional input from one’s own healthcare providers.

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Around the Diabetes Blogosphere: March 2017

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Around the Diabetes Blogosphere: March 2017

March has come and gone already, whaaaat?! Another busy month in the online diabetes world. Once again, we bring you a roundup of our favorite post picks for the month, in no particular order.

Got any more faves you'd like to add, for this month or next? We'd love to hear from you.

This has certainly been a stressful month in the world of healthcare and politics, prompting a bevy of advocacy initiatives. Multiple posts from DOC blogging friends highlight these very important but divisive topics, including Stephen Shaul's post Nobody Ever Died From Obamacare, and Kelly Kunik's post taking issue with one lawmaker's off-base remark tying insurance options to having an iPhone.

At the online journal Thrive Global (a 2016-startup founded by Arianna Huffington after she left the Huffington Post last year), D-Mom Rachel Stewart Johnson captivated us not only with her post title Mom Job: You'll Never Sleep Again, but also by the totally noteworthy writing talent there. What a read!

Over at the diabetes blog There's More to the Story, fellow type 1 Mindy points out that just because you happen to have a chronic illness, doesn't mean life is always in the extreme and that you can't take it easy or give yourself a little credit sometimes. Btw: Happy 17-year diaversary and fourth blogging anniversary this month, Mindy!

Speaking of diaversaries, a few more March diaversary shout-outs to fellow bloggers: Canadian D-Mom and advocate Barb Wagstaff, who notes that her family's recent diaversary slipped the mind; Illana Lucas, who blogs at Diaturgy and has just marked her 21st year with T1D and wrote a poetic post in honor of that milestone; and Cassie Thompson at KDA not DKA who just marked her very first diaversary! Also, our own Mike Hoskins marked his 33rd year on March 10. And there are surely many more... so here's a hearty shout-out to all marking making it through another year with D. You should be proud!

Low-carb juice? OMG... we to LOL at this post dubbed Reading Is Fundamental by D-Mom Pam Osbourne, sharing the mystery of why her daughter's low blood sugars were slower to respond after drinking this unusual beverage. D'oh!

We loved finding this new diabetes blog by a thirty-something RN and D-Mom in Denver (who chooses to remain nameless), called Triumphs, Tantrums and Type One. Welcome to the diabetes blogosphere, Lady!

The Diabetes Daily Grind podcast folks have a blog, too. And right now they're featuring a series on Thriving in the Peace Corps with diabetes by Monica Storozyszyn -- a must-read! In March's Part 5, Monica talks about the challenge of finding good physicians and pharmacists in developing countries.

For St. Patrick's Day D-Flare, our kudos goes to the Divabetic community's Go Green with Envy post -- a list of their top green fun picks from head-to-toe fashions to the tastiest low carb beers. Remember, green is always in fashion, so go check it out!

Image Attribution

Image Attribution

URL: http://divabetic.org/2017/03/16/divabetic-st-patricks-day-go-green-envy/

At the newly refreshed site Diabetes Can't Stop Me, Australian D-blogger Helen Edwards writes about Finding My Voice, through the Internet and her studies to become a diabetes educator. We love how brave she is in the face of adversity, writing, "Screw the trolls and bullies. Because together, our voices are far louder than theirs, and I will never again let anyone tell me that I can not speak."

It's hard to go a month without recognizing our longtime D-blogging friend also in Australia, Renza Scibilia at Diabetogenic. She lends her powerful voice this month to the topic of Feeding My Insecurities -- all about how we can't fall for the promises that every new device or treatment will "solve" our diabetes issues, and how we can't keep blaming ourselves for failure either.

Are you also Pancreas-less and Proud? Then you will love this post on a blog by that name -- about the importance of Friendship with T1D and the fact that these connections are "more important to your well-being and happiness than you might ever realize."

What's Worse Than A Low? A Heart Attack. Yes, this is the real and true title and content of a blog post over at Type 1 Twilight Zone. Read all about Tom Goffe's harrowing experience and send him some love, please.

Stacey Divone, at The Girl with the Portable Pancreas had quite a scare when she thought she was having a heart attack. No Joke. Turns out that worry, grief and anxiety were behind that terrible feeling in her chest. Please join us in sending some love her way as well!

Meanwhile, on a far less life-threatening level, Laddie is Fighting the Chocolate Demons over at Test and Go. It's all about about chocolate, post-dinner eating, and making “bad” decisions, struggling with your own inner demons, and seeking counseling for help.

From Kirkham, UK, a T1 gentleman named Adrian writes a blog called Teaching, Training, Rebuking and Inspiring. In his post called Needles and Pins, he talks about learning to inject himself, his decision to stick with shots, and now using the FreeStyle Libre. So great to hear how the the #gbdoc has helped him learn and cope!

Liz Fritz, aka The Diabetic Mom in suburban Ohio, talks this month about the parallel evolution of her diabetes and motherhood, and one technique she uses to combat frustration and burn out: "I write it all out. Every single thing bothering me... and then I crumble it up. I rip it to shreds. It doesn’t necessarily remove the 'issue' but it gives me visual gratification that I am in control of the situation. Even when it doesn’t feel that way." Love!

Send your own recommendations to us via email for April 2017.

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Snappy Comebacks for Parents of Diabetic Kids (Or...)

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Snappy Comebacks for Parents of Diabetic Kids (Or...)

We've all heard them at one time or another — those insensitive comments that just make you cringe. But what do you say back? We might wish we could share the snarky comeback on the tip of our tongues, but that isn't always a good idea, especially if this is someone you'll have to see again (a family member, friend, etc.).

A few weeks ago, D-mom blogger Joanne was inspired by a "D-wit" post from Kelly Kunik to create a hilarious video filled with all those things you wish you could say. Today, Joanne shares in writing what she really does when faced with those "say what?" moments:

A Guest Post by Joanne of Death of a Pancreas

Anybody who is closely connected with type 1 diabetes will tell you that the general public is grossly misinformed about the disease, and this misinformation can lead people to say some pretty stupid and hurtful things to those of us who have to deal with diabetes on a daily basis.

Most of them were summed up quite nicely in the video "What NOT to say to the Parent of a Type 1 Diabetic." And yes, I have heard each and every one of those at some point in the two and a half years since my daughter was diagnosed at 12 months of age.

Just recently I met a woman whose comment trumped all the lines in the video. I told her Elise had diabetes and she immediately dove into a lengthy explanation of how she totally understood everything we go through... because her cat had diabetes.

Her cat.

Cat.

Diabetes.

Apparently her feline companion having diabetes is the same as your own flesh and blood (who you carried for 9+ months inside of you, who you would gladly sacrifice YOUR own LIFE for) having diabetes. Lady, I like cats and all, but.... Oh. My. Dear. Lord.

I am a big fan of the old adage, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything." The problem when it comes to people commenting on Elise's diabetes is they don't really know that what they're saying is hurtful.

Most people don't know anything about type 1 diabetes. That's why, even though the urge to become the Queen of Snark is quite strong, I like to use these occasions to educate people. Watch carefully, though. It's easy to recognize those who really want to learn, and those who just really want to tell you about their grandma who is blind, or about their cat on dialysis.

For the ones who really do want to know, I try to honestly share what it's like without making them sorry they asked. It's a fine line we walk, and I hit on the big points: how type 1 is an auto-immune disease that she will have for the rest of her life (or until a cure is found), and there was nothing we could have done to prevent it. How insulin is not a cure, but merely a form of life support. I tell them that she can eat anything, she just has to have enough insulin to cover the carbs, but there are some foods that are trickier than others.

Because what it all boils down to, is that I want people to understand my daughter's disease. They will never "get it," nor can I really expect them to. But I want them to see how all-encompassing, and life-changing type 1 is, and why it is so important that we find a cure.

So while the urge to respond sarcastically is very strong, I never want to ruin any chance of opening up someone's eyes to type 1 diabetes. Because another saying I'm rather fond of is, "You can catch more flies with honey than with poison. Or with cookies... made with poison."

Although I may have just made that last one up.

Anyway, if you haven't seen the video yet... you totally should. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll watch it again. If you only see one video this year, make it this one. No wait... I've been watching too many Hollywood movie trailers again.

Two thumbs up, Joanne.

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Around the Diabetes Blogosphere... The First Edition for January 2011

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Around the Diabetes Blogosphere... The First Edition for January 2011

Everyday, the diabetes online community is getting bigger and bigger... it's easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you're missing out on stuff! We've been doing our best to keep tabs on all the great discussions, and decided it would be a good idea to share a little 'round-up' of some of our fave posts at the end of each month. Enjoy, Partners!

First off, congrats to Ginger Vieira on the publication of her new book "Your Diabetes Science Experiment" — we have a review of the book coming soon!

There was another media upset earlier this month when Ricki Lake "mistakenly" said that type 1 diabetes was "preventable" — errr, no! Lucky for us, Kelly Kunik (aka K2) hopped on the phone with Ricki's publicist to set the record straight.

On the TSA and insulin pumps: Kerri shares her first-hand account of a pat-down at the airport.

Ever bolus and bolus and bolus, but your BGs never seem to come down... and then all of a sudden, you start plummeting? George Simmons — our resident D-ninja! — describes this "bubble bolus" phenomenon.

Karen changes her lancet every morning. Color me impressed!

Diabetes is not always pretty: Jacquie shares her experience of having to handle an alcohol-induced low blood sugar with the help of glucagon. Take notes, Folks.

Bob Pederson shows that even the most active members of the D-community can sometimes slip up IRL (that's In Real Life, in cyber-speak).

Healthcare reform is often a tenuous debate, and Leighann shares her thoughts on why the recent reforms are important for children with diabetes.

We'll be back with another round-up at the end of February... Of course, if you spot a post you love, drop us a note!

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Our View of JDRF Government Day

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Our View of JDRF Government Day

This weekend, I was honored to be a part of a group of bloggers heading to Washington, DC, to be part of JDRF's Government Day — actually a four-day event that is "part training session, part research update, part networking opportunity, and part celebration of our JDRF's Advocacy Program."

I was there along with active online advocates Mike Hoskins, Scott Johnson, Kelly Kunik, Kelly Rawlings, Cherise Shockley, Scott Strange, Kerri Sparling, and Kim from Texting My Pancreas. We had a great time meeting with volunteers on JDRF's Advocacy and Government Relations teams, sharing with them what we do here in the Diabetes Online Community, and how and why they should be a part of it, too. We made a lot of friends and we hope to see them here soon!

We also had a wonderful meeting with Jeffrey Brewer, the new CEO and President of JDRF, who recently made some statements about the new direction of the organization that sent shockwaves through the diabetes community.

I spent the better part of the conference traipsing around with my , interviewing some of the advocates who meet with Members of Congress on our behalf and capturing as much of the event as I could.

Here's what happened:

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Around the Diabetes Blogosphere... March 2011 Edition

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Around the Diabetes Blogosphere... March 2011 Edition

This month, we bring you more of our favorite posts from around the Diabetes Online Community. Luckily, there's never a shortage of fun stuff to read.

Oh, and don't forget to send us your favorites to be sure we're ropin' in all the best stuff each month!

Kim Vlasnik illustrates that there are some inadvertent advantages to life with diabetes in a creative and humorous way.

Candy Hearts blogger Wendy and her daughter are having a rough time with diabetes, because "Sugar" is the only kid in her class with diabetes. Show Sugar she's not alone by sending a little message and a photo! Wendy's collecting them until Friday, 4/1.

Not all endos are harsh and judgmental: George Simmons and Mike Hoskins share some motivating experiences at recent endo appointments.

Lorraine and her son Caleb dealt with a broken DexCom wire. Has that happened to you? Lorraine wants to hear from you...

Do you have a default "digit" you use when testing your blood sugar? Chris Snider does an informal Twitter survey of the popular fingers to use for blood sugar monitoring. This blogger here prefers her left ring and pinky fingers.

We're thrilled that Karen Hoffman and her husband are expecting their first baby (it's a girl!) but that doesn't mean there aren't deep-seated fears. Of course, we've come along way since the 1980s, and that's why Karen wants to you to know: "I'm not Shelby."

Bernard Farrell, one of our DiabetesMine Design Challenge judges this year, chats with A Sweet Life about growing up with diabetes, his diabetes advocacy, and his thoughts on diabetes product design.

Kelly Kunik hits the press as she's featured in this month's issue of SELF magazine! Way to go, K2!

Stacey Divone shares her fears about growing old and how age and diabetes might impact her organs.

And don't forget to check out Riva Greenberg's interview with Amy at the Huffington Post!

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Around the Diabetes Blogosphere - April 2011 Edition

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Around the Diabetes Blogosphere - April 2011 Edition

Another month gone by already? Wow! It's certainly been a busy one here at the 'Mine, and there's been a lot going on around the Diabetes Online Community as well. Check out a few blog posts we think shouldn't be missed!

A belated but very deserved congratulations to Lee Ann Thill, who has been accepted into grad school and will begin work this summer on her PhD in Art Therapy for children with diabetes. Way to go, Lee Ann!

Can't keep Kelly Kunik down: she and several other D-bloggers banded together to set the record straight with Reader's Digest after spotting a magazine headline that perpetuated the age-old "reversal" myth about type 2 diabetes.

The butter compartment is for insulin, but where do the rest of your diabetes supplies go? George Simmons is on the hunt for a good spot in his new house. Where do you keep yours?

Moira McCarthy Stanford thinks "Type 3" is not an OK designation for the loved ones in our lives, and she shares her thoughts on a guest post at SixUntilMe. But if you're craving more Moira, never fear: she's started her own D-blog, Despite Diabetes, where she also published an amazing open letter to Sen. Scott Brown after getting shot down at a recent advocacy meeting.

Kim Vlasnik shares a heartfelt post about why empathy, and the bond from mutual hatred of tooth sweaters, makes the DOC so powerful.

On UK blogger Siobhan's 20th anniversary with diabetes, her mother writes a wonderful post about Siobhan's diagnosis. April also marked the diaversaries (diabetes anniversary) of Scott Johnson and Kim.

Sara Knicks reflects on the life of a diabetes advocate, and concludes that "I advocate for the fact that diabetes cannot stop you living your life. Diabetes is not your life. " Amen!

Don't forget, you can also recommend your fave blog posts for next month's roundup by emailing us.

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Rounding the Bend with My Dexcom

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Rounding the Bend with My Dexcom

OK, so the honeymoon is over. There's always that euphoria when you start using a new gadget or tool, and it always wears off over time. I'm still glad to have my new Dexcom — believe you me! — because it's helped me out of a horrible motivational slump, and it's made me realize how much of the time I had no idea what was happening with my BG levels.

So those are positives.

BUT... some of the aggravation of my early experiences living with CGM is back.

Overnight Nonsense

Who was it that said wearing a CGM overnight could be like having a newborn? Yup, the thing wails at you when it wants attention, regardless of your efforts or needs. I've had some nights where I've been stuffing the receiver in my underwear drawer (inside my new walk-in closet, with the door closed!) so I wouldn't have to listen to it.

That started after one night last week where the thing beeped me awake with a 240 reading and two arrows going up, up!! I stumbled into the bathroom and did a fingerstick check: 140 mg/dL. WtF?

Later that very same night: Beeeeeeepppp! The screen showed me at 50 — OMG! But I didn't even treat that false high earlier. Another stumble to the bathroom: checked in at 95. Grrrr.

Banished to the underwear drawer, you are!

The experts at Dexcom tell me this might be because the sensor was new, and accuracy is always "iffy" in the first 24 hours or so. Hmmm.

But last night, four days into another sensor, same thing: Beeeeeeeppppp! Screen shows me at 50! Stumble to the bathroom, and check in at a lovely 120 mg/dL. This seems to be an overnight pattern. Grrr.

Why am experiencing so many "off" readings overnight?! I'm wearing the sensor smack in the middle of my belly, and keeping the receiver right under my pillow (which makes for much unpleasantness when alarms go off).

I do not know. But it really isn't doing me much good in the underwear drawer, is it?

Low-Carb Blues

I've also been on a Holy Mission to drop a few pounds after my post-remodel and post-holiday carb binge. I've been doing pretty darn well for several weeks now: completely off tortilla chips and granola bars, eating only tiny bits of carb in the form of a bit of nutty granola and some occasional apple slices. OK, and a few squares of dark chocolate after dinner some nights (which I dose for profusely).

Yet with all that low-carb goodness, I can't say my numbers have been great. I still seem to spike sometimes after eating veggies with dip, or sunny-side-up eggs with a little coffee. Weird. And the CGM's been slow to catch on to these spikes.

Shower Power?

I was shocked to learn from fellow D-bloggers Lee Ann Thill and Kelly Kunik recently that showering is known to mess with your BG levels. What? Just standing under water causes BG changes too? Can they make this control thing any more difficult?!

Anyway, I hadn't really noticed it — or even considered the possibility — until I had the Dex. Now I do notice that I'm slow to come down after a shower. (Power of the shower, or power of suggestion?)

Some Dexcom folks have told me they suspect that showering or bathing may cause accuracy problems in certain batches of sensors. Uh-oh. They've asked me to monitor closely to see if I notice anything wonky after water contact.

Right now, the only thing really wonky is me. Every time something beeps in my vicinity I start frantically rummaging through my purse, to pull out not one, not two, but THREE gadgets I need to check: is it my pump? my CGM? my iPhone?

One or another of my three daughters often perks up with something like: "Mom, it's just a truck backing up over there, see?"

"Oh right, thanks," I sigh.

Then I get the eye-roll. But not before I've rolled my own eyes practically out of my head.

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

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Around the Diabetes Blogosphere - September 2011 Edition

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-mellitus/around-the-diabetes-blogosphere-september-2011-edition/

Around the Diabetes Blogosphere - September 2011 Edition

Autumn brings hectic school schedules and shorter days, but we're staying on track with bringing you the latest bloggy goodness from the DOC. Check out our picks for best reads of this past month (unfortunately starting with some sad news):

First, let's rally around Kelly Kunik as she says good-bye to her beloved mother, who passed away last weekend. Our hearts are with you. We love you, Kelly!

The diabetes community also loses another young PWD to dead-in-bed syndrome, this time a 15-year-old girl named Sarah. Reyna reflects on this mysterious and deadly phenomenon.

Susi rants against the idea that PWDs can lead a "normal" life with diabetes. It might look normal, but it ain't normal!

Meredith has a confession to make: she doesn't test her blood sugar as often as she should on the weekend! What diabetes confessions do you have to share?

Bennett Dunlap and Scott Strumello get behind JDRF's initiative to discover smarter insulin.

Weight loss and type 1 diabetes is always a conundrum, but Kelly Booth shares some advice she's found helpful. Hint: Don't forget to read chicken labels!

Mike Hoskins writes about how his insulin pump and seat belt aren't playing nice together and getting all tangled up, so he gives them a stern talking to. Boy, have I been there!

Don't know how to deal with hypocritical people who judge others? Kim Vlasnik has the answer: "Screw you, I'm awesome."

Cara Richardson has had a successful relationship with Medtronic Minimed's CGM, but she's decided to play the field and trying out DexCom. Any tips? She's all ears...

And to end on a high note, huge congratulations to Bethany Rose who is pregnant with her second child! Woohoo!

Also — don't forget to check out Amy on this week's edition of the Just Talking podcast with Chris Snider!

Spotted a fave post? Don't forget to drop us a line with something you've seen... or even something you've written!

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Around the Diabetes Blogosphere - Halloween '11 Edition

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-mellitus/around-the-diabetes-blogosphere-halloween-11-edition/

Around the Diabetes Blogosphere - Halloween '11 Edition

Today might be the spookiest day of the year, but have no fear, our favorite D-picks of the past month are here. Hey, that rhymed! Our friends in the DOC certainly make living with diabetes a little less scary, huh?

We're still riding the wave of excitement following the epic Simonpalooza DOC meet-ups! Chris Snider chats with the man himself on this episode of the hit podcast, Just Talking.

Kim Vlasnik writes a great post about realizing that diabetes perfection is just like the spoon in The Matrix — it doesn't exist!

How young is too young to get your child involved in their diabetes management? Jill ponders this question as her 11-year-old daughter becomes more involved in her D-care.

Mike Durbin examines the double-edged sword that comes from "not looking sick" when you are, in fact, very sick.

When you have diabetes, being hungry doesn't necessarily dictate whether or not you're going to eat. Jacquie Wojcik examines the mysterious phenomenon known as "hunger" and how it doesn't always apply to her meals.

Ever wonder what it's like to meet with a Member of Congress? Nervous you might not be good at it? Karen shares her experience at her first JDRF Promise to Remember Me Campaign meeting.

Sue writes a heartfelt note of appreciation to the DOC. We don't know what we would do without the diabetes community, either!

Heidi Shell, who just entered her third trimester of her first pregnancy (yay!), had a rough go at the endocrinologist's office this month. Moms and moms-to-be, send over some D-love!

Diabetes can create some pretty neurotic habits, especially for people who have been living with it for decades. Kelly Kunik breaks down some of her OCD tendancies — any that you care to admit to?

Amy, Allison, Wil and the rest of the Roche Diabetes Social Media Summit gang need your help! Watch our Torchbearer videos and then "like" us — the video with the most likes will have a $1,000 donation made to their local JDRF chapter.

Have any suggestions for next month's DOC round-up? Send 'em our way!

Thanks All, and Happy Halloween!

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Type 2 Diabetes Diet Diabetes Destroyer Reviews Original Article