And to continue on with the health care discussion a few posts down, Tyler and I have come across a website: www.diabeticrockstar.com. They seem to have a great self awareness, and a great outlook on how to live and manage.
The creator Christopher Thomas and original diabetic rockstar, has also started a non profit called Fight It! (website should be up soon) which raises money for uninsured diabetics. A great cause. Please check it out.
Holler.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
welcome to the family angelina
So it's been a while since this was announced, and I for one would like to apologize for not posting on this sooner. But in case you didn't know, Angelina Jolie, while carry Brad Pitt's child (yes, not adopting again) has gestational diabetes.
Unfortunately at first, according Mrs Branjelina her publicist she was "trying to keep in under wraps." Though she has been "seeing a nutritionist about it," making sure that she's eating right for the twins she's carrying.
For all your pregnant star news check here.
Going to have to come up with a Brangelina diabeteshappens shirt. Got any ideas, please share.
Unfortunately at first, according Mrs Branjelina her publicist she was "trying to keep in under wraps." Though she has been "seeing a nutritionist about it," making sure that she's eating right for the twins she's carrying.
For all your pregnant star news check here.
Going to have to come up with a Brangelina diabeteshappens shirt. Got any ideas, please share.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What's your deal, Halle?
i know Big Mike posted about this, but i finally figured out how to get videos on the blog.
we love you Halle, but you claim to have cured your diabetes? i was always confused about your condition, but i think you are more confused than me
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
us weekly celebrity
In coming up with diabeteshappens Tyler and I had grand dreams. Obviously if you are looking at this you've seen our newly updated website (in which we passionately try to get the tabloids to purchase a picture of me for a mere 50k. I look good, what can i say. Richie Sambora eat your heart out). Getting celebrities with diabetes to embrace and then endorse our product was a priority. I mean the whole idea of the company came off on the heels of our attendance to the Chris Dudley Basketball Camp for Youth with Diabetes. "Dr. Crash," an NBA vet of 16 years, certainly provides some celebrity pop to our product, but we would be lying if we didn't have our sights on the Bret Michaels's or the Halle Berry's of the world. Celebrity sells. We are in the business of selling. Come on US Weekly. Get in the mix.
Despite our best efforts of trying to entertain Bret we've somehow fallen short. I thought that none have rocked harder than Tyler did in his air guitar of Poison's Nothin' But A Good Time, and we sent Bret a copy of the DVD version of our mini film. We've heard nothing. Apparently he is too busy doing the unskinny bop with his floozies on VH1's Rock of Love. We even purchased one of Bret's diabetic t-shirts...something along the line of thousands of shows, 20 million sugar tests, 10 million insulin injections, one love sort of thing. I don't think he's selling them any more. Which is a major bummer because it was the last image i saw of Bret actually looking like Bret, and not Sebastian Bach. The trouble with Bret is that on his MTV Cribs episode - where he takes us on an inside look into his home - he has NPH in the fridge. Bret, NPH? Are you serious? Bringing the 80s back is ironically cool, but bringing the 90s back with their form of blood sugar regulation is a serious health risk. Though I do salute you on your efforts not to hide your disease Bret. You do a great job of speaking out against it. Just update your insulin cabinet.
And Halle. Oh Halle. You are quite the pretty lady, and congrats on the new born. But why are you saying that you've gone from Type 1 to Type 2 diabetes? If you are just controlling your sugars with diet and exercise I don't think you are eating enough. Get out of LA! Now!
I guess we just won't have any spokesperson - though you can certainly check out our new Chris Dudley t-shirt
Despite our best efforts of trying to entertain Bret we've somehow fallen short. I thought that none have rocked harder than Tyler did in his air guitar of Poison's Nothin' But A Good Time, and we sent Bret a copy of the DVD version of our mini film. We've heard nothing. Apparently he is too busy doing the unskinny bop with his floozies on VH1's Rock of Love. We even purchased one of Bret's diabetic t-shirts...something along the line of thousands of shows, 20 million sugar tests, 10 million insulin injections, one love sort of thing. I don't think he's selling them any more. Which is a major bummer because it was the last image i saw of Bret actually looking like Bret, and not Sebastian Bach. The trouble with Bret is that on his MTV Cribs episode - where he takes us on an inside look into his home - he has NPH in the fridge. Bret, NPH? Are you serious? Bringing the 80s back is ironically cool, but bringing the 90s back with their form of blood sugar regulation is a serious health risk. Though I do salute you on your efforts not to hide your disease Bret. You do a great job of speaking out against it. Just update your insulin cabinet.
And Halle. Oh Halle. You are quite the pretty lady, and congrats on the new born. But why are you saying that you've gone from Type 1 to Type 2 diabetes? If you are just controlling your sugars with diet and exercise I don't think you are eating enough. Get out of LA! Now!
I guess we just won't have any spokesperson - though you can certainly check out our new Chris Dudley t-shirt
Thursday, March 13, 2008
health insurance
Recently got an email suggesting that we discuss health care and what happens when you get knocked off your parents plan. It went a little something like this:
"so you guys should do a post for those who are over 23 and don't have insurance from a job or parent and has diabetes what the hell you did to afford life still. As having just turned 23 and being turned down EVERYWHERE even by the stupid company that has covered me for the past 23 years (10 that have been diabetic). I know about the State of Oregon plan but it is less then average and still retardly expensive. Any hints or tips or general advice would be tight."
These are the sorts of problems that arise when a country's medical decisions are run for profit. Not that great things also don't come out of it - there is little question that America is a world leader in health care change, finding cures, treatment in ERs (even though it rarely feels like it), etc, but it is not beneficial at all for an insurance company to take on a diabetic, cancer patient, etc. This is why you get Michael Moore's "SICKO."
And to be honest with you, I don't have a whole lot of suggestions. I know it's a bad idea to be off of health insurance, especially because then your condition can be called previously existing. As long as you have a plan that protects you and covers the medication that you need, your next subscriber must pick up where the last one left off. However, if you, for any reason, lose your plan, the next provider does not have to pay for your costs because the condition was present before you came to them.
If you have a job, but are looking for a new one you should ask your HR people about COBRA. It's not cheap. At all. Basically you can keep the current health care plan that you have, but you must pay for all of it. Usually your employer picks up most of the tab, and you pay for the plan that you want (HMO, PPO, etc). It's a terrible option, but at least you can remain fully covered. So with that being said, I wonder if you can legitimately be turned down by your current/former provider. I would look into that.
And as this is an election year, and health care as been an increasingly important discussion point amongst the candidates, I think it's critical that we all know as much as we can about what their points of view are on the nature of how health care should be run.
OBAMA
CLINTON
MCCAIN
Here is also a website that lays them out side by side. Not sure if they have an affiliation, but just make sure you read through carefully and get yourself informed.
There has been a lot of discussion about this in our office - politics often times take over for basketball, especially after loses. My colleague Pete Schwethelm came up with, what I think is a great way to describe the way health care should operate in our country. He believes that the postal service has it right. There is a basic plan (USPS) that everyone can partake in. It may not be the best option, but everyone can use it. If you feel that you need something more, better, faster there are other options (Fed-Ex, UPS).
The same could work for a health care system that has a basic outline for everyone, and if you feel you need better coverage, well that cost comes out of your own pocket then. It certainly doesn't lessen the blow for people like us - we'll still be paying top dollar, but at the very least, there is something out there.
Let us know which of the candidate's plans you like the best, and as always, please back your response with some reasons.
"so you guys should do a post for those who are over 23 and don't have insurance from a job or parent and has diabetes what the hell you did to afford life still. As having just turned 23 and being turned down EVERYWHERE even by the stupid company that has covered me for the past 23 years (10 that have been diabetic). I know about the State of Oregon plan but it is less then average and still retardly expensive. Any hints or tips or general advice would be tight."
These are the sorts of problems that arise when a country's medical decisions are run for profit. Not that great things also don't come out of it - there is little question that America is a world leader in health care change, finding cures, treatment in ERs (even though it rarely feels like it), etc, but it is not beneficial at all for an insurance company to take on a diabetic, cancer patient, etc. This is why you get Michael Moore's "SICKO."
And to be honest with you, I don't have a whole lot of suggestions. I know it's a bad idea to be off of health insurance, especially because then your condition can be called previously existing. As long as you have a plan that protects you and covers the medication that you need, your next subscriber must pick up where the last one left off. However, if you, for any reason, lose your plan, the next provider does not have to pay for your costs because the condition was present before you came to them.
If you have a job, but are looking for a new one you should ask your HR people about COBRA. It's not cheap. At all. Basically you can keep the current health care plan that you have, but you must pay for all of it. Usually your employer picks up most of the tab, and you pay for the plan that you want (HMO, PPO, etc). It's a terrible option, but at least you can remain fully covered. So with that being said, I wonder if you can legitimately be turned down by your current/former provider. I would look into that.
And as this is an election year, and health care as been an increasingly important discussion point amongst the candidates, I think it's critical that we all know as much as we can about what their points of view are on the nature of how health care should be run.
OBAMA
CLINTON
MCCAIN
Here is also a website that lays them out side by side. Not sure if they have an affiliation, but just make sure you read through carefully and get yourself informed.
There has been a lot of discussion about this in our office - politics often times take over for basketball, especially after loses. My colleague Pete Schwethelm came up with, what I think is a great way to describe the way health care should operate in our country. He believes that the postal service has it right. There is a basic plan (USPS) that everyone can partake in. It may not be the best option, but everyone can use it. If you feel that you need something more, better, faster there are other options (Fed-Ex, UPS).
The same could work for a health care system that has a basic outline for everyone, and if you feel you need better coverage, well that cost comes out of your own pocket then. It certainly doesn't lessen the blow for people like us - we'll still be paying top dollar, but at the very least, there is something out there.
Let us know which of the candidate's plans you like the best, and as always, please back your response with some reasons.
Friday, February 22, 2008
SVU on the diabetes prowl again
Yet again, Law and Order SVU is using diabetes in there storyline. This time the perp had such bad sugar control that he lost 3 fingers. Just thought everyone should know.
Thinking of forming PETROD - People for the Ethical Representation of Diabetics. Has a nice ring.
By the way: one of the other assistant coaches and I are tyring to fundraise at Lafayette College. We are holding a 3 on 3 charity basketball tournament for the benefit of dystonia and diabetes. The website is www.hill2themill.com
Thinking of forming PETROD - People for the Ethical Representation of Diabetics. Has a nice ring.
By the way: one of the other assistant coaches and I are tyring to fundraise at Lafayette College. We are holding a 3 on 3 charity basketball tournament for the benefit of dystonia and diabetes. The website is www.hill2themill.com
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Of Mice and Men?
Read the New York Times article here:
Stem Cell Therapy Controls Diabetes in Mice
All the more reason to vote for someone who supports stem cell research in November...
Stem Cell Therapy Controls Diabetes in Mice
All the more reason to vote for someone who supports stem cell research in November...
Friday, February 8, 2008
New Study
A new study reported by the New York Times today suggests that, in Type 2 diabetics, more rigidly controlled diabetes led to a high death rate. Out of two different groups, one that kept strict control of their diabetes – a hemoglobin A1C of 6.0 or below – had 54 more deaths than the group that had a much looser regime – a hemoglobin A1C of around 7.0. If you are not as surprised as I am at this finding, well then you just don’t check your blood sugars.
There are a couple of things that should be taken into account in the study. First, there is quite a bit a medication mixing going on. Many of the people in the study were on insulin as well as blood sugar controlling pills. A host of those same people were also taking cholesterol and heart medication. The researchers believed that there was no correlation between the combinations of medications. In risk of it being too soon I would like to disclaimer my next statement by saying it is only in a scientific reference, but I can’t believe that finding in the light of Heath Legder’s death.
The study did believe that the rate at which the blood sugars were lowered may have had an effect. The average age of the study was 62 and had been diabetic for 10 years. The report stated: “Years ago, researchers discovered that lowering blood sugar very quickly in diabetes could actually worsen blood vessel disease in the eyes, he said. But reducing levels more slowly protected those blood vessels.” This may certainly be true. I’m no doctor but someone who is elderly, and who’s body has been accustomed to running a certain way, may place extra stress on their organs with sudden changes.
It should be noted that most of the deaths were heart disease related.
One thing that is certain – at least according to the New York Times – “Clearly, people without diabetes are different from people who have diabetes and get their blood sugar low.” No kidding. Would never have guessed. Can you smell a Pulitzer?
What does this mean? Well for me, a Type 1 diabetic (a juvenile if you will), I’m still going to check and monitor my sugars closely. I don’t see any reason to change what I’ve been doing, certainly in light of the fact that I don’t want to get to the point where I might have to be on heart or kidney medication later on in life.
Again, non of these people were Type 1, and many of them had previous conditions that could have proved to be fatal – which more than likely were a direct link to their having diabetes (i.e. heart, kidney, and cholesterol problems). Don’t let the problems get to a point where there is already damage. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.
And if you are of age, get out and vote so that medical professionals can do their job and help find a cure.
On a lighter note just watch this. It’s beyond explanation.
There are a couple of things that should be taken into account in the study. First, there is quite a bit a medication mixing going on. Many of the people in the study were on insulin as well as blood sugar controlling pills. A host of those same people were also taking cholesterol and heart medication. The researchers believed that there was no correlation between the combinations of medications. In risk of it being too soon I would like to disclaimer my next statement by saying it is only in a scientific reference, but I can’t believe that finding in the light of Heath Legder’s death.
The study did believe that the rate at which the blood sugars were lowered may have had an effect. The average age of the study was 62 and had been diabetic for 10 years. The report stated: “Years ago, researchers discovered that lowering blood sugar very quickly in diabetes could actually worsen blood vessel disease in the eyes, he said. But reducing levels more slowly protected those blood vessels.” This may certainly be true. I’m no doctor but someone who is elderly, and who’s body has been accustomed to running a certain way, may place extra stress on their organs with sudden changes.
It should be noted that most of the deaths were heart disease related.
One thing that is certain – at least according to the New York Times – “Clearly, people without diabetes are different from people who have diabetes and get their blood sugar low.” No kidding. Would never have guessed. Can you smell a Pulitzer?
What does this mean? Well for me, a Type 1 diabetic (a juvenile if you will), I’m still going to check and monitor my sugars closely. I don’t see any reason to change what I’ve been doing, certainly in light of the fact that I don’t want to get to the point where I might have to be on heart or kidney medication later on in life.
Again, non of these people were Type 1, and many of them had previous conditions that could have proved to be fatal – which more than likely were a direct link to their having diabetes (i.e. heart, kidney, and cholesterol problems). Don’t let the problems get to a point where there is already damage. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.
And if you are of age, get out and vote so that medical professionals can do their job and help find a cure.
On a lighter note just watch this. It’s beyond explanation.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Film and Diabetes
Alright, so I'm sitting on my Wal-Mart futon (don't pretend like you guys don't know exactly what I'm talking about), and I'm watching Law and Order: SVU - the best kind of Law and Order. There is a lady on the show who is not only paralyzed from the waist down, but a diabetic. For some reason, even with full use of her arms, the lady is unable to give herself insulin shots. She is (apparently) unable to administer the shots herself, and relies totally upon her husband to give them to her. As it turns out her husband is being framed, someone is trying to get rid of him. If the husband goes down, then the paralyzed diabetic won't be able to take care of herself and she too will surely perish. I honestly don't understand it; a grown woman can't take care of her own diabetes? At least at the halfway point of the show that's how it's shaking down.
This sort of logic in film really pisses me off. It's as if no one in Hollywood has a clue about diabetes. Does no one in LA LA land have it? Doesn't Halle Berry? Kevin Klein's son? I mean most of the residents probably only eat about 50 grams of carbs a day, so iI can understand if Paris Hilton doesn't know too much about it...
But think about it. The first movie I can remember watching with erroneous diabetes facts after my diagnosis was Con Air. Yeah, you know it. Nick Cage. His hands are registered weapons. He kills someone while defending his wife but still goes to prison. He's about to be released from prison, but has to get aboard a plane with a whole bunch of nasty boys who are just being moved to the maximum security Louisiana prison. Among them is a diabetic, who's insulin breaks on the chaotic plane ride. Within 12 hrs, the diabetic is about to go comatose because his blood sugar is way too high - even though they've only had one on board meal.
And then there was Panic Room. You know this one, too. Jodi Foster. Gets a house with a panic room so that in case of an emergency her daughter would be safe. Bad guys come after the house....
Hold on, the lady on SVU now needs her insulin, just a shot, but she was about to pass out because she wasn't going to get her one shot. I mean...come on... That is really really really bad control....
OK, Jodi Foster and bad guys. Well, Jodi Foster's daughter has diabetes and when the bad guys come, they forget her insulin and glucagon shot. The daughter's BS level starts to drop and she is about to go into a seizure, but Jodi Foster talks, yes talks, her out of it. Now to be honest I'm not completely unsure of the fact that you can talk someone out of a low insulin reaction. But really. The girl was in it, man. She was seizing already.
But despite that, the diabetes portrayal wasn't the worst part of the film. No, that would have to go to Jared Leto's cornrows.
The way that diabetics are portrayed in movies and television is honestly, ridiculous.
Case in point, the lady on SVU just seized during trial. She was not sweating, she was not acting bizarre at all. There was no sign of her going too low. She was actually taking notes on the trial, and whamo...she's on the floor.
Let's get on the ball Hollywood. Come on Halle Berry, get the writer's (if they ever come back) to get it right.
And by the way, diabeteshappens. Writer's strikes shouldn't. Give them their money, and let's get Brothers and Sisters back on the boob tube.
This sort of logic in film really pisses me off. It's as if no one in Hollywood has a clue about diabetes. Does no one in LA LA land have it? Doesn't Halle Berry? Kevin Klein's son? I mean most of the residents probably only eat about 50 grams of carbs a day, so iI can understand if Paris Hilton doesn't know too much about it...
But think about it. The first movie I can remember watching with erroneous diabetes facts after my diagnosis was Con Air. Yeah, you know it. Nick Cage. His hands are registered weapons. He kills someone while defending his wife but still goes to prison. He's about to be released from prison, but has to get aboard a plane with a whole bunch of nasty boys who are just being moved to the maximum security Louisiana prison. Among them is a diabetic, who's insulin breaks on the chaotic plane ride. Within 12 hrs, the diabetic is about to go comatose because his blood sugar is way too high - even though they've only had one on board meal.
And then there was Panic Room. You know this one, too. Jodi Foster. Gets a house with a panic room so that in case of an emergency her daughter would be safe. Bad guys come after the house....
Hold on, the lady on SVU now needs her insulin, just a shot, but she was about to pass out because she wasn't going to get her one shot. I mean...come on... That is really really really bad control....
OK, Jodi Foster and bad guys. Well, Jodi Foster's daughter has diabetes and when the bad guys come, they forget her insulin and glucagon shot. The daughter's BS level starts to drop and she is about to go into a seizure, but Jodi Foster talks, yes talks, her out of it. Now to be honest I'm not completely unsure of the fact that you can talk someone out of a low insulin reaction. But really. The girl was in it, man. She was seizing already.
But despite that, the diabetes portrayal wasn't the worst part of the film. No, that would have to go to Jared Leto's cornrows.
The way that diabetics are portrayed in movies and television is honestly, ridiculous.
Case in point, the lady on SVU just seized during trial. She was not sweating, she was not acting bizarre at all. There was no sign of her going too low. She was actually taking notes on the trial, and whamo...she's on the floor.
Let's get on the ball Hollywood. Come on Halle Berry, get the writer's (if they ever come back) to get it right.
And by the way, diabeteshappens. Writer's strikes shouldn't. Give them their money, and let's get Brothers and Sisters back on the boob tube.
Friday, February 1, 2008
PUMP IT UP
As a diabetic, I try to stay in tune with new developments that can help me operate as normally as possible. As such, the insulin pump has been a device that I’ve been told I have to try; it will change my life for the better. There are a couple of reasons why I haven’t switched over (yep, still a proud insulin pen user – Humalog and Lantus – you’re my dawgs).
First, I don’t like the idea of having a machine connected to my body. It makes my stomach turn a little bit. The wires from machine to body make the pump seem way closer to the Terminator than something to make me healthier. The other complaint is a bit more sartorial: I just don’t like the fact that most pumps look like a pager (plus wires) hanging on a belt clip. Sorry, I like to look good and dress well, and having a pager stuck on my belt line just isn’t helping me out.
Now there have been a lot of changes, and the FDA has even approved wireless insulin pumps which are way less T1000, but no where near 007 enough.
Not that some people haven’t done wonders: Jim Bukvald made a great effort, but I think there’s still some wire issues. And the Omnipod actually looks nice, and conveniently the pod itself is separate and can just slide into your pocket, in my opinion it’s the best thing out there right now in terms of functionality and style. But things could still be better.
What if Apple and their iPod geniuses tackled the insulin pump? I’m definitely not the first person to talk about this. In fact, Amy Tenderich has already posted an online plea to Steve Jobs asking that very question:
And there is a great market for this sort of thinking: 20 million Americans have diabetes (hey, it happens), and thousands of clinics and hospitals across the country help those 20 millions manage the condition. If Apple were to create a new pump, with software to go with their new MacBook Air to help individual users as well as hospitals and clinics follow, monitor, and chart sugar levels, insulin doses, and carb intake, all through the use of a simple USB plug, I believe that not only would the sale of the iPump be incredible, but Apple would also see general sales go up.
And what young diabetic wouldn’t be way more involved in their glucose numbers if while their information was downloading for the iPump, they could be downloading the new Akon song?
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