Clinical Director

The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) recommends using automated insulin delivery (AID) systems as the standard of care. These systems have consistently been shown to help people with diabetes achieve their glucose goals. However, no system is perfect, and each has its own challenges. Here are some common issues that arise with diabetes technologies. The weakest link: the infusion set Getting insulin into the body adequately is still the crux of any AID system or insulin pump. Many things can go wrong, from scar tissue to adhesive issues, kinked cannulas to unidentifiable absorption issues. In the DERMIS […]

Now that many commercially available automated insulin delivery (AID) systems are available worldwide, is there still a desire for open-source AID (OS-AID) systems? The short answer is yes, but what does that entail? I interviewed Dr. Rayhan Lal, a dual-trained adult and pediatric endocrinologist at Stanford University and a PWD, to understand what is available. Some background A couple of months ago, Dr. Lal suggested I start a GLP1 agonist to help reduce my lifetime renal and cardiovascular risks and slow down carb absorption. However, he was worried about starting one while using the iLet due to the inability to […]

When I was growing up with diabetes, the available insulins made it very difficult to incorporate sweets into the typical “diabetes diet.” I took two shots a day of NPH and Regular insulins—NPH is considered an intermediate-acting insulin, and Regular is short-acting. NPH comes in a vial, is cloudy, and requires mixing to try and make it more consistent. The Regular would cover breakfast and dinner, while the NPH would act as the basal. What is nice about this system is that you only have to take two shots a day. It’s simple and affordable. However, due to the peak […]

GLP-1 agonists are often called “the miracle drug” for diabetes and weight management. These medications have many benefits, including cardiovascular and renal protection, blood pressure reduction, and improvements in glucose levels. I’ve been taking the GLP-1 + GIP combination medication, tirzepatide, for the last six weeks and have learned a lot. Here are some key takeaways that may help you navigate using this medication with type 1 diabetes. Benefits for T1D There are both long and short-term benefits to using this class of medications for PWD, which often outweigh the challenges. Here are some of them, but the use of […]

The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) just hosted its annual conference for medical professionals who work in pediatric diabetes in Lisbon, Portugal, and members of the CWD team were lucky to attend. There were over 1800 attendees from all over the world at the meeting, including healthcare professionals, industry partners, and diabetes advocates, who presented their research and experiences to attendees. Here is a summary of the activities we participated in (Jeff, Leigh, Marissa). CWD-ISPAD-JENIOUS Prize Every year, CWD partners with early career investigators who are members of the JENIOUS group (Juniors in Educational Networking and International […]

Many newly diagnosed families are getting CGM’s (continuous glucose monitors) either at the start of diabetes or soon after. There are many benefits to starting CGM early, including access to glucose levels and trends and the ability to share and follow data. They can also allow caregivers to see glucose levels when their child with diabetes is unable to express their symptoms yet. The benefits tend to outweigh the challenges for most people, but we’d like to focus on mitigating some of the common challenges. First, some background on some of the common challenges related to CGMs. Constant Streaming Glucose […]

Managing diabetes involves a range of tools, many of which are sharp. Despite the complexity of our routines, it is crucial to dispose of used household sharps—such as used needles, syringes, lancets, and other sharps—safely. While it might seem challenging, there are straightforward methods to ensure safe disposal and prevent injury to you and others. It’s important to know that rules and regulations vary by state, so what might be okay in one area is not approved in another. Children With Diabetes’ partner, SafetyIsThePoint.org, has an easy-to-use map that shows what your state allows. Options, depending on your state’s disposal […]

Diabetes originally referred to a single condition characterized by “sweet urine,” but it has since developed into two main types: type 1 and type 2. Today, we recognize various forms of diabetes. An article in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine from 2020 emphasizes the significance of understanding your specific type of diabetes. This knowledge is crucial, as it helps tailor treatment options that are most effective for you and your body. The most common types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2, where type 2 is insulin resistance and type 1 is insulin dependence. Some of the features […]

What does adherence even mean when it comes to diabetes? Even when I do everything “correctly” that I am supposed to do to manage my blood sugars, the results are inconsistent. The number of variables affecting glucose levels is immeasurable, and we learn about new ones daily. How could someone ever be labeled as “adherent” given these circumstances? Am I not allowed to be human? To make mistakes? To forget things sometimes? This normal human behavior is common across all areas of life, and diabetes is no exception. So why am I labeled “non-adherent,” which is just a watered-down way […]