CWD News
A Guide to Sharps Disposal with Diabetes
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 […]
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Types of Diabetes
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 […]
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Challenging the Notion of Adherence in Diabetes Care
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 […]
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Inside the Diabetes Healthcare Team
Ideally, the healthcare team you see for your diabetes care would consist of many different providers.1 This is not always the case, but if you can find a center with a multidisciplinary team, studies show that people with diabetes have better health outcomes and fewer complications when they see a team utilizing the chronic care model.1 This model promotes person-centered care and a team-based approach. Here’s a look at the various team members you may have on your diabetes team. The Endocrinologist You need a provider who can prescribe medications, order lab tests, make official diagnoses, and do all those […]
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Hello, Stelo!
Last week, the Children with Diabetes team packed our bags and headed to New York City to attend a launch party for Dexcom’s newest glucose biosensor, Stelo. During the event, we learned more about this revolutionary over-the-counter sensor that will allow individuals to track glucose. Stelo users will learn more about how lifestyle choices, including food, exercise, and sleep, can affect blood sugars. This product is available without a prescription and is intended for adults over the age of 18. Stelo is different from Dexcom’s G6 and G7 continuous glucose monitoring systems. The G6 and G7 are designed for people […]
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Highlights from ADCES 2024: New Orleans Edition
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler, friends! The Children with Diabetes team had the opportunity to attend the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, and we can’t wait to share some of our highlights from the event with you. This year’s annual conference was held at the Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center in New Orleans. It featured four days of continuing education, keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and a giant exhibition hall. Grab your café au lait and a crispy beignet, and let’s recap ADCES 2024! ADCES brings together diabetes care and education specialists […]
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The iLet: 6 Months Later
After sampling multiple AID systems last year, I decided to choose the iLet as my method of diabetes management for the time being. There are a few reasons, and I think it could be helpful to share them to better inform people with diabetes about the pros and cons of the system. Nothing is perfect, and there are things I love about the system and things that are challenging and frustrating. Reduced Mental Burden This was the absolute top priority for me regarding diabetes management. I work in diabetes, my family works in diabetes, I live with diabetes, it’s just, […]
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The Relationship Between Diabetes and Sleep
I’m sure most of us over 30 feel we always need more sleep and cannot catch up on the missing zzz’s. My friends with diabetes and I talk a lot about the “diabetes hangover” that can occur after a night of highs or lows due to missed sleep. The role that diabetes plays in sleep and sleep plays in diabetes is still being studied across the globe. Here’s a rundown of what the recent research shows. Diabetes causes missed sleep. I know this is obvious, but there are a lot of reasons that studies have found diabetes causes missed sleep: […]
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Diabetes Life Lessons
After a wonderful, busy week at Friends for Life Orlando, I can’t help but reflect on the lessons that living with diabetes for the last 34 years has taught me. Many families and adults living with T1D shared their versions of the lessons living with diabetes has taught them, hoping to ease the burden of others. It can be especially challenging to focus on the positive side of diabetes at times, especially at new onset or during a phase of diabetes distress or burnout. But as Friends for Life reminded me, and I hope it reminds you, too, diabetes teaches […]
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Recapping ADA 2024
The Children with Diabetes team just returned from a steamy hot Orlando and the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. As we unpack our bags and start our laundry from the trip, we can’t wait to share this recap of our time at the conference. Grab an iced coffee, and let’s get ready to recap Sci Sessions! The American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions is described as the world’s largest meeting on diabetes, offering educational sessions and networking opportunities for those in the diabetes community and industry. There were over 11,000 in attendance who represented over 115 countries. The […]
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