CWD News
Stepping Back While Moving Forward
My daughter has had diabetes since she was three years old. It was unexpected and unwelcome. It changed our lives and nothing has been the same since this diagnosis. We’ve had the highest of highs…literally. And, we’ve had the lowest of lows…also, literally. We’ve moved from multiple daily injections to three different types of insulin pumps. We’ve learned to sleep with one eye open constantly focusing on a number on a continuous glucose monitor that lights up our bedroom like an airport runway. We’ve counted carbs and responded to alarms and done all of the things. We’ve also ignored the […]
Read MoreWeekly Basal Insulins: Could they be a Reality Soon?
It’s human nature to hope for better things and for some to focus on improving things. Historically, diabetes has been difficult, and many people have been unable to achieve their glucose management goals. The tools and technologies that we have today help a lot, but it’s not a perfect system. Researchers are still working hard to find ways to reduce the burden of living with diabetes and improve outcomes. One of the areas of focus has been reducing the amount of injections. Developments in Insulins Compared to when insulin was first discovered and developed, many different types of insulin are […]
Read MoreMother’s Day: The language of loud sighs and quiet tears
It’s been a week, and it’s only Wednesday. It feels like there are 4,567 days of school left in this school year, but, in reality, we only have 8 days left until summer break. We’ve dealt with the unexpected “combo meal” of food poisoning and diabetes. A potential teenage suitor made a negative comment about my daughter’s diabetes and her twin brother’s autism all under the guise of flirting and an apparent lack of awareness that words can truly hurt. A mom and I got into a disagreement about our parenting styles, and a great friendship was halted before it […]
Read MoreGuiding Growth: Parenting for Diabetes Autonomy
Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs people experience. You want to be kind but not too passive, supportive but not an enabler. You want to give your children the world, but not spoil them. When you add a chronic disease, that means their life will be different than most of their peers, making it challenging to enforce all the added rules. As a person with diabetes, a nurse, and a diabetes care and education specialist, I’d like to discuss what I’ve been seeing more lately with families. My experience First, a big acknowledgment that I am NOT a […]
Read MoreWhen it’s more than T1D
Many people know that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, but what you may not know is that autoimmune conditions sometimes come in multiples. Some are more commonly associated with type 1 diabetes than others, but most can affect blood glucose levels – especially if undiagnosed. Here are some of the most common conditions that coexist with T1D. Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland, found in your neck and responsible for metabolism, among other things, does not make enough thyroid hormones.1 Symptoms: Weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, body aches, thinning hair, dry skin, depression, and even slowed heart […]
Read MoreRights in the Workplace for PWD
In general, people with diabetes feel like diabetes should not stop them from living an everyday life (whatever that is). Since diabetes is ever-changing, it keeps you on your toes, which means that you may need accommodations to care for yourself appropriately and work or study as you desire. Definition of a Disability The legal definition of disability, according to the U.S. federal government is “an individual is considered to have a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, […]
Read MoreOur Visit to UFDI
At Children with Diabetes, we believe in providing care today while we await a cure tomorrow. As we focus on caring for and supporting people with type 1 diabetes, we anxiously await news on the next big breakthrough in research. Our friends at the University of Florida Diabetes Institute have been at the forefront of diabetes research since the 1970s and continue to make strides every day that are leading to better treatments and an eventual cure for type 1 diabetes. On March 25, I had the opportunity to tour the UFDI with our friends at Macey’s Believers. We began our […]
Read MoreATTD Updates for PWD
The CWD Team traveled to Florence, Italy, to attend the annual Advances in Treatments and Therapeutics in Diabetes conference and learn about the latest updates on diabetes care. Here are some updates that may be pertinent for PWD, their loved ones, and any healthcare professionals who work in diabetes. Artificial Intelligence for AID Algorithms Throughout the last couple of years, more research has been focused on using artificial intelligence to enhance the algorithms for AID systems. Multiple groups are pursuing this path, including Dr. Boris Kovatchev and Marc Breton at UVA and Dr. Roman Hovorka at Cambridge. Both groups presented […]
Read MoreWrapping Up ATTD 2024
Buongiorno! The Children with Diabetes team has just returned from ATTD 2024 (Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes). We can’t wait to tell you about our gelato-filled experience in Italy. Let’s grab a cozy chair, close our eyes, pretend that we are surrounded by the Tuscan countryside, and get started! ATTD is the leading international forum where clinicians, diabetes care providers, researchers, industries, start-ups, investors, regulators, and people with diabetes assemble with the goal “to ameliorate the care of people with diabetes at the fastest pace.” Distinguished professionals in the diabetes field give presentations and discussions throughout the week on […]
Read MoreWhen Your CGM Fails Away from Home
When traveling with T1D, we try to be prepared for anything. We pack extra supplies and keep them in our carry-on bag. We bring extra insulin so we don’t run out. We bring a meter and test strips even though we rarely use it anymore with CGM. But sometimes, we may not have enough of the supplies we need to ensure we have a backup for our trip. Or our backup fails and we don’t have a backup to the backup. When your CGM fails Recently, I traveled to Colorado from Ohio with my children and husband. It was a […]
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